Finally back in NY.  It’s so strange to begin another chapter, but that’s life I guess.  It’s already been 2 weeks since I’ve left Argentina, and I still miss it like crazy.  My last 2 weeks there passed in a blur.  I went with Steff on a weekend trip to Salta, to see the salt flats, bungee jump, and get a taste of the Northern side of Argentina.  It was one of the best trips, a must-do for anyone visiting.  After that, I tried to get together with as many people as I could, and then spent my final day with Steff, shopping for presents and enjoying my city for the last time. 

Leaving was the hardest part, that feeling sitting alone in the airplane, not knowing when I’d come back or see my friends again was the worst.  And then looking out the window, seeing Buenos Aires from the air, with all its lights and buildings gave me such a nostalgic sadness.  After a combined 12 hours flying, finally seeing my family in the airport for the first time in a year was also harder than I expected.  I was happy to see them, but I didn’t want to re-enter the English speaking realm.  I wanted to explain things to them in Spanish and they couldn’t have understood.  It’s hard to explain, but I felt a sense of disconnect with them. 

On the way home we stopped in a McDonalds for coffee, and I was seriously fumbling trying to order.  I wanted a café con leche, no questions regarding the size, sugar, and such complications that we have here!  It was hard to have to think again in English, and then when I actually got the coffee, it seemed huge!  Later on that night, we went to dinner for a friend’s birthday, and it was the same story.  I couldn’t stop staring at the size of the bread basket, and the Coke glasses were about the size of a flower vase.  We hear so much about supersize American portions that it’s become mundane, but live abroad for awhile, and you’ll really notice the difference.

 I spent a little over a week at home, making up for a year’s worth of doctors and dentists appointments before moving, yet again, to NYC for the start of an editorial internship with Men’s Fitness.  So far it’s been really good, and all the activity is helping me cope with the loss of Argentina.  I miraculously did the impossible, moving into a Manhattan apartment 2 days after I arrived, and already have made a couple of new friends, so it seems like many of the awkward adjustments are behind me.

But re-adjusting to American life hasn’t been so easy.  It’s funny, I remember blogging about how horrible the grocery stores were in Argentina, and now I feel so overwhelmed with the ones here.  Do we really need to choose between 100 types of cereal?  And does the produce section need to be the size of a modest home?  I ended up leaving with just a couple things, I was too weighed down from all the decision making.  I feel like my older sister, who for years would always want to order from the kids meal just for its simple selections.  It can be a lot easier and less stressful to only have a few things to pick from. 

The people here also seem a lot colder.  For one, the handshake I think now is a weird formality.  In Argentina, we say hi with a kiss on the cheek in between girls, and guys, and between guys it can be a hug or also a cheek kiss.  That’s an unspoken rule between everyone, and it really simplifies greeting someone.  Here, its like you awkwardly wave at a friend, and sometimes you feel too formal shaking someone’s hand if they’re your age.  I’m having a lot of trouble adjusting to this.

Back in NY, I’m still living like an Argentine in a lot of ways.  Toast and café for breakfast, simple salads, (but now thankfully more sushi), working out before dinner, and then eating around 9 or 10.  It’s a routine that I’ve gotten to really like, and now that I’m not at home with my mom who insists on eating before 6 :30, I feel like I can get back to how I feel comfortable.  The other day, I was walking around Manhattan yesterday wearing my Argentina rugby jersey, trying to get a feel of the neighborhood, when I stopped in a deli.  The woman at the counter asked me if I was from there, and I had to say yes!  In some ways I don’t see myself as American.  It’s a hard adjustment to make.  A couple of months back I went to dinner with Steff, and we had to listen to two American girls going on and on about all their problems and how difficult their lives were.  It was horrible to sit through.  Now walking down the street, I hear the same conversation all the time.  Who knows, maybe I was even one of ‘those’ girls before this experience.  I didn’t really pay attention to this kind of thing before, but now it’s become much more noticeable. 

Now that I’ll start waitressing here again, I’m sure I’ll be hearing a lot more of it.  I snuck out during my lunch break at the internship and had all 3 interviews at Hard Rock.  Everything went great, and tomorrow I start my first shift.  It’s a lot bigger than the Buenos Aires location, and I’m cringing a little with the thought of learning a whole new set of co-worker names.  Not a particular strength of mine.  And then I’m already thinking of how fast the summer will go by.  In comparison to spending a year in Argentina, which felt like two months, what’s two months in NY going to feel like?  Two weeks?  It’s a good feeling to be so productive, but I know the time is going to fly by.  And the thought of moving again…not something I want to face just yet. 

