Remember when I was mocking all the ridiculous holidays in Argentina? Well that was until today, September 11 2008, aka Teacher's Day! The gifts have been pouring in! My booty includes:
an incense holder and incense
a tank top
a potted plant
a homemade card
metallic pens
a pencil case
two Agatha Christies (!!)
and an all-expense-paid-PLUS-dessert dinner with the boss lady!
For those of you who were unaware of this important holiday, not to worry, there's still time!Look at previous blog entries to find my address. As long as they are postmarked September 11th, I won't deduct any points for tardiness of gifts.
September 16th update-
the gifts keep pouring in! two bags of chewy candy AND a little scarf!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Un Sábado cualquiera
Hola! So I haven´t written in a while! Mainly because, although I am still trying to be adventurous and do new things, I have found a pretty pleasant, not very bloggable routine here. However, after a dear Austinite friend told me that her image of all countries Mexico and below was "a combination of the jungle and the San Antonio riverwalk," I decided to take her suggestion and write just a little bit about daily life in Córdoba.
Last Saturday, I did my traditional Saturday jog around the plaza about a block from my house (see what I mean about routine? I did change the route up a little bit though!) Afterwards I plopped down to stretch and watch people. In order to not appear creepy, I had to keep a quick rotation. Here´s what I saw.
(I am going to use the present tense to add some of the excitement that might be missing due to a lack of dangerous protests, mysterious Latin lovers or strange cuts of meat).
On my left, there are three or four separate pairs of girls, all drinking maté, silver thermoses in their laps. Thanks to my new, lovely, estrogen-filled housing arrangement, I no longer look at female friends and long desperately for them to turn to me and invite me into their circle. It feels nice. On my right, there are about 25 kids (who would hate to be called kids) between the ages of 13 and 17. Judging by their long, carefully placed bangs, tight pants and gender-blind eye makeup, I would probably say they are floggers. Do floggers exist in the US? Well, just in case they don´t, floggers are a weird hybrid of emo, hipster and a little bit of goth, plus lots of colors. The name comes from the fact that there biggest activity (besides meeting up in plazas) is taking pictures of themselves and putting them on fotolog. As is the case with most "urban tribes," they probably would not call themselves floggers. I like them because at least they stray from the standard Córdoba uniform of tight jeans, tight striped purple sweaters, boots and long layered hair (girls) and boring t-shirts and jeans (boys). They look friendly, and one girl even has a kitchen pot with some sort of delicious snack in it. I resist asking for a bite.
By the fountain there´s a GIANT man who might be a flogger except for his black fishnet sleeve on one arm and some chains dangling from his black pants. He is calling someone on the phone, and he is annoyed. Finally, about ten minutes later, his friends arrive. They are also "onda dark", and I smile as they all greet each other with kisses on the cheek. They may be rebellious in their clothing, but you still gotta follow some societal norms. I love Argentina.
My favorite part of the plaza is the dogs (as long as I don´t lie in their poop). They are so spunky and full of personality, a little gang of British street urchins grabbing cookies from wherever they can get 'em. Just cause they are independent, however, does not mean they don´t need love. One big, stinky guy curls up to a hippie girl who appears to be studying. The fact that she lets him lay his head in her lap makes my day.
Last Saturday, I did my traditional Saturday jog around the plaza about a block from my house (see what I mean about routine? I did change the route up a little bit though!) Afterwards I plopped down to stretch and watch people. In order to not appear creepy, I had to keep a quick rotation. Here´s what I saw.
(I am going to use the present tense to add some of the excitement that might be missing due to a lack of dangerous protests, mysterious Latin lovers or strange cuts of meat).
On my left, there are three or four separate pairs of girls, all drinking maté, silver thermoses in their laps. Thanks to my new, lovely, estrogen-filled housing arrangement, I no longer look at female friends and long desperately for them to turn to me and invite me into their circle. It feels nice. On my right, there are about 25 kids (who would hate to be called kids) between the ages of 13 and 17. Judging by their long, carefully placed bangs, tight pants and gender-blind eye makeup, I would probably say they are floggers. Do floggers exist in the US? Well, just in case they don´t, floggers are a weird hybrid of emo, hipster and a little bit of goth, plus lots of colors. The name comes from the fact that there biggest activity (besides meeting up in plazas) is taking pictures of themselves and putting them on fotolog. As is the case with most "urban tribes," they probably would not call themselves floggers. I like them because at least they stray from the standard Córdoba uniform of tight jeans, tight striped purple sweaters, boots and long layered hair (girls) and boring t-shirts and jeans (boys). They look friendly, and one girl even has a kitchen pot with some sort of delicious snack in it. I resist asking for a bite.
By the fountain there´s a GIANT man who might be a flogger except for his black fishnet sleeve on one arm and some chains dangling from his black pants. He is calling someone on the phone, and he is annoyed. Finally, about ten minutes later, his friends arrive. They are also "onda dark", and I smile as they all greet each other with kisses on the cheek. They may be rebellious in their clothing, but you still gotta follow some societal norms. I love Argentina.
