School´s out for summer

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Trip Start Oct 16, 2008 Previous
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  Buenos Aires, Argentina
Friday, November 7, 2008

After a few weeks in BA we can finally speak a little Spanish, thanks to some inexpensive but comprehensive (and fun) lessons at Ibero language school.  I took the full three-week course and completed the first level (Principiante I).  Blair was enrolled for just two weeks due to the fact the school totally screwed up and when we turned up on the first day they wanted to put us both in the morning instead of one in the morning and the other in the afternoon (despite the fact I booked it two months previous and the availability of morning and arvo was the principal reason I chose the school), so Blair had to wait for an afternoon class starting the following week.  Argh!   I was pretty angry, especially because they informed us of the change in an email the day before we were due to start.  I donīt want to dwell on that fact though, as the school was pretty good in all other aspects.  We both enjoyed the lessons, maybe me more than Blair because I am such a swot (99% on my final exam).  I was pretty impressed with Blair though, after more than two decades away from any kind of formal education, he did a stellar job.  Even studied.

A typical day went something like this.  I would leave early before the boys were even up (thanks to black-out blinds on all the windows - excellent) and sardine my way on the subway to downtown, stop for coffee and a toasted sandwich for breakfast, and be at school by nine.  Break time was at 11, it wasnīt too far into the course before I convinced my classmates that the coffee next door was far superior to the crap in the school, and you canīt beat cafe con leche and two mini croissants for four pesos (about $1.50 Canadian).

Blair and Patrick would have an easy morning, Blair doing his homework while Patrick watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in Spanish.  They would then make their way down on the subway, not so sardine-ish by this time, and stop at their favourite cafe for tostado con jamon y queso.  It was here that Patrick learned to ask for the bill.  When they arrived at school at 1pm for the end of my lessons, little Patrick, "el famoso", would charm his way to receiving any number of treats from the teachers, admin staff, and our fellow students.  Everyone loves him for some strange reason.

Blair would go off to lessons at 1.30pm, and P and I would either head off on an excursion with the school (including La Boca, Museum of Fine Art, Recoleta Cemetery), or go for lunch with my classmates and head back to the apartment.  In the evening we would typically cook something simple (and involving rare vegetables), put Patrick to bed, and I would do my homework while we watched a movie.  Pretty average stuff, just like weīre at home.

Met some fun people at school and our last night we invited some of them to join us for dinner at our favourite parrilla, El Campo Chico for some serious steaks.  We even got a babysitter.

Post your own travel photos for friends and family Pictures

A	B	C	D
E	F	G	H
I	J	K	L
M	N	My class	My teacher, Amelia
Cecilia, activities coordinator	School's out lunch	Sally and Patrick	Sebastian and Patrick
Sally, Patrick, Seba, and Michael	Blair and Sally	Jean and John	Patricia and friends
El campo chico dinner	Classmates	Blair and	Michael and me
Eggplant	Aussie girls

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