Everything´s coming up steak

Somehow, I am in heaven.

I arrived in Buenos Aires (BsAs) last Thursday and was met at the airport by Nico, a friend of a friend of a friend. Not only did he pick me up at the airport, but he came armed with my very own sign (since I´d never met him before), chocolates and a sweater (it´s winter in Argentina). He took me to my hostel and out to dinner. I honestly thought I had died and gone to heaven. But then, it just kept getting better. I spent a couple of days exploring BsAs with Lily and Chris (some friends from Guatemala) and consuming massive amounts of cazuelas, empanadas, meat and wine.

But wait, it gets better.

My anfitriona (home stay mom), Maria, picked me up on Sunday and brought me to my new home for the next 6 weeks. I have my own room, with TV, phone and dresser. Right next door is my roommate, Jodie from Australia, whose room has a desk and internet for us both to use. Beautiful, comfortable bed. White, clean sheets. Hot water. Maria is wonderful...very chatty and loves having students in her house.

Maria took me directly to a family asado (barbecue), where I met her sister, neices and nephews, and her son and daughter. Her son, Alexis, lives in London and was only visitng for a few days. Too bad, because he is so good looking I could barely contain myself. Honestly, after seeing my new digs and the promise of argentine meat on the way, I thought I was going to pass out when I saw Alexis. Oh well, plenty more argentinians where he came from.

The rest of the family is really nice...it was like being at home. TONS of meat, I mean mountains of it, and wine. We just sat around chatting, they are really funny and nice. I mostly listened ...still have a ways to go with my Spanish.

Since I arrived, I keep pinching myself because it seems like a dream. Maria makes us breakfast every morning, and every night we come home to wonderful dinners, a bottle of wine always corked and ready to go, and great chats.

Everyday is better than before. Today, I visited the Malba (Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires). I stopped for a coffee and croissant, then visited the Cementerio de la Recoleta. The cementary was like a city for dead people. Streets and alley-ways of mausoleums and tombs. Beautiful, minature buildings. It scared me; I kept picturing all the people crawling out of their tombs at night, and populating their little dead city.

Thus far, Buenos Aires seems like a European city filled with laid-back, but stylish people. Not as snooty and à la mode as Paris and not as crazy as Madrid...somewhere in between.

With a couple of friends already made, some newly purchased boots and Buenos Aires yet to be discovered, I have a good feeling...a very good feeling.