During my first day in Catamarca with my brother and sister

The lake near the house.
My Papa
Dinner with the family.

Week 3

Hello,

I have been in Argentina for about 3 and half weeks, and it's hard to believe the one month mark is coming up. I really see what all previous AFSers mean when they say you blink and it is over. I feel like I just arrived, yet I have already done so much. I am blogging a little late because the internet has been down for a couple of days, which to tell you the truth has been really nice. Today is Wednesday the 24th and I just finished eating a massive lunch which I helped buy and prepare. My family loves to send me into stores alone to buy food, it was really nerve racking in the beginning, but helpful because now I can pretty much buy anything I want alone. Today we had all different kinds of meat so I picked that out, and then went to the bakery to get bread for the week. I didn't have school today because it's a national holiday so the entire town is literally shut down. Even the Tennis courts are closed. I have come to realize that they have a lot of special days here. When I first arrived it was day of the Women and we got to miss school for that as well. I also didn't have school on Friday, I'm not really sure why, but that didn't really matter much to me. Last weekend was really fun. On Friday I went to the gym with my sister then over to my friends house to hang out for a little and have some Mate (Pronounced Ma-tey) It's the tea they drink religiously out of this strange looking metal bowl cup and straw. They add hot water every time before you drink, and pass it around a giant group. When I first got here I thought it tasted like butt, however now I think I drink it more than water now. After I went to a birthday party for a friend of my brothers, and then to the park (Parque de los Niños) with some friends and another girl from Austria that is here with AFS. Then, Saturday I mostly hung out during the day. Played some tennis and went to the plaza and then my mom dragged me to the hairdresser. It was actually so fun and I got to gossip with all of the ladies. After the hairdresser I went to my cousins house and then to a fassion show with my sister and her friends. I know, so random, but it was a benefit for something and I had a lot of fun. We got home from the fashion show at around 11 and I threw on a dress and went to a quinceanera. It was very similar to a bar mitzvah and so beautiful. While she entered the party there were fireworks going off everywhere. We danced a lot, even though I have come to realized these kids were definitely born with a lot more rhythm than I was. I made sugar cookies this week, and they turned out really well. My family was very impressed, but I think thats because they think I had to follow some difficult recipe or something, when in reality I kind of mushed butter, eggs, flower, and sugar into a bowl. I figured they couldn't taste bad with the amount of butter I added. I also went to my aunts house for a party for my grandfather and got to meet my entire family. They are very similar to my family in California. Big and Crazy. I danced Tango with my grandfather as well, that was fun. My sister and I learned a duet that I play on the piano, and she sings in Italian while I hum along and pretend to know what I am saying. Also, the other day I was so confused when I saw a girl walking through the plaza covered in eggs and flower and soda, but then my friends informed me that it was here birthday. Its a big deal here to get covered in gross nasty food when it's your birthday. I cut my bangs so I look a little different, and I have grown officially banned myself from dulce de leche because I might not make it home alive at the rate I am consuming it. My newest idea was to put it on potato chips. Unfortunately it was a success. I have so much more I want to write, but I must go feed the horses at the other house. All my love.

