This week was my last week at school before what I am calling Spring Break this upcoming week.  At school we've moved on to the past tense and it's definitely challenging keeping the new conjugations straight.  But I am starting to get more of it into my brain and the words are coming a bit more naturally.  We finished class on Friday by playing Taboo in Spanish which was really fun, although a bit difficult if your partner didn't know the word you were trying to explain!  Now I take the week off, hopefully get a bit of practice in while in Salta, then back for my last four weeks of formal classes.

I had my first bank experience this week which was good because I was able to communicate the whole time in Spanish.  (I get really excited when that happens, but inevitably the next time I go to the store or buy food I don't understand a word, and I feel back to square one)  It's interesting b/c they set up all these screens so that nothing you do is visible to other customers.  I am guessing it's because people are often taking out large amounts of cash (since they do so much in cash here, like paying rent) and they don't want it to be visible to others that might follow them out.  Also, I had to go through a metal detector at the entrance, so I felt extra safe!

They do go a bit mental with the paperwork though.  Two copies of my passport and debit card and three different forms/receipts to sign, in order to buy some dollars.  I actually have to show my passport all the time here if I want to use a debit card - at the grocery store, the bookstore, etc.  In restaurants they don't always ask for it, but they do often make you put your passport number with your signature on the receipt.  All Argentineans have a SSN type number called DNI, with an associated photo ID card, so that is what is normally used, but for foreigners they always want your passport.

I also had my first experience of BsAs crime - though luckily I wasn't the victim.  I was at the local Chino (small grocery store) and a guy stole a bunch of empty bottles that had been returned for deposit.  It didn't seem like a very wise choice for stealing being heavy and quite noisy to run with, but to each their own.  The owner went mental screaming "Robo!!" (Thief!!) and "Sos basura!!" (You're trash!!) but didn't make any attempt to run after him.  Exciting times at the market!  :)  Meanwhile, the baby of the owners was just hanging out in one of the aisles.  I am guessing she was about seven or eight months old and they'd plopped her in the baby seat of one of the carts and then arranged packages of toilet paper around her to keep her propped up. A creative take on a baby seat!

Last night I had people over for the first time since moving here.  I invited people over for 9pm, and no one was here yet at 10!  Needless to say I was feeling like a huge nerd, but then everyone appeared at once and it was a fun, relaxed night.  Everyone that came is also a student at the school, although this was the last week for most of them so it was a shame to say goodbye.  It definitely wasn't a fancy party - beer, wine and cheese and crackers.  For large groups you can buy 1 liter bottles of beer and they are CHEAP - 5.70 pesos at my local market, so less than $1.50.  Of course it's not Yazoo brewery level, more Miller Lite, but still fine.  At restaurants people will often buy these large bottles to share between the table, like the Argentine version of pitchers.

Tomorrow I am heading out on my first big travel adventure, to Salta, which is in the Northwest and relatively close to both Chile and Bolivia.  It's meant to be really beautiful scenery in that region and a nice colonial city, so I am hoping it's a good time.  Also, my teacher says that I should have an easier time understanding the Spanish up there because they talk more slowly...we'll see!  I leave on the bus at 8pm, then it's 20 hours to Salta.  I went for the highest level of service that they have - Cama Suite - which means that the seat lies totally flat and I get my own TV screen.  Everyone is very positive about the buses here, so we will see if it lives up to the hype!

I'll be back next weekend with reports of my adventures and hopefully some photos!