Sorry for the delay........

Hey everyone. Sorry for the delay in updates. 2 nights ago, all I wanted to do was sleep, and yesterday we made our voyage to Rosario. Right now, the only thing I can really report is that I am unfortunately sick. I made some stupid food choices the other day and am now paying for it. It´s only a little congestion and I fear that one of my internal organs may have liquidated because drinking a lot of water or not, I´m using the bathroom WAY more than usual. Hopefully it is nothing Major.

Last night we found this sort of ampitheatre that we believe is dedicated to the flag of Argentina. Sort of like a national monument. There was a live band playing and they were really good. I really need to take some dance classes while I´m down here so that I don´t have to feel out of place when I start doing my fakie latin dancing that I can get away with in America.
We haven´t decided what we want to do today. I´m sort of interested in skydiving because that won´t require too much physical effort.....I think. We had talked about kayaking, but I know that 5 minutes into it, I will absolutely have a lung collapse, :)

Aside from feeling sick, I´m doing ok. I hope everyone back home is doing well. When I see any updates on the USA it sounds like things are getting more and more crazy. The finincial crisis is hitting more and more countries than I would have guessed. I hope things get better before they get worse, much like this congestion I have.

much love!
xoxo

Alex

Donde esta la Discoteca?

I took a 4 hour nap today and it was one of the most amazing things I've done since I got here.

So I went to my very first discoteca (nightclub) last night.  It was absolutely insane!  this thing was 3 stories tall.  It took Nadja and I 30 minutes to find our group.  Finally someone saw my hair on the way to the bathroom and told us where the rest of the group was. It was very uncomfortable until then because I was not dressed appropriately for an Argentine discoteca (so shoot me, I've been here 5 days :) lol )  and I was getting a lot of weird stares.  I mean that happens a lot, but it's a little bit more intimidating getting stares in a new country where you barely understand the language when you're with one friend.  Once we found the rest of the group, it so did not matter at all.  We had so much fun.  It was really interesting how some of the songs were from artists released in America, but thee frequency (or whatever you call it) was higher, so the song sounded a little different.  Rihanna's "Umbrella" sounded like it was being covered by Alvin and the Chipmunks.  Lol.

It was really great to see so many different people from several different cultures come together with the common purpose of having an amazing time.  I was not sure I was going to go, and now I am so insanely thrilled that I did.  It's really funny because everything thinks that since I am from Vegas, that I party until like 8 or 9 in the morning.  Some were very surprised that I wanted to leave at 2:30 in the morning because I had class at 9.  It's almost as if they didn't think it was a good excuse.    They obviously don't know how cranky I can get when I am sleep deprived.  

This trip to the club gave rise to a new section of my blog that I am very excited about.  

Person back home of the day :  This will be a somewhat random choice, it will not be a reflection of who I am missing the most or anything of the sort.  So if it takes a while for you to be chosen, please don't take it personally.  I am thinking of a lot of people everyday, but it's a bit much to post ALL of them.  But if something blog worthy happens and it totally makes me think of someone, that's who I will probably put on here.  :)  

Todays winner........Laura Karavitis

Laura worked on the play I did this summer.  She had a theory (which I thought was brilliant) that you could do any horrible dance move (including the running man, the sprinkler, etc) as long as you had a serious look on your face.  When tested, all tests I conducted supported the notion.  The split second you look start smiling or looking like you are having fun, you look absolutely ridiculous.  Try it, you'll totally agree.  In the discoteca as I was totally acting a fool, I tried it with a few dance moves.  Whether or not they, or any other moves I do when I'm not conducting social experiments, were successful, it didn't matter. because I felt was having a great time.  Thank you Laura and your insight that still makes me laugh to this day!

Opinion/Observation of the day:

  I thought was really weird how the frequency of people who were telling me I look like Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons rose a few weeks before I left.  I think it was preparing me for life in Buenos Aires.  H-O-L-Y C-R-A-P.   I don't think I've gone a day without hearing it 3 or more times.  If I've ever had an impulse to cut my hair, it is definitely here now.   I know most people mean well, but come on people.....Really?  

