con "mi familia" (por fin)

So I was picked up by my host family last night around 7:30. It was an amazingly comforting release of tension after the stressful/exciting couple days in the hotel. The highlight of that period of time has to have been friday night, when I decided to try a number of new things. After going out to a 10:00 dinner (during which I had my first argentine steak: thick, bloody, and served "a caballo" with a runny egg on top) with about 12 people, maybe a quarter of whom I knew beforehand. Afterwards maybe about six of us, in a delirious state comprised of drunkenness and excitement, staggered around the vicinity killing time before some club was due to open. That was semi-aggravating for a while, but once we settled on a bar (my first) and I had a ¨cuba libre" (rum and coke), I was able to relax more, though still the most awkward of the group. Then we waited in a fairly long line full of other expectant youths, and most of my companions started flirting with the Argentinians in line around us. I didn´t feel confident enough in my spanish or have too much desire to do so (not that I really know how to do so in english) but the exciting atmosphere and my mildly intoxicated state made the whole experience pretty cool anyway.

Then we actually got into the place, which was much grander and more amazing than I expected. I danced in my somewhat horriffic and absurd way, and had a hell of a good time. Occasionally during the really exciting parts of the evening it just occurred to me all of a sudden where I was and what I was actually doing, and that self-consciousness only enhanced the experience.

Anyway so yesterday I paid for the night with some serious fatigue, which wore off before too long only to be replaced by anxiety that I would meet my family and everything would be awkward and silent (awkward silence may be one of my worst fears). But of course all that anxiety was misplaced, because when I met Raquel and Ricardo Hassan I found that I was their fourth exchange student in a row(their last left a week ago) and consequently they know all about what causes awkwardness and how to deal with it and all that. Especially cool is how understanding they are about poor spanish skills. Whereas most people in businesses just resort to whatever is necessary to get the message across, these people let me struggle to articulate myself in my agonized way, and talk to me as if I´m a native (but of course are willing to repeat themselves if necessary. My room is terrific, not least because of its privacy. It´s also cozy, with charming decor, plenty of space and even a little balcony from which I can look out at my intriguingly and excitingly ugly surroundings. There´s plenty of delicious food, and today I went on my first Buenos Aires run. Both were teriffic, despite that fact that during the latter I´m sure I stuck out like a sore thumb as the foreigner that I am (I don´t think it´s muy común here to run in the mornings.

I think I´ll shut up now for the time being. One note as regards the internet: they don´t actually have it, but they do get wi-fi from nearby stores and offices. So I should have internet of my own during business hours. It´s always readily available though: right now I´m at this special internet store type of place where you can use it for only about 45 cents per hour.

So I guess I´ll talk to you later, readers, if there are any of you.

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