So now I’m off to make a new set of complicated grocery store decisions, and to the bank, where I probably won’t have to wait for a half-hour.  It is nice to be back in some ways.  I still marvel at the fact that here, not only are there tvs, but you can pay with a credit card in a taxi!  Amazing. 

But for anyone with the slightest doubt about studying abroad, don’t even think about it.  Go for it.  If anything, I’d say go for longer than you’ve considered.  A year was too short for me.  Without a doubt, it was one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I can’t come close to explaining how much I value the time I spent down there.  Good luck to everyone about to embark on their own adventure!  You’ll do great.

Yesterday I went into work to pick up my schedule for the week and was a little shocked to see that after Saturday, it was all blank. I’m really finally leaving! I still can’t believe how fast the year has passed. All during my shift last night my managers and work friends kept telling me not to go, that I’ll really be missed, and it made me so sad! I feel like I’ve become out of touch with my friend’s at home, and when I finally am back in the States, I’ll feel like a foreigner. It’s strange to think that you can feel more comfortable in a country which your not a citizen of, but I feel just that. Getting used to being home, without my friends here, the language I love, and the absence of dulce de leche will be challenging.

Being outside the States has really been an eye-opening experience. One of the things that really shocks me is how much the movies influence how other countries perceive Americans. When people find out I’m from the States, one of the first things they ask is “Is it really like the movies?” I never know how to answer..um..yes? Obviously, not everyone is the typical beer-guzzling, screaming frat boy or “Mean Girl” stereotype as so commonly portrayed, but it is disheartening to think that’s exactly what so many perceive us as. A part of the problem might be that for some reason, they don’t play the Oscar winners here. Every American movie I’ve ever caught while passing through the channels has been shamefully bad. “American Pie, Norbit, and Van Wilder” are just a few of the gems that unfortunately are on heavy rotation. In addition to ruining their careers, actors should seriously turn down these ridiculous parts just for the sake of maintaining a better world image!

I’m looking forward to being productive when I return and, of course, hope I can afford to keep traveling again soon. This summer will be “a full,” in between interning at the magazine, waitressing, and possibly baby-sitting for a well-off family my sister watched over during her freshman year at Columbia. With a little luck, I hope I’ll be able to ignore the clothes racks and save whatever I can for my next destination. There’s a slight possibility of Mexico in October, but if not, I’m already planning with my best friend here a trip to India, Egypt, or Greece. We still haven’t decided which for sure, but it’ll be good to have something new to look forward to while I’m mourning the absence of Buenos Aires in my life.

One of her good friend’s from Germany is here until Sunday, so we’ve got a full weekend lined up. Renting bikes, going to the horse races, and Sunday brunch are some of the highlights I’m looking forward to. It’ll be good to do some touristy things with her, and maybe wrap up the few missing things that I still need to bring home.

So I just noticed that the last time I wrote was just over a month ago, and I’m amazed (again) at how fast time is passing here. I’m always getting asked at work, “So how long have you been here?” and I have to keep changing my response by adding yet another month. And now I’m only left with one more! I was getting pretty frustrated today after waiting in line at the bank for 35 min, only to find out that no, I cannot make a deposit here even though I’m an HSBC account holder in the States, and the only way to put money into my checking account would be to have it transferred at the central bank downtown. Everything is so needlessly complicated here! But then I thought I only have another month to deal with these sort of things and felt better.

It’s sad though, I really love so many things about Argentina; the people, the lifestyle, the culture, but they have so many annoying complications! I think I will be amazed with my patience when I get home, but you have to have it here! The supermarket line is easily a 20 min minimum, the bank- forget getting anything done in under a half hour, the buses only accept change, which is like gold there’s such a shortage, etc etc. I’m not ready to get used to the super early American schedule, (dinner at 6, bars at 12) but it will be so nice to have the luxury of convenience again. Banks that are open till 5? Drive through? Information easily accessible online? Can’t wait!

