Today I continued the search for an ATM that will give me money. I found one that will give me at least pesos, so I won’t starve anytime soon (I bought a whole lot of galletitas). I might just have to bring a really big stack of pesos to school on Tuesday. It would be really nice to find one that gives out dollars, though. The CitiBank ATMs allegedly do, just not to me for some reason. Anti-American bias, maybe.
Did you know that Monday is an Argentine national holiday? It’s the Día del Libertador José de San Martín. So, you know, celebrate in whatever way you feel is properly respectful. I think that I’ll be celebrating by walking around town a lot, possibly buying cookies.
This weekend is allotted to finding a good place to run. The Norwegian girls say to just head down to the waterfront, which I’ll do tomorrow morning. One thing that I didn’t plan on and may be a little weird for running is that there’s a lot of air pollution here. I can feel it in my throat all the time, and there’s a haze around the city that you can see even in the space of a few blocks. Hopefully around the waterfront it’ll be a little clearer.
Also, the Argentines are wearing big wool coats and mufflers and heavy boots. And it’s 75 degrees outside. The Norwegians (the people I know that speak English, also my roommates, med students, and blonde) say that it’s because they’re overly sensitive to the cold, seeing as they’ve got very warm summers. I’m wearing a t-shirt and sweating. Does that mean I’m overly sensitive to the warm?
Buenos Aires is a big shoulders kind of city, which takes a little getting used to. Most people on the sidewalk seem to have a New York-ish kind of expression, uninterested diligence. Walking is actually kind of a sport, especially walking quickly next to traffic on narrow streets with pretty aggressive drivers. I’m getting used to it, though. As far as I can tell, the relationship between pedestrians and vehicles is more egalitarian (word choice?). That is to say, people and cars inhabit the same place on the totem pole of danger. Cars will barrel down tiny alleys full of people while laying on the horn to clear pedestrians. But walkers will also dart into the street in the middle of traffic to take advantage of the smallest space between vehicles.
At least there’s a bit of mutual respect.
Ciao-ciao,
Delaney
#1 by Marsha on August 15th, 2009
Hi Delaney,
The Schwarz clan are here in Midland visiting your Dad and Sandy. Some of us went to the farm market this am and bought a lot of good stuff. Sandy, Bob and Pat are out picking blueberries and your Dad is preparing the pancake batter so you know how anxious we are for them to return!
I love your blog. Wish I had done something similar when I was your age. Are you planning to go to other countries while you’re there? Anyway I just wanted to say hi and that we’re thinking of you. I’ll keep track of you via your website. Have a very happy birthday, you brave and adventurous soul!!!!
Love,
Marsha
#2 by Andrew on August 15th, 2009
How do the shopkeeps feel about making change? Because in Prague, not having the right small change for say, a 1,130 crown purchase was an offense akin to telling the cashier that he or she could really stand to lose some weight.
#3 by Delaney on August 15th, 2009
I may be offending them right and left, but am ignorant enough not to know. One thing that I have heard is that coins are in very short supply but you need them to take the bus. So, if you get coins as change, hold onto them for dear life.
#4 by Delaney on August 15th, 2009
Hola, Marsha. I’m glad to hear you’re having fun in Midland. Thanks for checking in on the blog. Nothing too interesting has happened yet, just settling in. But I’m sure I’ll have somemore interesting things to writeabout in the upcoming months. Oh, and yes, I’m planning on traveling down to the Southern tip of the continent and then back up the West coast. First, though, I need to learn some Espanol.
#5 by Steph on August 18th, 2009
Egalitarian. You’re still helping me improve my vocabulary.