There are the best of times, and the worst (more like not so great) of times...

            I realized that I have made my time in Argentina sounds a little TOO perfect and I feel the need to correct myself. I am having a wonderful time here, but nothing is perfect. An experience like this is HARD. When you are far away from friends and family, you can't help but feel alone at times. A major barrier is the language. Right now, I understand a lot of Spanish and speak enough to get my point across, but again, nothing's perfect. There are times when someone might ask me a question, and I am tired or couldn't hear them very well, so I ask them to repeat it. But even then, I still might not understand he question. The time I feel most alone is when my friends are talking (and talking really fast) and I have absolutely no clue what they are saying. Plus, sometimes my friends feel it's too long or complicated to explain... so I go on, not understanding what there talking about. This only happens when I don't know the context of what they're talking about and/or they're talking really fast. So, it isn't all the time...
            You might be wondering right now... OMG why is she saying this on her blog!!? But, I want to share the truth of my experience and not just the part that's sugar coated and topped off with dulce de leche. Some of you might even ask... OMG why do you want to go through this and why did you want to go to Argentina in the first place!!? So I took this question into account and made a list.
         
So here it is, the "Why the hell am I here" List.

1. To learn a new language, not just Spanish, but also one of body language.
2. To learn more about myself and discover who I am... which is a lot easier to do when you are far away from the people you rely on the most.
3. To learn and accept a different culture and way of life.
4. To grow(while eating asado) ... (part of #2)
5. To do something different, something that makes me unique.
6. To build a bond with my new family and friends that will last a life time.
7. To strengthen my independence.
8. To help prepare me for my future.
9. To do things I've never done before.
10. And for an amazing experience that I will cherish for a life time.

So there you have it!!! The ten reasons why I'm a foreign exchange student. I really hope I have to answer this question less and less because I think everyone should know the benefits of studying abroad for a year! :D

THE TRUTH:

This IS a challenge, but I WILL pull through. I knew way before I signed up for this that if I wanted to experience the best of times, I also have to experience the hard times. And when I return to the States, I will be a different person... in a good way I promise :)

Thank you for reading, and thank you for your constant support :) It helps knowing I have people who are interested in what I and doing here in Argentina. People interested in the fun and great stuff!!!! :D AND the not so fun but highly important STUFF. 

Besos!!! Chau!!!

Dia del estudiante!

           Many people have been under the impression that I don't do that much work here.... well, I guess that's kind of true. I haven't done much school work YET because we haven't had much school! First of all, there are a lot more holidays here then there are in the States. They have a children day, where all of the kids get presents, and a family day, and a student day. This Wednesday is student day, it is also the first day of Spring. For the past week or so my grade hasn't really had much classes because one, a lot of our teachers are on vacation, and two, my grade is in charge of planning and preparing for the fiesta that takes place on Tuesday. I love the way the school organizes everything. The "junior class" or segundo grado is charge of planning all of the fiestas and events for the year. The events are meant to be a way to raise money for the grade to go on there "senior trip" to Bariloche. Almost every single school in Argentina has a senior trip, and they all go to Bariloche.

Not only is it beautiful, but you can ski and it is also home to the best clubs around, which everyone knows is the real reason they go there. My host brother just got back from their trip because he is in the grade above me. His grade did exactly what my grade is doing, last year. 

          Take a look at the flowers on the hanging off the balcony.. The entire school worked to make flowers out of tissue paper and my class tied them together and hung them. It ended up looking beautiful and really set made it feel like the first day of Spring.

          Student day started at 8:30am and went until 5pm. It is basically like a giant expanded version of class spirit day at Classical. Each class has to do a bunch of things in order to win points. The first category is their house. Each class builds a tent like structure or something that represents their theme. The class I was in charge of did the Simpsons. They had the coach, the TV, and even a kid dressed up as Homer. There were other houses like, the indians, pirates, and wizards, and the Charlie and the Chocolate factory and Alice in Wonderland. All of them were so good! I was shocked at how much effort they put into it. It had me thinking, if we did something like this at Classical, would people actually try that hard.... ? 

