So we've had a long running debate about whether it's right for me to refer to myself as American. Chris and Andy say I can't because all of north and south american people are "Americans." I say I can, and fill in the nationality on my customs forms as American.
So since then I've been coming up with arguments for why its ok for me to say I'm American. For example, the excellent and liberalish radio program This American Life is about the USA, not north and south america. This has led to some comical conversations. For example:
Dave: what about Coming To America. Chris: Whoopi Goldberg was good in that. Andy: No Eddie Murphy was in that movie. Dave: You just confused Whoopi Goldberg and Eddie Murphy!!!! All: bwahahahaha
A photo dump is where you just post a lot of pics at once without any central unifying theme. It's a blogging thing.
This is a choripon. It is sausage. I have 8 a day.
These are the names of some Jews killed in a huge terrorist attack here in the early 90s. Eerie! Who knew there were Jews named Fabian?!
These are just flowers with a little nature boy statue.
The Bitchmobile
Danielle came. My first picture of her she was chasing a feral cat. Typical Petrilli! She left yesterday.
Tango dancers.
Danielle being an un-PC Muslim person.
This was a paddle boat we too. It was either a) broken b) we were bad at steering or c) Americans are too fat for paddle boats here. Regardless, we were horrible at driving it and when we crashed on land, I jumped out and abandoned ship. Then I was able to take some nice pics. I never did get on that paddle boat again!
Now I'm in Peru at elevations of over 10,000 feet. We all have mild altitude sickness. I slept for 12 hours last night, which is very unlike me.
Estancia. It's Spanish for "farm." Fluent Spanish Speaker Christopher Capuzzi, Esq.: "It's particular to Argentina." I'm not sure exactly what it is, but basically, an estancia is a farm with horses and meat and barbeque to eat. We went to one for an overnight trip and rode lots of horses. Here's the thing with horses:
1) They're awesome. They're big and powerful! It's like riding a car that is alive and could kill you at any moment.
2) Riding horses in Argentina is different than in America. In America, they have "laws" and "tort liability" such that the guides will ensure you are as safe as possible. In Argentina, not so much. So although we were all rank beginners, we did legit horse activities, like walking, trotting, cantoring, and galloping. Galloping is the best because it's fast and actually easier to ride. Cantoring is the worst because it involves the horse basically just quickly bouncing your body. It transforms from a graceful creature to basically a fast-moving jackhammer that bounces your back at high speed. That brings me to 3).
3) Horse riding can hurt your back. And it hurt all of ours! Especially mine.
Here are a few picturinos:
This is the cabin that we lived in. It had two bathrooms! Still couldn't flush toilet paper though.
This is me wearing too much clothes. Santiago, our guide and general mean person, told me I looked like I was dressed for the Artic.
Chris looking happy and equestrian, about to jump on the horse!
Danielle looking happy and apprehensive, because her horse was feisty!
Andy, after dismounting from the horse, in pain.
The gang, minus myself, plus one horse.
Andy looking tall, dark, and handsome.
I took this picture from behind, so it was kind of crooked, but I think it looks cool.
And here is a video of me on the horse, before hurting my back:
