Life in Buenos Aires is good

I am starting to make my way into the jungle of words. The thing is that a lot of young Argentinians want to practice their english....while I try to express myself in Spanish. I have been told I should go to Peru and for sure Bolivia to practice! The first week of Spanish class was a bit boring, I started at the lowest level, but apparently I remembered more than I would have thought! So I changed level and now I am learning the past tense of the verbs, which is NOT easy.
I am happy with this school (ECELA), as the teachers learn you in a playful way the difficult stuff. The groups are only with 5 or 6 people, so we have the possibility to talk a lot. I realize that I have already learned a lot, now I just have to practice it during the 5,5 coming months!
I am staying in International Hostel Recoleta, which is a quiet house in a very quiet street. It is a cheap hostel, but it is relatively clean. The room with 12 beds is a bit crowed at the moment, so the bathroom is really dirty at the time I wake up. I have class in the afternoon, so I get up when I wake up (OH YEAH). In the morning, I have breakfast and study Spanish. At noon I sometimes cook some rice or pasta with vegetables or I get me some empanadas. I eat a lot of fruit, as it is so hot in the city, that I can hardly eat a warm meal.

Buenos Aires is an enormous city with a lot of barrios, but the city is like the greek invented: it is made out of squares which makes it very easy to find your way. I am living in barrio Recoleta, which is know for shopping and business. I have been to Palermo, the barrio to hang out in the weekend: shopping in a nice area, having a drink, dinner or going out at night. Me gusta Palermo!

Another Barrio is La Boca, it is the old harbour of the city. The houses are colored with left overs of the paint used for boats. On Sunday you can stroll in this area and enjoy carne asado and tango. I had my first tira de asado here, as you should know Argentina is the bbq (= asado) country!No way I will become a vegi!!! Another place to stroll on a Sunday is San Telmo antique market...you cannot believe your eyes! So many old stuff! Here elder people where dancing tango...tango es amor! That is for sure!!! I going to find me a boy who is passionate to dance!

I have also visited the Avenido de Mayo, with on one side the Plaza de Congreso and the other side the famous Casa Rosada. At the square before the old Congreso, people live in tents, I have been told that these people camp there out of prostest against the government in this time of crisis. It was a bit weird, I walked to the square and as soon as I saw the tents, I smootly returned and went around the square. I did not wish to push my luck :) The other weird thing is that the fountain was fenced... I have never seen such a thing...and I have been in a lot of cities in Europe.

Another remarkable thing is people wandering in the city with a cart (trolley) with all sorts of rubbish. These people collect and reclycle things to exchange on a certain market. This idea arised in the '90 due to the crisis, at that time, these people could trade things for services like a dentist, ...

The Argentinian is arrogant, at least the ones I have bumpt into in the city. I think it has to do with status. Especially elder women do not move and run you over like you were not there at all, in shops they are like some flemish people at the supermarket: without a smile. Although some peole are really kind and the ones I went out with are more than ok (but they were friends of my friend)!
As a European I have already practiced a lot of patient in the supermarket. It is just terrible, it takes for ages. You can ask for a home delivery of your goods, a good thing about the supermarket! Well for the old women of course ;)
And a funny aspect: everyone takes the bus of subte (metro) and people waiting for the bus are standing in line. I have never seen such a discipline in Flanders!!!

Los 3 secrets de la vida en Argentina son Reir, Soreir y freir! (Laugh, smile and freire / lachen, glimlachen en bakken...in ons landje is dat dus frituren ;)

My first weekend in BA, I spent most of the time visiting barrios and drinking Fernet. Fernet is a typical liquor from Cordoba, you drink it with coca cola and ice. Here you eat everything with cheese: pasta, empanadas, bread, todo! I went out with my friend from Buenos Aires, I know her through ESHRE, we worked together for four years and now we finally met! So together with 4 of her friends, I experienced nightlife! And it was fun! On Sunday morning I went to bed at 6.30 am and got up at 11 am to go to La Boca and San Telmo...so at 5 pm I was exhausted...estaba cansada!!!!
During the week, I do not go out, as I have to study a bit. But if I eat in the kitchen of the hostel, I'll always find someone to talk to and it happens that I hang out there longer than I have planned.

I have to admit, I miss some of you!!!! I wish I could just spend one evening at my favorite pub!
But hey, I may not complain...I am living in + 26 degrees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I think it will stay a hot summer, as even in the south the weather is nice!

Oh, I have a new best friend...Freddo! Helado muy rico!!!mmm