           The next thing they could do to win points is their grand entrance. The object is to use as much confetti, smoke, and signs as you could. (We would never be able to do this at Classical, ever!) 

(colored smoke... definitely would be a liability.)

(And confetti... LOTS AND LOTS OF IT! That wouldn't be allowed cause no one wants to clean up the mess, let's be honest. ) This is the picture of my host sister Rosario's class, they were the cave men :)

             Next was the class dances! :D This was my favorite part. It seams like EVERYONE can dance here, and not just dance, but dance very well. Each class put together a dance... most of them were Reggaeton or Cumbia, but there was one that was set to Katy Perry's Hot and Cold.

(In my opinion these girls were the best! Wish I had gotten it on film! Sorry!)

All of the girls in my grade are also preparing a dance, but we don't perform until Oct. 21st. Now that, I will get on tape :) We practice every Tuesday and Thursday. I'm very exited! The girls are very surprised at how quickly I picked up the choreography... lol I even shocked myself!

           And the last major thing you can do to win points is the student queen contest. Yes, it sounds a little superficial... but i guess it kind of is. First, they vote who they think is the best looking girl from each grade and who desires to be queen, and then those girls go to compete with the whole school. All of the girls looked amazing. In most schools, the winner will go on to compete nationally, but my school doesn't. My friend María José won last year, so as queen, she got to pass down the crown. 

The old King and Queen...

And the new Queen and princesses... :D Im not really sure what happened with the King.

Overall, Student day was great and I think we should have it in the US! :D My school is absolutely great and I really like it! It is more then a school and more like another family. Everyone is so kind and caring... I will definitely miss this when I go back to the States. I realized Today (Thursday), just how different my school here is from home. One, everything is outdoors, two, you have 11 different subjects, and three, people are very friendly:) -cough, cough- Not trying to say that people at home aren't "friendly" or anything... nut maybe they could learn something. 

This is a video of all of the students gathered in the court yard!

CRAZY RIGHT???

Valle Escondido!

This Wednesday, me and about 30 friends went to Vickie's house in the Valle. Valle Escondido is where wealthy people in Salta own a country house.

There is a pool...

(The water was FREEZING!!!!! And I was one of the people who was pushed in! Can you say, "Hypothermia!!!!!!!!") 

A golf course...

A soccer/football field...

And the best part.... 

ATV's

Valle was awesome! All of my friends are great :) I've had to adjust to how different they are from my friends at home. Meaning here there crazy, loud, wild, and fun. HAHA They are at home too, but not to this extent. I have adjusted and I absolutely adore all of my crazy friends :) We got there at 11am on Wed. and we left at 11am on Thurs. SO yes, 30 people stayed in one house for 24 hours! (Don't worry, there were parents there... at night). Luckily a friend lives in Valle so a few of the girls went to sleep at her house, and some people went home, but that still left about 20 people. Therefore, I didn't get to sleep on a bed and I woke up Thursday morning and couln't move my neck because I was so sore! That's what I get for sleeping on a tile floor!

One thing I forgot to mention earlier, is how much people like to take pictures! Picture after picture! I have thought I lost my camera like 5 times because it just disappears and I get it back with 100 more photos on it! LOL And they make sure I put ALL of them on facebook! 

As you can tell from the photos, everything is very dry here. Right now it is the end of Winter. It is dry and cold at night, but it is getting a lot warmer during the day. September 21st is the first day of Spring which is also a holiday, student day! Yes, they actually have a holiday for hardworking students here :) I have heard that Salta is even more beautiful in Spring and Summer when everything is green and blooming. The sun is a lot stronger here so during the day it feels very hot. I still can't believe that today was the first day it has rained since I've been in Salta! After it rains is when Salta is the most beautiful. You can see all of the mountains so perfectly! I would show you a picture, but for some reason the camera doesn't capture just how gorgeous it really is, so I decided to just let your imagination wonder. Enjoy. :)

Yesterday (Friday), my family got home from vacation! I missed them a lot and I was very exited to see them :D Now that there home and I can fully unpack my clothes, this really feels like home. 

