My first Mate experience

Well the roommates have arrived and things are in full swing here. I am even writing you from the very best machine at the Internet café... sweet, I am officially a regular!

I went with the roommates to meet their friend Maita (not sure of the spelling) she is a native of Argentina. My Spanish is improving with every get together like this one, but their darn accent keeps on throwing me off! We shared the ritual of the Mate. I am not sure how much of a ritual it is, but there is a certain custom as to how to drink it.... me, I would have just had my own and downed it... but I sat back, chilled out and enjoyed the company... that is what this tea is all about. You drink it out of this round cup where the crushed ´tea´leaves are filled high and it has a metal filtered straw you drink out of. You get a pot of hot water and pour in a little at a time as you take turns drinking a few sips and each time it is refilled. Now, don´t think scorpion bowls here... it´s not a free for all five straws in at once drink as fast as you can... after all this is tea. One is assigned the server and she fills the cup with the sips of water and drinks. She then repeats but gives it to the first person and she gives it back when done. The server then prepares it for the next person and so on. You don´t say thank you to the server till you are totally finished and don´t want anymore. Reminds me of other herbal rituals I used to take part of in college. But I have to say I am so glad I got my Hep A or is it B shot?! Sharing one straw... I definitely wont be sharing Mate with peeps I don´t know very well.
The tea is pretty strong and bitter. I really like it. It is a stimulant like coffee (caffeine) but this has teaine... not sure of that spelling. It definitely perks you up, but with out the jitters that caffeine can give you. In some countries it actually makes you a little silly, but not here. It is derived from an opiud (sp?), but does nothing of the sort...at least here in Argentina. Some girls apparently use it as a dieting tool, it speeds up your metabolism... I would try it as such, but then I think I might be the star of some after school special... I will stick with it on a social level.
You don´t really eat while you drink it. The flavors wouldn´t blend. Argentine´s tend to order salty snacks with it... Brent you would love these lard biscuits we had it with..hmmm, was I just talking about a diet?!
Things are booking up quickly for the week. I have plans almost every night. I was going to try and get away this week, but I think it will have to wait till next... I am most likely going to Patagonia with Evelyn.

Some random facts about BsAs and Argentina.

BsAs has one of the largest gay communities and as a whole the culture is very acceptive of gay people.

Birth control is $5 US and over the counter and abortion is legal.

How can anyone not love this place?! On Saturday I am off to the Polo game... those dudes came through with tix... woohoo!