La Semana de Primavera: Days 3, 4 and 5...and more :)

So I have some bad news. I didn't go to school the last three days of the week. I slept in each day and then I would go on a run, and then back home, and then something else would happen and I would never make it to the point where I actually showed up at school. I don't really regret missing it because I didn't exactly know what I was missing, and I had a lot of fun during those three days running in the park!

Wednesday was "Día del Estudiantes" or "Students day" and nobody went to school. All of the schools had the day off, not just ours. It was the first official day of spring and it was gorgeous! The sun was out and people were walking around in shorts and tank tops. I went to Maite's house and then we walked to the park and went running. It was kind of hard because there were people everywhere, but then again, it gave the day a happy feeling. I ran for about thirty minutes, went back to Maite's house, then home, then to my first ballet class. Ballet was amazing! The teacher is such an amazing dancer and she is so sweet. At the same time, she pushes me really hard, and afterwards I felt like I had already become a better dancer. I also felt like a ballerina for the first time. Maybe it was the atmosphere, but I felt like I was actually moving and walking like a ballerina. She also told me that within a month I will be on pointe shoes! YAY!

Thursday, Emilio was sick and couldn't really do anything. But that was fine because the day turned out to be the complete opposite of Wednesday. The clouds were gray, the wind was blowing, and the air felt dirty. Probably because there was a protest going on and there were things burning in the streets. The weather is almost as unpredictable as Bend weather, believe it or not. We walked downtown to try to use the credit card that my parents had sent me, but the ATM wasn't working. The reason turned out to be that I had the wrong password, but I didn't know that at the time and I tried over and over again and eventually, for safety, the machine kept my card and said that I had to come back on Monday. So that was another downer that went along with the ugly day. But then later on, Maite and I used some tickets that Graciela, my host mom, had given me to go see a performance put on by the dance studio that I go to. It was a performance of contemporary dance, and it was beautiful! It was beautiful in a completely different way than I had expected because the contemporary that I have danced has been to somewhat pop-ish songs, and this performance had french music, tango music, and classical music. The costumes were also really different. I feel like if I saw that same performance in the United States I would think it was just flat out crazy, but somehow the idea that it is in another country made it seem beautiful.

Friday I went running again in the park. It was the last day of La Semana de Primavera and I was planning on going to school. But on the way to school, my host dad just dropped me off at Maite's to make things simpler. I didn't really have a problem with that, considering I really didn't know what to expect at school, and I really wanted to run. Friday was pretty and sunny and we went to the park again. We went pretty early, and then hung out at Maite's for a few hours. Then, I went home and went to ballet again. That was when I found out I am going to perform in a recital in December! I am way more nervous than excited, but I am still pretty excited. And I'm sure that when it comes along, I will be a lot more accustomed to everything.


Then, Saturday I slept really late and then walked to Maite's to go to the park...yes, again. I can't stay away, it is so beautiful. We went with her twin sister, Ana, and one of her friends. They were on roller blades, which is extremely popular here. Everyone rides on these paved pathways through the park, and it looks super fun. I ran for about thirty minutes and then tried Maite's roller blades. We rode a couple laps and it was so much fun! I really want to buy some now. Then we bought little ice cream bars and went back to her house.

Then, I went home and made burritos for my family the same way we do at home. Surprisingly, Mexican-type food is unheard of here. They don't have sour cream or beans in a can or tortillas! But we made it work with similar type things. We boiled the beans, and used really tiny tortillas, so I guess they were more like tacos.

I couldn't have made them without Cati's help :) We made them together and I taught her the way my dad makes them at home. She loves to cook and she is so good at it! 

Sunday, I watched The Big Bang Theory(in English of course) and ate Lay's potato chips, and drew pictures on blank pieces of paper with markers. It really felt like I was in America, at home, hanging out with Alex and Alicia...without Alex and Alicia. :)

Today, I went on a run...surprise, surprise...and afterwards, I made the best fruit salad ever at Maite's house! I went to a fruit stand, and everything is all so fresh! There is apple, orange, kiwi, banana, and strawberries. Yummmm :)



I took pictures of one of the Plazas called Plaza San Martin on the way to Maite's today :)

Que Lindo Todo! Me Encanta Mi Nueva Ciudad :)

Everything Is Beautiful! I Love My New City!

La Semana de Primavera: Day 2

Day two begins at the door :)

 On the second day of work, the room looked like this. More and more cardboard! The paints were also starting to come out, so everything will get more colorful!

