La vida de una porteña: Semana 1

I am now living the life of a "porteña" which is a person from Buenos Aires. I started out my new lifestyle by walking to the subte and taking it to work. It is nice and stuffy and hot down there, but it is necessary to get to work! I got to work at 11, which is the time we had agreed on, and figured this was a good time so the boss could get there and get settled before I came. But no, he arrived about 15 minutes after to start his day. Oh and before that I walked up the stairs and decided to take the elevator instead but it was on its way down and then there was a guy waiting. Then he got on and happened to be going to my floor. Then there was no lights so I tried to turn them on but accidentally pressed the door bell to the wrong place and then to make it better I was going to the same office as this guy. My ditsy self made a good first impression! I started working that day on revising the company's new website which was not a thrilling job but I learned a lot just reading through the website. At one point, I needed to use the bathroom, and went in to find the toilet seat up and playboys in the bathtub. I just laughed and thought how this would never fly in the states. I also noted that I am one of 2 girls in the company. And everyone wears shorts and flip flops to work. So I was overdressed in my nice outfit but thats ok, better to be overdressed than under. There are 2 other interns, a Ryan from Indiana and Muriel from Cameroon, Africa. I kept thinking I just couldn't understand her accent but really, I just hadn't heard of it before! The day ended at about 6. What a short day in reality but I am not complaining!

The next day was not so fun. It was 90 and humid to start. Then I had an interview for another job with Argentina Exchange...a company that helps foreigners with housing, finding work, volunteer work, and has social events to go to. And this job pays in commission so I was hoping to get it. Plus it seems like a good way to meet a lot of people. I got there and the guy I was supposed to interview with was out. No surprise there. I guess he got confused with the time even though we emailed about it 3 times. So after that was the time to try to get out enough money to pay my rent since the atms dont give me enough. But I forgot my passport. So, I had to go back to my house which takes 45 minutes. Then I get home and go to write a quick email and drop the computer on my foot. Then I go back on the bus to the bank and this time I am like dripping sweat since it is the middle of the day. I get there and wait in like and finally get out 150 but that was not enough to pay my rent. After, I thought I had left my cell phone charger at the last apartment, but I got there after coordinating many times with the new tenants and no charger. Then I get back and give my landlord what I have and she was actually very understanding. Luckily she thinks I look like a nice, innocent girl so she is willing to help! I went to yoga to relax me from my rough day. I went out to dinner that night with my argentine friend, Pablo that I met when I was here in september. We went and ate chinese food and ice cream. He shares my same love for dessert and we went to an even better ice cream place than freddo. Gosh the amazingness of ice cream here is still astounding to me.

The next day went much better, or so I thought it was. I had my interview and got the job! Well, since they pay me by commission I don't think they really care that much. More workers for them. But still, I was happy. Then at work I made friends with Ryan, the other intern. We decided to go to California Burrito which I still hadn't tried from the last time that I was dying to have it. It was quite similar and I was very satisfied after, but still no Chipotle or La Vic's or El Nido. I will have to wait for home for that. On my way home from work, I got the rest of my rent money out of the bank and I was so happy it worked that I forgot to take out my card. More trouble with banks to deal with. I was about to go to a class at the gym when I realized and then spent an hour on the phone with wells fargo and am going to have to wait a while longer to get a new card. In the meantime I have to go back to the same bank as yesterday and get an advance on my credit card. My work friend told me he was going out that night and asked if I wanted to come. He told me he would call when they were leaving so I waited around til about 11:00 and then was over it so I got my pajamas on and went to bed figuring he didn't end up going. I got a text at 1:30 asking if I still wanted to come! I was way asleep by then and still am not used to this lets not go out til 2 am thing nor will I ever be. I miss starting the party at happy hour!

I started my new job on Thursday, which was looking like it would be a lot of fun. My task was to update the Argentina Exchange facebook site and find more people to join. Whoever I can get to buy a membership card is how I get paid. It is fun to try to find new people through facebook. Being on facebook at work now is not a no no! I am supposed to be on it! How strange. When it was time for lunch they asked if I wanted any and I said no, I can't because I have no money and told them the story of my bank card. So they treated me to lunch and I am also one of 2 girls at this company too. I am used to working in all girl companies but so far, I am liking working with more males than females. Finally, I left work and decided to finally sign up at the gym which I had been putting off even though it is less 50 steps from my apartment. I went to a spinning class with 3 other ladies and it was lots of fun. They were asking me if people worry about their figures as much and constantly diet and what not as much as here and so I told them um yes, but much worse! And then I showed them my gossip magazine with the best and worst bodies of 2008 on it. They were so enthrawled by my magazine and looked at it for about 10 minutes after class. I am glad I joined the gym now! It was very fun.

Friday came by fast and my boss didn't show up to work that day until 12:30. He is the boss, but still its just weird to me. I started working on a project with the other intern, Muriel. The company has this alien mascot that they are trying to make known across the world. I was confused at first why it matters but found out they want to show their prospective companies that with their marketing skills, they can make everything known (even something like a toy alien) so then the company will want to use them to make their website and find ways to market the website. So, Muriel and I are working to make Marito Duranga known and again, I spent most of the day on facebook! I went to my spinning class again and spent the night in even though it was friday. I just wasn't feeling it. Oh and I had been freaking out all week that my roommate hadn't emailed me for two weeks so I thought maybe she was bailing on me for the apartment, but she finally emailed me back and is still coming. Phew. I was getting worried because I really love my place right now and do not want to move!! Saturday I got up and cleaned and then went on a walk to check out this neighborhood and I actually found this gorgeous rose garden/park/lake. It definitely has love in the air with all the latin lovers making out but I will definitely be going back there. They even had peddle boats! I went to yoga, then I went to Muriel's apartment and we went swimming (I have been asking everyone if they have a pool and finally found someone!) and her other friend came over and we cooked dinner. We all spoke in spanish which was funny since we are all not native spanish speakers but it was much easier to understand everyone. The other two girls are really good cooks so we had this amazing pasta dish and some vino. It wasn't a crazy wild night out but fun. I could get used to that since I am kinda getting over clubbing. Sunday was a lazy day and I went to see Crepusculo with my friend Becca. Crepusculo is Twilight and it finally came out here! Everything is about one and a half months later. Well, my first week was a little rough but I think next week everything will get back on track!