Some pictures from La Boca in Buenos Aires

We are all well in Rosario

Hello everyone. I wanted to make a special blog entry to tell everyone we are fine and back home. Even though there was a terrible earthquake in Chile, life in Buenos Aires and Rosario seems normal, with another sunny and warm day. We start classes this week, and will settle into a normal class routine.

Jim

More pictures from BA - Recoleta Cemetary and Plaza de Mayo

Enjoyable time in Buenos Aires

We returned to Rosario from Buenos Aires Saturday evening. Although there were earthquakes in Chile, Buenos Aires and Rosario are fine (some high-rise buildings in BA were evacuated, but other than that, the city was functioning normally). All the students are in Rosario and living with their host families.

Here are some pictures from our time in BA.

BA the beautiful

Today we went to the La Boca area of BA. This is the area that was famous for a high concentration of Italian immigrants. With little money and a need for quick shelter, many homes were constructed with corrugated metal as exterior walls. To cheer up the buildings, the homes were painted bright (I mean, REALLY BRIGHT) colors. The area now is mainly a tourist attraction (too kitschy for my taste) but itś a well-known place and I knew the students would like it.

In the afternoon we went to the march of the Mothers of the Disappeared at 3:30 p.m. in Plaza de Mayo. Itś a very moving experience, as the mothers of some of those 30-50,000 people who ¨disappeared¨ in the 1970s according to the government march around the Plaza. Itś a difficult part of Argentine history, when the government turned on many of itś own citizens.

After the march, I took the students to Cafe Tortoni, THE classic cafe in Buenos Aires. Itś a fun place that harkens back to the days when Buenos Aires was at the forefront of literature and politics.

Jim

The group in BA

We are in Buenos Aires!!! Yes, we took the bus from Rosario to BA (thatś what they call Buenos Aires here) yesterday. Already we have walked along the Puerto Madero area, as well as seen the Casa Rosada and the Plaza de Mayo.

I know that some of you will be coming to Argentina over the next few months. I think thatś a great idea. After these days in BA, the students will know how to take the bus from Rosario, ride the subway in BA, and have a good general knowledge of the biggest things to see. I told them when family members come to visit THEY should plan to show YOU around and act as YOUR tour guide. Although they have classes Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (and the advanced students on Friday morning) there is nothing required for Saturday through Monday, so they can get away for extended weekends.

The weather is beautiful here -- lots of sun, with highs in the upper 70s. I will not ask how the weather is back home.

Hasta luego,

Jim

Two steps forward, one step back

Trying to communicate in a language you didn't grow up with is difficult, and it gets even harder the older you are. I had one of those moments this evening at the supermarket. When I was checking out, one of the items I was buying was on a discount, but I needed a coupon, which I didn't have. So the cashier started talking to me, the woman behind me in line was talking to me, and everyone was staring, probably wondering why I wasn't responding. Finally, the woman behind me in line said to the cashier, "El es norteamericano."

So the secret was out and I couldn't hide it. But I figured with my broken Spanish I could at least explain where I was from and what I was doing in Rosario. We did what all people do to break the ice -- talk about the weather, and they knew that Iowa has been cold with a lot of snow. We all started laughing, and when I left they said "goodbye," the only English I heard my whole time in the store.

It's going to take me awhile before I start relaxing with Spanish. I don't know when it will happen, but I know it will!

Hasta luego,

J.