My Mom and Dad back home in the US are now hosting and AFS student from the Philippines. Datu competed against 150 other students from his city for one placement. He received a full scholarship too. Datu wasn't going to be able to go to the US if someone didn't host him. So when AFS was making the last calls begging for people to host, my parents caved and said yes. Imagine after all that, he couldn't come because no one would host him. Hearing about Datu made me appreciate my host family even more then I already do! AFS is an amazing program that offers students the opportunity of a life time, but AFS isn't possible without volunteers. My host family isn't getting paid to take care of me for a year, but they want to. I couldn't be more thankful! I hope that AFS will grow stronger.... especially in the US. There are so many people that have the ability to host a student and they really should, and there are so many students from all over the world who really want to go to the US on AFS. I love my country and I want other students from all over the world to get to see and live in the US, which is why more people need to think about hosting. :D I hope people who read my blog can share this with friends or ask themselves if they are the right people to host. Spread the word!!! 

Visit http://www.afsusa.org/host-family/ to learn more! :D

I am absolutely loving Argentina! Salta is an amazing city. It is beautiful, the people are kind and friendly, my family is great, and my friends are awesome. I am so happy I have been given this opportunity. I have learned so much and I have only been here for about 5 weeks. Imagine how much I will have grown after a year! I have to thank my Mom and Dad for letting me do this by supporting me, and -cough, cough-, paying. LOL. It is worth every penny :) And thanks to AFS, I have been able to meet people from all over the world, learn a new language and embrace a new culture, as well as learn to see things from a new perspective. :D That is the beauty of foreign exchange!

Chao for now!

SO much to say!!!

First of all, this week was the last week of trimester exams so all the kids are very happy. Not only that, but now it will be a lot easier for me to understand what is going on in class. I was given two assignments this week. (yeah.. 2 :) My English teacher wanted me to write about my experience with 9/11 and translate it to share with the class. I really enjoyed this assignment because it given me a chance to share something about my country with my classmates. They were shocked to hear how close I was to DC when it happened, and I don't think they really knew just how many people we lost that day. My Biology teacher actually gave me homework and I actually did it! My first complete homework assignment in Spanish :D Even though half of it was wrong, it still felt good to have tried to do something in Spanish. 

       We don't have school Monday through Thursday this week because there is a religious festival happening in Salta this week. I'm not sure exactly why, but people pilgrimage here from all over Argentina to participate in this giant precession all over the city which will take place on Thursday. It has been absolutely impossible to walk through the center right now because there are people everywhere. Long lines to confess, have a healing prayer, or simply just walking to get their chance to see the inside of the cathedral. I know the festival has something to do with Virgin Mary because we have prayed to Mary everyday at school this week. They believe that a natural phenomenon has occurred in Salta and that the Virgin Mary has more of a presence here, although it has not been sanctioned by the Pope so it's not quite "official".

I'm still swimming Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays for 2 hours. We swim A LOT more then I'm used to because it is a year round, but I really like the challenge. I also started rock climbing this week. My friends know the owner of a rock climbing store and bar, that also has a rock climbing wall. It's a lot of fun! I went Thursday with a bunch of people to celebrate the last day of exams, and I also went Friday night with more people. It's the prefect hangout spot.

On Friday night, after climbing, I went out to dinner with a group of friends. The restaurant we went to is actually owned by one of the "proceptoras" at my school. I'm not really sure what the direct translation is in English because we don't really have "proceptoras" in the States, so I will just use the Spanish name :) Anyways, she just opened the restaurant and it is very nice. Again, another perfect place to hang out! We pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. We pizza, which was more like bread with some cheese and uncooked tomatoes on top, and then I made sure to order empanadas :) They are delicious!

