Food. Warning: it's a long one!

Sorry that it’s been so long since I’ve updated everyone on what’s going on in Argentina.  I wasn’t feeling well all last week so I wasn’t too keen on sharing the details.  But there’s nothing a long weekend at the beach can’t cure!  I went to Pinamar again because it was probably one of the last weekends it will be warm since fall is now here.  It’s a bit weird for me since it’s usually getting warmer this time of year in Texas.  It will be a bit of a shock when I leave winter here in July and head on back to good old 100 F Dallas. 

Anyway I realized I haven’t really shared much about the eating habits here which are quite different then the U.S.  First off, they don’t really eat breakfast like we do.  A cup of instant coffee and a banana or some bread is pretty much the extent of that.  While I don’t mind the coffee, I would kill for some scrambled eggs and bacon, but I guess I’ll manage.  Actually, it’s probably best since they eat more than 3 times a day here, I don’t want to surprise my parents with “a little extra Bridget” like I did when I came home from Spain.  Oops…

Here’s a typical eating schedule:

Breakfast 7:30AM: Coffee and a banana or yogurt.

Staff Break 10:25AM: Coffee or Mate and usually some alfajores or some sort of pastry.

Lunch 12:25PM: they’re pretty good about only letting the students have water here, unlike the US which feeds them milk and cokes.

La merienda (afternoon tea):  Either tea or mate and some banana milkshake!

Dinner 8:00PM: They eat much later here than we do in the states, and I think 8PM is even a bit early for them. 

So as you can see it’s really hard not to have gained 20 pounds at this point, and that’s even with me skipping the second staff break in the afternoon! I guess that’s why I go to spin class.  Well, sometimes ;)

Here's some traditional stuff:

Beef, or lomo, is very common here.  And they cook it quite different than in the U.S.  It’s also very common to have “un asado,” or barbeque here.  But you’ve got to pace yourself because they bring you all these delicious sausages (morcilla, etc.) and so of course, you put it on your plate and eat it, but then they bring you another round with pork and you want to try it, even though you’re getting pretty full.  And then they bring another round, yet again - Café de Brazil style - and it just doesn’t seem to end.

Some other popular things are Alfajores which are a type of cookie.  They’re like a dulce de leche sandwich with a chocolate coating on them.  Dulce de leche is also huge.  They put it on everything: bread, cookies, cake, bananas, ice cream, etc.  Tasty.

A traditional drink here is yerba mate, which is almost like a tea, but it’s more of an herb that everyone drinks.  I think it gets its name from the cup they drink it from which is called "a mate".  It has this straw that has a spoon shaped bottom.  They put in the yerba, add some hot water and pass it around.  Not the most sanitary thing, but it can’t be worse than communion at a Catholic mass. 

Looks a bit like you're drinking pot doesn't it?

Fernet is also very popular.  It’s an alcoholic drink similar to Jagermeister but not quite as gross because it doesn’t taste as much like black licorice (sick).  They usually mix it with coca cola to dilute it a bit.  It’s pretty good, you just have to be careful how much you drink though because Fernet used to be used as a cure for digestive problems.  My favorite drink here though, don’t laugh, is their Manzana flavored Gatorade.   The best.  It tastes like apple juice, but better.  I don’t know why the U.S. hasn’t caught on to this one because it is so much more refreshing than nasty G2 artic glacier freeze chill or something ridiculous like that. 

Oh, and kind of random, all the boarders eat frosted flakes here, but instead of putting milk in, they put vanilla yogurt in their bowls.  I mean, I guess that’s not too weird because we put granola in yogurt, I think it just throws me off because it’s not like they’re putting cereal in their yogurt, they’re putting yogurt in their cereal. Hmmm?

For the most part the food is good, I do miss a few things though, like a peanut butter.  And a proper hamburger!  If you order one here they give it to you one way, and one way only.  You can’t choose your temperature, cheese, topping, mayo/mustard, etc.; I miss the mushroom swiss burger (and you too Aaron Denney!).  Pizza is a bit of a disappointment as well.  Very different, don’t really know how to explain it.  But they do have empanadas which are delicious!  So good.  And I really miss some good old, fresh, whole milk.  It might just be me, but I’m a bit skeptical about drinking a glass of milk from a carton (or bag! (?)) that doesn’t need to be refrigerated. Dicey huh?

I think that’s it as far as food goes.  I haven’t made it to Mendoza yet for the wine, but I’ll let you know when I do because it’s supposed to be wonderful. 

