Dia Dieciocho

Last night I tried to go to bed earlier than usual... I was already asleep when I decided that... I simply carried my body weight to upstairs and dropped it on the pillow. It wasn't even minutes later that the stupid mosquito started bugging me... buzzing in my ear, causing me to itch and and making it impossible for me to sleep. At one point, because I read Murakami right before I went to bed, I wasnt sure if I was dreaming or if this was reality. I was imagining in my head that this mosquito was trying to convey me a certain secret message. I truly believed it. 

Then I got up, turned on the light and started searching for it with the heavy Murakami book in my hand. I spotted two on the adjacent wall not long after that. I aimed for the one at the bottom and  bingo! The second one however, was impossible to locate and my eyes were even heavier than before. So I turned the light off, put the cover over my head and ignored the mosquito. I think it worked, since I didn't wake up until around 12 with a knock at the door...

My second visitor at the house... Suzanna, my cleaning lady.  She is nice and sweet but those two are not her most distinguishable characteristics... it is how much she loves to talk. -in spanish needless to say- I listened to her life story for 2hours straight... It wasn't as painful as you might think. One thing I am learning in a life with minimum responsibilities is that patience is really a virtue... Suzanna is a very emotional and humanistic lady. She cares more than she thinks. I used to think that I was like that. 

She and I share a common hobby though... Writing... She told me that she has been trying to write a book about her life. Everyone I meet lately is writing a book. It actually encourages me in a way... (it would have crated the opposite effect before)

I was thinking yesterday, while walking on the streets of San Telmo, that with the world shrinking and ideas free-flowing, is there anything new that is left to be created? Any idea that hasnt been thought or written? I used to think about this before as well and the thought would discourage me from producing anything. Now, not so much. I realize that my purpose is not necessarily to "create"  (if creating is possible for human beings -but you know what I mean) "it" but to describe "it" in my own way. I need to think about how I can explain this better to you.

Suzanna loves knitting. She told me she doesnt like taking classes for it though... because there is a right and wrong way of doing it when you are being taught in a class. She likes her own way...This is exactly what I think about life. I like living it my own way, though might not be pretty... you might not wanna display it in your living room afterall...i do enjoy knitting the "wrong" pattern once in a while or making a stitch that isn't "right" or a whole row out of place. 

enough mumbling... I need to get ready to go to Christian's bar-b-que. He is the german friend I met at Spanish class. Tonight is his last night.

Dia Dieciseis Diecisiete

November 1

For some reason my shoes are extra slippery on Buenos Aires' streets. I cant help but think about the slight chance of some Santa sort creature spending all night polishing and waxing the streets to allow on-the-go tango movements at all times. Probably not though. 

I worked today as well...9-4am. Lots of people...Gancia, Daiquiris, Fernet, Quilmes... fairly good tips. I took the bus home. One thing I love about this city is that it literally never sleeps. At 5am, people are bar hopping, waiting for busses, living their lives. There is always an energy flow, anywhere you go. 

November 2

a very nice, relaxing day... I had Brunch with Christian, (we met through spanish class) at a Scandanivian restaurant- Olsen's. 

At Olsen with Christian

Then I spent the afternoon in San Telmo watching street performances, walking around the bazaar, smiling within. 

Many more pictures on Facebook

now just reading...(finally, again!)

Dia Catorce y Quince

October 30~

I was able to wake up even earlier than usual, which allowed me time to have coffee and complete my spanish homework. Class was a bit more confusing since I didn't spend the time to study the nights before. Lyne and I went to our usual place for the break and eat some empanadas. After class, I went to pick up my mandatory Halloween costume (to work at Casa). I was home around 3 and just hung on the net until it was time for Pilates. I really do like Pilates. After I came back, time flew. I took a shower, got ready, ate and left for work.  I was alone at the bar and it was a crazy night. Lots of Daiquiries, Caipirinhas and more... Drunk pilots, flirty americans etc... I made really good tips. Came home around 4:30 extremely tired.

October 31 ~ Halloween!!

