Wednesday I had class at COPA and USAL. During the day I went to the bus station with my friend and spend a lot of time at COPA using the internet (which is what I do every Wednesday and why you really only get emails from me on Wednesdays).
Thursday was my 20th birthday. It was also my first birthday with classes and my first birthday in “winter” (I still wore a skirt). My host mom took me out to dinner. We had some Argentine beef. Later, I went to my friend’s apartment where a bunch of people had gathered to throw me a party. We hung out and listened to music and stuff.
Friday, we went out to lunch. I also bought challah at a Jewish food store. It was really yummy. I also found marshmallows at that food store, imported of course. We walked around shopping/wandering for the rest of the day. Then I walked home in the rain and did nothing Friday night.
Saturday I went to San Antonio de Areco with a bunch of COPA people, Amy, Meagan, Sierra, Sandra, and Tony (the only guy!). We took a bus from Buenos Aires (its less than 2 hours away) and pretty soon were on a country route where there was nothing but trees and flat land. First, we walked around the town, with a stray dog which decided to attach itself to us (Meagan and Sierra made this very easy for the dog). We went to a chocolate shop that my host mom had recommended. The alfajores (sandwich cookies with dulce de leche) were fantastic. Then we found this huge tree thing (it was a cross between a tree and a bush) and everyone climbed it and took pictures. We ate lunch near the “river,” more like a stream. Amy bought a sausage to give to the dog, which had disappeared when we were in the restaurant, then reappeared, but didn’t want to follow us any more. We crossed the river and went to the museum Ricardo Güiraldes’s house. He was a writer from the same time as Borges, but he wrote about gauchos. After that, we went to the farm of a family friend of Amy’s Argentine family. We played with there dogs (a mutt, a cocker spaniel, a yellow lab, and a golden retriever). We went back to town because Sierra and Amy wanted to ride horses and we couldn’t use the family horses on Saturday (the daughter in charge of the horses was working). While they were riding, the rest of us explored the town some more and walked around a lot. We found some orange trees near the plaza and I tried, unsuccessfully, to climb them (or use my umbrella to pick the oranges). We went to a café so Meagan could try some mate, a tea-like drink. The rest of us had already tried it. Then we met up with Amy and Sierra, who had both fallen off their horses, had dinner and went back to the farm. At the farm we tried to meet the family, but only 2 or 3 of the 9 brothers and sisters were around and the parents had gone out also. We hung out with the youngest, Ignacio, age 11. We went to sleep early, like midnightish. Our rooms were adorable, but the heat didn’t really work and it was only 3 or 4 degrees out. We slept in pretty much all of our clothing and blankets and stuff. It was fine for one night.
Sunday, I woke up to the sound of my phone talking to me. Apparently my alarm clock talks. It was telling me to walk up and that it was 7:50 in the morning. We had breakfast in the main house next to a roaring fire. Then it was time for horses. I went first. Nearly cried it was so terrifying. Then Sandra road around a little. Then Tony, Sierra, and Amy went on a long ride with one of the daughters (and the 7-month old yellow lab and golden retriever). Sandra, Meagan and I went for a walk up the road with Inga (the cocker spaniel). We walked around the industrial area of town near the old, overgrown railroad tracks. We left for Buenos Aires around noon. Meagan and I met Steve at the Feria de Recoleta (big fair-like thing). Meagan and I bought mates (so we can make our own now) and shared a pastry-like thing. I left the fair at 4ish because I was exhausted. Came home, showered, and did nothing the rest of the day.
Monday, I went to the gym and then a cooking class. It was pretty boring. I don’t like cooking classes where you watch someone cook. I want to cook. The woman made whole wheat croissants, which I’m going to try with regular floor rather than whole wheat. Then Meagan came over for dinner because her family doesn’t eat dinner together, or talk to her and they’re never home. I made fajitas (which were not at all spicy, so I had to keep adding cayenne and stuff to them). They were really yummy. My host mom had never had them before. The spice packet was imported from the US. We walked our telenovela and went to bed.
Tuesday I went to the center of the city to buy some stuff for my camera and walk around. Then I went to pilates. My host my and I made another meat loaf; she really likes it.
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