Rebecca

Week 2

As of today I have been in Argentina for two weeks, so I thought it would be good to update the blog. This was a huge week, and I don't know how I am going to fit it into one blog post. However, we can start with school. It has been so interesting to see how different and similar school is from school at home. For example, in Catmarca, or at least in my school, they don't photo copy one thing. I'm used to getting work sheets every day from the teachers at home, but here have dictations before every class. Thats when the teacher says out loud the assignment for the day with all the questions and we have to copy it down in our notebooks. Now, that would be hard enough in English, but that fact that its in Spanish makes it almost impossible for me. Everyone laughs when I do a victory dance because I was able to copy down the first sentence. But, I think it will definitely improve my spanish and I have really understanding class mates that let me copy all of the notes after they are done. Also, there is no lunch time. Everyone goes home to eat with their family, and parents come home from work as well for lunch, and then a siesta before they go back to work. Teachers don't have their own class room either. Each group of students (I am in 2D) has their own class room, and the teachers rotate through out the day, that makes it really easy on us exchange kids, because your able to make friends easily with the people in your class. There's barely any homework, but a lot of work is done during the school day. School is usually from 7-12 (they have this fluxuating time schedule that I still am not able to figure out) but there are barely any breaks and only 4 classes per day, so it feels about the same as at home. I have 11 classes here, spread through out the week, and they vary from geography to technology to language arts. On friday in language arts I had to stand up and read a passage from a book in front of the class. I read it fine, and the class even gave me props for my pronunciation, however when the teacher asked me what it meant all I could tell her was that it involved a dog. She was just happy I participated. After that though I walked to the book store near my house and bought two books in Spanish. I have been working on translating 5 pages a day since I got them. It makes me want to pull my hair out, but I can feel myself getting better. Anyways, over all school has been incredable. Every day I come home and pass out because my brain is so tired. I have been playing the piano every day, and even written a song with a few spanish words. I also have been playing tennis with kids from my school, and I start lessons in the middle of this week. I go to the gym with my sister twice a week for spinning classes as well because I don't think I have ever eaten so much meat in my entire life. It's so good I sometimes for get to breath. Oh yeah, and I have also discovered dulce de leche. Thats an issue. It's this beautiful carmel thing that you put on bread. I have realized that it's just as good when you spoon it into your mouth. Also, I have been going to Tango twice a week, and now have a dance partner named Martin. He's 62 and makes me look like I have two left feet. But we laugh a lot, and we have a secret handshake that is pretty amazing. Friday night my classmates had a Welcome party for me that was so much fun. It was at one of my friends from class's house, and everybody from 2D was there. I danced an lot and got to know everyone. I love them all. Saturday it rained so I couldn't play tennis as planned, but learned how to make Argentine pizza and went to see a Rugby game. It was so hot but really fun. We had to take the bus to these giant field and then I hung out with my friends, watched a game, and then learned how to throw the ball. After I had churros and played this really difficult game of cards with my friends. I am just learning, so I get to have a partner, but I still like it a lot. After cards I went to Peppers this restaurant that everyone goes to get burgers (What a surprise, more meat) It had incredible food and after we went to this place where you could do out door karaoke. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard. I haven't been homesick at all yet, but I think that's because I don't have time. I should definitely be taking more pictures, but I feel like such a tourist when I bring my camera along. Finally today, I woke up at 12 and we went and had lunch (more amazing pasta filled with meat) then we drove into the mountains with some friends and went to the most beautiful lake I have ever seen. We hung out all after noon and I couldn't help but stare at how incredible it was. It really reminded me of how lucky I am and how every second I need to be soaking in as much as possible. I hope all is well at home, where ever that may be, and I will post next sunday.

~Rebecca

School

Hi everyone,

So I just woke up from my siesta and I thought I would take some time to explain my first day of school. I woke up this morning at 6 and put on my very unattractive brown uniform, that I absolutely adore and walked to school with my brother and friend. I was so supprised when we all stood in the quad area for like 25 minutes singing and listening to people reading stories. Not until after did I understand that this is not a normal event. Today happens to be "Day of the Woman" here in Argentina, so all of the women at the school were being honored. Then, everyone shuffled into their classes, and I kind of stood there awkwardly Spanish Dictionary in hand. Finally I got assigned to a room, and was introduced to the class. I had to answer questions in Spanish and I almost peed I was so nervous. After I was introduced to my new class mates our Religion teacher came in and started class. I mostly just listened, because I didn't understand much at all. The teachers talk really fast. Then a quick break and back into the class room for Math. I love math here, because it is exactly what we were learning when I was at home, and I understand the numbers which is good. Finally we have an hour and a half of spanish every monday, so we had that today. I helped kids a lot when they needed it, but I mostly translated my religion homework into english. It took me a good hour, and I still have to answer all of the questions. In Spanish. I am determined to do it though, even though every single person here laughed when I told them I had to go home and study. However, I really want to try to do all of my homework as well as the other students. After English class, I went with some really sweet kids from my class and walked to the plaza where I met my brother and friends. We stayed for a while, then walked home and had lunch with the family. Empanadas and French fries. Another good thing about today is that 2 girls in my class play tennis, and one is part of the club I am going to join. So, we are going to start playing on Wednesday. That way I can hopefully meet a group of kids that all play, and a coach as well. Once I finish my translations my friend is coming over to hang out while my brother is at boxing class. He is my best friend here, and is going to teach me to play this game of cards that everybody plays here. I am finding that spanish is easiest in school, but hardest when I am just conversing with friends, so that is what I am doing the most of. I feel like my spanish has improved greatly for being here only a week, and I can't wait to see what it's like in a month or so. Yesterday I went to my families house in Rodeo, a huge vacation spot here and got to see the mountains and rivers and took lots of pictures. It was so beautiful and fun, and I got to meet my Grandparents and Cousins as well. I am so lucky to have this family, and I love spending time with them. I play piano for them almost every night because they love to hear me sing. That's all for now, but more soon.

