The Awkward Traveler

A man with a machine gun just walked up to me and asked for my identification. Mother fuck. I almost pissed my pants. He had on some kind of jacket with letters but I had no way to know if this guy was the real deal or just wanted to steal my wallet. But you listen to a man with a machine gun. 

He asked for my ID and I gave him my driver’s license. He was surprised and asked if I was a foreigner. Even the “police” think I’m Argentine, god bless my dark curly hair. He motioned me to follow him and said “Come with me” in Spanish of course. He walked me across the street to his unmarked “cop car” and his partner. At about this moment I really began sweating balls… what would happen to me? Would they take me downtown? Would they make me leave the country? Would they do a strip search?

Turns our the answer was no to all of the above. The machine gun dude showed my id to the other “cop” and then said “you’re good, you can go.”

Pheww… I dodged a bullet today. 

I’ve found an apartment! This time I hope it’s the real deal. It’s with 3 students: 1 Argentine, 1 German, and 1 German/Italian. The room is maybe a tad bigger than the room I had at the other apartment, but at least now I’m paying 80 dollars less per month.

I went last night to check it out and was surprised at the format of my visit. After the tour of the apartment, which includes a sweet balcony with a view, I was sat down at a table and interviewed by the 3 roommates and the 4th who’s room I’m taking. It was like a job interview with the CIA, I was asked about drug use, music preferences, hobbies, cooking abilities, and other countless questions. They made clear that there had interviewed other potential roommates and would convene afterwords and discuss their best choice. 

It was me… I was the best choice. I don’t want to jynx anything again, but I should be moving in tomorrow. 

Huzzah!

Ah jeez. Last night Lucho got into a fight outside the bar. I think it was the first time I’ve ever seen someone after they’ve been socked in the face. In his funnily accented english he told me “Chosh, why did you not have my back.” I think I could have probably thrown down pretty good.

Lucho is just one of the regulars at the bar, an affable doofus. It’s funny having all of these people you are semi-friends with. Like a guy at a strip club who is convinced a stripper has feelings for him. There’s the group of airplane pilots who told me they’d bring me anything I need from the States, Kike (who continually requested “Rehab” last night), and Kristy, the older Australian women. I guess this is just one of the benefits of working in a bar, along with free lemonade and all the chicken wings you could wish for.

Today I went in to my internship. Rang the buzzer, and my boss answered with confusion “Ohh, uh what are you doing here…” and then I remembered it was Wednesday and we had planned to meet on Thursday. Shit. Oh well, they were cool enough to meet with me anyway.

Last night I worked till 3 am, on a tuesday night. I’m scared for friday. I’m not sure I’ll make it. I think my bar conversation skills are getting better. However things can get a little troublesome. For one my spanish is not that good. Sure, i can get by. But at a bar when there is loud music and people speak fast, not so easy. It took me a good minute to realize a “jota de” were initials for JD and this stood for Jack Daniels. Further confusion is abound due to the fact that I’m not a bartender, but a bar back. But when people see me behind the bar they still ask me for drinks I can’t make. 

Still I’m having a good time and there’s been talks of hiring another bar back who also has a degree in Anthropology. Apparently anthropologists are well equipped for heavy lifting and dish-washing.

I miss Susanna. I haven’t seen her since Sunday. We are living in the same apt, but I leave for work before she gets back and get back when she’s asleep. But I’m happy to be busy…

I am officially going to have become a night owl. I got the bar back job. It really is the sweetest bar and I’m so excited to work there. It’s the kind of bar I would want to hang out at and chat with some friends. We even serve Buffalo Wings! However, it is going to change up my schedule, some nights I’ll be working till 5 am (Steve, if you have any advice on how to stay up all night, I’m open for suggestions.) I am going to learn how to bartend, make coffee, and even work in the kitchen. I’ve also been working on my bartending chat skills: So… you new in town? 

I was on a laborious high last night when I got a call last night from the sisters, who informed me, some bullshit story, about how one of their boyfriends needs a place to stay and I could no longer rent the room. Just as soon as I had my two jobs all set up, I’m homeless again. 

Last night I almost got robbed. I felt someone rummaging in my back pocket. But when two girls walked by giggling, I realized it was my booty they were rummaging for and the attempted robbery was actually a playful pinch. 

I have attained a job! Its more like a part time internship, but its at a video production company. I’m on a pretty big high right now, mostly because i just cleaned the apartment and it looks damn good.

The internship should be pretty cool, it pays little but also has some commissioned based earnings that could sweeten the deal. 

I’ll be working on a marketing strategy to entice local businesses to hire us to create short promotional videos for their businesses, whether it be hotels, restaurants, or spas.

The promotional video services is just one aspect of the job as I’ll also be helping the production company to work on several documentaries.

I’m excited to get started and to join the Argentina workforce. However, as this is only a part time gig I’ll need some other source of income. I’m holding out hope for the bar back position I interviewed for. It would be great because 1- I love the night life and 2- I love heavy lifting (cases of beer in this instance).