Bariloche

I met my fam after class last night. We hitched a cab in the rain and ate a scrumptous Italian dinner. We still have leftover, o yeah. After a flight´packed with Nextel representative that stood in the aisle the entire flight, we got into Bariloche and it is indescribably beautiful. The hotel is the Llao Llao (http://www.llaollao.com/esp/), probably one of the top hotels on my list, number 1 being the palace in Lake Como (name i forget). I went for a massive mountain bike ride through a "walking trail". I stopped on the beach, skipped rocks in the water, and continued off roading until I hit a dead end, contemplated the time and my next move, and pressed on. I stopped at anothe rpoint and practiced Tai Chi. I felt like a was injected with a heavy dose of natural energy and almost fell over. It felt so good. I looked at the dreary sky and moved moved forward, eventually hitting the highway on the other side. You know you are really working out when you start talking to yourself, then yelling at yourself. I stopped to help a struggling Isreali biker with a busted chain. I did the same trick I learned in New Orleans and it worked! Hey! Pushed on and eventually made it back to the hotel, drenched in sweat in need of a shower. My parents have the nicest room in the world. Leah and I have a closet.

I will post pictures as soon as I can. The problem is it takes cerca 5 minutes to load one. I will...O yes I will. Well, I gotta change and get going. O! I have a new alter-ego named D-A-Go! The best pop singing phenomenon in the galaxy.

Signed,
D-A-Go! buy my record

SOMOS LUZ!

It is very comforting to be part of a loving group of people who you love and love you back. I love my Tigre friends so much... After my history teacher didn't show up to class (which I hear is very common in this country), I took The Mitre north and met Inez and her boyfriend (unknown name with a great singing voice) at the train station. It was the first time I had experienced Tigre in the day. The three previous occasions were all at night. Tigre is much more beautiful when you can see your environment. We blazed our way through the Plaza park which I had passed through 3 times before, but never appreciated. The energy there was amazing. I practiced some lying-down meditation (which I have fallen from recently) and the affects were cleansing and thought provoking. Inez asked me why it's been so long since I'd been to Tigre. It had only been five days, which could mean many things depending how you look at the time. I took it as a sign that these people really care about me, which feels so good.

One of my Tigre friends Rosillo, who I happen to have a crush on, has a back house which we are turning into a creation station. Ro and her friends make bricolage art, or changing the function of an object(s) into something completely different. Above and below newly established shelves and wall tables are the words - in Spanish:


SOMOS LUZ! (WE ARE LIGHT!)

Vivimos durante miles de anos bajo los arboles (We live thousands of years under the trees)

Somos las frutas de nuestro ayer. (We are the fruits of our yesterday)

and Deja que entre el sol (Let the sun in - written on the door)

I added to the love shack by adding some "locura" to the mix, improvise painting a mesh of faces, breasts, trees, and phallic symbols (which is a common theme of my painting these days). My hands are still green and yellow and my arms demolished my mosquitos. It was well well worth it. I also found some bamboo sticks (which are common in Tigre) which I hope to turn into puppets that I learned to make in U of Ms Festifools (giant puppet making class). Connections and signs, positivity and love.

Today. I bought a soccer ball and sports bag. Thank you Sam for the new Nike Predators! I will put them to good use!

Tonight, I will meet my parents and Leah after class. We had an asado at my house with my home stay family. I am so glad they all got to meet. My 'rents now have a healthy image of where I am. They have been in Iguasu Falls (the most beautiful waterfalls in the world that connect Argentina, Brazil, y Paraguay) where Ill journey next week. Tomorrow, we head for Bariloche where we'll do some hiking, extreme relaxing, and good fun. Gotta move.

David.

WE ARE THE ALIENS!!!

Familia

quick little ditty...

my parents got into town yesterday and it has been so lovely. lovely indeed. they are staying in a part of town called the Recoleta, the fansy shmansy elegant part of town. It has been my first time - besides a BS school bus tour - that I have seen the Recoleta. There is a linda (a popular word for beautiful) park next to the cemetary, about two blocks from the hotel. Yesterday, we went to a park nearby where we experienced live jazz music and lots of sun. It was a gorgeous day, and I strayed from my parents to play a childrens game with a group of bohemians with bass drums.

