What a week!

Ready for rambling? Bueno!

This week has been awesome! Kelsie and I went to the Argentina v. España exhibition game Tuesday. It was so much fun! People were packed in and I only saw two España fans. On the way in I saw a group of guys that I met when I first got here but haven't seen or spoken to since. THE WORLD IS SHRINKING. Seeing faces your recognize in a metropolis like BsAs is shocking. And, more importantly, Argentina won 4-1! It was intense- chanting, cheering, niños cussing like sailors (in Spanish, of course!), police wearing riot gear, German shepherds protecting the field- but since it was only an exhibition game, it was more like soccer match light. The passion was as intense but everyone kept their inner soccer hooligan under control. At one point, someone in the upper deck behind us needed a medic. After a few minutes of yelling 'med-i-co!' to the medics standing on the field, our entire section started chanting MED-I-CO, MED-I-CO and the day was saved. I think. I hope. It was a great experience and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to go!

Midterms are next week. Yikes. Sunday and Monday are going to be living hell, but I suppose I can take school seriously for a few days.

This past Saturday, mi amiga Maria y yo participated in the Universidad de Belgrano 4k (2.5 miles) run. It was a lot of fun. The course was in and around the park district in Palermo which also includes the Hipodrome where they have horse racing every day. It was neat-o to be running and see horses (caballos) taking their morning laps. Here are before and after shots:

Saturday our group is going to an estancia. An estancia is a like a cattle farm out in la pampa- the grasslands of Argentina were all that world class beef is harvested? cultured? raised? Dad, what's the word for that? I don't know if the one we're visiting will have cattle, but there will be horses and it's supposed to be hot while we're there. Oh, and, there's gonna be FRESH AIRRRRR! El cuerpo necesita mucho aire fresco!

Yesterday I learned two new Spanish words that I think are vital- crocante (crunchy) and carcajada (big smile, burst of laughter). Cosquillas (tickles) was also a word we learned yesterday but I, being a victim of high-tickle-sensitivity have known this word for quite some time!

Also, earlier this week Diego gave me an old maté gourd. I'm so happy to have it! Not only is that several pesos saved, but I have a hand-me-down maté gourd (I don't think that's the proper name) from one awesome porteño!

Went to the mini-grocery store next to my house a minute ago. It's increible how inexpensive groceries are here. For US$8 I got a big bag of chips, a bag of pepas (little cookies with a jelly-type topping drizzled in chocolate), coke, apple juice, 1/2 gallon (more or less) of milk, bag of M&M's (peanut, duh!) and a pack of vanilla cookies. That would cost double at home! Face stuffing begins now! I lied. It began 20 minutes ago.

The weekend is here and I am so happy!  Date tonight, visa office and shopping tomorrow, dancing tomorrow night, estancia Saturday, maté and naps in the grass at Recoleta Sunday then mid-terms! Tengo una vida increible!

Besitos!

Beso = kiss, besito = smooch - just for you Dad!