Estoy en Buenos Aires!

Hola todos! I arrived into the international airport at Buenos Aires (EZE) on Tuesday, February 1st! To my pleasant surprise, there were several other womyn on my flight from EAP (my program)! When we got off the plane, endured customs, and finally got our bags outside, EXPANISH (our liaisons here for residential and academic support) were waiting for us with a group of about 10 more students who had just come in. We introduced ourselves, jet-lagged and all, and boarded the big charter-bus-looking shuttle to take us to the hotel in el centro de Buenos Aires, where we would stay for 3 days and nights... When we arrived at the hotel (after walking a few blocks from where we were dropped off with our luggage, the first of many 30+ American cluster walks we would arrange in the coming week), David was already there! :) It was so comforting to see him and know we are together, in the same country, city, school...indeed it was soo comforting, I wasn't even sad or shocked about how far I was or the magnitude of what I was doing, until the night before I was to move into my homestay house- away from David and any friends I had made, on my own, with no idea how or where it would be... In the few days before homestay, we (all 80 of us UC students in the program) had Orientation all day and optional dinners together at night. It was nice getting to be in the city together, not alone yet- a nice transition into the new country...we had steak, empanadas galore!, and a few friends and I even explored Barrio Chino (chinatown) and the bus and taxi system. But before long it was time for us to leave each other and join our new homes for the next three months... On Friday, we all boarded shuttles, based on our areas of residence, and hauled our luggage again to a new location: las casas! See's Candies in hand (a gift from my family to my host family), I called for the manual elevator and went to the 10th floor. A happy, small womyn opened the door and kissed and hugged me, welcoming me into her home. Her son carried my luggage upstairs, asking si hay una persona adentro (is there a person inside!), because it was so heavy...haha...and they took me to my room- a full sized bed, tv, closet area, mirror, bedside table, and balcony- ALL FOR ME!! I learned that there were 2 other estudiantes en la casa from los Estados Unidos, and that we share the nearest bathroom to my room. They told me lunch would be ready soon, and even in my excitement, I started organizing my room. First thing I learned: I STILL packed TOOOO much! :( But it all fits! So, esta bien! And while the bathroom is the tiniest I have EVER seen, I have started working out a system to make it easier for myself to maneuver in there...so I am learning! The madre speaks no english, and the son is very good at english...He is 24 years old and works nearby. We all eat together and talk very much! En ingles y espanol! But the mother tells us "solamente hablamos en espanol por favor!" So I try to only speak in spanish. My spanish has been really great though, I can understand and speak a lot, I think! :b It will get better when classes start on monday. So far dinner conversations have surrounded around subjects such as global warming, the crisis in Egypt, the Iraq/US war, the economy and recession, and Cuba/Castro...haha It was been incredibly interesting. The mother is so interesting and soo smart! She loves to read. :) My town is like a little suburb of the main city, and it feels like it! Very cute and quaint, but not far from ANYTHING! Very convenient and safe... Yesterday we went to an estancia, where gauchos do their thing! It was fun, we rode horses and ate FOUR different kinds of meat! Including blood sausage, i.e. intestine!...I can say I tried it! But I cant say I ate it or liked it very much... :/ Today I am going to Barrio Chino to celebrate the Chinese New Year! :) And perhaps watch the superbowl later...haha! Nothing feels so different yet...The language is different and it is different not seeing family or friends I am used to...but I have not been shocked as of yet...I'll keep you updated! Love you all! Miss you all! Ciao! <3

Im in Argentina!

Arrived safe!

Going to Philadelphia!

This weekend I will be going to Philadelphia for a day trip! :) I'll write about it... Work is going well. I will begin coordinating efforts for Phonebanking to NEA members to vote in the upcoming election (NOVEMBER 2ND)!! DONT FORGET TO GO VOTE!! :D My research is coming along...slowly! :b Tonight we had a "family" dinner of fish tacos with my apartment mates and David's apartment mates- we usually hang out and eat together by pooling resources: food and drink! :) I'm making Brownies as my contribution! :b Really missing my ACTUAL family about now though... <3 Loving DC! Went to the American Indian Museum in remembrance of "Christopher Columbus Holiday." Just had to do a quick update ya'll! Love and missing all my Cali folk!! <333333 Grace

Grace is SICK!

This weekend was good, I even slept early last night! But alas, the virus has caught up with me and during an Executive Committee meeting today I nearly threw up in front of everyone! Ugh...So I went home and have been in bed ever since. It did cheer me up that I was able to order groceries online yesterday and they arrived today! Free delivery for the first time. Yay! Miss you all! Got to see the American History Smithsonian this weekend, my friend Lyell!, and my good friends Koko and Patrick at their DC home (in Virginia...). It was a great weekend. Awful Monday. But it can only get better from here! Love you all!

Since Last Time...

So, since last we spoke, I went to NY! It was good to see my friends, but NYC is dirty! Exciting, but dirty! :b Work is going great- this week is Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference (CBC ALC). I did a briefing binder for the President of NEA (Dennis, really nice guy! Sweet, friendly, genuine, not pretentious at all!), and it got copied and showed off to folks all over the building! Hehe! I am shadowing this Lobbyist in NEA who is taking me on many adventures/"wild goose chases." That I really enjoy! :) I hope I get more exciting work like this! :) I am going back to CBC tomorrow for some final sessions...and hopefully more free stuff! Tuesday I attended a luncheon with some NEA staff and met and pictured with Congresswomyn Barbara Lee (Alameda County! Woot woot!) and Congressman Andre Carson (Indiana representative!! Woot!! Super nice and sweet guy!). And free, delicious food. Also met the founder of Becky's Foundation- a non-profit for fighting domestic violence, she is hecka young too! It was awesome to meet her! :) More Free Food: -Dinner forum at the Center (where I live) with pizza and conversation with a staff member from the White House! :) -Crash dinner at the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) National Week: DELICIOUS fooooood! :D I'm working on not comparing myself to folks lately! This city/this environment/politics in general!! is very competitive and not laid back! haha so that is new for me! Working on the adjustments... Our womyn's group here is full of wonderful, supportive, insightful womyn I love being with- even though I was half asleep during our session today! :( :) I am exhausted!! I feel old and I never want to go out! But I think tonight, even though I am tired, hungry, sweaty, and stuff...I will go! Haha. There is a Cal game, and it is a good excuse to get my butt out of this building! :b Pictures to be posted later! LOVE YA'LL! Miss you every day! Wish my internet was functioning properly and I could be more and more connected to you! Although it would never be enough... :) <3