After spending more than a fair amount of time in NYC, to the point where I have a permanent mental map of Manhattan and the NYC subway system, and living just outside of Philadelphia for 9 months of the year, I mistakenly considered myself a city girl.
Oh boy was I wrong.
Today started out with my first real Argentine breakfast. Things are so different here! The yogurt comes in bags and and is only a little thicker than milk. The orange juice with pulp doesn't really have that much pulp in it, and it's pretty tart. And unlike in America where breakfasts and brunches are huge and filled with eggs and all different kinds of breakfast sausages and bacon and pancakes and waffles and well, you get the point, breakfast in Argentina is muy pequeño. Just some granola y yougur y fruta. But it's delicious nonetheless, and great fruit is in season here! Speaking of fruit, the names of the all fruit and vegetables and clothing items and just daily words are different in el español rioplatense. I need to make a point of learning them all so I can sound more like a local.
So after el desayuño, Cristina went with me to make sure I got to my first day of orientation in one piece. With her by my side, I was fearless walking around and taking the subte. Unfortunately, that was short-lived. Once orientation was over (which included a fantastic lunch outside that got my skin to be a pretty rosy sun-kissed color and a walk through some beautiful plazas) it was up to me to get myself home.
Fat chance.
I quickly realized that today was the first time in my whole life that I have ever traveled alone in a city. And once orientation was over it was starting to get dark out so my commute which includes a 10 minute walk to the subte station followed by a 25 minute subte ride and another 10 minute walk to the apartment suddenly seemed like it was 3 hours long. So after getting lost and more than a few tears, I made it home in once piece. It was a heck of a first day but live and learn. Turn right off the subte instead of left. I got it now.
Tomorrow is the second day of orientation. We have our first Spanish evaluation. Yikes!
I also have to find my own way again. But I've learned where to get a map, and a new Berry, and have written directions so really I have all my bases covered. Back to my old USA planning self, thank goodness.
Anyway, time to "aterrizar" before my second big day. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little more familiar, even though according to the weather my sunshine is going to be traded for rain :(
Bummer! ¡Buenos Noches!
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