Again, I didn't spend a lot of time in the classroom. I flattened out a few boxes of cardboard, but most of my day was spent outside walking around. A lot like Monday.

 

This is 'Doña Maga' which is only one block away from the school. I eat at this place pretty much every single day. And it is delicious :)

 We went and bought food from Doña Maga, and some fruit salad from a little kiosk, and had a little picnic in the Plaza. It has been so pretty outside, and it was perfect weather for a picnic :) So much spring spirit!

 When we went back to the school, there was a giant twister game! It was hilarious to watch. There were about 6 different twister mats, and 4 people on each one. So crazy!

 Then, I went on a run on the track with my awesome friends! I did somewhat of a cross country work out, and showed them the different ab workouts that I do at home, and they loved it! It was so great...they really liked plank, and especially cherry pickers! Haha I am so excited to keep running with them. I feel like a cross country coach!

 Later, I went to my first dance class. Contemporary. It was so different than dance at The Vibe, which I was expecting. I came in to the session late, so the people in the class had already learned routines of choreography, and I was definitely behind. I did some barre exercises, and marked a few dances in the corner. I'll definitely keep it up, and I know it will be much easier once I learn the choreography. I have ballet tomorrow, and the termonology is the same everywhere, so I am sure that will be easier for me to follow. 

Wednesday is Day 3, but it is 'Students Day' and no one is going to school. Everything is pretty much cancelled for students, so I am going to relax at home, and in the afternoon, probably go on a run in the park with Maite, my liezon (the AFS person that I go to with all of my questions). 

La Semana de Primavera: Day 1

So today was an awesome start to a soon to be awesome week. There weren't classes today, and everybody in the school was working on decorating the classrooms. Each room has a different theme, and the students all work to create a sort of 'scene'. I still don't quite understand all of it...but I'm sure by the end of the week, I will be able to explain everything :)

I wasn't in the classroom working very much today. A few of us went on a cardboard hunt around the city because they needed a lot of cardboard to decorate the classrooms. 

 Emilio and Ivan and I in the classroom. Behind us is all of the chairs stacked up and a bunch of cardboard. By the end of the week, the room will be looking completely different!

We spent a good amount of time playing on the swings and teeter totters in Plaza Rocha. The weather today was perfect!

Me, Ivan, Pedro, and Emilio

 Yes, there are teeter totters here. :)

 We were able to balance the teeter totter so perfectly that we could meditate... We are higher off the ground than it what looks like! :)

After a good amount of time playing, we walked downtown and ate lunch at McDonalds. Then we shopped around for a while. When I first got here, I thought there was no way I would ever learn how to get around the city, but I learn a little bit more every day. 

Then, I decided that my cough wasn't too bad, and I could go on a run today. So Emilio, Ivan, and I went to run on a track. I told myself I was going to run as hard as I possibly could because it has been so long, but my cough definitely got in the way. So I didn't get the workout I planned, but once my cough is completely gone, I am going to run every day! And the kids here all seem to want to run, so maybe I could start my own little Argentinian cross country team :)

This was where we walked to get to the track. More beautiful trees :)

More fun is waiting for me tomorrow! 

Picture Time: Food & My Day In Buenos Aires

Now I have pictures! 

This is what the table looked like on Saturday for lunch. Yum, I know. My host mom and my host dad both cook a little bit, but the food is generally made by Cati, the girl who comes to clean the house, do laundry, and that whole shabang. 

We had spinich pie, meatballs, chicken, salad with tomatos and eggs, and soup with carrots, onions, corn, and a million other vegetables that I don't know the name of. But it was delicious!

The soup :)

The tomato and egg part of the salad :)

So that is generally the types of food we eat here. We eat a lot of empanadas, pizza, and pasta also. My family doesn't eat very much meat, so I haven't tried Asado yet, which is like a Argentinian Barbecue, but I will soon! The meat here is so amazing!

And now, we  move on to my day in Buenos Aires! I live so close, so surprisingly today was my first real day in the city, but I was so amazed. I am in love!

Portrait of Eva Peron

This was at a stoplight. I have seen this more than once. A street performer will come and perform in front of the stopped cars at a red light, and this time it was a mime! My host dad tipped him :)

This is the very center of Buenos Aires.

Plaza Mayo

This is Casa Rosada, where the president lives. The Argeninian White House :)

Casa Rosada...closer :)

I really liked the pink building, and that was the point of this picture. I think it was a little cafe or something.