Leah, my sista, got in this morning. I am glad she slept 6 hours on the airplane from Dallas because we were able to wander after she arrived. After an amusing cab ride with Fabian, who lives right by my house in vicente lopez, we walked around La Boca - a relatively dangerous district, but it has a safe tourist center with tons of brightly colored buildings, live music and tango shows in the street, and countless hasteling flyer-hander-outers. After La Boca, Fabian (again) drove us to San Telmo for the popular Sunday feria. We bought argentinian soccer jerseys and cheap sunglasses - I still haven't found the right hat (my head is ginormous, especially with all the hair currently on my head). In San Telmo, I saw my ol' friendly street venders (Carlos and Muhhamed), who I introduced to my family. After a hike of a walk, we finally made it to Cafe Tortonni, a 130 year old restaurant with beautiful architecture, high ceilings, and mediocre pizza. those beers tasted like gold, though.

now. after a well deserved nap and fansy shmansy tea (this hotel is absurdly nice), we are preparing for a tango show in Ambosta (which I hear has "nice" girls). Hasta lluego.

D

Abrazos y Besos

I ditched my 7 year old PUMA sneakers in a ditch after stepping 4 feet in mud......it was time.

In other news, I am doing sick nasty here in Argentina. Thats a good thing for all you non-slag-un-hip hoppers out there reading this blog. Speaking of slang, theres an encyclopedia full of Argentinean slang words and expressions (no joke!). Im on my way, and with the help of my new Tigre friends, I have no problems uttering, "Man, I gotta piss" "Stop breaking my balls!" "That's a fine ass" and "Go to the shell of your mother!" Yes, I am learning a lot.

Abril, the granddaughter sometimes living in my home stay, has a group of amazingly beautiful (inner and outer) friends in TIgre - a "tranquilo" spot about 40 minute from my house by train. Last night, I journeyed to Tigre without Abril and us jovenes went down to Ahora Club, the hottest boliche (dance club) in Tigre on Thursday nights. Wow, that place got packed and awesome fast! Fernet is the Jaegermeister of Argentina. If you don't like Fernet, they banish you to Uruguay.

A word about being an extranjero (foreigner) in Buenos Aires......EVERYONE wants to talk to you! Its like I am some saint from Los Angeles that has landed in their presence to shed words of either English or Spanish wisdom or just sheer entertainment on their souls. Either way, it is undoubtedly fantastic that I have a social charm and can speak Castellano. I can make friends quickly - which has led to some nice perks. Last night, I met two guys, one whose father can get me a Brazilian visa whenever I desire, and the other who knows where to find the best live music in BsAs, and loves to jam....score!

I started school this week (notice how it is not at the top of this blog entry...). Gripping into school life after months of freedom is like holding on to a rope swing no hands. While I wanted to take all classes in Spanish, Contemporary Art was deathly boring, and the Literature classes will eat me alive. I might take an Argentine Lit. class in English - that way, I can actually learn, read, and apply the Canon instead of drowning in a dictionary for 4 months. And, after switching things around - tryin a lil this and that - I think I have a good schedule. Classes Tues, Wed, and Thurs. Argentine Culture, History of Argentine Economics, and Spanish grammar all in Castellano, and Arg. Lit in English. Not bad.

There must be a 4/5 girl guy ratio in my school which is AWESOME for me and the other gentlemen. And, the girls are smoking hot. I flirt around using Spanish slang here and there. Yesterday, I told the photocopy girl that she had beautiful eyelashes (which they were - purple).

Fresh plums at 7 in the morning after a night of dancing can work wonders. My parents get into town tomorrow...WhooOoOA! I hope they get over their jet lag fast - cuz I wanna party!

Un beso,
David


And I will post some fresh poetry shortly.

Buenos Aires

In Buenos Aires...

You have to hail a bus.
Rush to get on the bus.
Always have enough change so your can RIDE the bus (no bills accepted).
Always have small bills.
Always check for counterfeit money.
Everyone greets you with a kiss on the cheek.
And you can drink in public.

Whenever I thank someone here, they always reply "O, please, its nothing!"

I have yet to find the incredible steak and wine restaurants for 10 bucks that everyone has told me about. Things are more expensive than I imagined, but then again, its not all that bad. I am pretty cheap already, but now I am beginning to see pesos as dollars and get outraged over the smallest prices. The ferias are the best. I went to the feria in San Telmo yesterday and had a blast. Bought a mate (which I now know hoe to drink), delicious sausage, and beer. Lovely.

