Dont Cry For Me Argentina

I know this is sort of a cliche title for my first post, but I couldn't help it. To be honest, it really sums up the content of this post quite sufficiently. We have now been in Buenos Aires for three days, and I've already learned so much (and also become wildly aware of how much learning I have yet to do!)

The pic below shows us right after we rolled into B.A. on Tuesday morning with more luggage than should even be legal. I am still laughing at the sight of us juggling all those bags. It was 'all hands on deck' for sure! Our kids are truly rock stars! We chose to check this many bags because we wanted to arrive with a good bit of our things instead of waiting on our air shipment to clear customs, which we heard can take quite a while in Argentina. We are now anxiously awaiting our sea shipment so we can really get set up here! We got SO many looks walking through the airport haha! 

Bienvenidos A La Argentina!

Right from the start, I learned that much of what I read on the Internet was true. Traffic is errrr... ummm... scary. I proclaimed right there in my very first taxi ride that I was never getting behind the wheel. Kyle swears I'll learn it and that we will practice on weekends. It is not this crowded in our area, but people do not utilize lanes, and it's kind of just a free-for-all. I had to just close my eyes and hope for the best (since I wasn't driving.)

One of the first photos I took (from the taxi so not great quality) as we got into our area. We live in Recoleta, which is a barrio (neighborhood) in downtown Buenos Aries. It has a very European feel, and the architecture is very beautiful and fascinating. 

 This is quite the change from Fort Worth, Texas! We live on the 7th floor of our building, and in the pic below Kate is checking out the view from our balcony. The kids think it is so cool that we have an elevator that goes to our apartment. They have had such amazing attitudes about the whole thing, and they seem to really be enjoying our new space! Speaking of our new space, it is only 1350 square feet! We could've chosen a larger place either in the city or closer to the kids' school, but we really wanted to experience the hustle and bustle of "city life", and one big priority for us was Kyle being able to walk to work and for us to be closer to where he was so that there wouldn't be a big commute standing between work and home. When Kyle saw this apartment and it was clean and in the area of our choice, we decided to jump on it. I know we would've been happy with whatever route we chose, but so far we are really happy with our choice and love our area. I am shocked at how much larger our apartment feels than I thought it would. The bedrooms are tiny and so is the kitchen, but it's really all the space we need! 

After we settled in on our first day, we got out to walk around and explore. Again, the Internet was correct about so many things! 

We had lunch at a lovely little cafe near Recoleta cemetery, which is just a few blocks from our apartment. People do not get in a hurry to serve you around here, and if you get huffy about it you'll be miserable. They're not being unfriendly or unwelcoming in the least. It's just how they roll. I think if you can learn to embrace it, you kind of enjoy it for it's laid back feel and the fact that no one seems to take anything too seriously. These are just my initial observations of course, but they are very consistent with what I have been reading these last few months. One aspect of this laid back feel that is very helpful for us in our current situation is that people don't seem to mind kids at all. They actually seem quite delighted to see a family with multiple kids come in, and everyone takes an interest in the kids. That is a big sigh of relief since we're kind of stuck with them. Haha. ;)

You see groups of dogs like this all over the city. There are dog walkers who walk this many dogs at a time all day long! I read that the sidewalks were often covered in dog poo, but so far we haven't seen much of that in our area. Phew! 

On our second morning, we had breakfast at Starbucks. It's interesting how just being somewhere familiar can make you feel at home! It was also so nice to be able to order with ease. lol! 

These are the pretty sign holders that are all over. They are very old and quite beautiful! 

It is currently winter here, so many of the trees lack leaves. I can't wait to see everything in full bloom, but we are enjoying the cooler temps! I'm always in a better mood when it's cool outside, so its nice to not have the heat to worry about while we are settling in. Ha! 

There are many beautiful green spaces and historical statues and buildings around town. I can't wait to explore more! I snapped these on our way to see the kids' school yesterday. It is north of where we live, about 30 minutes away. 