Perhaps I could walk around with a sharp object and not have to worry about buying a halloween costume while I'm down here.  

Song on my head of the day

Rihanna- Umbrella

I'm still trying to figure out how to get pictures from my computer to my blog.  Right now it seems all I can do is pull pictures from other websites into my blog.  When I try to put a video or picture from my photos, I get a little spinny thing that after hours of waiting, does not yield the pictures into my blog.  Any help on how to get pictures from a macbook onto this blog will be extremely appreciated.  The person who tells me how to do it could have premier access to my photos the entire time I'm here!  (I don't know, I figured I needed incentive.  

Love you all! 

xoxo

Alex

A 2nd trip is brewing....

Again, pretty tired, so am going to post the highlights of the day!

• Next monday is a national holiday of Argentina.  Most people are going on trips since it's a 3 day weekend.  The family that my Swedish friend August is staying told him if we wanted to get out and see the country, this was the weekend to see it.  August, Nadja (my German/Aussie friend) and I decided we would try to take a trip.  My new friend from Denmark, Matthias, is coming with us.  We will be going to Rosario, Argentina, on Saturday and returning Monday around noon.  I am very excited.
• I invited the older gentleman out to lunch with us today, and he was so grateful, he paid for the entire ticket of our group.  He is a very nice gentleman.  
• I am doing very well.  The city is very interesting, and the people are pretty hit or miss.  Either very friendly or very distracted.  I'm loving it here though.  I'm making a lot of friends and it seems that as long as I have this crazy hair of mine, I will never blend in.  Which is good and bad in several situations.  
• Classes are going very good, but I'm finding it very difficult to break down and organize all of my notes and study.  I know I know, it's very bad.  But I am still improving.  There is just so much to see/do.  I know that after I wake up and go to class today, I need to come home, sleep and study.  

Song on my head of the day

Pink - So What

Opinion/Observation of the day

If I'm not murdered in this country, I swear on everything I own I will go out on a staircase.  The stairs here are for people who are not clumsy and who have eyes that are close enough to the ground to see them.  The stairs are very skinny and very deep.  Also, in many cases, there are pieces of wood 3-4 inches tall all over the place that I keep tripping on.  I'm trying to pay attention to them so that I don't trip and die, but it's very difficult.  At least I'm providing humor inadvertently like I do a in Vegas.   

Must stay awake.......

Dang jetlag.  He's been calling me the last 2 nights, and I've been ignoring him.  Looks like I have to give in and say hello.   

But before then I may as well give the highlights of the day. 

• Was totally late for class today
• Was told I owed $4200 USD to the school.   Keep in mind that I already paid a $700 deposit on my original bill which was originally $4300.  Luckily, the problem was taken care of and I paid the difference.
• Went to lunch with August and Nadya.  We're quite the dynamic trio.  August, who is also a vegetarian, and I agreed to split too vegetarian dishes.  We sort of had to guess since the menus were in Spanish.  He got a really good conolini (spell check?), and i got what turned out to be a baked potato topped with sweet potatoes on one side and this spinach concoction on the other.  Needless to say, August felt guilty when he didn't want to split.  It reminded me of my mothers cooking, so while it was a little bland, I enjoyed it.  towards the end, I found a hair in it, so while I was totally not thrilled to see it, It was taken off the bill.  
  
• I almost feel let down that I haven't been mugged yet.  

Song on my head of the day

Just My Imagination - The Cranberries

Opinion of the Day

  Ok, so when you order water in Argentina, you can get it one of two ways; with gas or without.  The water with gas doesn't tickle my fancy so much.  If water was meant to bubble when it isn't hot boiling, it would happen naturally.  This opinion is of course a joke since I love things that are unnatural.  I mean, look at ME for evidence.   This was an bogus opinion because I couldn't post my sadness over the fact that you have to pay for water in Argentina, unlike in the states. Aside from the fact that it's great for you, the fact you didn't have to pay for water was one of the many reasons I always drink it.  Mourning over the loss of free hydration didn't seem opinion of the day worthy.  

