Dia Dos!

It's day 2 and I've officially branched out beyond mi casa and can share a little bit more about this grand city!

This morning (WOAH.....I just caught myself writing in Spanish and didn't realize it.... I suppose that's a good thing!) I survived the bus! There surprisingly no one on it at 9:30am so I didn't look like too much of a fool when I didn't know how to work the coin machine. But I told my bus driver "Mi salida es Ave. Cabildo." just like my family said. And he kindly signaled me when my stop was because he could tell I wasn't from around here. And I got off on Ave. Cabildo in the 4400's.... but the ISA office is in the 800's. So with 15 minutes to spare before my group meeting began, I was about 40 blocks away from where I needed to be. But the weather was nice and it was my first time on the streets of the city, so, without a shred of panic, I just started walking. I may have been 45 minutes late to my meeting but now at least I know my way around Belgrano!
After the info session, during which many scare tactics were employed to encourage responsible behavior among us crazy Americanos, we had empanadas, alfahores (cookie sandwhiches) and took off on a bus tour of the entire city. ES MUY GRANDE. I think what I am going to do is break BA down barrio by barrio and spend a day or a weekend at least doing all there is to do in each section of town, because there is just SO MUCH to do! There's ferias (fairs) and mercados (open-air markets) everywhere. In Boca and San Telmo, the Bohemian centers of town and thus my favorites obviously, there were tons of street artists, musicians, and even tango dancers! In Boca there was a young chiquita, maybe 10 years old, who was dancing a fierce tango with an adult man! I was so impressed and decided then and there that I need to go shopping for zapatos tangos rojos (red tango shoes!)
Also, I about keeled over and died of joy in the Plaza del Mayo today! It is the city center where the most historic and governmental buildings are and as the lot of us unloaded the buses to walk around, we hear chanting and drums emanating from a small alley ahead of us. Then out comes this parade of actors dressed up in revolutionary gear, some in chains, some on stilts, some playing the trombone! They set up a playing space in the middle of the Plaza and proceeded to put on a play about El Dia de Bandera (Flag Day) which is today! Our group had to move on, and I was so mad we couldn't stay to watch the whole thing. But while this magically unfolded all around me, it was all I could do not to stop in the middle of the road, get on my knees, and kiss the cobblestones! THIS IS WHY I CHOSE BUENOS AIRES! RIGHT HERE! For the longest time I couldn't adequatley answer why I wanted South America so badly because I'd only heard just how relevant and cherished the Arts are down here, but I've finally whitnessed firsthand and now I know why I was so drawn here!
But not everything is as pretty as Plaza performances. My bus definitely saw a woman get robbed today in Boca. It was pretty intense and downright frightening to be honest. But it definitely drove home all the warnings we've been getting from our hosts. Luckily I'm way ahead of the game with my go phone, id photocopies, and little travel pouch that I sling over my shoulder and tuck under my jacket. ESTOY SUPERTURISTA!
After the tour today, a group of us went to a little cafe around the corner from the ISA office and shared some wine while watching the Brazil vs. Ivory Coast futbol game. I learned some new names, got some go phone numbers, and tried everything in my power to NOT contribute to our group looking like the obnoxiously loud and tipsy group of Americanos that we were! But then my host mother called me on my phone and I got super excited! I told her where I was and asked when she wanted me home (Claro que mi espanol mejora con vino!) just like a regular daughter would! Needless to say I walked rather then braving another bus!
Its also El Dia del Padre (Father's Day) today so the family and I went out to Jorge's favorite sushi restaurant. He boldly claimed that it was the best in the world, and I must admit that although I am no sushi conosseur myself, it was the best I'd ever had! They invited me to go to their beach house with them next week! I am so excited! They really go above and beyond to make me feel at home and a part of the family. By the end of the day my brain is like a fattened sponge dribbling all the excess information that is beyond its soaking capacity, and I end up looking all dazed and confused and quiet while they gesture wildly and make faces at me to be sure I'm comprehending. They must think I'm an idiot! Esta bien (its ok) because tomorrow we take the Spanish placement exam which will tell us what level of language intensive tutoring we'll be in for the next month. I'm just excited to learn how to speak this gorgeous lanaguage. I'm still goign aroung speaking like an uneducated Mexicano!
But its only day two! With so much time ahead of me, who knows how much I will learn!