Last week, I was homesick and lacking a lot of self-confidence with my Spanish. This week, I got out of the house and into a routine. Every day I take a pass through the city after class, try a new food, and take a new photo. Here's a summary of my week:
Sunday, a friend and I met at Patio Olmos, a mall in Córdoba. We walked around the city, looking for landmarks (and my bus stop). Eventually, we sat down on some steps; this is the street view of Av. Colón.
Monday, class began for real. Right now, I'm in an intensive Spanish class (5 hours of the same class) to prep for the actual classes that start in March. This is my classroom--it's in the economics building of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba.
Tuesday, I stopped by the bakery near my house after school. This dessert cost 2 pesos ($1 USD = 5 pesos!). In the US, I'm used to going to Walmart/ Target/ Schnucks/ Walgreens for whatever I need. In Córdoba, every store is particular: there is the panadería for bread, the heladería for ice cream, the papelería for school supplies...you get the gist. While it sometimes seems like a hassle to visit multiple stores for multiple things, the advantage is that the bread and pastries at the bakery are Always fresh!
Wednesday, I discovered that licensing agreements prohibit Pandora from functioning in Argentina. My favorite part of this very professional apology is the second paragraph; the founder of Pandora cautiously accuses me of living in Argentina.
Thursday, I went into the city and grabbed a picture of this huge Christmas tree. It's in the Plaza España, and a week ago, the cinderblocks in the photo were decorated to look like Christmas gifts. This is just one of the many nifty pieces of art in the downtown area...it's also close to the university, so it's a good landmark for me (it's Really hard to miss the giant Christmas tree when you're looking to the horizon for directions).
Friday, I will admit, was a boring day. There are no classes at the university on Fridays, and I'm still trying to adjust to a three-day weekend (I would be jumping for joy for three-day weekends at Wartburg). Anyway, I went to the super near my house and bought two pens. Turns out the bottom utensil is actually a green marker.
*Culture difference* In Córdoba, many items in grocery stores are kept behind a counter, similar to the way alochol and cigarettes are in gas stations...only here, things like paper, notebooks, binders, pens, and school supplies are also roped off to civilians. Getting these writing implements was a comical scene as the somewhat exasperated worker would reach for a pen and I tried to explain, "No! A la izquier--derecha! No! Izquierda!"
*Culture difference* In Córdoba, many items in grocery stores are kept behind a counter, similar to the way alochol and cigarettes are in gas stations...only here, things like paper, notebooks, binders, pens, and school supplies are also roped off to civilians. Getting these writing implements was a comical scene as the somewhat exasperated worker would reach for a pen and I tried to explain, "No! A la izquier--derecha! No! Izquierda!"
*This is not my photo because I didn't take my camera to town on Saturday night.*
Saturday night, I went with a friend to walk around town. We found a street full of craft vendors and, around midnight, sat down at Buen Pastor. At 12:00, a water/light/music show started with the fountains in the front of the place. It felt pretty magical. The rest of the people around us must've known what was coming and were hanging around Buen Pastor because of it, but Megan and I were caught completely by surprise at this moment.
Saturday night, I went with a friend to walk around town. We found a street full of craft vendors and, around midnight, sat down at Buen Pastor. At 12:00, a water/light/music show started with the fountains in the front of the place. It felt pretty magical. The rest of the people around us must've known what was coming and were hanging around Buen Pastor because of it, but Megan and I were caught completely by surprise at this moment.
Sunday, I went to this park for a bit in the afternoon. I don't know the name of the park and my Google skills aren't up to par today, but this park is located near Parque Sarmiento and is also close to good 'ol Plaza España. The park is full of these nifty ring sculptures that remind me of the Olympics.
*Bonus photo!*
So this is the Caholic church that I go to; it's a five-minute walk from my house. It's small, simple, and awesome.
So this is the Caholic church that I go to; it's a five-minute walk from my house. It's small, simple, and awesome.
Adjusting.?!
Things feel more familiar to me now, and I think I'm getting used to living in Córdoba. One major difference between life here and life back in the US is that literally every day, I try something new:
-el colectivo is the public bus system in Córdoba. The buses are infamously unreliable for steady schedules, but for only $4.1 (pesos) a ride, it's cheap transport.
-Walking. I walk to and from school every day, and it takes about half an hour one way. If I have a lot of motivation, I walk home from the city. I don't have a pedometer, but I know I'm racking up the miles.
-Taxis. Taxis are more than preferable after dark; they're recommended. Unfortunately, snatch-and-run robberies are common in Córdoba. Walking around solo at night isn't an option, so if I don't have a group to walk with, I take a taxi. Driving. In. Argentina. Is. Not. Like. Driving. In. The. US.
-Cuidate! It means "take care of yourself," and I think including a little about street smarts is relevant. As I mentioned in the taxi note, ladrones are common in Córdoba; they'll grab bags, purses, and vulnerable valuables. If I'd grown up in a city, the adjustment to personal safety here wouldn't be too difficult for me. As it its, though, I'm from a small town in Missouri and my college is located in small-town Iowa. Nevertheless, I've got enough skepticism and level headedness to stay safe and comfortable in this mammoth of a ciudad.
-el colectivo is the public bus system in Córdoba. The buses are infamously unreliable for steady schedules, but for only $4.1 (pesos) a ride, it's cheap transport.
-Walking. I walk to and from school every day, and it takes about half an hour one way. If I have a lot of motivation, I walk home from the city. I don't have a pedometer, but I know I'm racking up the miles.
-Taxis. Taxis are more than preferable after dark; they're recommended. Unfortunately, snatch-and-run robberies are common in Córdoba. Walking around solo at night isn't an option, so if I don't have a group to walk with, I take a taxi. Driving. In. Argentina. Is. Not. Like. Driving. In. The. US.
-Cuidate! It means "take care of yourself," and I think including a little about street smarts is relevant. As I mentioned in the taxi note, ladrones are common in Córdoba; they'll grab bags, purses, and vulnerable valuables. If I'd grown up in a city, the adjustment to personal safety here wouldn't be too difficult for me. As it its, though, I'm from a small town in Missouri and my college is located in small-town Iowa. Nevertheless, I've got enough skepticism and level headedness to stay safe and comfortable in this mammoth of a ciudad.
Explosion!
Week 2, my daily life ignited; I was past the trying phase of getting lost all the time and stuttering literally every time I asked a question. This week, classes and that annoying "buckle down" sense of education set in, I made new friends, I went to an intercambio mixer sort of thing, and I found a great volunteer group to join.
I went from having no social life to creating a new one; I haven't felt this sort of social combustion since freshman