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Published: April 6th 2006
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Subte
Here is a map of the Subway lines. We live on the Green line, Linea D. The stop is Olleros. I have been avoiding writing because I am still depressed that my camera is broken and I have no pictures to show and tell about. However, too many days are passing, and so before we get too behind on the updates, I will post a summary and commentary about my life in la gran ciudad de Buenos Aires.
Sweating in the Subte (underground subway system) on Tuesday afternoon I finally scored an empty seat and was able to sit down and observe my surroundings. I saw hundreds of people, all in their own worlds, minds, troubles, chores and rhythms. Each rushing from work to home, home to work, to school, to home, to lunch, to church, to the hospital, to the 'shopping' or somewhere else. Each one thinking in her or his own mind, one million thoughts about what will they eat, when will they eat or how will they eat tonight? Each person sweating and listening to the screeching scraping of subways through the dark tunnels under Buenos Aires, each one an individual and at the same time, I thought, all of us the same. It is very overwhelming living in this enormous city. I feel so small, swallowed up by the giant buildings, endless concrete, and maze of buses, trains, subways and taxis. I feel like a little Polly Pocket lost in a huge bin of Lego. I think about our compost bin under the sink in Kelowna BC, the three garbage and recycling bins in the garage, and the Social Justice Committee I was part of at OUC. It all seems so far away and so useless. When here there is just so much waste, misery, garbage, and pollution. ... Oh, perhaps I should just change the pace of this blog. It's a bit dismal and really doesn't reflect the circus of fun that we are having most of the time.
So where did we leave off? What have Lindsay and I been up to during the past few weeks? Well, more than anything, we've been reading and eating and walking and checking our emails. We went to some parties, birthday celebrations, some fairs, some pubs, restaurants, friends' houses, demonstrations and classes. Our classes are fantastic, and the teachers are all such distinct characters who bring many life experiences and stories to the class room. My favorite classes are Literature and Media as a Mirror of Social Change (in English) and also Argentina, Sociedad Abierta (Sociology in Spanish). The readings and topics are quite interesting and the profersoras are very knowledgeable and passionate.
We will be finished exams at the end of June and so we have been planning our winter holidays recently. I am thinking of going to Bariloche and Mendoza to snowboard in July and I will meet up with Lindsay, Michelle, Ivan and perhaps some others, in August, in Peru. Laura and Chuck will be visiting in June and I may meet up with Sheena in Mendoza for a few runs together at Las Lenas. All very exciting and for the most part up in the air. Thrilling none the less.
Yesterday we didn't have any classes so we woke up early in order to seize the day. We went for a walk and then a swim before heading to the Wednesday Meeting with Conciencia, and in the evening Yoga and a birthday party at night. Well, the day started off well, but the swim just killed us. Within the first 200m we had made a new friend, borrowed one extra pair of goggles, two ... what are they called, oh, sexy swim caps, and had a possible date with the life guard for Friday. However, the water was at 30 degrees and it was like Bikram Swimming. I couldn't stand it for over an hour and besides, it has been a long time since we have done any exercise, so we were spent. We almost fell asleep in the meeting and we sang songs of praise when we found out Yoga was cancelled, we ate out and went to bed early. So much for Carpe Diem, maybe tomorrow.
Besides the random and common surges of melancholic and depressing feelings of insignificance and helplessness, Life is great in Buenos Aires. Next week we will start our volunteer activities and go to Uruguay for Easter break. We will finally be able to breathe clean air and listen to silence. Ahhh. I am looking forward to a change of pace and scenery.
Hopefully my camera will be areglada (fixed) by then and we will have some of our own photos for you next week. I think Lindsay actually will post some of hers up this weekend, so hold tight.
On the theme of mail, don't bother sending any, apparently, it won't arrive. (pout)
Well, that's all for now, it's time for some pastries and a nap in the afternoon sunshine,
Take care and seize the day!
Love always,
Yennika (how my name was spelt today so nicely by the worker in the foto copy place!)
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Heather May
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Post cards and UBCO
Hey Girls, thanks for the updates. Today was a great day....let me tell you why: 1) Last day of classes @ UBCO .... no more Social policy woooohooo! 2) A post card in the mail from you girls:) miss you, Heather