Carl, my blow-hard classmate with the hearing aids, invited me to go to lunch today with him and his Argentine wife, Marta. Carl talks about himself incessantly and doesn’t let me get a word in edgewise, but because his wife “demands the, uh, espanol,” as he told me, I decided to go with him and […]

My homework assignment tonight began, “You are lost in Buenos Aires. You must find your way.” It has been a bit of a rough day in Buenos Aires. Apparently in week two of learning Spanish, they really pick up the pace and, as a result, I essentially listened—but didn’t understand—three hours straight of class today. […]

Week Two of my Spanish lessons started today, and my teacher for the week is, officially, the most attractive man I’ve ever seen in my entire life. This rocks because what you really want in your intensive language classes is to be afraid to speak. In addition, the new Italian boy in my class, Luca, […]

So, part of the reason I came down here is to spend some time writing, and toward that end I joined a writers’ group in Buenos Aires, and I went to my first workshop tonight. The folks seemed really nice–all Americans and one Argentine who writes in Spanish (which blows my mind). The piece we […]

I read this quote this morning and began thinking about experiences that push us forward, or stretch parts of us that have, for whatever reason, been atrophied. Enjoy: “We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in […]

It’s been an absolutely lovely weekend–mid-60s and sunny both days. Also, apparently the “give-it-a-week-to-feel-comfortable” advice was dead-on. While it’s still certainly overwhelming (and I’m still not being understood very well), I love the city. I’ve been walking around for two days straight and I’ve had such a great time. (Note: I have been walking so […]

Update: The oven works! The guy who came to help me didn’t speak English, so I’m unsure of the specifics, but apparently I have to hold the gas on for about 30 seconds before and after lighting. I also have to open the door to my balcony so I do not light myself on fire. […]

Interesting things I saw today: • A baby riding on the lap of a cab driver who almost ran me over • A black person (the black person?) • About a dozen policemen standing in front of a huge bank with body-sized bullet-proof shields The weather is really lovely right now—mid-60s, or 18˚ C, for […]

I came to a crucial epiphany today that sums up how I’m feeling: Buenos Aires is lovely until you have to talk to someone. Then it becomes either a horrific, panic-inducing event or, if you’re very lucky, simply humiliating. Recognizing that today was my first full day here, I’m assuming these interactions will become (at […]

Hola! Here I am, after much chaos, outlined below: Friday, 5:30 p.m.: I arrive to Reagan National and am informed that my flight is leaving “about 15 minutes late.” 7:30 p.m.: At the time I am supposed to be taking off, I find myself eating fruit Mentos and reading the Departures board, only to be […]