A Little R&R

This week off from classes has been rather enjoyable.  My days were filled with sleeping in, surfing the internet, drawing, and a handful of trips into town.  Excellent days, in my book!  Nancy went on a trip to Iguazu with eight other girls for the week and came back yesterday (Saturday) afternoon.  I was glad to have her back here.  I felt like I didn't really do too much without her here but I'm okay with that.

Tuesday afternoon, I met with my Argentine speaking partner, Anabelia, downtown and we went to two art museums, Museo Palacio Ferreyra and Museo Emilio Caraffa.  The Palacio Ferreyra is absolutely gorgeous!  I'm sorry I didn't take any pictures this time but I will most likely be going back there so there will be some coming, I'm sure.  Museo Emilio Caraffa had more modern art which is nice because I really don't see very much modern art.  (I'll probably be going back there, too!)  Plus, students get in free on Wednesdays so count me in!

My favorite exhibit by far was called "Hiela" (Ice) by Rodrigo Fierro.  It was a photography exhibit in which he froze varying plants (mostly flowers) in ice, typically in the shape of a cylinder.  I tried to look up some of his work on the internet to show you all pictures but sadly could only find one example (below).  Hopefully I'll be back to the museum soon enough to take some pictures of my favorite works!

Credit: LaVoz.com.ar

Between watching movies, Skyping friends and family, and finding new US television shows to watch ('Orange is the New Black' is great!  I highly recommend it!), I also have started practicing my figure drawing and quick sketching.  One day this week I took my practice into town and drew people in the plaza!  That's a first for me so it was pretty scary and exciting at the same time.  It went pretty well--better than I thought it would, anyway.  I hope to do it again soon.

Last night, the Alta Crew (United States students living in my neighborhood, Alta Córdoba) went out to celebrate with Flynn Broman who will be leaving this Wednesday.  We will miss her greatly!  Before we headed to the neighborhood Nueva Córdoba (where all the boliches are), we ate at a wonderful Mexican restaurant here in Alta.  I cannot express how happy I am to know there is such a great Mexican restaurant nearby!  I am in love with Mexican food/ spicy food and I have yet to encounter either here in Argentina.  The restaurant is called La Casa del Tatich and it is about 20 minutes walking distance.  It's a little expensive but you get a lot of food and it's a great environment (that of which reminded me of Little Mexico back home).  I got their beef tacos, five for 75 pesos (about 14USD).  I also tried hibiscus tea for the first time!  It was absolutely delicious!  I mean just look at it!

Credit: SimplyRecipes.com

We don't have school tomorrow because it is the holiday of General San Martin.  But classes then start Tuesday!  I'm pretty excited to get into the thick of it...and to have a schedule again.  Here's my schedule:

Translations: Conversation II, Composition, Advanced Grammar, Cultural Realities

(The "Intensivo: Español II" is the course we already finished.)

I will also be taking a photography class online through Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.  I hope that class will help me to capture my adventure here through better, more interesting pictures!  I'm stoked for this schedule.  I mean is it rockin', or is it rockin'?

Also, my mom and I decided that she will be coming to visit me here in Argentina!  She's already bought her plane tickets and everything!  She'll be coming in on October 24th and leaving November 2nd.  I can't wait to show her around the city!  She's already asked if we can experience the nightlife here to which I told her I'd take her to a bar--something I really didn't expect to say to my mom, at least not now.  But I really can't wait!  Plus I think she is mailing me a package tomorrow and that's always exciting.  If any of you would like to send me mail--and please do!!--here are my addresses:

For letters:

Jessica Claycomb

Baigorri 48 Alta Cordoba CP 5001

Cordoba Capital. Republica Argentina

For packages:

Jessica Claycomb

Spanish Studies Abroad 

The Center for Cross-Cultural Study 

Atención: Alejandra Acosta

Bolivia 257, 4to. piso “C” 

Nueva Córdoba (X5000CJE), Córdoba, Argentina

Besos!

-Jessica

The 5 Senses in Argentina

A couple weeks ago in my Cultural Realities class, we were asked to make a list composed of all the experiences of the five senses here in Argentina.  What do we smell?  What do we hear?  And so on.  I thought it would be interesting to put my ideas (as well as some from classmates) here on my blog so you all can get a bit better of a taste (ha. ha.) of Argentina.

1) Sight:

• Dogs.  And more dogs.--There are dogs everywhere here; houses, streets, some businesses, everywhere.  They can come in just about everywhere, too, whenever they please.  Into places such as our classroom:
  
  
  
  
  
• Platform shoes, high side-ponytails, scrunchies...Hold on, are we in the wrong decade?  But seriously the fashion here is almost split in two: one side is just the same as the United States and the other is some weird mash-up of 80's and 90's trends.

Random tidbit: People here dress up more than in the States.  To go to class, students will wear jeans, a sweater or button up (I've some T-shirts, too, but not very many as it's winter here), and nice sneakers or shoes.  Walking around town I have only seen sweats on people exiting a gym.

