Lucia la Gringa

Ski masks and booties

So I haven’t written in a long time, and basically it was because I had better things to do than write things and inform you people. hashtag sorry! Anyways, things have been rolling along wonderfully here in BsAs. 

The last thing I wrote about was…studying or something. Now on to an equally boring topic (that I shall make festive)—the weather! It’s freezing here. Or should I say, in the 40s. But as I’m becoming ever so porteño and argentine, it would make sense if I thought it was freezing. It just started getting cold here a couple of weeks ago (remember it’s winter in the Southern hemisphere). Although winter happens every year, people have been dressing like the next ice age is blowing in, localizing itself specifically on the streets  Buenos Aires. 

Personally, I love it. I’ve taken it upon myself to be ultra trendy and wear scarves and boots and multiple layers and leather jackets and stuff. Porteños, however, wear ski masks.

(I did not take this picture. I doubt this blog has any sort of high viewership, so with the small possibility of whoever DID take it happening to read this, I’m very grateful and am not trying to rob you of your creativity and stuff.)

I used to stand out because I was so blond and tall and pale. Well I’m still tall and pale, but I’m a little less blond thanks to my ever growing roots (which, sidenote, is stylish here.) Anyways, now I stand out because I don’t layer up like I’m about to hop aboard Shackleton’s ship and chill (pun, see what I did there?) amid icebergs. 

It’s also really funny because people are really concerned that they’re dogs will die of frostbite when they go outside…as if they didn’t have fur or something. I’ve seen a TON of dogs with coats, as well as a lot of stores devoted to selling clothing for dogs.

(Newsflash: didn’t take this one either. Thank you to whoever did!)

But yeah, they dress their dogs. Also, you know how in the US people put little booties (haha) on their dog’s feet so they don’t get cold? That happens here too, except not because of the cold, because they don’t want their feet to get dirty. This really is a filthy city, but…really?

So it’s cold and/but I’m loving it here! Can’t wait to see what sort of shock my body will be in when I get home and it’s hot and summery.

How to “study” abroad in Buenos Aires

Greetings, diligent followers. Haven’t posted anything in a long time, sorry. Except not really, because I’ve been doing amazing things!

Since my last post I’ve gone to Patagonia and hiked some mountains (nature <3), watched movies in other languages with only Spanish subtitles (Rare Exports and Goodbye Lenin), learned how to cook Argentine food, explored BsAs happy hours, visited my wondrous friend Lizzy for her birthday in Santiago de Chile, gone to a bunch of plays for my theater class, and a lot of other stuff too!

I’m completely loving it here. It’s great. The only semi-boring part about studying abroad is…studying. And now that I’m about half way through or so, I’m realizing that I actually live here and it’s not really a vacation. The good part about that is that a lot of the time everyday things make me feel like I’m on vacation. But classes can take up time, which can be slightly inconvenient. I still go, obviously, but I decided I needed to find a more interesting way to do my homework.

Brie makes homework better.

So do brownies and cafe con leche.

Semi-obsessed with cafe con leche. Essentially—okay entirely the same—as a latte, but I feel more exotic when I drink it.

So, that’s my little update. Bookmark this page and reread it over and over, my prose is addicting I know.

Making Pasta/Stop Worrying, Mother

I know I talk about food a lot. Sorry. It’s really easy to only eat carbs and meat and fried cheesy good things, especially when I have limited access to a kitchen. But I wanted to assure you all (‘you all’ meaning my mother) that I do eat vegetables too. No te preocupes, mamá.

Also, I know there are a lot of pictures of food in my Facebook album. That’s because my camera takes good pictures of food, so I like to share them (and boost my ego). Also, I think food adds a lot to an experience, so I like to remember things like this by taking pics.

Bueno, so on the topic of food. This has nothing to do with fried cheesiness I promise. Two weeks ago (yes it’s been a while) my host parents were trying out their new pasta maker in preparation for Easter (Pascua). It’s a big deal here, and they were practicing making food for the following Sunday when all the family comes over and eats a lot. Anyways, I came downstairs, and that’s what they were doing!

Eugenia was doing most of the work, and Eliseo is just pretending to be working hard (hardly working).

I got to help!

It was really fun! Eugenia and I did most of the work. Eliseo fanned himself because he was so ‘exhausted’ from watching.

Also, later that day, I ate beet puree and carrots at a restaurant. So take that!

Heavenly Bombs for lunch

Hello my diligent followers. Here’s what I ate for lunch today. It’s called a bomba de papas, and is basically mashed potatoes rolled into a ball with melted cheese inside. 7 pesos aka less than 2 dollars, aka a steal. nomnomnom

I didn’t take this picture, I found it online.

Latest obsessions

The reason I haven’t posted anything in a while is because is because I’ve been preoccupied with my latest discoveries of God’s gift to man (but specifically me).

One being the wonderful country of Uruguay. If you creep on me on a regular basis (which I hope you do), you probably saw some pictures of a really amazing beach and some cute houses and stuff. That’s Cabo Polonio, Uruguay, where I spent the entirety of last weekend lying on the beach, eating really good asado (beef) and drinking sangria. If it sounds like I’m bragging, which is always a possibility, I’m not trying to (weird). There’s just no way to describe how beautiful this place was. No electricity and no running water, Cabo Polonio is basically about 40 little cottages scattered on a beautiful point. There aren’t even any roads connecting the houses to each other, so if you walk around you’re actually just walking in someone’s yard.

This picture doesn’t really do it justice but its still pretty good.

Here’s another one.

