Ay! My first weekend in the city!
And yesterday was a true Argentine Friday! After class a couple chicas and I went to a little cafe on the street near our school and shared some tea and good conversation cruised a couple of used bookstores, and then I headed home around 5pm. Did some reading of a play script by an Argentine playwright from Cordoba that I bought in the University bookstore (incredibly beautiful writing btw!) and rested up for a night of fun on the town! Franco mi hermano told me all about the best bars and clubs and even helped me call a taxi! They warned us all about how easily the cab drivers can rip off foreigners, but luckily ours was extremely amicable and even gave us a discount on the fare! During the drive, we had a great discussion with him about how if the Uninted States had won their futbol game against Ghana today, and Argentina wins tomorrow, then the U.S. and AG. would have to face off and I would have to face the possibility of defecting citizenship! He got a good hearty laugh out of that prospect though, and unfortunately he was right! No more Copa Mundial for Los Estados.
But we didn't even go out until midnight (early by BA standards!) and went to a cool little bar in Palermo. There were lots of locals there which was great because I definitely didn't come to Argentina to meet party animals from the states I can do that in LA if I really want to! Then aroun 2:00am we walked around the corner to a dance club called Lansky's. Now at that point in the night the only other people who'd arrived were other Americans! The portenos (residents of BA) don't usually roll in till about 3:00 or 4:00am! But when they did arrive, rest assured no chica was without a dance partner!
Let me take this opportunity to describe the Argentine boys. Charming and suave are a couple words that come to mind before aggressive and macho. They were obviously enthralled with all of us American girls and wanted to practice their English about as much as we did Spanish. But boy, how easy would it have been for each of the girls in my group to come home with 3 or 4 novios (boyfriends) after one night?! "I like your eyes. I love your smile. I'm in love with you. I will be your novio tonight. Don't ever leave me chica linda." These guys have their piropos (compliments/catcalls) down! My personal favorite was when I was talking with one guy, and behind his back another was staring at me as intently as if his eyes were microwaves and I was a slice of cold pizza on a paper plate. He then proceeded to type "Sos hermosa" (you are gorgeous) into his cell phone and flashed it at me, assumably to draw my attention away from the current suitor. I mastered the phrase "Lo siento. Solamente quiero bailar." (Sorry! I only came to dance.) And after being rejected, mind you it took each one about 12 tries before giving up, they'd leave and probably won't be able to show their faes near there for the next couple weeks!
We snagged a taxi home around 5:30 and I was safely tucked into my bed by 6:00am, with my self satisfaction and inflated esteem to snuggle with. When I woke this afternoon around 1:00pm to my freshly brewed espresso that Ana always leaves out for me, I didn't know if I should greet my family with "Buenos dias" or "Buenas tardes!" But it didn't matter because they were all so pleased that I'd enjoyed soaking up the specialties of their vivacious city!
This afternoon the Americanos convened, despite the chilly South American rain, at restaurant a couple blocks down my street to watch the U.S. vs Ghana futbol game. Even with the thrilling overtime and climactic moments of hope and despair, the end had been decided from the start. Congratulations to Ghana. I feel unpatriotic for saying it, but the U.S. does not deserve the Copa Mundial. As disappointing as our loss was, I found myself close to tears watching the Ghana players drying in dignified celebration and proudly taking a victory lap precious flag held high. Argentina's match against their good ol' enemigos Mexico is tomorrow and it is promised to be INTENSE! Better get to the Plaza San Martin early!
OH! And last night Sofi and Franco discovered my videos on facebook! There were a couple of me singing and Franco made a big deal saying "MOM! Did you know Kelly sings opera??" Aparently Franco loves opera. I mean he's always either blasting Andrea Boccelli or rocking the Cold Play tunes on his guitar while Sofi's dancing to raggaeton or Lady Gaga, so I don't know why I was surprised! Plus I think the neighbor below us is in a band or something because I'm always hearing drums thundering up from my bedroom floor. I miss my choir and my piano and weekly voice lesson, but I'm glad I'm still in such a musical house!
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