• Long hair.  Hair here is either very short (for both genders) or past the armpits (mostly only women).  There are more men here with longer hair compared to men in the United States.  When I say long, I mean anywhere from just past military length to is-that-a-woman.  Dreds are very popular here, too.  As for hair color, I haven't seen very many people with non-natural hair colors (maybe one girl with purple and one girl with blue).  But contrary to my prior belief, hair color here varies almost as much as in the States.  The majority of people here have brown hair but that ranges widely from very black to nearly blond and there are also blond people here and redheads.  This area was heavily influenced by Spain and Italy so I guess that's where the varied hair and skin colors come from.
• Black.  When we said this one in class, our professor was surprised.  We explained that every article of clothing is black.  She said that is because it is winter.  Today when I went shopping, I noticed very bright colored clothing in the stores so there's hope for color!
• Mountains off in the distance.
• Motorbikes, motorcycles, I don't know the certain classifications, but they're everywhere.
  
• Couples.  Argentina is the place to be if you are in love.  I'm not even kidding.  Everywhere you turn there is a couple holding hands, kissing, kissing, sitting on laps, fondling hair, you name it.
• Graffiti.  Unlike the graffiti in the United States, nearly all of the art here is political.  It's not just someone's tag, or name, but it's a real meaning to the people here.  Here are some examples at our University:

A rough translation: "This affirmation of dignity that dignifies us all born [with] the courage 

to be different and [to be] proud of it."

Random tidbit:  Argentina is much more accepting of GLBT people.  For example, it is legal here for gay and lesbian couples to get married.

Sound:

• Dogs.
• Traffic.
• Cat calls.  This is just part of Argentine culture.  I was warned before I came but I didn't know they'd be this abundant--or I didn't know I'd deserve this many!  Ha!  Just kidding.  But not a day goes by that I don't hear at least one cat call or whistle, either to me or another woman.  (Though, I do pass two construction sites on my walk to and from the bus stop everyday...)
• Children.  This is a city for lovers and children!  ...Well now that I think about it, maybe those go hand-in-hand.

Taste:

• Salt.  I'm a person who doesn't salt anything, so when there's salt in something I can tell.  And it's in everything here.  To the max.  Even when my friend got a cheeseburger at McDonald's and we all had a bite, every person thought they had to have added salt.
• Dulce de leche.  The sweet from the gods.  It's like a sweeter version of caramel!
• Fresh.  Fresh everything: fruit, vegetables, bread, meat, you name it.  And oh how you can tell the difference in richness of flavor!
• Quilmes.  The beer of Argentina.  Students here from the States have compared it to Budweiser. And it's super cheap: In a restaurant just the other day, some friends and I split two bottles for 40 pesos ($4 per liter).
• Vino.  Wine and beer is more popular than water here.  In the mall, certain food vendors--not a restaurant, just out in the open like a food court--sell a sandwich, fries, and a cup of beer.  Yep, it's that commonplace.
• Fernet con Coca.  Another alcoholic staple here.  Fernet, to me, tastes kind of like a spiced Rum.  I can't really describe it.  I've heard it's awful if you drink it by itself but most people have it with Coca-Cola.
  
  Credit: Taringa.net

Touch:

• Brick.  There are many brick streets and cobblestone walkways here which I think is totally awesome.
• Cement.  Every building is concrete.  Many of the houses in the area remind me of Florida for this.
• Stick shift.  I've yet to see a manual automobile.  Even all the busses are stick shifts. 

Smell:

• Dogs.
• Cigarette smoke.  I would guess 63% of the population here smokes.  And they can smoke everywhere in public here.
• Panaderías.  Ahh the delicious aroma of fresh, sweet bread.
• Good-smelling men.  It seems that almost every man has successfully found an amazingly good-smelling cologne and has conquered the science of knowing the correct amount to wear.

I hope these have given you a better...sense of Argentina!  ...Ha...ha...(Begin pity laughter now.)

Besos,

Jessica

I Can't Believe It's Final Exam Time!

Hello, all!  Today I took my final exam for Español II the Intensive Course.  I think it went all right; I'll find out this weekend when they email us our grades.  The test today had five parts: written, oral, listening, comprehension, and grammar.  It was pretty difficult but I feel okay about it.

Tomorrow, however, is a completely different story.  Tomorrow is the CELU exam.  This is an internationally recognized exam to show how well you do in the Spanish language.  I've heard it's pretty difficult and honestly I don't intend to pass--I mean it'd be great if I do, but here's the thing: The CELU exam is after only one month here and they expect us to know everything BUT there's another CELU exam at the end of November after being here five months.  I hope to retake it in November when I actually have a chance of passing but as for tomorrow, all students in the program are required to take the CELU.

But!  As for tonight, I celebrate: I've made it through five hours/day, four days/week of one grammar-packed class.  To celebrate, I'll leave you all with these random images from my treks around the city:

The church behind the white building is Buen Pastor--the church we visited our first Saturday here.