Anyway, sorry this one was a bit boring, I just wanted to share a few of the differences I’ve noticed so far.  I like some of them, but it’s still so hard not to miss things like peanut butter and freshly brewed coffee.  But I guess that’s part of the fun of traveling! I'll update again in a few days with some more exciting pictures and stories from the beach.

Oh, and lastly, I want to give a big shout out to my friend JOE WELSCH! Hi.

Favorite YouTube Videos

YouTube is by far the greatest thing ever created for people who want to procrastinate.  So instead of updating you on what I'm doing in BA, I'm gonna list my 7 favorite YouTube videos.  Here they are off the top of my head, keeping in mind that anything originally found on TV was not included in this.  Nor was Antoine Dodson (perps aint allowed on this blog). They are listed in order of preference.

7. N64 Kids Thank you Santa.
6. Leprechaun This embodies everything that is wrong with Alabama.
5. David After Dentist This is for Philippe.
4. Drunk History The title says enough.
3. Self Defense "...the first thing you're gonna want to do is climb in through the window because he's probably locked his door."
2. Worst Beer Run Ever  Best beer run ever?
1. Proud Dog Owner "This dog, he minds so good."

Honorable Mention:
Ninja Cat Didn't make the final cut because cats are vile creatures.














Also, I apologize for video 3.  I just really wanted to Rickroll Even Brewer.  Here is the real link:  Self Defense.





Suckas...Haha, just kidding. Here is the real one, for realzies: Self Defense.

Quilmes and Pinamar

Just finished week 2 here in Argentina.  It was the first full week of classes and pretty busy.  I really enjoy working with the younger kids though, they are all really cute and ask the craziest questions: “Miss, do you go to casino night in Texas?” Here is a picture from the St. George's campus where I live.

            Last week Manu brought me to see his favorite team, Estudiantes, play at their new stadium in La Plata.  It was fun and the stadium was nice, but I guess JumboTrons are pretty rare here because they didn’t really know what to do with it so they just put a picture of the stadium on it.  The stadium that we were inside. A game clock would have been more useful, but eh, they'll figure it out.  I enjoyed it though, a grateful change from the MLS, and Manu is determined to make me an Estudiantes fan. 

            I joined a gym here in Quilmes to go to spin class with Mikaela and Peggy (some of the teachers here at St. George’s).  I even went on my birthday.  My mom would be so proud!

            Facundo  took us gappies out in Quilmes on Thursday.  The place was pretty crazy for a Thursday night.  We met some really cool people and I was glad to see a little more of Quilmes.  It was a good time, I’m just going to have to get used to staying out until 6/7am again.  Wasn’t very prepared for Friday morning, or as Barrett once told me, “she just aint what she used to be, is she?”

            On Friday, a bunch of the teachers and gappies went out for happy hour and afterwards a few of us went on the Buenos Aires pub crawl.  Got to see some neat areas like Puerto Madero and we met some really cool people as well as some very…interesting ones.  The walk/subte/train/taxi ride back was a bit longer than desired, so we’re going to have to learn the bus schedules for this place.

Chris, me, Jeff, Thomas, and Sam at Krakow Bar.

Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires

Manu: can't get rid of this guy, jeez.

            I had to go to the dentist here because I messed my teeth up snowboarding/falling down the mountain.  It was awesome (if the dentist can be awesome?).  Not only did it take just 30 minutes, but it only cost $30 for a filling as opposed to $181 in the states.  I’m going back tomorrow just for fun!  

            And then this weekend was a holiday weekend -for Carnaval- so the other gappies (Sam and Jeff) and I went to Pinamar to enjoy the beach.  We camped at a campground right next to the beach which was nice except for the parrots that would start screeching at 7am.  I should have brought my air soft gun.   We pretty much just relaxed and enjoyed the sun, well, enjoyed it until Sam and I realized we were fried.  Wasn’t very hard to spot us on the beach though, just look for the giant glare radiating from our stomachs.  Too bad I forgot my thong bikini, rats!  We went out quite a bit in Pinamar too since Facu showed us around.  Still couldn’t keep up with the boys though and fell asleep mid conversation at the dinner table.  And then again the next night.  I’m trying!  The boys played some cricket on the beach so I’m learning a little more about that sport.  Now I just need to work on my meter/mile and liter/ounce conversions.  Got back to St. Georges this afternoon and getting ready for another week.  And sleep!

Pinamar, 7am

The boys and some lovely sunbathers in the foreground.

Bright and early!

A last look at February.

"I think technically, the girl of my dreams would have a bodacious rack, maybe different hair and probably be more into sports but umm truthfully, Robin's better than the girl of my dreams, she's real."
--Paul (500 Days of Summer)

This one is courtesy of Manu.