A couple nights ago, I connected with Joey (you know Joey? Hes the best!)´s friend Diego, who hosted an asado at his apartment. An asado is a get together centered around a ton of meat and wine. Good company. Incredible food. Fun times. Afterwards, we went to a peña, a traditional folkloric dance fiesta, packed with people and live music. I "danced my ass off", burnt all the calories I put on before the peña, and made it home just before sunrise. Argentine clocks run much later than the US. Its normal to come home around 6-7. Im glad my classes are in the afternoon. Speaking of which! I start school today! I should get going. Ill let you know how it goes.
Chau

Daveed

Snails

Yesterday was cosmic,

I went for a run along the filthy river. It must have been 1000 degrees and I was beastly sweating as usual. I stopped and walked towards the water where I met three fisherman. We shot the shit and I had a few swigs of their gigantic beer. Beneath our feet lived a bunch of GIANT SNAILS. One fisherman, Gabriel, gave me a snail and told me to put it my garden. I felt a little iffy - taking this snail out of its enivorment - but then again, it looked SO COOL and I thought it would be a good addition to the house. So I ran home, snail in hand, when all of a sudden, A KILLER DOG started chasing me! I ran faster than Ive ever ran before, heart racing, praying for life. When the dog came close, I spun in midair and barked back, judo-chopped the wind, and loudly cursed (in English). The dog stopped running, but continued to bark and shine his massive fangs. Eventually, he backed off and I was free to go.

When I returned home, my body was covered in sweat. I put the massive snail on the counter and dove into our cool pool. While the water was refreshing, my body took a quick leap in body tempturature which I found out later - was a bad idea. After the dip, I showered and passed out in my bed. I awoke in a pool of sweat and my head was pounding. I tried speaking as clear Spanish as I could to Abril and Jose, but my head hurt so much. My headache soon turned to nausea and I had to vomit, but couldn´t. The pain grew so intense that I became scared. The thought of death sounded more pleasing than this overwhelming wave of uncomfort. Eventually, I vomitted...a lot, and passed out. The rest of the night I spent in bed recovering, sleeping, souping, and resting.

Before I took my final sleep, I read a little of the novel "Big Fish". In this chapter, the main character wants to leave his hometown, but must pass a dreary mid-point where souls are left to rot for the rest of eternity. If given admittance by the gatekeeping Dog, the travelers are allowed to pass, if not, the Dog bites off their fingers and they must remain.

While my homestay family doesnt agree with me, I think my sickness was a direct result of the snail. I am a snail. I took a brother out of his natural home and almost killed it. The dog on the street was looking out for his animal companion, and sought to bite my fingers. While the dog couldn´t get me, sickness could. This morning, I returned the snail to the rocks by the river. I feel a lot better now.

Sonidos de la cuidad

No me gustan los estudiantes en mi programma. Ellos solo hablan en ingles y tienen mala onda. Onda. Attitude. Yo he caminado mucho en la calle y he hablado con mucha gente. Prefiero hablar con las personas Argentinas mas de personas Americanas. Ayer, durante el autobus tour, sali con dos chicas muy bellas de Francia. Caminamos en el centro del ciudad. Es loco en el centro. Hay muchos coches, edificios altos, ruido, y gente muy cerca. No la me gusto mucho. Pero, hay un calle en el centro se llama Tacahuano. La calle tiene muchas tiendas de musico. Hable mucho con la gente en las tiendas y negosie mucho. Finalmente, yo compre una buena acustica con una funda (soft case), correa (strap), mas cuedras (extra strings), y pics por 500 pesos (130 dollars or so). No habian muchas acusticas en las tiendas y este era la mejor y la primera que yo la toque. Despues, monte el subte (subway) con mi guitarra nueva y mochilla. Hace mucho calor en el subte y monte mucho para regresar a casa. Cuando sali el subte, tenia mucho hambre y buscaba a un resturante pequeno con bebidad y comida, y buena onda. Cuando llegue en una afuera de Avenida Cabildo, les dije "Necessito una cerveza ahora mismo!" Yo tome una cerveza grande y comi un sanwich grande de jamon, queso, huevos, lechuga, tomates, y queso. Hablaba con los empleyados en el restaurante. Estaron muy amables. Tambien, yo toque la guitarra y cante a mis nuevos amigos. Hablabamos en castellano por mucho tiempo. Cuando regrese a casa, me bane y comi una buena cena de pollo frito, banana frita, papas fritas, una salsa de maiz. Que rico! Me encanta la comida en casa. Despues de la cena, toque la guitarra a mi familia. "Muy bien! Bravo!" No sali anoche porque estaba cansado y llovia mucho.

Ahora, mi amigo mejor es mi guitarra. Me siento como un rebel sin amigos en esta ciudad. Yo tengo un talento a hablar y hacer amigos con gente en la calle. Es la vida para mi ahora.

David