Sunday, July 15, 2007

I got up at 9:30 today and after dragging myself out of bed, got ready, and ate breakfast (two media lunas, two cups of really hot chocolate—I burnt my tongue, and tostadas with dulce de leche). Fani told me something about one of her relatives. I didn’t understand what she was saying, but I could tell she was sad. I asked her what happened to her relative and she said that she died. I am not quite sure who it was that died, but she was eighty—some years old and had suffered a lot, so (I think) Fani thinks it is a good thing she is in Heaven now. I think the person who died might have been her last full-blood relative (or maybe her sister is). I know that her father had two wives (at different times, of course) and so her brothers have a different mother than Fani.

I left for church at 10:40 and made it there by 10:55. Of course, church didn’t actually start until at least 11:10. I sat next to a woman named Teresa. She was really friendly and liked talking to me. Some other people came and sat next to us. There were a lot of people at church today. We sang “Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty” in Spanish.

After church, I walked to Cabildo and on my way stopped at the Norte there to check prices. I want to buy my favorite brand of dulce de leche and some more mate to bring home, but I need to know where they sell it and find the best price. I went home and dumped my winter coat and Bible. I was wearing my black crinkle skirt with a hot pink shirt and my new green scarf. I walked around to four more grocery stores and compared prices and products. I looked at the mate and dulce de leche in every store. The rule for my game was that I could not ask for help, but had to find them myself, like a scavenger hunt. I headed back toward home and almost stopped for café con leche at a café that was having a special, but I wanted to sit outside in the sun, but all of their chairs were in the shade, so I passed it by. Instead, I went to a shop called Gourmet Empanadas and had a cheese and onion empanada and a tiny little one with dulce de leche inside for dessert. They weren’t the best empanadas I’ve had, but they were still good. I sat there looking at the window and started my homework. However, they must have been closing at 3 because the guy locked the door and switched the sign to closed, so I got my stuff together and left.

I went back home and worked on a little bit more homework in my room. Tammy called at 4:15 to say that she was back. Fani was just getting ready to feed me some of the tarta she had made so we made plans to meet at a café at 5. I ate my cheese and spinach-ish tarta and it was very good. I left to meet Tammy. When I arrived, the café/bakery was filled with people. I stepped inside the door, but didn’t see Tammy and there were people pushing and shoving me to get by and I felt like I was in the way, so I waited outside. I figured she wasn’t there yet because I was about three minutes early. However, after about 5 minutes, I heard Tammy saying my name from the doorway. Apparently, she was sitting at a table where I could not see her and she had seen my hair through the window. I was not hungry but Tammy had hot chocolate and a huge piece of chocolate cake after having to ask the waitress to see the one and only menu in the restaurant. We talked about our weekends (Tammy went to Iguazú falls) and then did part of our homework. Tammy’s “abuelita” gave me a magazine about Evita because I am reading her book. It was really sweet of her! We talked some more before we left.

We walked around the feria at Juramento, but about half of the booths were not open, probably because of the big fútbol game between Argentina and Brazil. Tammy bought a pretty brown, coral, and green shawl. We then went scarf-hunting and Tammy captured two. We then walked to my house and I showed Tammy my new skirts and gave her the clothes I babysat over the weekend. I gave Tammy some index cards, but I think she forgot them because there was a pile on my bed when she left. I walked Tammy downstairs so I could let her out. It was about 8. I went back upstairs and Fani fixed dinner for me. I had soup, more tarta, and chocolate mousse. Fani told me that Tammy had a cold face, but mine was warm. I told her that Tammy is always cold. She then started talking about Tammy and how “linda” she is. She then said that I am more “linda” than Tammy. It was funny. Hmm, I think I would rather have the compliment that Fani gave Tammy last time about her good Spanish. She did not mention how tall and thin Tammy is which is practically a miracle because every time she sees Tammy, I usually hear about that for the next two meals! During dinner, I got to hear about the time Fidel Castro came to visit Buenos Aires and he gave a speech that lasted five hours! One of Fani’s relatives went, but didn’t stay for the whole time. Argentina lost the soccer game, much to Fani’s dismay. After cleaning up the kitchen, Fani went to bed. I took a shower that wasn’t warm, but wasn’t ice, either (although it still produced massive goosebumps!). I can count on one hand the number of cold showers I have left! I checked my email, tidied my belongings, and wrote this blog. I am now going to read for just a bit before drifting off to dreamland.