Lessons 16-20

Lesson #16: In a foreign country, sometimes people won’t be able to understand or say your name, so you must learn to respond to other names. Exhibit A: Shiwani and I have grown accustomed to being called Giovanni (Shiwani) and Jimmy (Me) at bars and such. After trying to correct people, we’ve just accepted the fact that Shiwani is an Italian mafia man and I am… well, Jimmy.

Lesson #17: When making empanadas, don’t put too much stuffing. Random? Yes. Important? Absolutely. Blanca, one of the workers at the house and the sweetest woman ever, taught us how to make empanadas last night. With more than 25 drunk American students in the kitchen and over 100 empanadas to make, she did an amazing job and let everyone make their own. It was amazing and I learned how to fold and press empanadas like an Argentine. The key: not to put too much stuffing otherwise its just a ooey gooey mess.

Lesson #18: Don’t bother using one of your sick days to watch the World Cup because around here businesses close when Argentina plays. Thus, I will be using tomorrow morning to drink and watch the game, then show up to work at noon. If only we could adopt this attitude in the US during March Madness…

Lesson #19: Your Spanish improves (or at least you think it does) when you drink. Perhaps its because you don’t feel as conscious, perhaps its because you really do get better. Whatever it is, it’s awesome.

Lesson #20: When walking home from bars at night, don’t expect to get a warm response from the flower vendors on the street after yelling “Hola Senor!” to them. In retrospect, it makes sense. How would you feel if you were standing out in the cold all night trying to sell some flowers to some guys that were trying to get lucky or had messed up, and some tourists who were obviously having more fun than you, yelled at you?