This and That

Me in La Boca
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This is just going to be a quick recap of what's been going on here the last few weeks.

1) Visa Process.

After a huge struggle to obtain a student visa in the US, the customs official made a mistake and told me I had to enter the country as a tourist.  This led to confusion when I went to Uruguay and also, the university found out and because of new immigration requirements told me I needed to get another one.  So, I started the process here in BsAs and got a background check and fingerprinting.  I also went to the immigration office and waited until I was finally called (last in our group of 40-45 people).  After all of that they told me I didn't need to get a new visa, I just had to activate mine the next time I re-entered the country.  It was a lovely waste of 10 hours of my life but, I am glad that I didn't have to spend the 200 pesos on it.

Practicing our ballet moves outside of Teatro Colon
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2) Church.

Back when I was making preparations for this trip I asked Mars Hill if they could recommend a church down here for me.  Being incredibly resourceful they did.  It's called La Puerta Abierta.  It's about 40 minutes away by bus but I like it a lot.  The first time I went I met not only a smiling Paraguayan in a Hope Swimming t-shirt but also 2 girls who had worked at Mars Hill for a summer and a girl who went to high school with two of my friends.  Small world, no?

Wandering street vendor in San Telmo
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3) Sunday Markets

Yesterday I spent the afternoon going to La Boca and San Telmo.  In Boca (home to the very popular Boca Jrs futbol club) there is a well-known street called Caminito which is full of vendors, tango dancers and souvenir shops.  Also, it was the first port in the city and fisherman used to paint their boats in bright colors and use the extra paint on their houses.  Because of this La Boca is a very colorful neighborhood.

San Telmo is home to a feria that happens only on Sundays.  Plaza Dorrego is home to the antique vendors and Defensa is the street where you will find street performers, aretesans and candied peanut vendors.  The candied peantus are always worth a peso.  This was my second time in a few weeks to San Telmo but yesterday was a gorgeous day, 75 and sunny, and you can't beat the feeling that nice weather gives to the city.  Especially to a place like this.  The whole city seems to have come alive.

4) Teatro Colon

Teatro Colon.  Teatro Colon.  We went to Teatro Colon to see a production of El Lago de los Cisnes (Swan Lake).  It was my first time seeing a ballet (Except for Em's dance recital when I was probably three) and I absolutely loved it.  Nelly told me that for a debut I picked the right venue and the right ballet.  I couldn't agree with her more.  The theater is such a beautiful building and the ballet was fantastic.  I've been practicing my plies, arabesques and pirouettes since we left so maybe I'll have my own production of Swan Lake one day.

That's all for now!  I'm off to enjoy more of the sunshine.  Spring is almost here!