A rather more relaxing day since I skipped class in the morning and slept. It felt good. I finally did the dishes, went grocery shopping and organized the living room a little bit. I hung out online for a bit, cooked, tried to read the first spanish magazine I got... I went to work at 8. Everyone was working last night and we were planning on opening the upstairs bar as well (it is still in renovation) which was where I was going to work. However, not too many people showed up so I was a bit bored just waiting around and not working at the bar. No tips either obviously. It was fun to see the costumes though... Here are some pictures with the girls at the bar:

Left  to Right- (Alejandra-Gimena-Deniz-Ani)

Left to Right : Josh(Barback-USA), Luis (Door - Columbia), Alejandra (Waitress - Colum), Gimena(Bartender, AR), Deniz, Ani (Bartender - USA)

I feel like this week was a bit chaotic. Taking 4hours of spanish per day and working 4 nights was really not a good idea. I want to make sure I don't work more than 2 nights a week so that i don't lose my purpose of being here. I haven't been to a milonga since Tuesday, didn't read since Monday, wrote only for couple of hours this week and I feel tired. Next week no spanish, instead I will be starting my tango classes.

Dia Doce y Trece

Busy Busy Busy schedule...

As Derya commented yesterday, my blog was temporarily forbidden in Turkey... Not necessarily my blog but the entire Blogger website. What a surprise for a country that burned books and arrested&tortured innocent people not so long ago because they simply vocalized their opinions about equality and freedom huh?! 

(...)

I have not been able to write here since I was crazy busy... Below is a summary of my days 

October 28:

Woke up at 9 to get ready and walk to my spanish class... It is a 30min walk away from my apartment... Below are my fellow class mates and teacher. 

From Left to right: Ana (teacher), Lyne(from Canada), Kate (from England)

Taking 4hours/day spanish was not a very wise idea I might say... After my day ended at 2, Lyne and I walked for an hour and bought armenian/arabian groceries from several stores around Palermo. After I came home, I had to take a nap (or else, i would faint I think) for two hours. Then suddenly it was time to get ready and go to the Practica again... Practica X was pretty good. There was a show at 12:30am as usual...

Practica X - Around 10pm-before it was packed with people

Afterwards, I met with couple people from Spanish class and their friends at a milonga around the corner: La Catedral.

From Left to Right: Kate, Chris (Germany), Chris' tango teacher(AR), His friend(AR), Kate's friend, Peter(Kate's bf)

The decoration and atmosphere were amazing. Gardel's youth picture and post-modern paintings adorned all walls of the extremely high ceilinged room.  There was an amazing orchestra that played for half an hour. Not much of a dancing place, but amazing atmosphere and great music.

La Catedral

Came home around 3:30am... Went straight to bed... 

October 29:  

Class was an hour later today (Thank god!) so it lasted until 3pm. Afterwards I took some pictures around Palermo...

(more pictures on Facebook)

When I came home, I disconnected my self from the world (internet) and wrote for 2hours... I was going to do more of that if Sebastian didn't call me to work... So I went to work from 9pm to 2am... Not too bad. Very few people showed up. Kristy, a very nice lady and a photographer took some pictures of the bar for publicity. I might be in several of those... Oh well... There were two drunk Delta pilots who told me that I must go back to US since they need pretty women like me. At the end, very very little tips. 

I will be working the next 3nights (including tonight) We will see how I hold up

Dia Once

"99% of writers never publish because they don't have the right tools"

"no inborn talent is necessary to be a writer, ability to write successful stories is an acquired skill"

"creating isn't normal reality and you will make a mess"

"you must write badly first, mistakes lead to discovery"

"the less you care, the better you write"

"keep writing no matter how awful it feels"

!a professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit!

Today, I started writing... in English. We will see what happens.

~

10:00-14:00  Spanish Class -soo sleepy

17:00-18:00 Pilates

20:30 Coffee and Practica with Daniel

Dia Nueve

Just got back from my second night as a bartender... It is now 5am. We closed today at 4am. Not many customers but surprisingly better tip than on Wednesday. I wish I wasn't sharing it with anyone...(greedy!!) I was very confident tonight, I basically ruled the place.;) A lot of Americans and beer and caipirinhas and daiquiris...And I found out that we make the best empanadas! Surprisingly I am not that tired. Still I will go to bed in the next ten minutes. (After I eat something along with my diet coke- is this breakfast or dinner?)

~  

Celebrating a Week!

It has been officially a week since I came to Buenos Aires... So far, it has been a calming experience. Time seems to be a different dimension than it used to be. Ability to chose how to spend each moment with no required responsibilities brings me peace. I can sit on my couch and read all day long or walk until I want to stop. The purpose of this visit ceased to be only Tango or a journey to inner-self but became more of a grasp of time. Maybe it is all the same. 