This is one of the streets that is lined with trees. I LOVE this look, and the streets are almost all like this in La Plata. So beautiful.

The center of Buenos Aires

A really tall building!

The newer area of the city

More nicer buildings

Thats a Hard Rock cafe, if you can't tell. There are also McDonalds everywhere, and Subway, and Starbucks, and I saw a T.G.I Fridays! Crazy Americans...

This is what the inside of the mall looked like. We went shopping :)

I love this picture. My amazing host parents :)

EMILIO-My Bro :)

My Argentina Family :)

So today was a great day. I got to see most of Buenos Aires, and spend time with my amazing family. But there is still so much to see in that city, I might not even accomplish it all in one year. But so far, I love everything about it, and I am so lucky to live so close!

Tomorrow is the first official day of spring here...first official day of fall there :) And the schools all take the day off for 'Students Day', but my school takes the whole week off for the beginning of spring! I will still go to school every day, but there are no classes, and Bellas Artes does something called 'Spring Week', or 'La Semana de Primavera'. I have heard so much about this special week, and everyone in my school looks forward to it all year. I have hear it's like a party all week! So I am really anxious to see what the excitement is all about...

My New Life

Tomorrow will officially mark the one month point! 4 Saturdays ago, I got off the bus in La Plata and began my adventure. Today, I finally feel like I can call this 'my new life'.

I feel like everything decided to just fall into place, and all of the confusions and complications went out the window. It's a really good feeling, like I have been freed, or let go. There have been many events that I believe contributed to this freeing feeling...

I started my first Spanish class yesterday! I loved the teacher, and I hear from all of the kids that she is amazing. Despite the fact that I felt like I was back in Spanish 1, I think this class is going to be really helpful. I have it every Thursday for about an hour, and I am the only one in the class, so I pretty much have my own tutor.

Also, all of the money confusions are now worked out. For a long time my family has been trying to work out a way for me to have money while I am down here, and during the process of figuring it out, I ran out of the money I had. I have been borrowing money for the past week, and it has been really difficult to communicate what was happening with the banks because my host parents and my real parents don't speak the same language. But, long story short, we had a translator and were able to get everything worked out, and this morning I finally got money to be able to buy what I need. Which leads to the next contribution to my progression...

I had a few hours of free time at school, so Renzo took me downtown to look for a memory card for the camera that he let me borrow. We not only got a memory card, but I found super cute vans to wear, and I got a watch for when I start running every day. Thennnn....

I went back to school and had my first piano class! Another beginning to a new routine. Friday piano classes. I got a song to practice and I got to play a little bit. Of course, I'm not anywhere close to good at it, considering I haven't played since I was 12, but I know I'm going to like that I started to play the piano again. Music is going to become a big part of my experience down here, which I am definitely really happy about.

Piano ended at 2:20 and Emilio had classes until 4:40, so it was looking like I was going to be stuck at the school for 2 whole hours. For about an hour, I sat in one of Emilio's classes and thought about if I could go home on my own when I wanted to. Every day I go with Emilio, and the thought of me trying it by myself was out of the question. It is sort of scary I'll admit, like nothing I would have to do at home. I have to wave down the bus, then I tell the man 'uno con diez', I put 1.10 pesos in the little machine, I ride the bus for about 20 minutes, ring the buzzer thing, and get off. Then I walk one block to my house. Something that regular city people do. But I am not a city girl at all, let alone one that can speak Spanish. But I thought that today would be a perfect day to try, so I asked Emilio for the house key, and I was off! Everything went smoothly and I have now officially taken the bus home from school on my own.

So the next progressive step I made was finding a package in my room from my parents. It had my ATM card, which means that now we REALLY won't have any money problems, and it was also proof that when they send me packages in the mail, they will arrive safely. Along with my card, I received plenty of family pictures and I decided to decorate my wall with them. Now my room has more of a home-y feeling...like it is really MY room. Also, just for kicks, I took some pictures of my newly decorated room with my newly memory carded camera :)

Then, after decorating my room, taking pictures, setting my watch, and lacing up my new shoes, my host dad walked in my room with my new cell phone and charger. So then, I got to add cell phone to my list if accomplishments! All it needs is credit to call people and it will be ready to go...I know that a phone is really going to come in handy. You know, because I am now riding the bus by myself and all.

So today was full of accomplishments and smiles...and tomorrow I can say I have been an Argentinian girl for one full month.
Even though the days felt slower than ever in the beginning, I feel like I can say that time has flown by. I don't know if it feels like a whole month already.
But I may feel differently tomorrow!

