Palermo

Herro Guys,

My hostel days are over (for now) and I currently live in a posh neighborhood, Palermo, a little north of the city proper.  When my homestay mom, Mechi, picked me up we had to take a taxi from the hotel because the only car they have is a motorcycle which wouldn´t have been able to carry my luggage efficiently.  Inside the taxi we began chatting and like any Argentine, she has heard of California and New York.  I was explaining the states between Colorado and California, Nevada and Utah when Mechi said, “Oh, Utah is filled with Mormons.”  I began my sentence, “Or rather Utah is…” then the taxi driver raised his hand, but I continued, “Filled with idiots.”  Then he declared that he is a Mormon.  Oops.  He didn´t really talk for the rest of the ride.

The house is most comparable to a town home, maybe?  There are three levels and a terrace on the roof but it´s connected to other houses on each side.  The second level really only is my room which is nice.  Unfortunately there isn´t a place to hang my shirts, maybe I can figure something out. 

We have been doing orientation activities for the past couple days and for the next week or so we will continue bonding.  I definitely don´t want to bond with some of these people.  Nonetheless, I have found some really nice and intelligent friends.  After several written exams and an oral exam I have been placed in the most advanced level.  During my meeting today I will meet the other Post Advanced Spanish II students and we will all judge each other as if we were at a beauty pageant.  There are 81 students and I´m curious how many will join me as the elite.  Perhaps that sounds too pretentious.

I miss Syndri, the mountains, Boulder, my friends, my family, and being able to understand everything.  Nonetheless, I have two new dogs, Manuel and Catalina, endless streets of buildings, Palermo, new friends, Mechi and Max, and to work hard to keep practicing and improve my fluency.  It´s a nice change, I think I want to go to Stockholm.