"2 de Julio, 2010"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTA!
I really wish I could be skyping her right now but unfortunately that will have to wait until Monday when Hugo, the very nice boy from the electronics store who complimented my Spanish-speaking rather than oggling at my eyes, has fixed the charger.
But now, I need to talk about the COOLEST theatrical experience of my short, yet very theatrical life. Tonight we made a trek via two Supte lines out to Centro Cultural Konex. It's only two blocks from from Corrientes (BA's equivalent to NYC's Broadway) but a VERY sketchy neighborhood nonetheless. But this theatre... AY DIOS MIO! It's literally like a warehouse/backlot with really cool paintings and lights everywhere and they coralled us near the entrance and explained in Spanish that all the lights in the theatre were to be off for the entire duration of the show... Oh! Did I mention this is Teatro Ciego? BLIND THEATRE?? The actors led us to our seats in groups of 10 at a time, all fumbling to find the backs of the person in front of us. We literally couldn't see our own noses it was so dark! I sat on Erica! If anyone had been able to see us it probably would have been hilarious! The show was called La Isla Desierta and all 7 actors in it were BLIND! Brilliantly, they literally brought the audience into their world. We were all humbled to four senses tonight. We saw no more than what they see when they attend a performance, but oh how beautiful and intricate it was! The play started in an office, with the sounds of type writers, coffee mugs, high heels, and even the smell of coffee around us. We traveled to a beach setting with waves, wind, splashing water, birds' wings, ocean mist, and the scent of sea salt! My favorite was when the story traveled to China! Girls in sandals clacking by, a man with a bell on a bicycle, several shopkeepers shouting at hagglers, and the actual scent of orange incense and roast duck! We also traveled to a jungle with a pebbled beach and every kind of bird or animal you could hope to encounter in the palm trees and balmy breeze. How do I know all this when I saw nothing?! The actors were phenomenal with every line, every nuance, every transition. The experience was so complete and had invoked so much imagination, I forgot I was blind! Also being an non-native Spanish speaker granted an interesting perspective. I understood maybe 50-75% of what was being said. I think being in copmlete darkness helped me focus on the listening much better, but I've also figured out that I am very much a visual learner. Charades helps me ok!! But overall my first theatrical experience in this incredible city was outstanding, unexpected, moving, powerful, unique, everything I was hoping to encounter and more! Tomorrow is the big game against Alemania! I definitely have my Maradona jersey and face paint ready to go! OH! And Alejandra, mi profesora, complimented my speaking today too! POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT! I thrive on the little things.