Culture time, or anime and music

I am feeling a city which supports 12 million people. Also, the second-largest city, Córdoba, has around 1 million inhabitants. When I think about that difference, and about how tuition to UBA is totally free, the vibe of this city only makes sense. Buenos Aires is like a vortex for all the young people of Argentina. At night, nothing hops before 3am, and it is not normal to leave before 5. The scene is really great, and it's not all nightclubs and bars. For instance, OnedotZero is an exhibition which came to Buenos Aires this weekend. I got to go on Friday night, but I went back on Saturday. It was such a pretty day that I took some pictures:





I didn't get to see the Reactable at Onedotzero, but these were both amusing:

¿Qué será mi groove?

My 18th day in Argentina is making its curtain call. You might ask- 'How are things?' My only complaints are things that make me laugh, and who minds laughing?

For instance:
I've gotten seriously delayed twice, but I don't know that they qualify as being seriously lost. Once I know where a subway or bus goes, I have no problems. It's just that the bus drivers aren't very helpful and the bus guidebook logic yet eludes me. These two times I speak of were both when I was on my way to work and both when I was given explicitly false directions by seemingly-helpful passersby. The horrible results? I was wet and cold (it's been raining) and I had a great story to divert attention from my being late. Not too bad, huh? Also- I now know that it is general knowledge to never ever take the #133.

As far as work goes, I've been busy. I've given classes at a slaughterhouse (frigorifico, which sounds like 'horrific' to me. It's the scary building you can see in the photo), outside of the metropolis in a little town called Pilar, in varous bars and restaurants, and in a hospital. I haven't met a student I didn't like. They give me good reviews, but I'm not sure If it is because I am a good teacher or if I am just that easy to get along with. I don't know what I would do if I didn't get along well with my students- It's hard enough to get up at 6am every day, even knowing that the offices I teach at usually have cappuccino machines. Tomorrow, though, I get to bring in multimedia lessons, i.e. we are going to watch TV on my laptop.

I've seen some great music too! All the venues I've been to have been really beautiful (Check out the photo of the Konex center, where Monday nights mean serious musicians taking turns at conducting an improv percussion group!). I'm really excited to see Joanna Newsom in October, and don't fret if you are jealous because I can still get you a ticket...
I'm pleasantly surprised that there is no lack of social happenings. It's easier to make friends with foreigners for some reason, probably because my apartment is so international, but I haven't given up hope yet that my assimilation will continue. I myself don't stick out until I try to have a conversation, and I don't even know that I want to be porteño (Buenos Aires native) per se, but my Spanish isn't going to get any more natural if I keep hanging out with people who's mastery of the language is hardly better than my own. Make fun if you will, but my 'll's and 'Y's will keep coming out as 'sh' while I'm here. (Don't get me started on how to conjugate for the 2nd person singular 'vos', unique to the Southern Cone)
"Sho me shamo Phillip, ¿y vos?

I went to a parilla, the ubiquitous grilled meat-only restaurants that Argentina is known for. Delicious, if not something I need to repeat often. What you hear is true- they love beef here. As far as food goes, I'm close enough to Chinatown that I can get tofu when I want it, and I always like cooking for myself. The pizza and empanadas are tasty here too, and I found a Mexican place I like. More importanly- the wine is so cheap and so goooood. I've been trying out some of the boutique-winery award winners, as well as the local staples for red table wine. It almost makes me forget how much I miss dark beer from American microbreweries. Almost.
Other news... I joined a gym, my roommates are still great, our dog is dumb, my boss texts me like 8 times a day, and I can't wait for the weekend. Also, Leah just got a cheap(er) ticket, so she's going to spend most of December with me! I'm sure you are all aware how happy this makes me. I think I'll be able to get time off, so we can head to the Andes, Patagonia, and Iguazú falls with any luck. We'll see about Antarctica.

I love everyone, and I miss all of you. Write me, comment to the posts, whatever you need to tell me what is up.

-Phillip

Today I met the director of an Argentine/internationally syndicated maternity magazine, a customer service representative and one middle manager for Safmarine (a small shipping company), and a marketing analyst for Maersk (the largest shipping company in the world, which bought out Safmarine long ago). Today I went north to Belgrano, South to the commercial docks, and over to the most wealthy neighborhood in the city, Puerto Madero. This is all to say- today was my first day of work, for realsies.


My dear blogosphere, last night I went for an interview, and after stuttering my way across a whiteboard regarding the subtleties of present perfect tense and type III conditional constructions, Bobby told me to relax and asked me more specific questions. I felt better about that part of the evening, and was willing to accept that I'm not a professor (yet!), but he asked me to stay to observe a class. Álvaro is an IT guy, and I'm told he's a typical student. He's sincere, self conscious, and if his English doesn't improve he will be fired. We got along well, and the curriculum Bobby uses is very good and, more importantly, very straightforward. Bobby started talking about the importance of reliability while an increasing degree of self-doubt raised my heart rate. Then he asked what I was doing Friday morning, and today I got up at 6:30am to teach my first English class. It was with two very nice women who, like everyone else, gasp when they learn how young I am. Then I followed one of the other teachers around (a Canadian named Natasha, in the red sweater) to several classes, and I'll be doing much the same tomorrow. I'm not so confident yet, which seems reasonable to me, but the company I'm working with is very professional but is also a small, supportive group of (6) people. Also, I get to work all over the city in various offices (check out the view from up high). I'm excited for now, going to try to keep that going.


I'm moving into an apartment on Sunday, I guess you'll hear all about it then.

Flow Pack o' frozen Meat Medallions?

The long flight. 10 hours, plus 1.5 on the ground delayed because the crew found some mysterious luggage. The poor guy had to walk through the entire plane displaying the small parcels which, through his neglect, held everyone up. I think I was one of the only US citizens on the flight. Lots of Spanish-speaking Jews asked me to clarify the crew instructions, even though they were about to be given in Spanish. Even the flight attendants assumed I spoke Spanish. That’s encouraging, I guess. Getting a shower at the hostel was difficult. I was tired and the bathroom was very small, without dry floor space. The staff is nice enough, but no one is super friendly so far. I can understand everyone when they're talking to me, but not when they're talking to each other. Sometimes they look at me like an alien when I ask a question. I guess “ehh.. nn... no” is not the correct response to “do you need a bag?” at the supermarket... Also, people don’t keep cats here. They all live in public parks. Like our parks have pigeons, here they are run by cats. I'm not really sure what to do next. I have an interview tomorrow at 11 am, and another on Wednesday, so I'm figuring out how to get to them. I'll have interesting things to say soon, I'm sure.