Going Out!

This week was fun! I went out Wednesday, Thursday, AND Friday night!! Here's a bit about my adventures.

It's crazy how late people go out to socialize here. In general, going out at midnight is acceptable but kind of early, around 2 is when things really starts, and most places close at 5-6 or so... even on weeknights, before classes the next morning. It's hard to believe, but fun. On Wednesday night I met some other Concordia girls at about midnight and then went to a DJ battle event at a place near the Ciudadela. We hung out, talked, and danced until about 2:15 or so and then Kristen and I took a taxi home, went to bed, and got up at 6:45 to get ready for class! Overall, it was a fun night. There was fun music and a good crowd...

On Thursday night, I went to the international student open mic night at the Long Island Bar near the Yamaguchi park (which is really cool! It has a lake with a gazebo on it,and a planetarium!). I couldn't believe the weather- it was windy but definitely in the 50s with a clear night sky and beautiful... I got to the pub around 10 with my violin and was one of two events that night, playing the Orange Blossom Special :) It's a fiddle piece and is really fun to perform. (For those of you with Facebook, I put up a video of my performance!) There were lots of international students there and I knew quite a few of them. Long Island was sort of reminiscent of an Irish Pub and was more spacious than other places I've been... it was a pleasant change of pace and overall a fun experience.

(Yamaguchi Park)

 

 (at Long Island Bar)

  

(playing the Orange Blossom Special!)

  

 

Last night, before going out, I went to Valentine's Day with some Concordia friends (a movie that takes place in LA and maybe NY? But there's a TON of famous actors and actresses in it!). That was my first movie theater experience here and was really neat. The original English voices were dubbed over with Spanish voices, which was kind of tacky at first, but eventually I got used to it. I understood pretty much everything, and was able to understand so well that I could actually get involved in the plot. It was fun to see places like LA and see actors that I know, and it temporarily brought be back to the U.S. a little bit... kind of a nice break. The movie was pretty silly, but entertaining and really cute :) After going home for dinner, I met a few of my friends from Taiwan at Ensayo along with a few of Basilio's Spanish roommates (I also knew quite a few friends from school there too!) and hung out there for a while before going to a Dominican Republic-Puerto Rican latino bar. It was super fun because they play exclusively latino dance music, versus the normal selection of pop, and had a neat atmosphere. There were a lot of locals who were actually dancing real latino dances too! I learned how to dance Bachata and Merengue- it was a lot of fun. I got home at 4 a.m. I'm thinking that last night was my favorite going-out experience so far :)

(the movie theater)

 

(at Bar Ensayo)

 

(at the latino bar)

Overall, I'd say I got a good taste of the social life here this week- and I plan to take advantage of it before I go home, where people go home at 2 instead of leaving to start the night! It's quite the contrast.