STRIKE!!

So here's what's going down - the Argentinian (national) government and the Buenos Aires government are arguing over who's responsibility it is to maintain the subte (subway) system. Over the past year,  there have been a couple accidents -- some minor and some that have caused a couple deaths. In short, they have to be better maintained; however, no one wants to take responsibility/spend the money on it. As a result, there has been a subte strike and everyone is forced to take the colectivos (bus system).

It's not like in the US where almost everyone has a car -- the majority of people use public transport -- many of which take the subte. For a city that resembles Chicago/NY you can only imagine how packed it gets when everyone is forced to take one type of transportation. For the past week, it has taken me 1.5 - 2 hours to get to class, activities, downtown, etc (when it usually takes 35-40min). There is obviously no sitting as you are literally pressed up against the doors to fit into the bus. Yesterday though I struck up a conversation with a couple people on the bus though and this made the ride seem much shorter -- think I'll try to do this more often!

Although it's an inconvenience at times, I still think the situation is a great experience! The way the government(s) are run and the way people function here are so different than in the States. A lot of times I just feel like an audience member sitting in on a movie.

I was just talking to a friend who is in China until November and we mentioned how Argentina is almost opposite in terms of the government/society. In China a person could get beaten up on the street and in front of his/her family for speaking out against the government, but here it is a daily occurrence. It seems like there is always some protest going on. Both situations would be interesting to encounter (think I prefer that of Argentina's more though)!

This was just a quick entry, but now I'm off to the gym, dance, and then hopefully tracking down a tango place for tonight!

Things to come: 

- Tango
- First days of class!
- Mendoza!!