Argentina

This is just a very very quick one to tell you all that I have arrived in Buenos Aires, slept like a log on my bunkbed on the third floor of Hostel-Inn Tango City, listening to Jack Johnson as I sit at the communal computer trying to figure out the Spanish keyboard, and am leaving on a free tour of the city just before 1pm!

I haven’t decided quite how this blog is going to work, but I’ll update this post asap and explain myself. Think I’ll write on paper whenever I have a moment and type when I can, so things may not flow well. I’ll let you know when and where I wrote each piece.

(12.18pm, 1 May, hostel, San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina) Breakfast was great! Included in the hostel price so intend to make the most of it. Delicious strong coffee, water (can’t drink the tap water, so again making the most of free water) Kelloggs Frosties and little toasted rolls with this crazy caramel/chocolate spread. Jam in little plastic tubs makes me think of forfeits in Grahamstown, haha. I will def be sticking to my plans of not drinking for a while whilst I’m here: drinks are like $15 and up!! Anyway, must run. Tour leaves from down the road on half an hour.
 I love you all and will write again very very soon.

(7.25am, 30 Apr, seat D67, aeroplane across Atlantic) And so begins my journey…

I fell into bed in the wee hours of this morning, and after a short sleep I woke up just before 6am on the 30th April.

I was so exhausted when I got on the plane I kept dropping my eyes during take-off,  and after a short sleep I woke up just before 6am on the 30th April.

Argentina is 6 hours behind SA, so although my flight is more than 11hrs, I arrive in Buenos Aires at 4.15pm. I´m glad I get to start Day1 from scratch because the first time round I had a small altercation with my backpack cover on the floor of Terminal B, and I had to run to my Gate because I was still looking for a vuvuzela when they announced the final boarding call.
But since the second beginning of my big day things have been going swimmingly.

I´ve set my watch to a few minutes after the destination local time of 7.30 so I´m not late for stuff (It helps, I swear) and after eating pretty decent beef curry and a lemony milktart type thing and stashing my crackers and cheese for later, the very first thing I´m doing, as promised, is writing to you all.
The Fantastical Mr Fox has just started, and I´m still writing, albeit quite a lot more slowly, haha.

Although my journey hasn´t quite hit the right continent yet, I will still tell you what I´ve been doing, as this is what a blog is for. Its been a hectic but awesome week all about getting things ready to be somewhere else and getting things ready to not be where I normally am.
Basically I´ve been trying to finish up with the stuff I usually do and have what I need to start doing things I´ve never done before.

I finished my job yesterday, last minute I know, but it went well. I handed over an enormous database comparing the hotels in South Africa between 1990 and 2010 and taught my bosses how to use it and they seem pretty chuffed. A few weeks ago was my last Confirmation lesson. The class I´ve been teaching for the last 3 years have a lesson or two more and then they´ll be confirmed into the Catholic Church on 15th May. The Social & Communications committee of the parish pastoral council featured me as their person in the church´s e-letter. Bit weird, but anyway.

And then of course there´s saying goodbye. Its been amazing to spend time withfriends and family over the last little while. I’ve been to Port Alfred, Swaziland, the Farm, Wits… I’ve seen my grandparents, a whole lot of aunts, uncles and cousins and most of my mates, incl some I haven´t seen in ages! There are some people I wish I had had time to have a lil chat with before I left; quite a few people. But  I´m so grateful for everyone´s love and good wishes. U´ve all been awesome! I know its a busy time for most.

(12.41am, 2 May, communal computer in common room, Hostel-Inn Tango City, Argentina) What a good day. my keyboard has gone crazy. im in the common room, the music is pumpin and theyve dimmed the lights. the party begins. talk tomorrow.

(unknown time and place) Was so glad as I collapsed sweating into the seat of Hotel Ritz that I had set my watch fast, having speed walked to this brother hostel to depart for our city tour to find I was early. Doesn´t look like being late is much of a problem here.

(10.09am, 2 May, communal computer in common room, Hostel-Inn Tango City, Argentina) Before I write my next post, I should finish a few thoughts. Basically I feel like I did the getting ready to leave stuff ok I think, but the getting ready to arrive stuff…

Let’s just say a bit of basic Spanish would have been a very good idea. And whilst I love being flexible, a vague idea of what I want to do while I’m here would mean that making my next move would be a bit easier. So I’m seriously making it up as I go along. Have decided to stay in Hostel-Inn Tango City one more night. Have made a friend (who speaks good English and Spanish, and is lovely and asks about SA a lot) who is leaving tomorrow and Manuel the Mexican is making supper for us tonight!