Next time on Alex's Thought Bubble

• The search for an alarm clock and local cell phone continues
• Alex's Thought Bubble will hopefully feature videos and pictures
• Blogs written on adequate sleep may occur (but don't get your hopes up)

La Clase del Diablo,,,,,,

Well, the professor said herself that 6 hours would make us all want to jump out the window, so we should be thankful we only had her for 4.  

Anyway, I realized last night before going to bed that the alarm clock I brought with me was not working.  My cell phone does not have any service, so I could not use the alarm clock.  So I pretty much went to sleep praying I would wake up in time.  Which of course is a joke, because I can't be punctual when I'm awake, so why in heaven would I be able to be on time subconsciously?  Anyway, Brittney, the girl from San Diego who is staying here and doing the same immersion program as me woke me up 20 minutes before we were supposed to be at school.  God bless this girl, or I would have been so screwed.

A teeth brushing and a cab ride later, I arrived at the school, where I was reminded that I had left my passport and credit card at home (again, so not typical of yours truly).  I was then instructed to take a placement test.  It's been a while since I studied spanish, but my only hope is that I'm not in the very beginning class where you learn how to conjugate verbs.  I would probably swallow tar if that were the case.  When they were passing out the notebooks for everyone it turns there are 12 levels in the spanish courses.  4 for each beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes.  After feeling I did somewhat well, I end up in the 2 level beginner class.  I know, see what happens when you dream big?  Just kidding.  I go in the class and am immediately reprimanded for asking (in english)  if I was in the right classes.  Thus was the theme for the next 4 hours.  My instructor name is Leila.  She's very pretty and very short.  Her main concern seems to be when people speak in a language other than spanish.  Which is hearbreaking because when I can't think of the word in spanish, or when I want to tell a joke, or whatever else can happen that compels me to "usar ingles" (about every 30 seconds) I have to now sensor myself.  Call me kooky, but you spend 22 years learning/speaking 1 language, it's not the easiest thing to do to just not use it at all.  It was all in good fun though (I think)  

After classes, there was an orientation lunch for new students.  I of course sat in the middle and failed miserably at blending in by providing color commentary whenever I deemed it necessary.  Afterwards, they told us an informational meeting would commence around 6:20 back at the school.  3 classmates and I decided to walk around the city for a while as we waited.  August, is a 19 year old trumpet player from Sweden.  Nadia is 28 was born and raised in Germany but has spent the last 4-6 years in Australia (SHE had an interesting accent).  And Siebe (pronounced She-buh) is a 21 year old guy from Holland.  We spent the afternoon talking and getting to know about each other and our respective countries.  It was very nice to make new friends and enjoy their company.      

After the meeting, we all went to our respective homes.  Hugo (the man I am staying with) and this guy who had stayed with him for a few months were here.  We ate dinner, and it was very nice.  They continued to tell me more about the city.  I know once I get this money situation under control, and start getting around the city more often, I'm going to really get into it.  For now, I don't want to go into sensory overload.   I was able to talk to my mom for a few minutes.  IF I HAVE EVER TOLD ANYONE TO GET ANYTHING IN THEIR LIVES, IT IS SKYPE.  Not only is this junk free, it totally makes it so I can call people in the states with NO charge for anyone.  It's a beautiful thing.  Anywhoozle, afterwards, Hugo made me some tea and we chatted for a bit.  He probably was talking english more than I should have let him, but I'm trying my best to practice my spanish with every conversation that I'm having with him.  

All in all, another great day.  I'm having good luck with getting to mooch of an internet connection here.  (totally going to hell for it, but at least I'll burn knowing I had internet in Argentina, just kidding Mom!) My classmates are fun, My homestay situation is truly awesome, and I do have a friend down here to remind me of the insanity of my homeland.   

I'm going to try and start having a little bit more order to this blog thing, but don't get too excited since i could forget after I do it once.  I feel like I should be breaking things down into sections.......

Like......

Funniest moment of the day.  

