Day 1-Hola Argentina!

Buenos Dias from Argentina!!! After a very long flight I am here! My plane left Houston around 9:45 pm last night, and I arrived here around 9:30 am. There is a 2 hour time difference between Buenos Aires and Frisco, TX (CST).

I was greeted at the gate by 2 lovely Argentinan women from the Rotary Club. They were holding up a big sign with my name on it so that I would know where to go. From there, we headed out to the home of Mercedes, the rotarian with whom I will be staying for the first part of the trip.

Stepping out of the airport, I immediately noticed the cool air. It is winter here, and it feels like it's about 55 degrees out, but the sun is shining, and so actually it's really nice...especially compared to the 100 degree day we had yesterday in Dallas. We rode through the busy streets of Buenos Aires to the house and I was able to get settled and change clothes. Mercedes made coffee and toast with dulce de leche (a caramel-type cream)...It was yummy! It's funny because I usually have toast with peanut butter for breakfast, so this was kind of like my "everyday breakfast", but with an Argentinan twist.

I immediately learned some important local Spanish lessons while talking with Mercedes and Margarita...First of all, Argentinans do not use the word "tu" for "you" (informal)...They use "vos", and so that will take some practice and getting used to. Also, "yo" is not "yo", it's "zshow"...There is a little zzzssshhh sound in place of the y and also in place of 2 Ls (like llama)...I've been practicing it when I talk, and it's making us all laugh.

Now I am at Mercedes' shop, hanging out with her and some of the people who work for her. We are watching the coverage of the World Cup on TV, and I am taking advantage of the free wi-fi and catching up on the blog. Mercedes has me at a table at the front of the shop, so every time someone comes in, they look at me and then start talking really fast in Spanish about wanting to buy something. I just smile and look dumb until Mercedes explains that I am the exchange teacher from the US and that my Spanish is limitado...It's kind of funny.

Mercedes also fed me a great lunch of empanadas...They are little pies filled with meat and cheese. They are sooooo good!!! I am posting some pictures of our lunch. If all the Argentinan food is this good, I am in trouble!!!

I am feeling tired, but I will try to stay up this whole day and get a really good night sleep tonight. I am so happy to be here, and I can't wait to explore this great city as well as meet more people and learn more about the Argentinan culture. I miss you all and hope everyone is OK back in the US. Until my next post...Nos vemos!

Lisa :)

Buenos Tardes Amigos!

I am here in Houston, waiting for my plane to Argentina. I love being at the airport, and especially walking to the international terminal...It always means that I am on my way to an exotic locale and that I'll be experiencing something new and different.

This will be my first time in South America! I am praying for a good flight and that my Tylenol PM will help my headache and my need for sleep. Tomorrow morning I will be in a new country!!! Until then, wish me luck in getting succesfully to my destination with luggage and finding the right people to meet when I get there.

Besos!

Lisa :)

Argentina VS Mexico

I am glued to the TV, watching the Argentina/Mexico game...Argentina just scored!!! We are watching the game on Univision b/c it is much more fun to watch on the Spanish channel...We love it when the announcer yells "GOOOOOOLLLL!!!!!"

Today is Sunday, June 27th, one day before I leave for Argentina. I am 1/2 way packed and just made a last-minute trip to Walmart to get a few more things I need for the trip. Yesterday we watched the US game and were sad to see our team eliminated by Ghana...Now, I am definitely routing for Argentina, and I am excited about the chance to cheer for them when I am in Buenos Aires.

My heart is also with Mexico in this game. I lived there for 2 years and was actually in Mexico City in 1999 teaching school during the World Cup. I remember bringing my tiny portable TV to my classroom in Bosque de las Lomas and watching the games with my 1st grade class. It was so exciting, being part of the celebration at La Fuente de Diana on Reforma when Mexico won one of their games in the first round.

It looks like Argentina is dominating so far...the score is now 2-0...but that could change at any minute. I am attaching a video of us watching the game, and I will post again before I leave for BA tomorrow.

Besos!

Lisa :)

3 Days Until Departure

This is a test run to see if the blog is working. I am sitting here on Thursday (6/24) in Frisco, Tx watching a rerun of the Brazil/Portugal World Cup game with my oldest son Ryan. It is exciting to think that in a few days I will be in Argentina, in the middle of the excitement of their quest for the World Cup...I will still be cheering for the USA though...In fact I bought an I "heart" USA button and red, white and blue mardi gras beads to wear on the trip when I visit the schools in Argentina and when (and if) I get the chance to watch the US play while I am abroad.

I will be experimenting with the laptop and attempting to post pictures and video on the blog. Wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed, b/c if you know me at all, you will also know that I am a bit of a "technophobe" and am not sure how all of this blogging/downloading picture stuff works.

Until my next post, this is Lisa Saldana, the FISD teacher going abroad to Argentina, signing off.