The whole thing was awesome, including the 12 hours of ferries/buses/cabs we took. No one brought enough cash, so we barely made it back (we thought we were going to have to start a street show) but that just added to the fun of it all. So glad I went.

My second discovery are alfahores. They are basically cookies with dulce de leche in between them (you want to click that link), and covered in chocolate. All for five glorious pesos ($1.25). Come on people.

I am a living testament to the powers these guys hold. On Tuesday I had a three-hour class, a break, and then another two-hour class (my life is hard). During my break, I went down to a kiosko and bought not one, but two (two!) alfahores. They were divine, and instantly gave me a reason to live—or at least to pay attention during my second class. Also, instead of the normal cakey cookies, they were Oreos. I love Oreos. Boom.

Ten reasons why today is perfect

1. I ate 3 delicious medialunas (like croissants) for brunch.

2. The bus wasn’t too crowded.

3. It’s 72 degrees and sunny.

4. I didn’t get lost when I took the bus to Almagro.

5. I got an internship with The Argentine Independent!

6. My class schedule is finalized (mostly).

7. I beat my high score on Temple Run.

8. I didn’t get any blisters today (!!!!)

9. Tickets to Uruguay ordered.

10. I don’t have to get up early tomorrow!

Obi Wan Kenobi & Antonio Banderas

Yesterday I had my first comm class at the local university UCES, which was somewhat of a shit show (sorry, mom/grandma!) because the professor talked so fast I didn’t understand him at all. During the break (it’s a 3 hour long class—literally too much fun) I went up and told him I was an exchange student, hoping he would take pity on me and ignore me for the rest of the semester.

However, 20 minutes into the second half of class, I realized everyone was staring at me..and I had no idea why. I realized that the professor just addressed me, saying “this girl is from another country and has no idea what I’m saying because I’m talking so fast and using such big words.” Obviously I laughed/twirled my hair/smiled/agreed with him as briefly as possible while everyone laughed. What he said was completely true, but I have no idea why he felt the need to do it. Whatever, I’m over it.

This professor guy, I call him Pablo (mostly because I’m pretty sure that’s his name) is an embodiment of Buenos Aires style. Meaning, he looks like he got dressed in 1996. Everyone here is straight out of the 90’s, and who doesn’t love the 90’s?! (insert ‘Buenos Aires’ as needed).

He also has a little rat tail that he carefully braided like his good friend, Obi Wan Kenobi.

But yeah, other than that fun little experience, things have been superb. The power went out last night so my host parents and I had a very romantic candle-lit dinner, and Friday I ate a really delicious steak with my friend Celina. Our waiter was actually related to Antonio Banderas he was so beautiful.

Here’s what it looked like. (the steak that is)

It was really good.

Que Bueno/Paying Homage to Evita

Guess what I did today? I walked three miles in the rain! It was great, (meaning long, cold, and slightly humorous in hindsight). However, after I got home, there was victory. During dinner, we started talking about movies and actors and their daughter (in her 30’s) and I started discussing which actors were hottest. She loves Adrien Brody which I don’t understand, but we both agreed on George Clooney.

I told her about my nomination for best supporting actress alongside George in The Ides of March, and how he’s great and stuff. Anyways, by the end of the convo I was saying how no one deserved George but me. Typical. This really was a dumb conversation, and it’s even less interesting to retype, but it was the first time I managed to be sarcastic/sassy in Spanish!

This is a big deal. I am a very sarcastic person, and thus far my personality has been nonexistent. Sometimes I don’t know exactly what they’re saying to me so I just say “Que buenooo” or “Perfecto!” or “Que linda”. Until now I think I’ve come off as literally loving every single thing and being impressed by everything they say, I’m pretty sure they think I’ve been living under a rock for the last 20 years.

Look at this photo carefully. See how my face looks kind of weird?

It’s because I was singing “Don’t Cry for me Argentina” as we stood in front of the Casa Rosada (where Evita lived). Not kidding.

Argentine Trends

1. I am really white. And blonde. Which is cool, but it also makes literally every other person stare at me wherever I go. As we all know, I love attention, but this has been a little much sometimes. There are blondes in Buenos Aires, but it’s pretty obvious it’s dyed, so I’ve resigned myself to for always and ever being a gringa. Even when I do finally master the public transit system.

2. My host dad, Eliseo, cooks dinner every night, and it’s always delish, but regardless of what he cooks, we always put olive oil and lemons and Parmesan cheese on it. Not on every single thing, but it’s always drizzled over part of it. From what I’ve gathered, this isn’t just a thing specific to him, but rather that Argentinians just aren’t big on spices. It’s not really a problem though, I love all the food and wine I’ve had (no parm/oil/lemon in the wine).

3. People here are hot. Being the creative genius that I am, I managed to get our attractive UCES (university in BA) representative to laugh at me in front of a roomful of people with my question in broken Spanish. Embarrassing? Yes. Worth looking at such a gorgeous man smile at me? Duh.

4. Just like US girls wear Uggs, Argentine girls wear platform/neon Birkenstocks (obviously!). It’s pretty great. I think they look kind of ridiculous, but they pull it off for the most part. Maybe I should buy a pair (and be 3 inches taller than I already am) so I can look less like a Norteamericana…clever idea, I know.

*Since I already draw a lot of attention, I’ve been hesitant about taking a lot of pictures and appearing more touristy, so I don’t have any stellar pics of said shoes. But don’t worry, they’re ugly and you’ll see them eventually.

Insightful right? So wise, with less than a week of residency.

Here’s a picture for you to look at. We went to una estancia (ranch) today, it was increíble.