Day 9

I didn't imagine that coming in the winter was as problematic as coming in the summer. I guess trouble follows you around no matter what. During the summer, people are on vacations and too busy. During the winter, people are here, but kids get sick, so they can't see you anyways. And they are planning their winter vacations. It almost seems like a joke, but it is not. It's not a very funny one. So here I am, trying to see people and their kids are sick. It's frustrating. And I really don't want my kids to get sick either. And Brett is already coughing. I have my private editor next to me, telling me what doesn't make sense so I can correct it. Blake is his name. He is reading as I write and making sure I get the story right. He is a doll. I love him very much. (He is reading this of course)

We stayed home all day and a friend of mine came for the afternoon tea, that ended at 10pm. Here people eat around 9pm, so it is not uncommon that a tea session that started at 6pm goes on for a while.

We are talking with Bill (Daddy) through Skype every morning and night, with the video included. It's hard to imagine how people manage years ago when there was only the snail mail to communicate when you were abroad.

My take on the Argentinian media: vulgar. It is shocking to listen to the radio and people are calling each other names and using a language that I never thought that I would hear in the air. Totally disturbing. Men using obscene words like it is the most normal thing in the world. It makes me sick. At home at least they bleep them. Here they are for all to hear, no problem. There used to be a fine for using bad words, not anymore. And then the kioks where they sell magazines and newspapers and pirated movies.... they have all the pornographic magazines on display. You can even see them from the bus while you are going anywhere. Disgusting. To think that kids pass by these places everyday and are exposed to see that. And the tv... well, it's MTV plus soft porn all over. Cat fights between women, calling each other names, the works. We used to be a cultural center and now it is more like a vulgarity palace.

The Argentinians were rooting for Spain since we lost with Germany, and were happy that they won. Not that it helped us, but at least Germany didn't make it to the final, that is the general thought. I was for Germany because I have a new friend from there. No friends from Spain, maybe a stray distant relative...