My favorite part of the plaza is the dogs (as long as I don´t lie in their poop). They are so spunky and full of personality, a little gang of British street urchins grabbing cookies from wherever they can get 'em. Just cause they are independent, however, does not mean they don´t need love. One big, stinky guy curls up to a hippie girl who appears to be studying. The fact that she lets him lay his head in her lap makes my day.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Word of the Day: Quilombo
"Quilombo," n, African origin, def. :bordello, used vulgarly in Argentina and other South American countries to describe a big, fat mess. Also the word my housemate Vicky uttered about 15 times this morning as she sat glued to the tv screen, smoking a cigarette in her bathrobe.
Our house is a block away from the municipality and the provincial courts, so at least once a week you´re bound to see groups of people protesting with drums, banners, explosions that sound like shotguns in your ear, and, on one occasion (an ambulance driver's strike) the wafting melodies of a dozen dischordant sirens going off at the same time. So, when I came back from an early English class this morning around 9:30, I didn´t think much about the group of about 100 people gathered in front of my door, this time protesting today's legislative vote to drastically cut retirement benefits throughout the province of Córdoba (I briefly considered going out to the balcony and pulling an Evita. Then I reconsidered.) However, as Vicky and I watched the news throughout the morning, I realized this protest was much bigger than average... the little group on our street met up with tons of other little groups to form (according to the news) 4 "fronts" of 10,000 protesters, all moving towards the legislative building where the vote was taking place. By around 12:30, things were really messy. The tv showed police in guard uniforms with the big shields and everything, detaining and shooting rubber bullets at groups of mainly young men throwing stones, smoke bombs, even burning a tree in the main plaza of Córdoba. According to Vicky, these "quilomberos" most likely don´t even care about the cause, but are hired by the union leaders to cause trouble... they even cover their faces so that anybody watching tv won't realize that it's the same guys that two weeks ago, for example, were protesting something completely different.
Around 1:30 I headed to the terminal to try to find a bus to Hogwarts, and it was crazy!! GHOST TOWN! So many streets blocked off, those dramatic-looking squadrons of police officers standing with their shields all around. As I got on the bus, I felt guilty for this vague sensation of, "Aw man, I´m going to miss all the fun." But at least I´m not the only one: I overheard a guy describing the action on his cellphone with a huge grin on his face, and Vicky gleefully confessed, "I love quilombo." After all, what is a protest if not a spectacle? I guess the question is if all the lights and explosions will actually make a difference. Stay tuned.
Our house is a block away from the municipality and the provincial courts, so at least once a week you´re bound to see groups of people protesting with drums, banners, explosions that sound like shotguns in your ear, and, on one occasion (an ambulance driver's strike) the wafting melodies of a dozen dischordant sirens going off at the same time. So, when I came back from an early English class this morning around 9:30, I didn´t think much about the group of about 100 people gathered in front of my door, this time protesting today's legislative vote to drastically cut retirement benefits throughout the province of Córdoba (I briefly considered going out to the balcony and pulling an Evita. Then I reconsidered.) However, as Vicky and I watched the news throughout the morning, I realized this protest was much bigger than average... the little group on our street met up with tons of other little groups to form (according to the news) 4 "fronts" of 10,000 protesters, all moving towards the legislative building where the vote was taking place. By around 12:30, things were really messy. The tv showed police in guard uniforms with the big shields and everything, detaining and shooting rubber bullets at groups of mainly young men throwing stones, smoke bombs, even burning a tree in the main plaza of Córdoba. According to Vicky, these "quilomberos" most likely don´t even care about the cause, but are hired by the union leaders to cause trouble... they even cover their faces so that anybody watching tv won't realize that it's the same guys that two weeks ago, for example, were protesting something completely different.
Around 1:30 I headed to the terminal to try to find a bus to Hogwarts, and it was crazy!! GHOST TOWN! So many streets blocked off, those dramatic-looking squadrons of police officers standing with their shields all around. As I got on the bus, I felt guilty for this vague sensation of, "Aw man, I´m going to miss all the fun." But at least I´m not the only one: I overheard a guy describing the action on his cellphone with a huge grin on his face, and Vicky gleefully confessed, "I love quilombo." After all, what is a protest if not a spectacle? I guess the question is if all the lights and explosions will actually make a difference. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Hot dogs, etc.
Whoops! Haven't written in a while! So, here's the newest dish in the life of the Abmeister....
1. Still teachin English. All you patriots out there will be glad to know that we had not one, not two, but THREE 4th of July celebrations here at Hogwarts, complete with my off-key, eleven-year-old-boy-giggle-inducing rendition of America the Beautiful and hot dogs, of course (on the left are some photos).
2. I just can´t get enough of Chile! Early June I went to visit my Zapallar Chicagoan pal Bekah (here pictured eating a papapleto, a delicious french fry guacamole hot dog creation)
in Viña del Mar. We went into Valparaiso, the Coolest City on the Planet...
but we also spent a LOT of time in Bekah's wonderful cloudlike bed watching CABLE!
It was awesome.
