a short description of heading for this entry:

2004-03-03 / 8:37 a.m.

What a city! I just dropped off a shopping bag ful of very very dirty laundry from orientation at the wash. I mean...we are talking superfilthy. I hiked a lot, ran, went to the beach, not to mention spending many hours in the same set of clothes while traveling. Assuming that none of my clothes return shrunken or ruined, I will consider it a five pesos very well spent.

It is raining here, and very ugly out. I really wanted to run this morning, as I feel gross and slothlike from not being able to adhere to my regular exercise routine. Once I get the insanity of registration ironed out a little, I�m going to join the gym.

Might have a converter/adapter/whatever by tonight. One of my host brothers said he had one at his office that he could bring home for me to use. If that is the case, pictures will follow, and I will take some fotos of my cool house as well. I think I�m going to go now...shower before I have Spanish class at the program office. Ciao!

Sink or swim day

2004-03-01 / 1:26 p.m.

This city is really incredible. Honestly. Though I�m still having doubts about the semester...just wondering if I�m even suposed to be here...it has already been a really interesting experience. The funniest thing is encountering the little details that are so different from the US. For instance, people here use a lot of salt, but I can�t remember seeing a pepper shaker on a table in a home or restaurant yet. When I put pepper and salt on my carrots last night at dinner, my host mother thought it was really cute.

Another example of a small observation: this is truly the city of PDA. You can�t walk a block in BsAs without encountering a couple displaying affection...but it goes beyond this. 9 times out of 10, the couple is really attractive--generally a somewhat metrosexual guy with a beautiful, tan, woman. Furthermore, it�s not just kissing or holding hands...it�s no holds barred, unbridled passion, love-of-your-life affection. It usually isn�t gross--no porn kissing or anything--but romantic embraces, long kisses, laying around on each other in public parks etc. I find that I really like it, it�s endearing...but it makes me miss Joe. (awwwww).

so I�m back in the city now. San Martin de los Andes was BEAUTIFUL, I can�t wait to get some pictures uploaded. Despite how great the landscape in san martin was, I�m glad to be back in the city and eager to establish some form of routine...though it doesn�t look like that will happen anytime soon because of the chaotic registration process....

In the next couple of weeks, I�m trying classes in at least three different universities, maybe four. This results in an obscene amount of time traveling and sitting in class. It�s going to be interesting though, I have my first class in about an hour, and I�m eager to see what its like.

I spent my first night with my host family last night. It was good, but somewhat strange and lonely. I could write volumes on the house alone. It�s beautiful and big and full of charisma, but way different than your typical US home in a lot of ways...For instance: the shower in my bathroom isn�t really like any shower I�ve ever used, as it isn�t located in a bathtub. In the room, there�s a toilet, a sink, a mirror, cabinets, etc...and the showerhead just sticking out of the wall not enclosed at all. The water runs down a drain in the middle of the floor. Surprisingly, water didn�t get everywhere as I worried it would, and I was relieved that my first shower was more or less a success. Despite my shower victories though, it was still a lonely night. I�m a very independent person, but there�s still something strange about going to bed in a strange house.

As for my computer, I�m not sure. While I was told that I needed an adapter AND a converter, the AC adapter that I�ve been using with the laptop says it�s okay for up to 220 volts, which is what runs through Argentine sockets. No one has been able to give me any practical advice on what I need to plug it in, so I think that I�m just going to have to throw caution to the wind and plug the bastard in. Pray that I don�t kill myself in the process, or worse: destroy my computer. I would have done this last night, but my plug adapter only has two prongs, and my computer cord has three. Que lastima. Last call though, for serious...if you know anything about computers or electricity or argentina or wall sockets or electrocution or adapters or transformers, or whatever nonsense I need, please please please tell me before I have 220 volts of electricity shot through me.

This entry, as well as the others lately, has been superdisjointed and inarticulate...but �t�s fitting, because that�s how my brain is functioning currently. There�s a zillion things on my mind, tons I need to do, more I want to do, things to buy, to see, to read, to find out etc. What�s worse, is that these insane thoughts are running through my mind in both english AND broken spanish. Yay. On that note, I�m off. Love you all!

pictures

2004-02-27 / 11:21 a.m.

It�s my last day here in San Martin de los Andes...I have mixed feelings about leaving. It is so beautiful here! I�ve never seen anything like the Andes in my entire life. I�ve taken a good few pictures, but only have a couple at my disposal, thanks to hillary. this is is from the mountain we hiked up monday...I don�t remember the name really, as it�s another indian word, and

thisis me at a beach called Quila Quina. You can see how spectacular it all is. I can�t write much more now, because I�ve had way way way too much pasos de toros pomelo light, and really really have to pee. Love you guys!!

Mountains, Gandalf! Mountains!

2004-02-23 / 10:25 p.m.

I can�t wait to get back to the city. I have a lot to write and update about...but internet here is expensive. I also want to get the necessary transformer to get my laptop to work, so I can upload some pictures. I climed a fucking MOUNTAIN today. I CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN IN THE FUCKING ANDES! dude...my legs hurt like all get out though. Anyway. I�m kind of lonely and orientation classes blow goats...but the mountain thing? yeah...that was cool.

okay. I�m off. Chau, until I return to Buenos Aires.

Ѩ�^��]

2004-02-21 / 2:29 p.m.

oh. wow.

I am in Buenos Aires.

I think I�ll probably do as I initially said: update instead of sending out mass e-mail. Don�t have time today, and still can�t use the foreign keyboard so well...but I will.

Just thought I�d let my readers know that I�m alive.

Adios.

2004-02-19 / 2:06 p.m.

I haven't updated enough lately...but I feel I should be forgiven. I've been cramming in as much quality time with loved ones as possible in the week before leaving. Now, with only 30 minutes before I depart for the airport, I regret none of it--even though I still feel pretty unprepared for my trip. oh well, c'est la vie (Should probably have a spanish expression on hand, but there's that lack of preparation again...)

I'm planning on keeping up writing here while I'm gone. It's easier than composing mass e-mails about what I'm doing and such. I don't know how feasible this plan is, so we'll have to play it by ear. Still working on that whole uncertainty thing.

Okay, so here goes. I'm about to leave. I'm going to miss those of you I know in real life...If there are any strangers who read this: what the hell...I'll miss you guys too. I'll be back July 17th, and I'll be accessible by e-mail until then.

Adios, Georgia.