Come on baby

Observations I have made about Argentine television:

1) It is totally acceptable for woman to wear absolutely nothing on normal tv (the news, talk shows, etc.)
2) When these so called women do where nothing, it is normal for the over weight, hairy, news casters or talk show hosts to check them out openly on air.
3) You are not Argentine unless you know who Ricardo Ford is. He is a gotee sporting bling wearing player who is famous for being famous and rich. Honestly he doesn't seem to far off from some of the celebs we have at home.
4) Sitcoms are my life. Think of Desperate House Wives and The Hills on some sort of acid trip. Then add cute Argentine accents. It's awesome!
5) SUBTITLES LIE. If anything, I feel like subtitles should be called "a loose translation of what is possibly being said"
ALSO, I made a discovery yesterday:
One of my classmates would always say "come on baby" when I walked into the room. At first I was a little weirded out, but I didn't think much of it because I figured he didn't really know what it meant. I was right about that. He had no idea what it meant. Turns out he had been learning his english from Joey on Friends, and thought that was a perfectly normal greeting. I couldn't bring myself to correct him.
It's like an inside joke with myself...
Besos
Rebecca

53 Days

There are a couple reasons I haven't blogged in a while. Mostly, It's because I find it hard to describe my life here in Argentina, within the confinements of a 4 by 6 white text-box. However, it is also because I only have 53 days until I leave Catamarca, and re-enter reality. I have been trying to cram every possible experience into these 53 days, so things have been pretty busy. The little time I do spend at home, I am usually so exhausted I can barely concentrate. No one ever tells you how much energy it takes to speak a second language all day long. I can hardly keep my eyes open when I skype with my parents from the US. So much has happened this past month, yet it feels like the days go by in seconds. I have been on three radio stations that broadcast to the province, and in two newspapers. Me and another exchange student go on and talk about life in Catamarca, and how different it is from our lives at home. It was so nerve racking in the beginning, I almost said no, but I forced myself to go and try my best. I was mostly worried about the Dj's talking so fast I wouldn't be able to understand the questions, but once we got going I was fine. It was such an amazing experience, and I felt really good about talking about the importance of exchange, and how it really can open up so many doors in your life. I really do believe that a lot of the teenagers in Catamarca could benefit greatly from going abroad, so I'm excited that I got to get the word out. Last weekend they had their day of independence, so we had a four-day weekend. It was the 200th anniversary of Argentina, and there were incredible festivities all weekend. I got to walk in a giant parade holding a huge flag and chanting "Viva Argentina" as loud as I possibly could. The entire city was blue and white and in such high spirits. I also went to a fiesta de Locro. It was a giant fiesta in the plaza where they sell Locro, and Carne asada, Empanadas, and pastries. Mostly though, it’s all about the Locro. This incredible saucy meat dish. I couldn't get enough of it, but that didn't surprise anyone. I'm not very shy about consuming as much food as I possibly can before I leave. I also turned in my first long term project in class, and had to explain all about it in front of the class. I expected to be more nervous, but I love my classmates so much, and they made me feel extremely relaxed. I think it went very well, and I was proud of what I turned in. Yesterday my family announced that I could call my parents (in the US) and tell them that it would be fine if I lived here till December, and that they wanted me to stay for a year. It was very touching, and made me realize how much I have bonded with them. Life in my house is so normal; it feels like I have known them my entire life. A couple weeks ago I found myself falling into a lull that was incredibly boring and average. I would walk to School then to the plaza, head home for lunch, take a siesta, walk to tennis, walk home, hang out with my family, repeat. After a week of nothing exciting happening, I was getting insanely board with my life here in quiet Catamarca. I knew this wasn't unusual with exchange students, having talked to many prior exchange students they all have said the same thing. You hit a part in your trip when the excitement wears off, and you are left longing for life in your home country. However, I was determined not to let that happen. The amazing exchange students I have befriended here, all have the incredible luxury of a year trip, and so had a little more time to waste on the "homesick" period. However, having only two months left, I absolutely see the importance of living every day to the fullest. I can always catch up on my sleep when I'm home. I feel like that sort of mentality is one thing that will carry on over to my life in Santa Monica. There's never a better time then now. That definitely is not a siesta sleeping Argentine point of view, but I do think it is an exchange student’s point of view, one I feel very fortunate to have. I continue to live my life here, full of excitement and new things. Along with making incredible Argentine friends, I have acquired a wide variety of extremely unique friends from all corners of the world. I have already made plans to travel to Thailand, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and Ohio. This trip has definitely awoken my inner traveler, and I think Argentina is only the first of many amazing adventures I hope to have.
On an entirely different note:
My parent's just sent my first box and I cannot wait till it comes! The minute it lands on my door step I am going to lock myself in my room, stuff my face with greatly anticipated peanut butter and chocolate chips, read every single book in English, hug my new piano music close to my chest, and laugh when everyone calls me a loser <3
Chau,
Rebecca