Dis-Oriented (Worked better in Asia!)

Not only am I "next viewing this page" in Argentina, but everything is loading in Spanish. As is Gmail. Funny how disorienting it is to see something so second-nature in a different language.

The other exciting thing about this computer (free internet at Posta del Barto Hostel) is that all the punctuation keys are in different places. For example, every time I go to type a question mark (and you know, there are a lot of question marks in my life) I end up with _ instead. *JUST SO YOU KNOW, I have given up correcting it, to prove my point.*

I wish I could post a picture of my outfit right now, it is about six layers and a hundred different colours. You don't expect South America to be cold, but then this is winter for them. It is about the temperature of late October--early November in Stratford, when people first start talking about snow.

The [journey[ was much as usual. The taxi )to the runway) in Toronto took so long I was sure we were driving to Argentina. We got in to Atlanta late, because there was bad weather and we were directed into a holding area )holding area in the sky_). Then the plane for Buenos Aires didn{t leave til an hour late, as the cleaning crew was behind, which seemed to have the crew slightly confused.

I think my least favourite part about air travel, arriving in a new place, is coming through the arrival gates and vanishing into this forest of names and signs and bored-looking lackeys. Sometimes I hate this because suddenly I wish there was someone there to meet me, and the times there is it{s frustrating because it always takes me forever to find the person, and because everyone is facing the same direction, if you don{t see it the first time you just have to go around and ask everyone if they{re waiting for you. My favourite was today there were two older men standing by the coffee shope looking annoyed, holding their signs flat against their legs so you couldn{t even read them. Like most travel stories it seems funny now, but at the time, )especially after a long flight) it{s enough to reduce one to tears )it didn{t, but it could!).

I made it to the hostel )I had my own adventure, but not the most interesting one¿ wow, i{m ranking adventures now¿ and woke up the other girl in my room )actually there are six, but only one was around at the time) and broke two nails trying to get my lock open. Who was it that said travel is only glamourous in retrospect_ It{s so true. That{s why I always find myself embarassed when people say [You{re so brave to have done this,] or some equivalant, and I just laugh and think {If you had seen half the stupid messes I{d gotten myself into...] but that{s what it{s all about right_

I went for a walk, thinking [I{ll just walk one street over, and one street up...] which of course is hopeless, because I go wherever something catches my eye, regardless of what course I have plotted. Really how I have made it this far is beyond me. But I have, so no sense worrying about it now. I had better go now, the people cheering the football game on TV are creeping me out )mostly because I can{t figure out which side they{re cheering for!).

Not sure when I{ll get on next )sometime in the next few days no doubt), but let us hope next time I{ll find a computer more compatable with my Canadian sensibilities. Don{t worry, I{ll have forgotten them by tomorrow.

Cheers!

N.