One Ben, 2 Colorado State Grads and 20 Aussies

Traveling for 22 hours normally wouldn't have left me feeling all that alert.   However, sleep and comfort were not really on my mind when "¡Bienvendios a Buenos Aires!" came across the airplanes' PA.  When I dismounted and continued down a endless, curving, window-lined corridor I had the realization that I hadn't quite filled out my papers, leaving two or three spaces blank.  Normally this would be a minor problem, but since 250 passengers were being herded down a corridor toward customs it appeared there was no way of comprehending my 8-point font (decidedly Spanglish) questions. As I was scowling down at my declarations form I realized that I was now walking by myself on a thick, red line under signs that read ESTADOS UNIDOS-UNITED STATES.  Even with the laughably  bilingual sign, I still had no idea what I was doing when I walked up and collided with the back of the line.  I looked up to apologize but before I could form the words an adventurous looking couple queried, "Colorado State, huh?"  After a second or two of confusion I remembered the sweatshirt I was wearing and immediately started off in conversation with the two Colorado State Alumni.   There advice on the matter of the forms was to put a slash through all the blank boxes I didn't understand and sign at the bottom, essentially declaring that I was bringing nothing at all into the country.   A few scowls and stamps later, we headed our separate ways and searched for our luggage. 

The next half hour was effing awesome.  I hopped into my shuttle car and my driver and I headed off to my home-stay.  On the way there I saw amazing buildings, completely foreign billboards, strange cars, EVERYTHING that was new to me.  Oh, and all this while riding in an insane city for traffic.  Buenos Aires is a place where, even on a 6-lane freeway with police, everyone drives as fast as they can, nobody uses turn signals, tailgating is the norm, and nobody cares at all about lanes.  In this city, police not only drive cars and motorcycles, but have ATVs that zig-zag though traffic at insane speeds.  As I observed everything I tried my Spanish out on my driver, who was not only unaccustomed to anyone sitting in the front seat of his car, but also responded as if he had never heard an American speak before.   But five minutes later, after a lot of horrible Spanish and persistent hand gestures, we were laughing and he was grooving to a salsa mix CD of his I found on the center console.

Keeping with personal tradition, I waved goodbye and then immediately forgot the name of the driver.   I walked up to the door of my residence, rang the buzzer, and waited.  Getting no response I began to ponder what I would do if nobody was home when a blonde, middle aged woman ran up from behind me and let me in with a big smile and Spanish that was much too fast for me to understand.  As I turned to thank her, she walked away and  I was left standing in a long white hallway leading to a scenic tiled courtyard and a small fluffy white dog that was rapidly approaching.  I defensively set my bags down in front of me.  Called out a apprehensive hello.  Braced for perro-luggage impact aaaaaand....¿Hola, hola, hola como estás? ¡Bueno, bueno!   My host mother rounded a corner began welcoming me into her home instantly.  I set my pack and suitcase on the bed of my new room as any ounce of apprehension about my trip abroad melted away with Luís and her super-warm hearted nature (something that needs no translation at all, d'awww).

After meeting the dog, Luis and some random English speaker that was making food the kitchen (my host padre Martín wasn't around at the moment) I was pointed in the right direction and began walking the 7 blocks as directed in my email.  It was time to get to orientation! Once I had walked my prescribed blocks, I looked around for a sign that I was in the right place.  Nope.  No street signs at all.   Huh.... The funny thing is, even when you have an awesome map and directions printed out, it won't really help you if you don't know where you are in a city of 10 million people.  Regardless, I opted to continue down the street I had reached to (hopefully) a stop for the 152 bus.  Well, the good news was that I found the bus stop and was apparently in the right place.   I looked toward the street scanning for my bus with the biggest grin on my face in the world.  Scanning, scanning, 150.....2!  152!  Here comes my bus, score one Ben!  I counted my change, put away my ipod, thought about the day ahead and.....wait.....It didn't stop.  Hmmmmm.   I looked up, and was sure enough right under the sign.  My eyes followed the bus as it bounced down the street, rocketing away from me.  Looking across the street I saw a similar scene play out, except that when the bus was within range of the stop the person waved there arms as if hailing a cab.  I took the hint and got on the next bus, which only took a few minutes to arrive. 

If I didn't have a seat I am sure that I would have fell onto half the occupants of the bus that felt more like a bumper car.  Well, I went to orientation met my coordinator, learned some crucial information about the city, and made my way back home for dinner.  Met my host family over some awesome soup and slept until 2 the next day. 

A few people moved in yesterday and the house is now full.  I feel like I could stay home and have fun talking to everyone here.  Basically, I live with my host parents who only speak Spanish, two Aussies, a incredibly interesting English couple (both about 65 years old) that simply decided that they wanted to learn Spanish, that mysterious blonde girl that let me in the door, and a young, super-friendly German.   I've also already been to a super sick free concert, met a bunch of Australians and others down at the dorm-style living at my programs' HQ, and even used my Spanish quite a bit!

It's only been 3 days but it already feels like I've got a grasp on the city; At the same time, this city has infinite new things to discover every day.  Simply put, life is good. 

I'll try to toss up a blog post about once week, but no promises there.

If anyone wants to send me mail I would be super super stoked and will write you back muy rapido!   However, please don't send me anything more than a letter because it is extremely expensive to pick up and may not arrive with all of its contents. 

Ben Andresen C/O Road2Argentina

Anchorena 1676

CP1425ELL Capital Federal

Argentina

If anyone's interested, the organizations I will be working with:
Various immersion programs in Buenos Aires- http://www.road2argentina.com/ab.php
Starting next week, community work in Buenos Aires- www.voluntarioglobal.com.ar
Next month, cultural center/school in PATAGONIA!- www.cuzadapatagonica.org

¡Adiós!