I have gone to check out a spanish school in the morning. I ended up signing myself up for 20hours of classes next week. (10-2 every day) In the class, there will be me and a girl from England -who is traveling through South America with her boyfriend.

Later on, I checked out the Pilates place I have been meaning to go since tuesday, right by my house. I enjoyed the free class and a brief conversation with the instructor who also pointed me to some ballet classes downtown. I also signed up for 2hours of Pilates per week for a month. I wondered around in the humid&hot weather until I gave up. I looked for an ATM around but banks close at 3pm around here, so no luck. Then I came home and cooked pasta for my self. Pasta&tuna&corn... (I am gaining so much weight!) I read for an hour or two.

In a bit, I will take a shower and get ready for a milonga. I think tomorrow, my cleaning lady is suppose to come over. She will be the first person coming into the house -other than myself of course- since I moved in. I hope I will be awake before she arrives.  

~ Milonga: 12:30-4am. I met a lady in her early 40s at the entrance. She had very short wavy hair and was in a short, sexy dress. They sat us together right by the dance floor. We ended up talking most of the night -when we were not dancing. She introduced me to a friend of hers, Daniel (but they call him Chino)  and I was able to follow a conversation for 15minutes while sitting outside. I danced all night with the exception of couple tantas. 

Dia Siete

~I woke up this morning

to a new self

from a sensible dream 

where I was myself~

today was filled with practicing spanish(online), reading (Wind up bird chronicles) and dancing..(and getting lost, in between)I am still not very sure about the bus system here.. I seem to always take it towards the wrong direction! So much for the tips I made last night!...

I went to a practica which was canceled. So I tried a milonga... danced straight for 2.5hours and met new people. Don't ask me their names. I got invited to a restaurant by the chef while standing outside of the milonga. When I run out of money, that's where I will eat. =) 

its 3am, and I am off to bed.. Need to wake up early tomorrow to take a spanish placement exam...

Dia Seiz

Wow! Today I learned that Bar tending is no easy job!... Standing up from 7pm to 2:30am; trying to understand spanish, making drinks I never heard of before, explaining where I am from and smiling at everyone. But I got hired.  The pay is very shitty but it's an experience, right? It is 50pesos+tips /shift of 7 hours or less. I was working with an other bartender tonight so we split the tips. So I ended up making 42pesos in tips. I spoke two 2 customers in French and most others in English though...=) My feet are killing me and I am extremely tired.(it is 3:17am) I have to talk to Sebastian (the manager) to work out my schedule but I am thinking two nights a week.

New Drinks

Caipirinha - Cashasa& 6 pieces of Lime&Sugar

Caipiroska  -Vodka & 6 pieces of Lime& Sugar

Caipirisima - Rum & 6 pieces of Lime&Sugar

Fernet Coke - 1oz Fernet & 2oz Coca Cola

Dia Cinco

Lets get this straight... It is 11:55 in Bs As, 8:55 in Chicago and 16:55 in Istanbul. Phew...

I woke up with rain hitting my tinted windows... It is my first rain in Buenos Aires. I have a free pilates class at 3pm 2blocks away and my first spanish class with Gabriela at 6:30pm. I am hoping she will teach me some bar spanish for my try-out tomorrow...

~decided to skip pilates.. will have it tomorrow, when it is not thunder storming outside. Something else that I learned yesterday from Dani is that Argentina is out of coins! Coins are extremely valuable nowadays (and the only payment method for ground public transportation)... So I will try to get as much as I can at small purchases.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-world175886786oct17,0,4370318.story

I had my first spanish lesson with Gabriela at 6:30 at a cosy coffeehouse right by my house. (On the side I have not walked towards before) We sat outside and talked about all sorts of things -in spanish- She told me I was no beginner and my spanish was clear and easy to understand. What a boost of confidence =)

I walked around the plaza afterwards. I came home and read more from the "Wind-up Bird Chronicle" I love his style. He mentioned in one interview that he never dreams and he wakes up every morning at 4am, without an alarm clock and writes until 11... every day, without look  backward. That discipline, I admire. 

I might go to bed early today. It was a very laid back day and no dancing tonight. I feel some nostalgia tonight which I will not analyze much.