getting started

The cardboard pillows of the hostel now just a nightmare of the past, we have settled in nicely to our Argentine apartment in Recoleta, the classy neighborhood that the rich people moved to in the late 19th century to evade a yellow fever epidemic. Apartments in Argentina include all utilities, wifi, cable, and a weekly maid service, which is crucial. And we're across the street from a Blockbuster...so Kelly was in.

Our main qualifications in our apartment hunt were that it be in a good neighborhood and that is have 2 bedrooms. Bedroom #1 has a king size bed and a walk-in closet and a spacious window with quaint street views. Bedroom #2 is about the size of a king size bed, so it just has a twin bed and a nightstand, with a small window looking out onto the living room. This is my room. At least I have blinds. And we're sharing the walk-in closet.

We started classes today at Instituto de Español Rayula, Kelly in the beginner class with a couple from New Zealand and a rather zealous German. I only had 15 minutes of "class," just to talk to the director and arrange things and meet my only classmate, Tim. He's from the Netherlands, so I plan on adding him to my collection of Dutch friends. Then I spent an hour deciphering my "Guía T" to figure out how to take a bus ("colectivo") home from the Institute.