Bienvenidos!

Well, I've promised friends and family back home that I would keep them updated on the next 5 months through a blog, and I've told myself that I will update it frequently. So here goes my first ever blogging attempt:

After months of applying, packing, and preparing, I arrived in Buenos Aires Thursday morning, without any hitches. Just a couple of hours later we were out trying to run errands...completely in Spanish (we learned very quickly how to say adapter and pre-paid cell phone). As if buying a phone from Verizon in English isn't difficult enough, buying a phone in Buenos Aires was certainly a struggle. But despite many embarrassments, we managed to navigate around the barrio where our classes are held, and have our first few meals of carne and vino.

Tomorrow we're going on a walking tour of downtown, which will be helpful because as of now Buenos Aires is one massive, crowded jumble to me. Every street is jammed with people, cars, and buses. Of course, we're living and studying in a non-touristy barrio, so we have the added benefit of sticking out like sore thumbs as the only Americans around. But it has its definite benefits since Argentines speak to us as if we were native speakers and not tourists.

The most exciting part of today, though, was moving in with our host families! I am living with a single mother named Analia and her two children, Veronica (19) and Franco (24), who are both traveling for another week on their winter vacations. But to fill the empty house she has nieces and other family staying with her until her children return. We live in a small barrio, but in a very large house, complete with three patios. With the help of one of Analia's younger nieces, I've unpacked and gotten settled into my room for the next 5 months. I will upload photos of the house and my room tomorrow.

My brain already feels fried from all the Spanish and translations -- I have a napkin full of drawings just from dinner of family members explaining vocabulary. But it already feels more comfortable to hold an extended conversation, and I'm sure the vocabulary will come with time.

Tomorrow Analia is taking me on a tour of our neighborhood and then our orientation group is exploring downtown. I'll be sure to take lots of photos and post them!

Besos!