Debby B

I am writing to you all tonight, because I just came from a Clown show, and I think the world needs to know that Argentina loves clowns. And not only does Argentina love clowns, but I love Argentina for loving clowns. Argentines, (or atleast Porteños; residents of Buenos Aires) have created a whole new subculture; a culture of circus performers and circus lovers. They have everything from acrobats to fire jugglers to clowns. They dress the part and they do the acts. But the best part is, they don't do their circus things in circuses, oh no, they are too hipster for that. They have taken their art form to the parks, the theaters, the plazas and the intersections, where they perform for coins while cars are stopped at red lights. (They haven't perfected their timing ... read more

Hi folks, It has been a while since I last wrote, about 3 months. Oops. Here's a quick update: last time I left you, I was struggling with a lack of heat and hot water in the dead of winter. Well since then, I moved a few times, and I have finally ended up in one of the most upper class neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. That's right, I am talking 80 years with so much plastic surgery that they look 20, and 12 year olds with so many designer clothes that they look 20....long story short, in my new apartment I have heat, hot water and 2 great roomates from Spain and Peru. (Note: ladies, my roommates are gorgeous and single, so you should all come visit me). Hope this update filled you in a little ... read more

I am sitting here, in the middle of the day, writing this blog while shivering under my down blanket. We have finally hit winter tempertures and conveniently on the coldest week we have had thus far, the city decided to fix a gas pipe in the street outside of my building. Long story short they "found something wrong with the pipes" which I think means they broke one, and therefore our building is without gas for "an undertermined amount of time". Let me stop here for a minute and explain the uses of gas in Argentinian life. Basically, it is used for EVERYTHING. So, long story short, for the past 3 days and for an "undertermined about of time more" we have no heat, no hot water to take showers, and no gas for the ... read more

Today was my fourth day of school. I spent the whole day reading the material for class, stuggling with scholarly works in Spanish; highlighter in one hand, dictionary in the other. My brain hasn't worked so hard in two years. By the end of the day it was spinning, I felt the brain cells having a party up there, or a protest, I am not sure which. All I know is that when I was finished studying I has the urge to turn the TV on in order to dull down my brain to it's normal state. Luckily Lyndsay Lohan's E True Hollywood Story was on. That did the trick. Class was fine. Of the 12 people in it, only 5 were there. The professor was talking at double speed today and he didn't once ... read more

After months and months of problems finding a documentary program to study in, I have finally started school, and...well... it is something to get used to. I realized today that is has been almost 2 years to the day since I have attended academic classes and I have to re-accustom myself to studying and doing work again! Frankly, I am a little initimidated by the idea of it. The school is supposed to be very good. It is a public school so it doesnt have the resources that the private film schools have (all we have is a chalkboard and that gets stolen daily by other classes) but it has a great reputation and as the students keep telling me it teaches something very important; it teaches us how to make documentaries without money. This ... read more