Don't Worry, Be Happy

If there is one thing every Argentine person knows how to say in English it is: "Don't worry, Be Happy" I kid you not, the minute I say I am from the US they shout it out at me like it is the cure for cancer. However, I have come to learn that they are not only catchy song lyrics, but very much a way of life here in Catamarca. There's always an upside, even in the worst conditions. Honestly, at first the peppy optimism seemed slightly unnecessary. However, after only two months here, I have noticed myself looking at things as a challenge rather than an impossible task, a new experience rather than something unfamiliar and every opportunity as another chance to experience the world. The past 3 weeks since I blogged have been excellent. Last weekend I took the bus to Cordoba, which is another province about 6 hours away from Catamarca and stayed with my sister for her 19^th birthday. It's very beautiful, trendy, and filled with college students that are simply way to cool for me. This incredible church looms over the center of the town like something out of a fairy tale, casting shadows around the rest of the square. An epic fountain also attracts the attention of every person near it, projecting a light show into the sky while it spews water 20 feet high. Aside from acting like annoying tourist everyone hates, I went shopping for some serious winter clothes. I came here thinking it would be hot the whole time, so that is how I packed. Now, in retrospect that probably wasn't the brightest idea. But...there is a giant sun on their flag, so you could see how I was a little misled. I have been drilling my mom in English phrases like " I need the bathroom" and "Can I smoke in here" because today she leaves for a month long trip in Los Vegas and Miami. I am going to miss her a lot! Also, my sister is gone on vacation as well, so now it’s just me, my dad and brothers. Talk about culture shock. School continues to be a challenge, however I am making progress. I can now take part in some class discussions if I really pay attention, and am working on a school wide project on culture with my English teacher. I continue to eat my weight in meat, but I have finally fully embraced the term “when in Rome.” I have been dreaming in Spanish, which is so strange. It’s mostly Spanglish and involves me yelling “No entiendo no entiendo” (I don’t understand) really loud. But hey, it’s a start. Actually, I think my Spanish is coming along very nicely. I have been trying to talk to every single person I can, and I have taken to stopping by my favorite keosko on the way home from tennis, and talking to the owner for a good 30 or 40 minutes. Her name is Mara and she has become an amazing friend. We have exchanged e-mails, and she already gave me jars of Dulce de Leche to send to my parents. Well, she gave me one for me and one for my parents, because she knew I couldn’t handle sharing. The 5 year old boys at the tennis club and I have Spanish lessons regularly, because they seem to be at my level. I was truly homesick for the first time yesterday, and it kind of came as a surprise. I absolutely don’t want to go home and I am in love with Argentina so how could I possibly be homesick? Anyways, it came and went, and on a plus side reminded me to blog for everyone I love at home. I have started to use the word “we” which makes everyone smile. For example “In Argentina, WE love to play cards” or “In Argentina WE have a blue and white flag” Honestly, this feels like home. A beautiful home away from home, with people that I care about with all of my heart. Friends that make me laugh until I cry, family that I am my dorky embarrassing self around, and a community that now represents part of who I am. I feel a part of a culture that only two months ago I was looking down on from the window of an airplane. If I only take one thing away from this trip, it will be that just like at home, I have bonds with people that will last a lifetime. So, if you were one of the many people that helped me get here, thank you. I wouldn’t give this experience up for anything in the world. All my love

Rebecca

Semana Santa

Hello everyone,

It has been about two weeks since I have blogged, and I hope all is well at home. Today is Pascua (Easter) and I can not believe so much time has gone by already. I have been avoiding blogging, because I don't quite know how to form all of the incredable things I have seen and learned into words. Let me start with this. If all of the salt in the US suddenly vanishes, I know where to find it. Argentina. On top of every piece of meat, bread, vegetable, pastry, and pasta. Seriously, I don't know how everyone here is not 700 pounds, or dead from overdosing on salt. Anyways, these two weeks have been a blur like the rest, however I am settling into more of a routine, and honestly feel more like an argentine every day. Someone asked me an interesting question this weekend, that took me a little by surprise. They asked me what I hated about Argentina. Im so used to saying how much I adore this place, that I didn't really know what to say. In the end I realized that I don't hate anything about Argentina, at least not yet. Are there things that confuse me? Or that make me uncomfortable and scared? Things that truly take me out of my comfort zone? Yes. But isn't that the beauty of the exchange? These things that make me uncomfortable or nervous are not bad or wrong, they are just different. I have come to realize that Santa Monica, California is not a reflection of what the rest of the world is like, it is just a little slice of the world, with a culture just as beautiful and different and unique as Catamarca Argentina. As for school, I never thought such little homework would take me so long. True, we don't get a lot of homework, but I still spend around 2 to 3 hours a day answering everything in spanish. It makes me really tired, but I also have such a strong sence of accomplishment I don't mind. I have been going a mile a minute lately with tennis clinics every day and homework and my other activities. I even babysat this weekend. Its really fun to be with little kids because they help me with my spanish more than anyone else. Also, I have found it very entertaining and helpful to play scrabble with my sister and friends. Granted, most of the words I use are not actual words, but when I do get a word we all get so excited and I am so proud. I had Thursday and Friday off of school for Semana Santa which is in preperation for Easter, so I have been going dancing and learning to cook different dishes for Pascua (Easter). Also, I have mastered the grid system here, and now walk a lot of places by myself. I am also very friendly with the lady who owns the pastry shop on the corner...surprise surprise! Because my cookies were such a success last time I had the brilliant idea of making apple crumble last weekend. Yeah, that was most deffinitly too advanced for me. It was such a disaster that we couldn't stop laughing when I dumped it down the drain. The cat didn't even want it. Every day I am reminded how blessed I am to have the life I do. My heart aches for the 6 year old boys that walk along the streets covered in dirt begging for pesos. I am going to a meeting next week where we will try to raise money for the homeless boys and girls in Catamarca. The first time I saw them I had a very strong: Your not in kansas anymore moment. I am so humbled by how honest and hard working the people I have met are, and how the kids have a very strong sense of respect for their parents. The fact that the large amount of freedom they are given is not abused is very refreshing and honorable. You would call me crazy if I told you how many stray dogs I see per day, and how much I have tango-ed in the past month. Every time I get a twinge of homesickness I remind myself that I have to go home in 4 months, and I instantly become homesick for Argentina. I have school tomorrow, so I better stop and sleep so I can go conjugate some more verbs in the morning. If you celebrate Easter I hope it was magical, and If you don't I hope your sunday was a relaxing one. All my love.

Rebecca