3. The biggest news is that, for almost two wonderful weeks, I got to see my MOM AND SISTER! Yep, Debby and Lize spent the second half of their independence day on a plane to Buenos Aires, where I met them early the morning of the 5th. We did it up, a little Buenos Aires sightseeing
, lots of beauty treatments, 
, 
a visit to the north to see the puny Iguazú Falls, 
and wonderful visits to Mendoza and Córdoba where mom and lize got to meet a few of the characters I have come into contact with in my time here in Argentina. It was all I could have hoped for: hugs, chatting, early morning bickering, and the chance to show my family my life down here.
4. Speaking of that, things are going well in my new house (knock on wood). Right before Mom and Lize arrived we had a "Fiesta Dark" to bid farewell to very slightly goth German housemate Yvonne. (Here's the girls preparing SANGRE-IA... get it? totally my idea!)
CHAU!
1. Still teachin English. All you patriots out there will be glad to know that we had not one, not two, but THREE 4th of July celebrations here at Hogwarts, complete with my off-key, eleven-year-old-boy-giggle-inducing rendition of America the Beautiful and hot dogs, of course (on the left are some photos).
2. I just can´t get enough of Chile! Early June I went to visit my Zapallar Chicagoan pal Bekah (here pictured eating a papapleto, a delicious french fry guacamole hot dog creation)
in Viña del Mar. We went into Valparaiso, the Coolest City on the Planet...
but we also spent a LOT of time in Bekah's wonderful cloudlike bed watching CABLE!
It was awesome.3. The biggest news is that, for almost two wonderful weeks, I got to see my MOM AND SISTER! Yep, Debby and Lize spent the second half of their independence day on a plane to Buenos Aires, where I met them early the morning of the 5th. We did it up, a little Buenos Aires sightseeing
, lots of beauty treatments, 
, 
a visit to the north to see the puny Iguazú Falls, 
and wonderful visits to Mendoza and Córdoba where mom and lize got to meet a few of the characters I have come into contact with in my time here in Argentina. It was all I could have hoped for: hugs, chatting, early morning bickering, and the chance to show my family my life down here.4. Speaking of that, things are going well in my new house (knock on wood). Right before Mom and Lize arrived we had a "Fiesta Dark" to bid farewell to very slightly goth German housemate Yvonne. (Here's the girls preparing SANGRE-IA... get it? totally my idea!)
CHAU!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Why is my yogurt so expensive?
In case you haven't heard, stuff is going a bit crazy here in Argentina! The farmers are striking because of a new government export tax, and have blocked the roads, which has led to food shortages (or super high prices) in grocery stores, a trucker's strike, super expensive/ non-existent gas, and a lot of worried and/or frustrated Argentines. Here's a few links about it!
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/05/28/farm.strike/index.html
http://noticias.aol.com/articulos/_a/argentine-leader-demands-end-to-farmers/n20080618234609990001
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/05/28/farm.strike/index.html
http://noticias.aol.com/articulos/_a/argentine-leader-demands-end-to-farmers/n20080618234609990001
Monday, June 9, 2008
Ridiculous Wizard Behavior of the Day
Today I caught my Juniors 3 class passing around a paper in which they all meticulously had entered attractiveness ratings for each other on a scale from 1-10 (For example, Agustina- 8.3). I let it slide once I got them to declare me a perfect 10, although I think they were just sucking up to get an extension on their test.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Movin' on out... again
Sunday night, after one last girly chat over tea and pastries, I left wonderful Pau and her wonderful apartment and moved into my newest residence! I got to the house, a big place in the centro with two Cordoba girls and a German, and sat down to eat my lentils. Suddenly I realized... instead of the glorious big screen filled with cable, there was a hilariously ancient tv! No computer with internet at my disposal! No private room! WHAT HAD I DONE?
Well, then I calmed down, and now, four days later, I am glad to say that I am very happy in the new house. I moved there because of the location and the opportunity to meet new people, and both things have been worth it (although I do miss Pau for sure). Sharing a room is so not a big deal, and the lack of a few modern amenities are a good thing... after all, I didn't move to Argentina so I could become obsessed with literally 10 sitcoms and series from the United States! And you, reading public, I think are probably better off if I don't have the ability to jot down every single thing that passes through my brain (phonoaudiologist's day?). Besides, there isn't that much news as of late. My life has become, well, kinda normal lately. ALTHOUGH, in exactly one month from today my mom and sis will be in my loving arms! So that's something to look forward to.
Oh, and my new address:
Corro 93
Centro
Cordoba, Argentina 5000
Bye!
Well, then I calmed down, and now, four days later, I am glad to say that I am very happy in the new house. I moved there because of the location and the opportunity to meet new people, and both things have been worth it (although I do miss Pau for sure). Sharing a room is so not a big deal, and the lack of a few modern amenities are a good thing... after all, I didn't move to Argentina so I could become obsessed with literally 10 sitcoms and series from the United States! And you, reading public, I think are probably better off if I don't have the ability to jot down every single thing that passes through my brain (phonoaudiologist's day?). Besides, there isn't that much news as of late. My life has become, well, kinda normal lately. ALTHOUGH, in exactly one month from today my mom and sis will be in my loving arms! So that's something to look forward to.
Oh, and my new address:
Corro 93
Centro
Cordoba, Argentina 5000
Bye!
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