Monday, September 04, 2006
R.I.P., Crocodile Hunter
Another week, another set of linguistic challenges at the International Bureau of Language, where I have matriculated to Level 2. I’ve got two new instructors; the very serious yet thorough Martin in the morning followed by two hours in the afternoon with Barbara, perhaps the most vivacious little thang ever. She seems to turn every definition into a game of charades! Valeria, Julia and I have been joined by a trio of new classmates – Mattias from Germany, Diago from Brazil and John from London. So, I am no longer the only boy nor the slowest learner, although I’ll refrain from outing the most “special” student in our class. With a group of six, we moved at a slower pace today, which is helpful while learning difficult concepts but frustrating when I actually understand something right off the bat.
The weekend was a nice combination of activities and relaxation, beginning with my IBL-sponsored Tango lesson Friday night. This time around I actually picked up the most basic dance step, and was asked to practice with all six female students since I was the only dude in attendance! The tango class was mere blocks from Paul’s apartment, and I ran there through a driving rainstorm to eat leftover fajitas, which were much-needed in this city where it’s nearly impossible to find any sort of spicy food. Paul and I then headed back to my neighborhood, Palermo Viejo, for beers at a couple bars he likes, and parted ways around 2:00 a.m.
On Saturday, Julia the German and I had intended to take an hour-long train ride to Tigre and explore the delta of the Rio de la Plata, but it was just too damn cold and windy. That trip will have to wait for another weekend. Instead I took things easy, checking out the MALBA, a museum featuring modern Latin American art, and doing research for that evening’s fantasy football draft, which produced a team I think can compete for the Kill Whitey Football League title in 2006. After moderating the draft via Yahoo! Messenger for nearly FOUR HOURS, I was in no mood to go out and spent that night cooking copious amounts of spaghetti. Considering I can eat much better pasta in a restaurant here for about $4, there is really no reason to slave away in my tiny, antiquated kitchen using ingredients that totaled $2.
Sunday saw another mellow morning, during which I discovered Mark’s Coffehouse and Deli which is strikingly similar to Doughboy’s in LA and has perhaps the best lemonade ever. Who woulda thunk it? That afternoon I was supposed to attend the Boca Juniors-Estuiantes match with Paul, however he opted out since he starts a full-time translation job Tuesday and needed to take care of some things. So, for the second straight Sunday I headed to a soccer game alone but public transportation proved to be my savior! I followed three Argentines from the subte to the proper bus for La Boca, where I met two fellow English speakers also headed to the stadium. So, Dave from Ireland and John from England (different than the aforementioned John) negotiated with a scalper for three tickets which – much to our relief – were NOT counterfeit and got us into the standing room-only “popular” section. The scene at La Bombanera stadium was much rowdier than last Sunday’s game, with constant singing and drum-beating and the pervasive odor of weed throughout the stands. I had snapped a few pictures of the action before an Argentine who now lives in Chicago advised me to put my camera away. He also warned me against venturing into the bathroom at halftime.
Boca won 2-0, but unfortunately I missed their second goal since a banner overhanging our section obstructed my view of the opposite end of the field! After comparing and contrasting Buenos Aires’ two big futbol rivals – Boca Juniors and River Plate – I can proudly declare myself a Boca fan, since those folks clearly have more a lot more fun at their games! I may return to La Bombanera on Thursday night when Boca plays Sao Paulo of Brazil in a Copa Sudamericana match.
On that note, I will end yet another way-too-detailed blog post. Please let me know if I’m boring you people to tears…
The weekend was a nice combination of activities and relaxation, beginning with my IBL-sponsored Tango lesson Friday night. This time around I actually picked up the most basic dance step, and was asked to practice with all six female students since I was the only dude in attendance! The tango class was mere blocks from Paul’s apartment, and I ran there through a driving rainstorm to eat leftover fajitas, which were much-needed in this city where it’s nearly impossible to find any sort of spicy food. Paul and I then headed back to my neighborhood, Palermo Viejo, for beers at a couple bars he likes, and parted ways around 2:00 a.m.
On Saturday, Julia the German and I had intended to take an hour-long train ride to Tigre and explore the delta of the Rio de la Plata, but it was just too damn cold and windy. That trip will have to wait for another weekend. Instead I took things easy, checking out the MALBA, a museum featuring modern Latin American art, and doing research for that evening’s fantasy football draft, which produced a team I think can compete for the Kill Whitey Football League title in 2006. After moderating the draft via Yahoo! Messenger for nearly FOUR HOURS, I was in no mood to go out and spent that night cooking copious amounts of spaghetti. Considering I can eat much better pasta in a restaurant here for about $4, there is really no reason to slave away in my tiny, antiquated kitchen using ingredients that totaled $2.
Sunday saw another mellow morning, during which I discovered Mark’s Coffehouse and Deli which is strikingly similar to Doughboy’s in LA and has perhaps the best lemonade ever. Who woulda thunk it? That afternoon I was supposed to attend the Boca Juniors-Estuiantes match with Paul, however he opted out since he starts a full-time translation job Tuesday and needed to take care of some things. So, for the second straight Sunday I headed to a soccer game alone but public transportation proved to be my savior! I followed three Argentines from the subte to the proper bus for La Boca, where I met two fellow English speakers also headed to the stadium. So, Dave from Ireland and John from England (different than the aforementioned John) negotiated with a scalper for three tickets which – much to our relief – were NOT counterfeit and got us into the standing room-only “popular” section. The scene at La Bombanera stadium was much rowdier than last Sunday’s game, with constant singing and drum-beating and the pervasive odor of weed throughout the stands. I had snapped a few pictures of the action before an Argentine who now lives in Chicago advised me to put my camera away. He also warned me against venturing into the bathroom at halftime.
Boca won 2-0, but unfortunately I missed their second goal since a banner overhanging our section obstructed my view of the opposite end of the field! After comparing and contrasting Buenos Aires’ two big futbol rivals – Boca Juniors and River Plate – I can proudly declare myself a Boca fan, since those folks clearly have more a lot more fun at their games! I may return to La Bombanera on Thursday night when Boca plays Sao Paulo of Brazil in a Copa Sudamericana match.
On that note, I will end yet another way-too-detailed blog post. Please let me know if I’m boring you people to tears…
# posted by BenBlogsFromBA @ 1:36 PM 
Comments:
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Hehe. I love it. Your title is Crocodile hunter, and in the post you don't mention anything about Steve Irwin's death. :)
Not only are you not boring me, I look forward to every post in a Truman Show type of way.
I hope you are going out to clubs - is it like Spain where you don't start partying until 12 or 1 and then come home at sunrise? - or is it more like American clubs?
Speaking of which I am heading to Vegas this weekend. We will have to do that upon your return. Keep on having fun and post some pics every once in awhile.
BTW, did you plan the second half of your journey yet?
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I hope you are going out to clubs - is it like Spain where you don't start partying until 12 or 1 and then come home at sunrise? - or is it more like American clubs?
Speaking of which I am heading to Vegas this weekend. We will have to do that upon your return. Keep on having fun and post some pics every once in awhile.
BTW, did you plan the second half of your journey yet?
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