  Explaining to August what the root of Constipado (what which in spanish means congested, unless I'm totally mistaken) means in english.  If anyone wants to explain to me how one would go about explaining the process of not being able to B.m. to a sweedish guy while speaking spanish, please let me know so that I can do a better job next time.  

Honorable mention:  Brazilian girl at orientation that didn't speak a lick of english yelling something every 5 minutes.  I swear I think she was drunk.  Flipping hilarious,

Opinion of the day.

  There really should be a mandate that all countries should be pronounced the same way worldwide as the way the people from that country pronounce it.  No more of this Estados Unidos stuff.  if people in france pronounce it "Frawnce," then we should to, dangit.  Mexico should be internationally taught as "Meh-he-coe."  If this were to go into effect and taught globally, there would only have to be one word for every country and I would have to feel like an idiot when I'm told 4 times someone is from Orlanda and NOT know that it means Holland.   Obviously there are countries that are hard to pronounce, but people who complain should be silenced with socks, ducktape, or a full frontal lobotomy.  All of the above work for me.    After I submit my request that the US switches to the metric system, I'll jump right on this movement.  

Next time on Alex's thought bubble

1.  Alex and Brittany should hopefully go and get Alex setup with a cell phone.

2.  Alex should have a hold on the money situation so he can  buy August the half a sandwhich that he owes him and grab Nadia some ice cream....... alien gunfight to follow.  

3.   Alex (possibly) reflects on the people that he is constantly reminded of and misses deeply.  

P.S.  I promise not to write such novellas if people start commenting on this blog.  So I at least know 1. that people are reading it and 2. who is taking the time.  :)

THANKS!

Besos!

Day 1.

Holy crap, I don't know what else to say but what an amazing first day!

The days leading up to the departure were as predictable as one would expect.  Emotional goodbyes, the occasional panic that something horrible was going to happen if I went through with the entire thing.  The weird sensation to cry at almost everything.  

I pretty much had to leave vegas in a blur.  Darn procrastination getting the better of me.  My dad, brother, and I went to stay with my cousin in Lancaster Friday night after Ryan got out of work.  I thought it was a golden opportunity to spend with the family.  So naturally in a moment of brilliance I feel asleep 20 minutes into the drive.  Then of course upon arriving, I have another brilliant moment and fall asleep less than ten minutes after arriving at Lamont's house.  We made up for it the next morning.   Got to spend time with family, and before I knew it, Ryan was heading to a gig that Lamont was already going to and my dad was taking me to LAX.  We ran into my uncle who had just arrived and the two of them made jokes to lighten the mood about how customs may have their way with me and being potentially left in some foreign country during a layover, you know, the whole supportive bit.  

Then, as if a bird, i was in the air.  I knew it was going to be a long flight, and I'd like to think I held my composure for the most part, but somewhere in that last 2 hours, I sincerely began to lose it.  I think I would have lasted the whole time if I knew how much longer we had left.  

Customs, confusion, and a shuttle later, I arrived at my homestay house.  This place is pretty darn nice.  It's on by Suzy and Hugo, a VERY nice couple who I pray I don't annoy the heck out of for my lack of spanish masstery.  They were so polite and nice, I really felt comfortable minutes after I walked in.  Turns out there's another person staying here while studying.  Her name is Brittany and she is from San Diego.  She told me a lot about the city and while it will help me learn faster if I'm not talking in English, it was nice to have someone to talk to in english.  At least for day one.  I don't know how fortunate I'll be with that one in the days following.  

Then I went out and met up with my friend Kurt.  That's right, the one who got me interested in Argentina in the first place but sort of fell of the universe?  That's the one.  Turns out he lives about 4 blocks away from me.  Which I thought was amazing since Buenos Aires is FREAKING huge!  He and his friends showed me all over the place.  Pictures and stories on that to follow, since I've had about 2 hours of sleep in the last 18 hours

So status report of day one.  Cool living situation.  Friend is really close, I appear to have a somewhat constant access to an internet connection....

don't want to jump the gun, but I think I just might survive this trip.  

Made it safepie

Shortest blog in creation, just letting everyone know that I made it to Buenos Aires in one