We are going tiny in every aspect of life lol! This is a shot of the kids in the back of our new car. Anyone who knows me knows I always have a messy car. lol... This means less mess to keep up with! Now if only my kids could get used to being in such tight quarters and quit complaining about being in each other's space. (insert eye roll) Thankfully I don't have to drive very often! 

This is the kids' school - Asociacion Escuelas Lincoln (Lincoln International School.) We start in less than two weeks! I'm excited for the kids to get there and learn more Spanish. Haha! They will be my translators in no time. Of course I plan to learn, too. ;)

More sights on our way home from the school. 

Last night we ate dinner around 6 pm. This is actually "tea time", and at this time most restaurants are either closed or people who are in there are ordering mate', which is a popular caffeine drink here. They serve it with bread and jelly/butter. I guess it might've been considered rude for us to order dinner at that time, but we are still so clueless, and they were very gracious and didn't seem to mind! 

We (and by that I mean the kids and I) got a huge kick out of the fact that a cat wandered into the restaurant while we were eating, and no one seemed to mind. No one but US. I had my feet in the air asking Kyle if it was going to bite me (I'm 100% serious).. Jackson and Reese were jumping up and down asking if they should go tell the manager... and Kate was squealing that she wanted to "PLAY WITH THE KITTY NOW!"... I am laughing so hard just thinking about it. We really embarrassed Kyle because, you know, he's so cool, calm, and collected. We can't help it. We are Americans, and Americans freak out when cats walk into restaurants! Of course I had to take a pic when the cat peed in a potted plant right behind our table. No one else was concerned! I'm not sure "blending in" is going to happen for us, much to Kyle's dismay.

Everything we've had to eat so far has been really delicious! We will not suffer in the food department! Thankfully we do so much walking bc there is a lot of bread! 

Kyle let the kids each pick out a toy in the toy store by our house as a celebration for arriving in B.A. They were soooo excited! 

We also experienced our first gelato and everyone approved! Yummm! 

Learning to Tango. ;) 

Today was our first day without Kyle. I don't have any pics to accompany the following story, but hopefully the mental picture alone will be enough to make you laugh. The kids and I set out to get a few things from the grocery. First of all, I have no idea where I'm going. I have no clue where I am in space and don't have my bearings yet. But we just started walking. We found the store and walked on in (with Kate in our HUGE stroller that barely fits in anywhere lol.) I had no clue what I was looking for, grabbed a few things and proceeded to the checkout and skipped a whole line of people. I had no clue there was a line formed along the left side of the store (there are only three tiny aisles.) When I realized I said "ahhhhhh lo siento lo siento!!!!' to the people in line. They were all so gracious and said it was no problem. We threw all the things in our little rolling cart and got out of there. Jesus, take the wheel! 

Back at our apartment, we had several convos in the lobby with other residents. One lady spoke English and was so kind. The others didn't speak hardly any at all but were so patient in carrying out a whole conversation with me. I have been amazed at how long people will spend trying to talk to you. It is quite humbling! 

As we walked away from one of the residents we talked to, a sweet older man named Rodolpho, I couldn't help but get teary. The people here are SO kind. SO patient. SO compassionate. SO forgiving. SO welcoming. I have already in three short days had my eyes opened to my own lack of patience with foreigners in the U.S. I certainly (prior to now) would never spend as long as people have spent with me trying to converse with someone who didn't know English. The people I've met here applaud (literally) you for any little effort, and they tell you how well you're doing. It is honestly the most touching thing. 

I won't lie, this is hard. Every single thing seems hard right now. Daily things take more thought and effort and planning than ever before, but we are learning. Little by little. I'm so humbled and honored to have this experience here in this beautiful country filled with beautiful people. 

If you see me around town looking like a hot mess... 

First of all, please say "hi" because I would love to talk to someone in English. ;)

and second of all... 

Don't Cry For Me, Argentina. 

I am privileged to be a guest here in your beautiful country, and I know this will be the experience of a lifetime.