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 :)
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