SIDE NOTE! I have come to the realization that when I return to the States in a year, I will waddle off the plane, instead of walking. I don't think I've ever ate this much food EVER! Breakfast (when ever I wake up) and tea time (6pm-8pm) are my favorite times of the day. EVERYTHING is covered in dulce de leche or cheese. It's awful!!!!!! But so delicious. All of the food here is amazing! I seriously haven't tried anything I haven't liked, and I really like Mate. It is pretty bitter without sugar, but not a bad bitter. (It's the best with just the right amount of sugar.) One thing that's also not helping, they eat 4 meals here and they eat so late that their food doesn't digest before you go to sleep. Thank God I have swim practice in 2 hours :) 

On Saturday, I finally got to go on the teleferico :D It is by far the best way to see Salta! The Salta AFS trip was nice enough to organize a time for all of us to go together. First we went up on the teleferic, the view of Salta is absolutely breath taking. Salta is literally a valley surrounded by mountains. You have a view of the massive Andes mountains. In fact, when I landed in Salta we could see the mountains right next to us before we went through the clouds. 

And of course it could never be a true AFS event if there weren't silly songs and games involved. First we played this one game I can't even explain, I'm just happy it wasn't the funky chicken song... that is just plain embarrassing! I mean really, we stick out enough! LOL After the silly game, we split up in to teams for the scavenger hunt. We started to read the list of things we had to do and all of our mouths dropped!!

1. Take a picture with a tourist. (This was one of the easiest)

2. Imitate an officer.

3. Ask a stranger where the bathroom is in a language other than Spanish, English, or Italian. (By process of elimination, Alicia from Germany had to do this one)

4. Sing a song and lay out a hat asking for money. (Yellow Submarine)
5. Interview someone and record a video like you are taping a news broadcast for your country.
6. Explain to a group of people why we are all here in Salta. (That was a very awkward conversation)
7. Imitate someone who is working out.

8. Find materials and make a picture that relates to AFS. (I think that it's supposed to be an AFS student when they first see their new home.)

9. Try and kiss as many people as you can (on the cheek) within 10 min. (I got 3, and then the guys started following me and Alicia, haha they wanted my facebook... run LOL)
10. Go to one of the shops and ask them if they would give you something for free, in Spanish. (This could not be completed if they didn't give you anything)

I am proud to say we completed everything on the list! :D I don't really know which team won, but that wasn't really the point. After the silly scavenger hunt, we had a little picnic (this included cookies, pastries, and of course, dulce de leche!) And after chatting and eating, we walked down the hill, down over 1,000 steps. It was actually really nice :) The walk is beautiful and once you get to the bottom you end up at the monument. We happened to get there at the best time, sunset.

Saturday night I went to a birthday party with friends. One of the things thats very different here is our sense of time. They said to be at the party by 10 to eat, but we didnt get there until 11:30. We danced and danced and danced from 1am until dusk. For about 4 hours we danced, without sitting down or taking breaks. It was A LOT of fun :D My friends are absolutely amazing! People in Argentina really know how to have fun!

(This picture was taken at the monument on Sunday. Sunday's are when we all go to the monument to hang out, drink Mate, and listen to music.) 

I've been in Salta for about 4 weeks now and I love everything about it! :D I am surprised how quickly I was able to fit in and accustomed to the culture. My Spanish is getting better every day. It's cool when I say a word I didn't even think I knew, but I actually know. Since I can communicate a lot easier, I have been able to share more stories with my friends and family. I feel very accomplished when I am able to tell someone a story or share something about my country in detail. My host family gets back from vacation on Friday and I can't wait. I really do miss them and I am very anxious to get comfortable and settled into my permanent home.

Thank you for reading!!! :D I hope my blog helps you love Salta as much as I do. I really enjoy sharing my experiences, it's a great way for me to remember everything that is happening! I am really happy here and I know for sure that at this time in my life, this is where I need to be :D

If you have any specific questions that I have now answered yet, write the question in a comment!

Until next time, Chau

I met an Argentinean celebrity! :)

This Sunday I went to a party for a young girls first communion. They really went all out for the party, with clowns, LOTS of food, and they even hired a famous singer, Federico Maldonado who is from Salta. The reason the family went all out to make the party special is because they aren't sure that the girl is in great health. It was a very sweet party, but can I just say, I REALLY HATE CLOWNS! And why do they have to be at so many parties? Can't we find some other way to entertain ourselves besides needing people to put on shoes that are way to big, way too much make up, a permanent creepy smile, and a nose that squeaks!?

