November 24

There have been a couple things on my mind that I want to share with you... about Porteños... apart from the fact that they don't sleep and eat all the time... (those are exaggerations btw) they have a thing about deodorant. They all carry it around with them. Now this wouldn't be such a bad idea except that when they put it on... they spray it (cause everything comes in aerosol cans down here, and they wonder why the ozone layer is so big...) for a least three seconds under each arm. Apparently on spray won't do. They have to feel it dripping before they are satisfied.

Another thing is Porteños and the zodiac. Almost everyone here has asked me what my zodiac sign is. Apparently it tells them something... though when I ask what it tells them... no one knows. shrug.

On Tuesday night I went to see Lions for Lambs... the Robert Redford movie. It was really... really intense. I didn't want to see it, but I didn't know what we were seeing until the movie started... and from the beginning when the voice of a female news reporter started talking about the war in Iraq I was like oh, I don't want to see this. I knew it would depress me... but what was I going to do. It was actually amazing. Really well put together. And it's amazing that these days people can put out movies like this about something that may be happening TODAY! I recommend seeing it. I think it's important for people to consider the themes it brings up... but beware. Particularly if you have someone you care about over there now.

Wednesday... I was going to sleep... because I hadn't had a more than 6 hours of sleep for almost 2 weeks... but that didn't work out so well. I went to dinner with Lauren and the fabulous Argentines we hang out with. That led to a bar with an angry waitress, lots of sangría, and coral music (because the group I was in are all in the same choir and like to break out into song... I actually love it, it's like living in a musical!) That led to a Milonga to dance chill and dance tango ( I really only danced about three times, the rest was spent judging the other couples and playing a game with Lauren in which when a guy passes the table you have to say whether you would hookup with him or not... it was hilarious) until they kicked us out at 4am. For a while there was a couple of two men dancing tango together. It was fabulous! So... I actually went home that night... 'cause when I go out in Belgrano with Coco... we stay at her house cause it is so far away from everything... but I didn't get there until after 5. And I even went to my spanish class in the morning.

Thursday Lauren and I went for our first waxing experience... and let me tell you: Steve Carell wasn't acting. It hurts like a bitch. Afterwards, Lauren asked me if it hurt more than my tattoo... and I couldn't remember... but I think it probably did, I don't think my tattoo hurt very much at all. Then I went to my tango class and met the parents of one of the other girls in my class who were visiting from N. Carolina. They were very nice and I was in a very enthusiastic and sociable mood for someone so sleep deprived so we talked for awhile. We talked about school and how I'm a junior and have no idea what I want to major in, much less do after I graduate. If I graduate. She said a couple things like "you might as well have fun, because then you have to get a job and that's the rest of your life..." and "that's what we told our daughter too, you have four years and then you are on your own..." First of all... my job will NEVER be the REST OF MY LIFE. I read something about Porteños before I came down here: Americans live to work, Porteños work to live. And it's true! But for me, I'm neither. I want work to be a part of my life that I enjoy and am proud of... but it will never be all of my life at any one point. Neither will I probably work in one place for the rest of my life... THE REST OF MY LIFE... no. Now is the only life I have. And the now that is my life will never be DEFINED by my job. About the second quote. It made me think of a conversation I'd had with my Pakistani friend about the difference between family in Pakistan and U.S. I had been talking about trying to get out of school because it cost so much and I didn't want to be in debt. He'd been surprised by this. He asked if my parents weren't supporting me. I said no... I've always felt extremely supported by my parents. But in the U.S. it's not common for parents to pay for all their children's school and doings after they graduate from high school. He was surprised and said... it's their duty to support their children in whatever until they grow up and start supporting them. Well, needless to say, this is not the way in the U.S. Some people are financially abandoned when they turn 18. I consider myself very fortunate for the support that I get from my parents... and I don't think that my parents will abandon me completely after four years of college like Kelly's mom was talking about. I don't know. I know it's a lot of money, but... shrug. One of these days I will start supporting myself I promise. But I hope that my parents aren't waiting for May of the fourth year to pull the plug and say nope... it's my money... all mine!!! I don't know... i guess I just don't view money as THAT important. You may think that naive... but like I said... my life will not be defined by work... and neither will it be defined by money. I'll do what I can do... and that will be enough. John Lennon was brilliant.

Later that night... I guess that was Thanksgiving... I went to a small dinner party graciously provided by a girl in the program. She and her host mom had cooked chicken (they don't really have turkey here) mashed potatoes, really good stuffing, and apple pie in a small celebration of Thanksgiving. It was very nice and delicious. Then Lauren and I (I love that after only four hours of not seeing each other we have so many things to talk about) were going to walk to our perspective buses, but noticed an odd man kindof following us, so we doubled back a few times and kept crossing to the opposite side of the street when he crossed in our direction. So I invited Lauren to come to my house so we didn't have to wait for any buses alone. The next morning was the wedding of two of my roommates: the cook (28 years old) and the rock star (30). The guests started to show at about 8:30 am. There was cooking and preparation until noon when we walked in procession about 10 blocks to the civil union center, or whatever you call them, and we all crowded into a small room where the man behind the desk with the big book read some things about the law and marriage. Then they kissed and signed the paper. Then we waited outside for them and threw rice on them. Back at the house we waited until they showed up to start eating all the different kinds of empanadas, salad and fruit. Then there was chorizo (sausage) and asado (like steak). Then there was of course cake. 4 different kinds. All with Dulce de Leche in them. At that point I was about to burst. Good thing it was all spread out over some 4 hours. Then I went to my dance class... stupid and full. My teacher advised me that she was going to give me a 5 in the class which is about equivilent to a D+. I was annoyed and frustrated as I thought I had been doing quite well for someone who had never studied Martha Graham modern dance before. Sigh. I've never gotten so many poor grades in my life before, and I don't like it. Then I went back to the party where an Argentine man attached himself to me. He'd just spent 10 years in various places in the states and spoke okay English. It was probably very inhibited by the fact that he'd been drinking beer almost continually since 12:30 that morning. It was very annoying that he wouldn't stop speaking to me in English and that he wouldn't stop trying to get me to go places with him. It was very awkward. Finally he disappeared and I went to bed. The party actually ended at about Midnight... very early for Argentines... but I was very greatful. Last night was the first time in a long time in which I slept as much as I wanted... apparently 12 hours. yay!

Hope you all had a beautiful Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for you all in my life! I miss you. I love you!