~Rebecca

Week #1

Hi everyone,

I'm sorry it has taken me so long to blog, but everything has been going a mile a minute I haven't really found time until now. I just woke up from the siesta (those of you who know me well, know I am a professional napper, so I adore the siesta's), but my family is sleeping, so I have a little time to explain my life. I arrived 3 days ago, but it actually feels like I have been in Argentina forever. I took a 16 hour bus ride to my home province (Catamarca) on Saturday night, and I arrived on Sunday. The buses we so cool, with chairs that turned into beds, it was exactly like an airplane with food and movies and little plane blankets and pillows. Except on this bus ride the lady that was serving food asked me if I wanted to drink alcohol with my meal. The was the begining of my culture shock. Then we pulled up to the the bus terminal and my entire family ( mama, papa, two sisters and two brothers) were standing there holding a giant AFS Argentina flag and jumping around. I couldn't help but smile. I got my luggage, hugged and kissed everyone, and kind of just stood there and smiled because they were talking at the speed of light, and my brain already felt like it was going to explode. We got into the truck, and they all laughed at me when I tried to put on my seat belt. Nobody wears seat belts, even though the drivers are out of controle. We came directly to the house and I got a tour. The house is giant because it has a whole wing for living, and then another wing that is my mothers offices, because she is a lawyer. Then we sat around the table while they all smoked and I showed them my pictures of home and we laughed at my terrable spanish, except I was very proud of the fact that I was able to get across all of my points. Then I unpacked my luggage with the help of two sisters, and put up all of my pictures from home. I have my own bright green room with two beds and a giant window that looks out into the backyard. It get so hot at night that I sleep with no blankets. leave the window wide open and have a massive fan blowing on me. Our little white poodle named Roco sleeps with me also. After I unpacked my mom randomly swung open my door and said vamos. We were going to the other house so we could go swimming. Im sure she mentioned much earlier that I needed to get ready for the pool, and I most likely said si si without understanding one word of what she said. So i grabbed my bathing suit and we drove to this beautiful house near the mountains and I got to see their horses and go swimming and drink Mate tea out of this metal cup. I kindof gagged a little when I tasted the tea because it had no sugar...it's nasty without sugar. Then we played ping pong and listened to music. A lot of which was fergie and jason mraz. I taught them a lot of the words. Anyways, the house was so beautiful and argentine, and its also where Im having the party they planned for me on Saturday. We got home and had dinner at like 11 and I ate the best meat I have ever had in my entire life. Get ready for me to come home 700 pounds. i go to sleep at around 1:30 on school nights, because we stay out till like 11 or 12 and then have dinner. They love to sit and drink coke here, so we have been doing a lot of that, and I have met tons of kids at the plaza. They are all amazed by my hair and call me rubia (blonde) when I walk down the street. I am going to the same school as my brother and a lot of my friends. It's called Cantina and the uniform is a white polo with a gray pleated skirt and knee socks. I adore it. Every meal I have had so far has been something so different from what we eat at home, but I really do like all of it, except for the pumpkin. My job is either to set the table or wash the dished with Matias (My oldest brother) At this point my spanish is so much better, and I actually take part in conversations during meals. Lunch is the big meal in my family, and both my parents come home from work to have it, and then have a siesta. Today, after the siesta we all piled ontop of my parents bed a watched a soccer game and ate these really good pastries (I'm telling you, 700 pounds) I saw my tennis club today, so I am going to start there next week. I have been going to the gym and spinning with my sister to work out a little bit. Also last night I went to tango class with some friends ontop of this sketchy little building. I adore tango, but I am still very awful. I am going to take lessons starting next week as well. Every time you meet someone, the first thing they ask me is if I have a boyfriend, and then wether or not I like Arnold Schwarznegger. I love love love my siblings and for a lot of the day we sit around and laugh. The days feel so much longer here because school is so short and they stay up so late. Tonight at 10 I am meeting friends at this thing thats like the prominade except so much better. In catamarca every other person drives a motter scooter and little kids usually ride them and sit in between their parents. I will up load pictures soon. We watched House today because it's in english with spanish subtitles, so I could practice my spanish. I carry around my dictonary like its a bible. Oh, and my family isn't very religious so we don't go to church except there is this beautiful chruch and government building in the town square thing. Also, people come over on the reg so I can help them with their english homework. It's so cute, it's stuff like "I walk my dog a lot" "She walks her dog a lot" ILOVEARGENTINA.

Ciao,

Rebecca