Week Two in Argentina. Still fun, but time to find work.
On Sunday night we went to a really nice asado in Prussia's parent's house just south of Buenos Aires. Her brother cooked up a variety of meats and vegetables on the parrilla. Her parents have a truly gorgeous house with a big pool, a huge kitchen and a really nice herb garden you can smell as soon as you arrive. The food was fantastic and the company was very enjoyable. If you ever come to Argentina you have to try mollejas. Don't ask what it is first, just eat it. I promise you won't regret it.
Monday and Tuesday were spent relaxing because it was a holiday here. Carnival. Spent some time by the pool and then worked up my resume to give out to restaurants.
Wednesday - In the morning there was a horrible train crash here. One of the worst in the countries history. 50 people died and over 700 injured. It happened when a train pulling into Once Station lost it's brakes and could not stop. As it smashed into the platform the second car smashed into the first one. The train was arriving full of passengers from the suburbs on their morning commute into the city.
This was the second bad crash to happen within the last year. In September a bus went around a lowered gate got hit by a train and derailed that train into another oncoming train. Not to be too critical, but there may be some changes needed in rail safety in this country.
Thursday - I went to a casting for a TV commercial for a vacuum cleaner. They were looking for a native English speaker. I never considered doing this kind of work before, but went just to see what would happen. It was interesting to see the process and give it a shot. All I had to say was "I. Robot." three times and I thought for sure they wouldn't choose me, but I got called back for another audition on Saturday.
Friday - Emmanuel and I went around a section of the city called Palermo. There are tons of restaurants there. I gave out my resume at a bunch of places. Mostly restaurants I had researched online that served "American" styled food.
One place called Magdalena's Party interviewed me right on the spot. The guy I had handed my resume to was from Clark, NJ. The town next to where I am from. Talk about a small world. He knew all the restaurants I worked at before and he introduced me to the owner. I think the interview went well and I'm really hopeful to get this job. It pays pretty well, I'm told and after a 3 month review I will be eligible for a raise.
What I really like about this place is they do special events for North American holidays. They do a weekend brunch, which is fairly uncommon here. But one of the cool things is that they asked me if I would be able to help them expand the menu. Now, normally when you come into a well established place you cook what they serve and that's that. But this seems like a opportunity I'd really love to have. Their menu currently is quite simple, but already there are some fun cool ideas popping around in my head.
Friday night though was the best night here so far. Cassiopeia and I went to see Soledad Villamil sing. She is one of Argentina's best know actresses. She won a well deserved Oscar for best foreign language film for "El Secreto de sus Ojos". I have to say it is easily one of the best movies I have ever seen. I cannot recommend it enough. Also, a must see is "El mismo lluvia, el mismo amor". You can find them subtitled if you don't know Spanish.
Over the last few years she put out a couple of CDs of her singing traditional Latin songs. He voice is incredible. I had hoped to catch her play live at some point, but did not expect it to be just two weeks after I arrived. I could not have been more excited for this show and she don't let let us down. I knew some of the songs from her second CD, but I had not gotten her first one yet. And even though my Spanish is still very poor she did a song of love lost that was so emotional you didn't need to know what she was singing for it to touch you.
Lyrics in English...
On Sunday night we went to a really nice asado in Prussia's parent's house just south of Buenos Aires. Her brother cooked up a variety of meats and vegetables on the parrilla. Her parents have a truly gorgeous house with a big pool, a huge kitchen and a really nice herb garden you can smell as soon as you arrive. The food was fantastic and the company was very enjoyable. If you ever come to Argentina you have to try mollejas. Don't ask what it is first, just eat it. I promise you won't regret it.
Monday and Tuesday were spent relaxing because it was a holiday here. Carnival. Spent some time by the pool and then worked up my resume to give out to restaurants.
Wednesday - In the morning there was a horrible train crash here. One of the worst in the countries history. 50 people died and over 700 injured. It happened when a train pulling into Once Station lost it's brakes and could not stop. As it smashed into the platform the second car smashed into the first one. The train was arriving full of passengers from the suburbs on their morning commute into the city.
This was the second bad crash to happen within the last year. In September a bus went around a lowered gate got hit by a train and derailed that train into another oncoming train. Not to be too critical, but there may be some changes needed in rail safety in this country.
Thursday - I went to a casting for a TV commercial for a vacuum cleaner. They were looking for a native English speaker. I never considered doing this kind of work before, but went just to see what would happen. It was interesting to see the process and give it a shot. All I had to say was "I. Robot." three times and I thought for sure they wouldn't choose me, but I got called back for another audition on Saturday.
Friday - Emmanuel and I went around a section of the city called Palermo. There are tons of restaurants there. I gave out my resume at a bunch of places. Mostly restaurants I had researched online that served "American" styled food.
One place called Magdalena's Party interviewed me right on the spot. The guy I had handed my resume to was from Clark, NJ. The town next to where I am from. Talk about a small world. He knew all the restaurants I worked at before and he introduced me to the owner. I think the interview went well and I'm really hopeful to get this job. It pays pretty well, I'm told and after a 3 month review I will be eligible for a raise.
What I really like about this place is they do special events for North American holidays. They do a weekend brunch, which is fairly uncommon here. But one of the cool things is that they asked me if I would be able to help them expand the menu. Now, normally when you come into a well established place you cook what they serve and that's that. But this seems like a opportunity I'd really love to have. Their menu currently is quite simple, but already there are some fun cool ideas popping around in my head.
Friday night though was the best night here so far. Cassiopeia and I went to see Soledad Villamil sing. She is one of Argentina's best know actresses. She won a well deserved Oscar for best foreign language film for "El Secreto de sus Ojos". I have to say it is easily one of the best movies I have ever seen. I cannot recommend it enough. Also, a must see is "El mismo lluvia, el mismo amor". You can find them subtitled if you don't know Spanish.
Over the last few years she put out a couple of CDs of her singing traditional Latin songs. He voice is incredible. I had hoped to catch her play live at some point, but did not expect it to be just two weeks after I arrived. I could not have been more excited for this show and she don't let let us down. I knew some of the songs from her second CD, but I had not gotten her first one yet. And even though my Spanish is still very poor she did a song of love lost that was so emotional you didn't need to know what she was singing for it to touch you.
Lyrics in English...
Afterwards I went back stage and gave her a dozen roses. We spoke for a few minutes and I got her autograph and a hug. Sure was happy she spoke English. Whether or not this all sounds silly I don't really care. I sincerely think she is one of the most beautiful women on the planet. I don't know who you could possibly compare her with from the US, but if you had the chance to go see Julia Roberts, Gwenyth Paltrow, or whomever your favorite actor or actress is perform live and meet them afterwards I would hope you would feel as much excitement as I did.
Para Tom con carino -Soledad
Saturday I went to the second casting for the commercial. Don't think it went well at all, but who knows. They might have seen it totally different. But, they did pay $290 pesos (about $60) just for showing up. So, that's pretty cool. I think a lot of people probably go just for that, more than the actual part.
VIEW 18 of 18 COMMENTS
lethal:
ya lo cambie y si es una mierda 
gracias
gracias
lethal:
si espero que me vaya bien