Buenos Aires!

So I am officially moved into my room in Buenos Aires, or "Baires" as the locals call it.  I am currently living in the dormitory for the girl boarders.  It's like being in college all over again, woo! Except that I'm not because I'm grown up, and I have my own bathroom, and I'm not very cool here, and I also don't understand half of what everyone else is saying.  But it's pretty good, everyone here is very friendly and welcoming, they are just very shocked when I correct them by saying I have just graduated from university instead of high school.  The administration here is super helpful too and takes pretty good care of us "gap students." About half the adults talk to me in Spanish and the other half in English.  I would prefer Spanish, especially since I'm required to speak English to the students, but apparently I don't look like I'm from the Argentine.  And apparently my Spanish isn't very good because last night I asked a waitress where the bathroom was - in Spanish - and she answered me in English. 

The weather here has been pretty for the most part, not too warm, it was probably mid 60s when I got here yesterday.  It's impossible to know for sure though because I don't speak Celsius.

The school is located about 15 minutes outside the capital city, in Quilmes, which is nice because it prevents me from spending all my money.  But Manu (EA's boyfriend) took me into the city for dinner last night at this local place called Cafe Piedra Dura.  Not really, but he did joke about it because it's the opposite of local, and EA gave him crap for it so, naturally, we settled for some "local" Irish instead.  Also, EA warned me he was a crazy driver, jokingly, but in all seriousness, I was scared.  These are the craziest drivers I have ever encountered.  Also, the widest roads I have ever seen.  Check it out.

Avenida 9 de Julio

That's 14 lanes, I think? It is a beautiful city though, and I can't wait to see more of it.  I plan on going to a soccer game with Manu tonight so I will let everyone know how it goes.  Hasta luego!

Traveling, finally!

So it's off to Denver to see Emma Galvin and then onto Breckenridge to tumble down the side of a mountain.  I've been told to snowboard first, then switch to skiing because that's apparently easier than vice versa.  Either way, I am prepared to fall down a lot.  And at least it will be in the presence of bookpeople!

Then off to Buenos Aires and the sweet, sweet summer :)  I probably shouldn't rock the Texas shorts because the Chileans made their flag way too similar to the Texas flag, and you know how those Argies feel about Chile.  Anyway, I will try to update this as frequently as I can to let everyone know what's up, down there.  I will also be available via Skype so let me know if you need my Skype name.  I'm always down for a good old-fashioned video chat!

Also, please, someone come get me if I disappear.

7 Overrated Movies

I finally got the virus off my computer.  So this if for you, Joe.  Please don't hate me.  They are not listed in any particular order.

1. Punisher: Warzone.  This movie, no matter how low its ratings are, will always be overrated.

Pros: You can make some pretty good drinking games to it.

Cons: Everything.

2. The Dark Night (sorry Joe).  Let me just preface this one by saying that it was in fact a good movie.  BUT, as awesome as this movie was, would it have done as well if Heath hadn’t died?

Pros: The Katie Holmes/Maggie Gyllenhaal character “Rachel” is dead.

Cons: Two-Face character was a huge disappointment.  What a waste.

3. Juno.  Sorority girls everywhere hate me.  Let’s be real though, no pregnant high school girl would act as nonchalant as she does.

Pros:  Hamburger phone.  Michael Cera.

Cons:  Annoying and unrealistic. Also, did anyone else think the creepy older guy hitting on her was unnecessary?

4. The Twilight Saga.  Vampires that don’t eat humans?  This goes against everything vampires are infamous for.  Mix that with some bad acting and Mercy Brown’s heart was ripped out for nothing.

Pros: There is a least one Muse song in every movie.

Cons: Muse allowed their songs to be put in Twilight.

5. The Pink Panther (remake 2006).  Sorry Katherine, let’s just hope they don’t remake all of the movies.  I think there are 7.

Pros: “Stop browbeating her! Can't you see she is sexy?”

Cons: There are just so many.

6.  Homeward Bound. The curse of my childhood was having to watch this at every birthday sleepover.  I hate this movie.

Pros:  You can’t ever be mad at Michael J. Fox. (Just disappointed…)

Cons:  Talking animals? There is nothing fun about this movie.  Why did kids like it so much? 

7.  Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World.  After all the anticipation building up to it, unfortunately it just didn’t live up to the hype. And yes, I know this movie was also in my underrated movies, but it was just so bad that it was good. 

Pros: “Don’t go into the long grass!”

Cons: “Mommy’s very angry.”