I’ve finally gotten accepted into an editorial internship with Men’s Fitness starting June 9, but will only be in my city for a couple days before moving to NYC. Yess more moving! The apartment search has begun again, but this time it’s more fun as I attempt to scour through impossibly expensive listings. I’m looking into something in Astoria which would be relatively close to the internship and Hard Rock, where I think I’ll continue. I just need to ask for a letter of recommendation from the head manager here, and I think it’s almost a guarantee that I can start in NY right away. It will be strange to waitress in ENGLISH though; strange but maybe a comforting change. I still get a little overwhelmed when I have a party of 20 or so that I have to take on alone, and if I don’t understand something..it can be difficult. But still how fun is it to yell “Me das el fuego!” when bringing out the fajitas? Can’t say that at home.

My plan now is to continue Hard Rock for a little over 2 weeks so I have at least a week and a half to plan my last trip here. I definitely want to hit Salta and the north of Argentina, and maybe Bolivia? But I don’t know if it’s worth getting the visa for, so that’s still up for debate. I’m already thinking about who else I have to buy gifts for, and the packing! Can’t imagine how it’s all going to fit, but I’m sure I’ll be leaving quite a bit here. There’s just not enough space. I’m going to look ridiculous as it is dragging 2 checked bags, a carry on, and a large purse around.

But it’s also been a little nerve wracking as my time here comes to an end, and I’m forced to think more about the future. It’s so close. I’ve always had this grand plan of how I wanted to do things- Major in English, study abroad junior year, intern in the city that summer, and then graduate hopefully with a job waiting in the editorial. And it’s weird how all the pieces are finally falling together. After I finish the internship, I’ll only have one semester left at Binghamton if I can graduate early, and then I’m on my own, working and living independently in the city. It’s not like I’m terrified, but at the same time I do feel a little unsettled at the thought of the end of my college years, and move into adulthood. So for now, I’m trying to enjoy the time left I have here before moving onto the next chapter. And I hope it’s going to be a must-read.

What could be better than an afternoon full of shoving clothes in a suitcase, and food, towels, sheets, and basically my life in a bunch of bags.  I’m not sure anything tops that.  Definitely looking forward to having to move again after just 3 months!

The whole situation is really very sorted, we were basically lied to repeatedly for 3 months about how the house would be when my roommates returned from travelling.  In December, I moved in with a friend with clearly stated intentions that we’d be here for 6 months.  The apartment was previously inhabited by 3 Spanish girls and a French girl, and they told us that in March, 2 of the Spanish girls would return from travelling and we’d be 4 girls once again.  Really none of this was true.  There were 5 girls and 1 guy all sharing the apt, and they had no intentions of letting us stay in March.  They had already left a deposit with the landlord reserving their spot and ensuring leverage with him.  We never had a chance in staying.  So the 2 girls returned in March with 3 friends, but my friend and I (along with 2 others that had only planned on renting for the 3 months) still had the contract till almost the end of the month, so we had 5 extra people living for free.  In total, 9 people in the apartment, along with random friends coming and going as they pleased.  The last week of all this nonsense, the one Spanish girl tells my friend and I that we were being kicked out, and we had 2 days to find a new place.  After that, if we hadn’t found anything we were welcome to stay in the living room.  Wow, thanks a lot.  It’s been absolutely no use trying to talk to the landlord, he only cares about the money and sides with the liars.  Needless to say, it’s been a very stressful past week.  I’ve spent the past couple days looking at online ads and calling people, but it’s hard with me working nights to arrange a time to see apartments.  I’m making sure that it’s with non-smokers though, I can’t stand it anymore! 

There’s been a lot of protesting here for the last 2 weeks or so.  The government wants to raise taxes on foods being imported and exported from the rural parts, and it’s not going over well with anyone.  Every night they’re marching through the streets banging pots and pans and honking horns.  I work close to a lot of government buildings, and last night I looked out the window and the whole street was absolutely mobbed full of people marching with the pots.  Hopefully they settle something soon.

Looks like rain again and I have to walk to work soon.  I have a pair of jeans that I’ve coincidentally had on every time it’s poured while I was walking.  Maybe I should try something else.

I had been thinking of seriously getting a tattoo for over a year, and had discussed it with a friend here that also had wanted to get a symbol for balance and equilibrium for over 2 years. I had already been to a consultation at Bonpland St, a kind of mini-mall that’s filled with different tattoo shops. I went when other friends of mine got tattoos a couple of months ago, but I didn’t like the drawing the tattoo artist did, so I ended up not having it done. But as of last week, I officially had it done! I went with the friend, and we both got all black designs, both discreet and small-ish, and we’re both really happy with how they turned out. It’s a little scary getting something so permanent done, especially when you have to explain what you want in a language that’s not your own, but overall it went really well. 20 minutes and it was over. The only problem now is the itching! I can’t wait for that to be over, it’s been driving me crazy. The only thing you can do is put on lotion, scratching it is forbidden. Hopefully with another week I’ll be doing good.