After I was a model for Coca-Cola, the very next day I saw a real photo shoot taking place!

The Cathedral

The Cathedral

Sorry but I really have no idea what quote this is!!

And as a last parting gift, I'd like to share with you all something awesome.  This past weekend, Jordan, Nancy, and I went to an artisan festival which is held every weekend.  It was completely awesome and I will probably go almost every weekend.  It's a bunch of booths with handmade trinkets, clothes, instruments, food, you name it.  And they had this:

Needless to say, I'm in love with Argentina.

Goodnight!  And wish me luck on my CELU!

Un abrazo,

Jessica

Me? A Model? Why Thank You!

Last Thursday, August 1st, both classes of Spanish II visited La Manzana Jesuítica which is the oldest church in the country.  Since it's beginning in 1617, the manzana (city block) has at one time or another contained a church, a university, and a high school.  The church still functions as a church today but the other parts now act as a museum.

The church

The altar

Looking back at the entrance

The University of Córdoba

For lunch, we got to go wherever we wanted in el centro.  I went with six other students and our two professors to a nice little place downtown which our professor said is known for having good authentic Argentinian food.  What a shame that I forget the name of the restaurant!  But I will have you all know that all eight of us ordered empanadas for lunch.  Yes, they're that amazing.

After lunch, we headed back to the University and on our way, we were stopped by three people in green vests--the man had a camera and the two women were holding baskets of Coca-Cola Life bottles.  The man asked us to be in a promo shot!  So all of us got free Coca-Cola Lifes and got to feel like movie stars.  'Twas pretty awesome.

You Have Apple Pie Here?!

Last Tuesday, I had a meeting two hours after school to set up my classes for this coming semester here.  To pass the time, I decided to take some pictures of the city for you guys!

I stopped by a bookstore and bought my first spanish book!  I also enjoyed some torta de manzana (apple pie) with crumble topping--delicious!

They have pretty awesome benches of all different sorts in the parks here.  Check out that guy 

chillin' like a villain!

This was taken on top of a bridge.  The University is straight down that road maybe a quarter of a mile.  Behind me is the rest of the city.

Can't wait to get some awesome shots of this street at night!

And last but not least, Nancy and I were in un choque de colectivo (bus crash)!  Not to worry, no one was hurt.  Everyone had to get off the bus and wait for another bus to come.

Mi Casa es Su Casa

Sorry I haven't written in over a week!  It's been one heck of a week--I've been very busy trying to get my residence papers taken care of.  So far I've been to the migraciones office four times and have not gotten anything completed.  *Sigh*  Welcome to Argentina, I suppose.

Nah, the people here are totally amazing.  I honestly have yet to meet a mean person.  I'm serious!  Everyone here is so nice and helpful!  Sure there are the people who are a little short or gruff (the bus drivers) but other than that, everyone here is amazing.

As promised--better late than never--here is a post about our house here!  I'll do my best to explain the layout.

The outside front of our house--view from the street.

The door to the left goes into the front room.  Nancy and I usually enter through the garage which is to the far right.

The garage and our room.

Once you enter the garage and turn around, this is what you see.  Our room is up the stairs and to the left where the large window is.

They're pretty awesome stairs.

There's a little walkway at the top of the stairs.  If you notice, the curtains are on the outside of the window.  For this, there is a small ledge outside the window on which you stand and hook the curtains on nails which are on the wall at the top of the window.

Inside the door at the top of the stairs there are three doors: one to the left (our room), one straight ahead (the bathroom), and one to the right (Yaco's room).  

Nancy's side of our room.

The panels at the left of the picture are three pieces of fabric which Gabi strung from the ceiling to the floor in order to kind of split the room in two for a bit of privacy.  She's super crafty and creative like that.

My side of the room.

Nancy and I will be switching sides at some point during the semester.

In our bathroom as well as the one downstairs, the shower becomes the whole room; there's a drain in the floor and just take a shower using the whole room to dance around in.  Nah just kidding.  Who does that?  .....

This picture is taken from inside the garage.  At the right of the picture, behind the tree, is a small yard, a patio area, and Gabi's workshop where she creates plush dolls and costumes for the theatre.  At the right side of the yellow part of the house there is are double sliding doors which lead into the kitchen.

  

The Kitchen

And there's Bordura, one of the two dogs here.  The other dog, Prima, is her sister.

The doorway seen here leads into the front room.

The kitchen taken from the front room.

The front room taken from the front entrance.

Gabi sleeps on the bed there and not pictured to the right is a 

laundry room and bathroom.

The front room taken from the kitchen.

The yard taken from the kitchen.

Those double doors lead to Gabi's workshop.

The patio area.

Also known as the most chill place to have guests over.

This door also leads to Gabi's workshop.

Totally awesome and comfortable.

A back view of the house.

So cheerful!  I love that it's yellow.

I hope you have enjoyed your mini tour of our awesome house here!  I love living here--great people and a great environment.

Un beso!
Jessica