First Impressions

Greetings from Argentina!

I am finally here in Buenos Aires! I cannot believe I have arrived after waiting so long to leave for South America. I forgot how exhausting traveling is, I can't remember the last time I was this tired before. I took off out of the Atlanta airport at 5:35 PM and got to Miami at around 7:30 PM. After a few minutes of searching I found Megan and Daniella at our boarding gate. It was good to see some familiar faces and have some travel buddies. We flew out of Miami at 11:55 PM and arrived in Lima, Peru at 5:45 AM. That flight was rough to say the least. After getting breakfast in the Lima airport (some ill-advised yogurt choices) we finally headed to Buenos Aires. We were extrmely surprised to see some IES staff members still at the gate waiting for us because it was 3:00 and we thought they were leaving by 1:00. They were all very nice and helpful and one girl even took the taxi with me to my homestay! Buenos Aires is MASSIVE. I didn't understand how huge it was until I was driving into town from the airport. I was nervous (to say the least) because we passed several slum areas on the way to were I was living. The IES girl pointed these slums out to me and told me they were very dangerous but I was not living anywhere near them (much to my relief!!).

I was completely blown away when we got to the part where I am living, called the Recoleta. It is one of the nicest parts in town and I am so happy with where I am. I was blown away by how beautiful the streets were--there are so many trees lining the street that add a very cool ambiance to the city. I also noticed that the city seems to have a very european feel. There are tons of Italian restaurants lining the streets, and many people who look completely American.

As I walked into my homestay my host Mom, Nelida, started screaming HOLA TESS and gave me a huge hug as I walked into the room. We sat down and had some of the Banana Muffins I brought her from the states and chatted for a bit. After about five minutes I knew that my host mom and I were going to get along great. She is so lively, funny, and is the type of person who won't sugar coat anything but just tell it like it is. I know that I am going to be very comfortable around her and for that I am so so thankful. She showed me my room and bathroom which are quaint but definitely adequate. My bathroom is basically a shower that has a toilet and a sink in it. While I am taking a shower it is going all over the toilet and sink--so strange! Ha!

After getting to know Nelida and settling in for a bit I met up with my friend Ryan and walked around the city. Now, I am from Atlanta but I have never lived in the actual downtown area. Right now I am living in an apartment right in the middle of everything! I almost feel like I am living in New York! There were people all over the place and buses/taxis were nearly running me over! After some debate on where to go to get food we decided on going into a little empanada place close our apartments. These empandas are so cheap and so good! I know I am going to be eating many more of those over the next four months. Ryan and I were going to go grab a beer at another restaurant nearby (horay for me finally being legal!!!) but we were both so exhausted from the past 24 hours of traveling that we decided to just go to bed early.

Tomorrow I have to be at the IES center at 9:00 AM for the begining of orientation. Although I have 8 other friends with me here, they are all ISB majors and are in advanced Spanish while I am bringing up the rear in the beginner level. That being said, they are doing a separate orientation and classes so I am going to be all by myself again tomorrow. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to meet some new people while I am there!

Like I said, I cannot remember the last time I was this tired so I am gonna head to bed. I wonder what adventures tomorrow will bring! :)