Dancing in Chinatown

The system here for doing laundry is great. All you have to do is separate your lights and darks into two different hampers. Then you walk it over to the lavanderia where you leave it with the chinese inhabitants of buenos aires and its clean AND folded by the next day, sometimes even the same day! I love it. Plus it only costs about 8-10 pesos per load which is less than 3 dollars! At Hope I had to pay about half of that but I also had to fold my own clothes and wait for the machines to be available. This is much more convienent.

One thing here that really grosses me out is that while walking around you get dripped on by water. And no its not rain water, it could be water from anything. gross. But I think it mostly comes from air conditioners and watered plants on balconys. Who really knows. It just makes me feel dirty and germy!

Speaking of which, yesterday I ate my a burrito that I bought in the street from a man. This goes against everything that I am. I hate germs and dirtiness but I was hungry and thats what everyone else ate. It tasted good but I'm just hoping there are no side effects from this decision.

I love how cheap desserts can be here. I have previously mentioned media lunas which I still adore. And then there are cookies. I was able to buy 5 small but bakery made cookies for 3 pesos which is less than a dollar. I was shocked. In the US they'd be like a dollar each!

I'd have to say that the biggest fashion mishap here is parachute pants. These pants are hideous and have a dangerously low and loose fitting crotch. I do not understand the desire but I see them everywhere. The girls love them and they do not look attractive at all!

This past weekend I went to Buenos Aires own Chinatown. I dont know why but I figured that even in Buenos Aires would they call it Chinatown. Turns out they dont. Its called el barrio chinese (the chinese neighborhood). However, while trying to tell my host mom I was goign to chinatown and straight up using that word she thought I said the Sheraton, as in the hotel. and Asked me if I was going to get dinner and go dancing. I was like what? They dance in chintwon? eventuallywe figured it out but it was a funny misunderstanding. Now try to imagine ordering chinese food in spanish. haha. The food was great. I went with 8 other girls and we split a bunch of different things which I love to do!

On Sunday I had a bike tour. I was really excited for it becuse I love to bike plus I figured I could get tan at the same time. The day was great b/c it wasnt too hot and had some nice wind. However, an hour into the tour I began to regret my decision. I have not worked out actively ever really. This tour kicked my butt. It was 3 hours and the guide was like a speed demon on the bike. I thought I was going to pass out. I'm glad I did it but I dont think I could ever do it again. I also figured that I didnt need sunscreen b/c it seemed kinda cold out. BAD MOVE. I am now burned and sore. Its a great combination.

After the tour I had to get home. This meant that I had to find the same bus that I came on but going in the oppposite direction which is tricky. You just have to ask people where it is and surprisingly they usually know. I was able to find it but I didnt know where to get off. There was a stop a block from my house but I thought there was another one literally across the street so i decided to stay on teh bus since I had nothign to do and could wiat a bit longer. Another bad move. I took the bus for like another 20 blocks before I was like oops, I guess I should hvae just gotten off. It took me like an extra hour to get home.

I do not know what I did to deserve this but I wake up every morning around 8 am give or take an hour. I think that while I was adjusting to the jetlag I messed myself up and now I cannot sleep in. It doenst matter what time I go to bed I wake up around 8 am and cannot go back to sleep. This will not cut it with the argentine lifestyle of staying up till 6 in the morning. Given, I havent actually stayed out till 6 yet but 3:30 is pretty close!

INTERESTING FACT OF THE DAY: Argentina's Pizza is really really yummy. I eat it a few times a week for lunch!

~liz