I'm standing at the threshold of my program. Orientation is over, we had our first introductory class on Friday, and then all of us in the program went our separate ways as we were picked up by our home stay families.
The last two days of orientation were in BsAs. All the students in my program ventured out into the BsAs's nightlife together, not yet burdened with homework, and feeling rather liberated by not having to procure proper age identification or a cover charge at most places.
One of our orientation activities had been splitting into groups and exploring an individual barrio of the city. My group of three went to Puerto Madera, the port part of the town on the River Plate. This is where the city has its origins, and the entire country really. The west side has been renovated, with the old red brick buildings being turned into restaurants and offices. The east side of the river has also been fully developed, although it was during the economic crisis that foreign investors swept in to take advantage of the unbelievably low cost of building high rises in BA. The strip is home to giant corporate buildings like Telecom, Nextel, LG, and more. It's also home to luxury hotels and residential high rises (las torres) which are the most expensive in all of Latin America. I'll probably make my way out there again, possibly to spend an evening at BuddaBar, Asia de Cuba, or Opera Bay (an after-work dance club designed to look like the Sydney Opera House) or at the large Nature Reserve located on the other side of the high rises.
Our last night before moving in with our home stay families we went to a Parilla, where I finally got to try some Argentine steak. As promised, it was one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. I don't think I can ever go back to being a vegetarian again.
(I repented my meat eating ways to the veggie gods the next day by going to a vegetarian restaurant named Krishna, with mirrors and an eclectic mix of music, ranging from Hare Krishna chanting to Prince's Purple Rain.)
We then wandered around until we found some outdoor bars. It was nice to see so many people out so late on a Thursday night, live music and cool beer reminding us that it is, indeed, summer here.
After a week of spending so much time with each other, it was going to be strange to be separated and scattered throughout the city. I was definitely feeling nervous. I am going to have a whole weekend without any obligations (exciting but daunting) with a family who I will have trouble communicating with.
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