Happy Thanksgiving

Today is the first Thanksgiving that I have ever been able to wear a tank top and flip flops. Usually I am in the freezing cold in Ohio. Today is a beautiful hot and humid day in Buenos Aires. Its weird not being home with the family for the first time in 20 years,but it helps knowing I will be seeing them in less than two weeks! Tonight, I am going to a restaurant called Kansas, which is a renowned restaurant for American cuisine. They have a Thanksgiving dinner that I am going to with Allison, my friend Barbara, and possible a few other people that are still here from my program. Afterwards, Lizzy, some other people, and I are going to Club Niceto which actually has a drag show tonight. Everyone I have talked to thats been there said its a blast, so it should be a good time.

Its funny because Argentines seem to really like transvestites. Virginia always watches this talk show which is kind of like Jerry Springer but usually includes a transvestite talking about his/her problems and then other women arguing about someone who stole their boyfriend or husband. Its pretty dramatic, but Virginia loves it. Its funny because when ever she gets up to answer the phone (which is nightly because the phone is guaranteed to ring at least once during dinner) when we are watching the ¨tranny show¨ (as me and Liz call it) Vicente changes the channel to soccer. When Virginia comes back from talking about something equally dramatic on the phone, she usually starts arguing with Vicente to change the channel back to her show. Its pretty funny to watch them argue over it.

I think one of the reasons why transvestites are so popular here is because plastic surgery is very cheap and good. Usually if you see a transvestite on the street you often times cant tell he/she is a man. I talked with my tutor Paula today about why people like transvestites on t.v. today and she just laughed. I think its something I just really wont ever understand about Argentina.

After returning from Chile on Friday, I have just been relaxing and seeing parts of the city I havent seen yet. For the first time, Brenda and I had a conversation entirely in Spanish (which is usually more like Spanglish) which was good because I am finally noticing a huge different in my speaking. Paula even told me yesterday when I went for tutoring that I was speaking perfectly with only a few mistakes. That was good to hear, and I feel like I have accomplished my goal for coming here.
I hope all is well with everyone in the states and that you all have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving weekend!