Ahora, vivo acá

So, I don´t think I really live anywhere. I gave a little presentation about my ´hometown´, La Isla de Bainbridge, and my teacher asked ´Where do you live now?´ and I said ´Right now, I live here´. That´s all I know.
Here are some of the thoughts on the place I am living right now...

Size: This place is quite big and filled with lots of people. However, it does feel smaller everyday with knowing a few neighborhoods. It is also a little crazier, I will admit.

Buses (Collectivos): Ok, I love transportation systems, weird I know. I grew up with Seattle´s system which is actually a similar to the one here (meaning destination to destination), but I have been spoiled with Chicago´s very simple layout that I get a little nervous about the buses here. They go from destination to destination and will turn randomly and not stop if they don´t want to. There is a whole book that they sell just for a guide to the buses.

Subway (Subte): There are things I like don´t like about this system. It´s the same colors as Chicago, which is fun, and all the lines meet downtown as well, but it is much much cheaper. It only costs 1.10 pesos for a ride (which is about 30 cents) and it´s quiet. However, there is no AC, TVs in the stations with advertisments always on. There is always someone coming around selling something- they simply go around and place the product in you lap, let you look at it and contemplate if you really want this garbage and then come back around and pick it up or you can buy it.

Taxis: These are quiet nice here. The meter says about the same price as it would in Chicago, but it´s in pesos! AKA, they are really cheap. You can go across town for about US$15. I have enjoyed chatting with taxi drivers here, but you are only supposed to take certain ones and I have heard some not great stories about taxi experiences. I try to be as safe as possible, don´t worry.

Cleanliness: I guess it´s not that dirty considering how many people are here and where it is located, but I hate city dirt on my feet (honestly don´t mind regular dirt though). When you walk around, watch for which square you step on because it might not be secure and you will get splashed with water. Also, when you walk around or sit outside close to a building, just keep telling yourself that the water dripping, when you know it hasn´t rained for at least a week, is definitely from the air conditioner above. Ugh, that´s the weirdest for me.

People: It kind of seems like everyone is an immigrant here, like in the states. So far, everyone has been pretty nice and friendly. No complaints here.

Food: Typical quick breakfast at a cafe is a cafe con leche and 3 medialunas (crossiants), I like it. Oh, the empanadas are everywhere and so cheap! I like the ones con carne (with meat, beef), pollo (chicken), and verudas (veggies, usually just spinach actually). Have you heard about Dulce de Dulce? They looooove it here, it´s like a milky caramel, quite good. They sell it by the tub at the store. There is a good little cookie thing called alfajores made with ducle de leche. The specialty of Argentinian food, I think, is a parilla, basically where they grill a bunch of meat. And, much needed in this weather, is the good ice cream (Mora ice cream shop on Bainbridge, anyone? It´s like that).

All in all, it has been fun to be here. I will be honest with you, though, I am ready to leave the city and spend some time in smaller towns and in the outdoors. Not in a bad way, just confirmation that I am supposed to be leaving Chicago because there is something from my life. Today I am going to take a 16 hour bus ride to the Iguazu Falls with some people from school- I´m quite excited! For now, here are a few more pictures....