At least these clowns aren't as scary!! :D (I think.. LOL MUAHAHA)

(Vicki, left, is the friend I am staying with until the 16th)

There was a little girl at the party who asked Federico if she could sing one of his songs with him and she was actually pretty good! :D It was absolutely adorable! Sadly the video I recorded wouldn't load.

Check out this video of Federico Maldonado from youtube.

And finally a picture with the celebrity :) <3

In Salta, the moon smiles :D

Overall, this has been a really great week. Things here are very different. For example, kids talk during class and don't have to do classwork the entire time, which makes it actually fun, they watch famous TV shows like Glee and Jersey Shore a season later than we do, and the moon smiles. Since I now live in the Southern Hemisphere, the moon is up-side-down and looks like it's smiling. I think it's a sign :D

For the next two weeks my host family will be in Florida, Disney, and then they are going to Mexico. I already miss them, but it is only two short weeks. When I was talking to other AFS students who have been in Salta for 6 months already, I found out just how lucky I got with my family. Most of them have at least one thing they don't like about there family, but I am more than happy to say that I can't even think of anything I don't like about my family (at the moment LOL). I am staying with my friend and classmate Vicki. I was homeless for a good 5 hours when AFS was deciding where I was going to stay, but then Vicki came to my rescue and said she would love to have me stay at her house. After her mom talked to AFS, and my host mom talked to AFS, and AFS talked to a bunch of other people, I was finally able to go to her house. :)

This week I have had a lot of first's. My first swim practice which was great! Now I am swimming Mon., Wed.., and Fri. from 3:30-5:30 :) Plus I play Volleyball at school on Tues. and Thurs. from 2:30-3:30. I love having some activities to do because it keeps me busy and having fun :) Since I am so use to being busy all the time without much down time, this is a great way to prevent boredom in my opinion, and so far it's working very well :D I also went to my first movie in another country. Although it was in English, it was still in experience. We saw Death 5 in 3D. I normally will never go see a scary movie, but I said that this would just have to be another experience to add to the list. Not to mention I got to wear these insanely attractive and comfortable glasses :)

School has been a challenge for me lately. All of the students had trimester exams this past week and this next week. Therefore, it has made it that much harder for me to understand what they're talking about in class because they're usually covering test material. Plus, the teachers make it feel like I don't exist. I let AFS know that I wasn't even being called up for attendance and now they are talking to the school. It is very important that my school here has proof that I have been coming to school so that AFS knows, and my school back homes knows that they can give me credit for a years worth of school. This week I am going to try extra hard to figure out what is happening in class, or if I have homework.

My class calls themselves Promo 12. It is a huge tradition at my school that the graduating class takes a trip to Bariloche, which is a town near Salta. They spend years raising money for it and organizing it. I love helping my class with the preparations even though sadly I won't be able to go, at least I can be a part of it. This years graduating class, the grade my host brother is in, is going to Bariloche on Monday. At school on thursday they had what we would call a pep rally. To give you an idea of what it's like, imagine this picture, plus paint, shaving cream, silly string, streamers, and confetti.

My host brother is somewhere in the middle of the crowd covered in shaving cream.

I love the weekends because I can just go out with friends and get to know Salta better. I really love it here. During the day, you can visibly see the mountains that surround Salta. I really have never seen anything like it. Even though they are far a way, you can really see the texture. At night Salta is beautiful. In the center you'll find beautifully lit churches that highlight the colonial style architecture. The shopping is also great! There are shops and bakeries and restaurants and anything you would ever need, on every corner. Salta definitely holds up to it's nickname, Salta la linda, Salta the beautiful :)

(Mountains outside of my house :)

(The water fountain at night)

A video from Monday's field day at the school. Some of the girls taught me how to dance to Cumbia, which is the Latin style of dance and music in Argentina :D