Lost in Translation

Having learned El Espanol primarily in Spain and from Spanish profesors- I have become aware of of a few, minor, relatively insignificant differences in the languages.

The first day here I decide to take on the town- but was not exactly sure of the Taxi situation- so I politely asked a muchacho on the streets how to do this by saying "I'd like to catch a taxi- Quiesiera COGER un taxi." A normal thing to say in SPAIN- well, as it turns out- not so much in Argentina. The guy stood in front of me- rather lacking words and turning pink in the face- and walked off, stunned at what I had said---I decided he was just rude.
Oh, but he was not rude--- he was just shocked that I had informed him I would like to F*&k a cab.
Now the real question is why would you take a perfectly normal verb like Coger- (to catch or to grab) and give it a perverse meaning...
Guess I will be looking for a new way to "catch a cab"

The Blonde Advantage

So instead of trying to catch up on all that has happened in the past three weeks in one swoop- I will find time to post some of the funnier stories- but the time has come to post SOMETHING- so here goes.

While sometimes being a very obvious americana can be a serious impediment to sanity and bodily integrity, in the past couple of days there have been a few situations which have made me quite pleased to stand out.

• I had my first meeting with my Spanish tutor/profesora on Monday afternoon- she directed me to meet her on the uber-crowded Calle Florida at a chain cafe shop- Munchies (yea- that is just a small sample of the crazy things they name things here). Unfort. the very lovely cafe had disappeared and I was stuck pondering what exactly to do about finding the unknown profesora. But THANK GOD I stand out so much, because in a matter of seconds I went from lost and starting to panic- to found and learning Spanish.
  
• I joined the gym 3 weeks ago *big accomplishment to join a gym in spanish* and have since been waiting for my membership card. And after a few days of awkwardly standing in the lobby trying to explain that I dont have my card, I realized that- well, I am the ONLY american currently visiting the Megatlon- and I can just walk right in and by pass the explination. Small victory- but makes me happy. They know me. They probably laugh at me behind my back- but at least they know who I am.
  

These stories probably only mean something in the context of the "rubia rubia" I hear on the streets everyday and the awkward-sort of aggressive staring and jaw dropping that occurs while doing relatively normal things like- say, grocery shopping and walking to the bus.
Oh Argentina....