Switched to a new gym here, Megatlon. They have a Nike Rockstar Workout that I really hope I can find once I’m back in the States. It’s going to be so weird to go to classes in English that don’t blast Electronica music.

I really like working at Hard Rock. It’s a lot easier to wait on people here than at home, everyone is a lot less demanding, there’s no constant refilling of the drinks, and in general, a lot less guess-work. If someone wants something, they flag you over. You don’t have to guess if they want the check, or something else to eat, they’ll let you know. The tips are less, both in that Argentine’s don’t believe in tipping much, and the dollar is worth less, but it’s still a fun place to work. Last night one of my work friends was giving me a lesson on Spanish slang. Complete with pictures and situations where you would use the word. Needless to say, very entertaining. “Quilombo” essentially means disorder, but the explanation I got was “when you walk into work and you have to take 10 tables, Flor and Lili (waitresses) are dancing on the bar, and Ramon (the barman) is playing the guitar.” Not only do I get paid, I also get free classes! Que bueno!

This last week my mom was here visiting from NY. Being with anyone for a week straight is challenging, but thankfully we managed not to kill each other. We decided to stay in BsAs for 3 days, and do the whole tango show, trip to Boca, artisan fair circuit, and then travel to Mendoza for the wine tours and a little outdoor adventure. Normally traveling on a budget, I’ve gotten used to turning a blind eye to some of the unpleasant things which go along with hostels. However, when you can afford to upgrade, a hotel can be a pleasant change..which is what happened after we left the Mendoza hostel I had reserved after my mom had one look at the shared bathroom. But it all worked out in the end; we were able to book all the excursions and activities through the hostel, but stay in the cleanliness and privacy of the hotel!

The only downside was that even though the activities were supposedly with an English guide, except for the final day, everything was in Spanish. Which meant a half-hearted translation effort on my part, and an increasingly frustrated mother. It’s hard when your traveling companion can’t speak the language. I really enjoyed the activities, we did a day of rafting through the muddy brown rapids, mountain biking, 4×4 rides, biking in between bodega wine tours, and a tour of 3 bodegas that included a 2hr lunch! I was sick for the final tour, but from the pictures I later saw, it looked very impressive. All in all, it was a really nice trip. Mendoza is beautiful, and I would definitely recommend about a 4 day visit.

I’d love to go to Brazil again before my visa expires, but I’m running out of time. I had originally planned leaving for Florianapolis the 20th, but I just saw that it expires the 18th so looks like I need to do some re-planning. It’s nice to be able to think about traveling again. After the 3 week journey in Dec-Jan, I thought there was no way I’d be able to escape the ultra budget lifestyle. Thanks to 40 hr work weeks at Hard Rock though, I’ve been doing better. Well, financially at least. A nice feeling of exhaustion has been slowly setting in, I think asking for less hours would be a smart move.

Dinner reservations tonight at the new Indian restaurant around the corner. Very excited for a night off from work and the prospect of delicious food!

I’ve recently had several friends ambush me with questions concerning studying abroad, all of which I’ve wrote detailed Facebook messages answering. Granted, the majority no one wants to hear about, but I thought I’d share what pertains to those students about to embark on their own study abroad adventure.

I arrived here in June with absolutely no intention of staying more than the semester. In fact, I was so overwhelmed and sure that I’d made a huge mistake in coming, that I still cringe at the memory of arriving at my host family’s apartment and bleakly staring at the wall feeling certain that these would be the worst five months of my life.

Obviously, they haven’t been the worst months, but rather some of the best. So I’d strongly encourage anyone thinking about staying a semester to consider a year abroad. It’s the norm for other countries to spend a year overseas, and I can see why. If I couldn’t have extended my stay, I know I would have regretted having to leave after only five months.

