Covering the basics!

I find it funny that people ask the same questions once they hear i am going abroad for a year. Although, about 50% will respond, "WHY?", and the other 50% hate you because they are jealous and say "No fair, You're so lucky!". After that part is over, they ask more detailed questions like, do you know who your staying with? Are you scared? Will you miss your family? Are you exited? How long are you staying? FOR THE WHOLE YEAR!? The answers are yes, i know who I am staying with but i have never met them before, yes of course part of me is scared and nervous, yes I will miss my family greatly!, yes i am very excited :), and yes.... I will be in Argentina for the entire year! Phew! Now i have covered the basic questions!

I leave on August 17th. That is less than a month away! Surprisingly, I feel very prepared. Although I am in Mexico right now and wont get back until the 3rd, with the help of an officiant father, all of the paperwork has been finished. The Visa application process is long and detailed. All that is left to be done is a trip into NYC on the 5th for an interview with the Argentinean consulate. Yea, NOT MUCH!

The other major thing left to do is pack. I would like to know the best way to pack clothes for a year with only 44 pounds allowed. Were still thinking about the best way to do it, but I think we have decided that I will bring a duffle for checked luggage, then carry on a backpack and I smaller duffle. But, thats just the easy part. The hard part will be deciding what to put into the bags. That will take many hours of sorting piles and planning.

Lastly, I know more details about how I will be getting to Salta, Argentina. I fly out of Bradley airport on the 17th, and head to Miami. Then in Miami I will stay in a hotel for a night for the one day departure orientation with all of the other youth going to South America. Then I fly from Miami to Buenos Ires. I will be there for about 2 or 3 days for another orientation. This one is for departures to Argentina. And the last flight is to Salta, Argentina, where i will meet my host family. I arrive in Salta on a Sunday, and then I go to school on Monday. Therefore, I will have to try my best to make that a short but smooth transition. Although I know that will be close to impossible, I am just going to role with it.

If you don't know much about Salta, here are some fun facts! :)

• It is located in the Northwest of Argentina, close to Chile and Bolivia.
• It is the oldest colonial city in Argentina, which is also one of the reasons it is home to some of the most beautiful architecture in the world.
• It's a medium sized city.
• It is located at the foot of the Andes.
• It has a pretty moderate climate. In the winter it gets into the 30's to 40's at night, but between 60 and 80 during the day. Plus some rain.
• It is the home to amazing white wine (vino).
• Many tourists from the UK and Argentina come to Salta for their to die for food. 
• There is also a lot of hiking and horseback riding.

As you can tell from only this small amount of information, Salta sounds like a perfect location to be :) And I am positive I will have plenty to tell you about the city as the year goes on!