¡Bienvenidos a Buenos Aires!

I have heard that phrase so many times in the last few days! If there was one thing that was not exagerrated about this city, it would be the friendliness of porteños (Argentines who live in Buenos Aires.)

I arrived on Friday morning after a very pleasant flight (I got moved into first class!) and got to the Hotel Etoile where I spent two days exploring the Recoleta neighborhood on my own. I have flown by myself before, but never stayed in a hotel alone, so the experience was novel. I´ll have to say it´s not my favorite. I was relieved to get to orientation yesterday and see the staff and other girls who came early for the intensive program.

We left orientation with our homestay families. This has been the most challenging experience of my (short) time here thus far. I can communicate with my host mom, Nancy, as well as the older girl Oriana, fairly easily though they speak a little fast for me. But the younger girl, Giuliana, speaks rapid fire and in an accent that is even more difficult to understand than usual. I am afraid of offending her but usually I have to just smile and nod whenever she tries to tell me something. It is also going to be more difficult than I imagined to adjust to living with a family. Nancy and the girls are incredibly sweet, but they obviously have different customs, and until I feel more comfortable I am afraid to do anything to mess up their routine. Last night we didn´t eat dinner until 11:30pm and I thought I was going to faint. The girls´room is right next to mine, and they don´t have any qualms about coming in without knocking. Nancy also told me she wants me to tell her where I´m going when I go out, even to school, and when I think I´ll be home. Since I´ve been getting lost about every other block in this city, this might be a problem.

But it´s definitely a cultural thing and I think the benefits of living with them outweigh any annoyances. Nancy is a very open, warm person, and she knows the city well. I´m sure I will be able to appreciate how fun the girls are when I´m not so tired and overwhelmed. My room is beautiful, if small, and I have a picture window with a nice view. We met the rest of the "estudiantes intercambios" today for a placement test for the intensive course, and the ones I met are all very nice. I can´t wait to get to know everyone better and keep exploring this amazing city.

¡Besos!
N

PS: I´ve only been here 3 days and already been to the Recoleta Cemetery and the Plaza de Mayo. New things on the to do list: Understand Giuliana better and finish unpacking.

PPS: I don´t have Internet in my homestay, so until I get more acquainted with the neighborhood (internet cafes, etc.) access is limited.