Once you have decided where it is your going, the second most important decision I’d say is housing. I choose to stay with a family, and while they were a little cold towards me at first, by the end of my time with them overall I felt like it was a good experience. My host family consisted of the mother and her 28 year old daughter, so it was relatively quiet the whole time, but I know people who were staying with families of 6. It might be fun to have family around all the time, but for me I think I would have been more annoyed. But as a whole, the birthday parties, family dinners, seeing the grandchildren, and having a reliable source of information and advice really are good experiences, especially in the beginning. I’m living with 3 roommates now and it’s been fun to have friends over and cook like I couldn’t have done while I was with my family. If you’ve already been living in an apartment with friends or one your own it’s probably better to continue with that, but if not, I’d encourage a family stay. My mom is coming to visit in a week, and we’ll be heading over to have dinner with my host family. The conversation might be a little difficult though, as I’m not sure if my host mom really speaks English.

Finances are another one of the most important things you have to consider. Especially for anyone that’s dealing with the euro. For me, the 3:1 exchange rate was wonderful, but now that I’ve been here for so long I don’t think in US dollars, but rather pesos. I waitressed all summer before I left for Argentina and had enough money saved to be able to live off that (excluding rent which thankfully my parents took care of!) But that money has long run out with my 3 week trip through Brazil, Peru, and Chile. Getting a job can be tricky, especially in Europe, but for me here it wasn’t that difficult. After the trip I started teaching English classes through Idiomanet, an Argentine language company. They’re always looking for native speakers, so that’s always an option for anyone, anywhere. I didn’t have to get official working papers for that, but I just got hired at Hard Rock Café, and had to get my “clave fiscal” in order to start. My first shift starts tonight, and I’m excited to be speaking and working in an all-Spanish environment!

And for a little packing note, it’s best to leave all your really American things at home. I almost never wear sweatpants and or sneakers here; I feel really out of place on the occasions that I do. Better to save that space in your suitcase for what you buy there!

Hope this all helps! I have to run to the internet café as we *sigh* still don’t have internet in the apartment, but I’ll leave with a couple of pictures from the trip..

..Or at least that’s what it feels like. Coming from Buffalo where I can’t remember a Christmas without snow, it’s been beyond weird for me to see decorations and trees go up while melting in near 100 degree weather. Its strange thinking of not being home for the holidays this year, instead I’ll be traveling through Brazil, Lima, Bolivia, and the north of Argentina. We had a cookie making party the other day to try and bring some holiday cheer to BsAs, but sadly it didn’t include any frosted cutouts or peanut butter varieties. The recipe was German, and I had to cover my eyes a little when they were putting the butter in. It was somewhat unnerving.

I’m not sure yet when we’re leaving for our gran trip around S America, but if we’re here for Christmas, it’ll be interesting to see how things are. I’ve heard it’s nothing like in the States, after midnight it’s tradition to leave your family, go out to clubs and party with friends.

My body combat class is still going well, but I think Thursday I’m taking it to the next level with capoeira classes! I have a friend that’s been to a place he loved, so we’re going together to try it out. There’s a lot of interesting history associated with it, he was telling me that the music played was originally intended to disguise the fact that it’s not a dance, but rather a trained fighting style. I also found out it’s similar to karate or any other martial arts in that there are levels with corresponding belts you work towards, so who knows, maybe I’ll be past beginner stage by the time I leave!

As the first semester has ended, I’ve had the time get started with the internship hunt. Today I’m going to follow up in person to L’Oreal, where I applied for a communications internship. UCA, my university here, is also helping pass around my resume so I’m hoping in the next weeks to get something. Last night was spent getting everything together and emailing contacts for a summer internship within Conde Nast. It’s crazy how you have to get started on them so early. They’re so competitive! I’m a little nervous that the long-distance thing might hurt my chances, but hopefully I can pull off an impressive phone interview.

I just finished a piece of Brazilian chocolate a classmate brought in, and made an amusing discovery when checking the wrapper. It had the nutrition facts in English and Spanish (which is weird, no Portuguese), but I found it interesting that the serving size on the English label is 2 pieces, but on the Spanish only 1 piece! Inflated American portions!

Aside from that, I’ve really been enjoying traveling, but I’m tired of seeing a negative balance every time I check my bank account. I need to start working immediately! But luckily, it looks like I might have some job leads. I have an English teaching interview Monday, and another one Wednesday for a waitressing/bar tending job at the Alamo, a semi-American bar in Recoleta. So hopefully I will be employed by this week!

Last weekend we went to El Calafate, which was incredible but also the cause of the overdrawn account. 450 pesos for an all day excursion trekking through the ice and glaciers! Worth it, but everything adds up so quickly. But aside from the cost, the trip was wonderful. And I can say that I’ve been to Ushuia, the southernmost city in the world, because our plane stopped there before flying back up to El Calafate. Once arriving in the airport, I was surprised by the prices, a cab to the hostel was 50 pesos and it was less than a 15 min drive. But we found out that the city is known for being more expensive because its really only a tourist destination. From then on, it was horseback riding around the lake and fields and then the “Big Ice,” the following day which had me questioning survival at moments. The wind was probably the strongest I’ve ever experienced, I had moments were I was forced to run because thats what my walk turned into. Also, we ate the best asado I’ve had since I’ve been here, the meat was incredible!

From there, I had a nice 16 hr bus to Comodoro Rivadavia to stay with my vecino and his family. I got to see a 2 day old baby! And the beaches and mountains there are beautiful. 25 hrs later, back in BsAs after yet another fun-filled bus ride. Now that finals are over, we’re starting plans for another adventure. We’re looking to hit Brazil, Bolivia, Lima, Santiago, and maybe even Mexico. Hopefully the job pays well.

Tomorrow going to see my host sister compete in a dance competition. There’s going to be ballroom, samba, mambo, reggaeton, all types really. And checking out a Brazil club tonight!

Just returned from Bariloche last weekend, it was amazing! We found round trip plane tickets for $200, so we spent a little more to avoid the bus trip which would’ve been over 40 hours. It’s great staying in hostels too; they’re always so cheap and you can meet really cool people. Ours was about $10 a night, and while we had some annoying roommates the first night, after that we shared with 2 Colombian girls who were really great. Although the Colombian accent was a bit of a shock at first!

Ski season ends mid September unfortunately, but there was still tons to do there. The first day was spent getting used to the cold and buying a warm coat, because sadly my zip up sweatshirt was not cutting it. The online weather forecast is never reliable here, when I checked it said temperatures in the mid 60’s but it really felt like 40’s, sometimes even colder. After that fun surprise, we regrouped in the hostel and lined up our activities for basically the whole trip. We did a day of kayaking, horse back riding through the mountains, a day long boat trip and excursion into the Isla Victoria, and forests, and a chairlift that brought us to an incredible view of the lakes and mountains. And in between that, eating lots of free chocolate samples in all the chocolate stores. It’s like the chocolate capital of the world! It’s a good thing we were very active, otherwise I think I would’ve returned a few pounds heavier. But the city is really beautiful, we kept joking about all the possibilities for pensive moments, because everywhere you look could be the poster for some natural spa retreat. And it was nice to return to the sun and warmth after much cold and wind!

This Saturday was Creamfields, one of the major electronica concerts. It’s an all day event that started at 3pm and went until 6am, but we went later around 9 when the more well known DJ’s were playing. I’m not a huge fan of electronica, but it’s really big here so I figured it would be worth it. The concert was in a bit of a dangerous area though, so I was warned not to dress sexy and to be careful with cameras, money, etc. But the dressing was not an issue, it was way to cold for anything remotely sexy. I had sweatshirt and jeans, but as the night went on, I found myself wishing for my coat from Bariloche. I was dreaming of that coat it was so painfully cold! Besides that, dancing all night and laughing at everyone with their sunglasses and water bottles was pretty entertaining.

I’ve also officially decided to stay here for another semester, so tomorrow I’ve decided to be productive and drop off my resume and cover letter to some magazines and see if I could do an internship anywhere. Friday was spent calling many departments and writing emails within Binghamton to make sure it was ok if I stayed, so everything’s set except for next semester’s housing. I’ve been looking through Craig’s list and have already seen some promising ads with various Argentine girls around my age, so I’m feeling optimistic. I also need to get a job asap, but the optimism isn’t continuing with regards to that. For one, it’s depressing that anything pays 3 times less than in the states, so for a job that pays $20 pesos an hour, I’m only really making about $7. And then I’m not sure what I could do that would be worth my time. At home, I’ve always waitressed, but here the tipping is less and people stay at the tables for longer, so it’s not really as profitable. English teaching jobs are fairly easy to find and pay relatively well, but I’ve never been a teacher so I’m not sure if I could do it. But I may not have a choice. A friend of mine who’s decided to stay long term here and find “real” work has a bunch of contacts from when she used to teach English, so maybe during my productivity tomorrow I’ll make some phone calls.