These Are My Thoughts

So I have been away from home for one month now, and this is only the very beginning of my journey. This beginning has been more of a mental challenge than I expected, but I guess that is what I get for throwing myself into this experience with no idea of what was ahead of me.

I have already learned so much from going through every emotion possible and having to overcome multiple frustrations a day.

My first major frustration I ran into was homesicknes. I became frustrated with myself for leaving behind everything that I had going for me. I had an amazing family, amazing best friends, an amazing boyfriend, a dance studio full of people I could call my family, an amazing cross country team, an amazing school, and a safe and beautiful city. Why did I just pick up and leave? What made me want to leave my almost perfect and comfortable life? I left my house one month ago without the answer to those questions, but after thinking about it, I remembered that I am not leaving home for good.
I am going back home, and I'm going to go back with much more appreciation for everything I have. It took this decision to realize that I have so much to be grateful for in my life. I will go home next year with a wider perspective and so much more to share. I know that I will never regret the fact that I took this year to grow and mature.

Also, I don't stop falling in love with my life and city here in Argentina! I am getting the opportunity to live a completely different lifestyle, and I'm going to learn to love it just as much as my wonderful life at home.

The next big frustration I ran into has been the most mentally challenging obstical I have experienced. It is the realization that I am really on my own. I realize it more and more every day.
My whole life, I have been able to make my decisions based on the approval I will get from the important people in my life. I could always find approval for my actions, and when I did, I would know I was doing the right thing. I would get good grades and learn a lot in school because I knew my parents would be proud. I would try my hardest to run as fast as a could at cross country to show the coaches that I can. I would give my all at dance to impress anyone who was watching. I would get dressed in the morning based on what Hayden was going to think. I would eat healthy because I knew my dad would be happy.
It was comforting to have approval for every decision I made, it always made me feel good about myself. But now, I am making choices that are only affecting me. If I choose to go in a run, no one will care hard I run except for me. If I eat three pieces of cake a day, the only person that is going to care is me. If I don't give 100% at dance, the only person that will be affected is me. These past weeks I have been on Skype and Facebook looking to people at home for approval anyways, but they are a continent away. They don't need to approve of my decisions anymore. They have accepted that I am taking this adventure for myself, and now I have to accept that also. They will give me advice, and they will be there for me, but they aren't going to feel the affects of what I choose to do with my life here. That change is hard for me to accept. I feel like I don't know how to live and make decisions that come only from what I think is right. I still want to be told what is right. But overcoming this challenge is part of what will help grow and mature, and after looking for approval my whole life, I can use all I have learned from those important people in my life to make the right choices on my own. I have also thought of it as being free. The fact that I am making decisions based on only what I know is not only a challenge, but it is a privilege. I don't HAVE to, I GET to.

A few lessons down, and many many many more to come this year...Bring It On!

What My Regular Week Looks Like... :)

So I would say I am going to sum up what my normal week in Argentina is like, but I can't, because every week has turned out different! I kind of love that about school here...It never feels like I'm stuck in routine.
So I can say that my official school schedule looks like this...

Monday:
7:30-9:40 Math~
I actually can understand most of the time, but I don't admit it because I kind of enjoy just watching
9:40-11:50 English~
Obviously one of my favorites. I took an English test yesterday, and aced it. Too bad Renzo brought up the idea that I should take the tests in Spanish.
11:50-12:10 Lunch
12:10-1:30 Choir~
The choir here is good, and it's hard to stay caught up when your trying to learn the words as well as the notes
1:30-3:30 Break~
I never know what to do with these two hours, but I usually hang out outside and just wander
3:30-5:40 Sound Production~
This is a class about speakers and sound boards and all that fun stuff. I really don't understand it in Spanish, but its still fun

Tuesday:
7:30-9:40 Literature~
This is pretty much impossible for me to understand. Imagine Shakespeare, but in Spanish. Almost like another language within Spanish.
9:40-11:50 Physics~
I have never taken physics, but I think it'll be a subject I can understand eventually. A lot of it is just equations

Wednesday:
7:30-10:20 Musical Composition~
In this class, the kids create preludes and I just listen to the teacher play them. The music is nice to listen to early in the morning
10:30-12:50 Biology~
I kind of gave up the hope of understanding this class on the first day
I think I will have piano lessons after biology, but I haven't started yet.

Thursday:
7:30-8:50 History~
This subject was foreign to me even in English. I tend to fall asleep in this class
8:50-11:50 Experimental Composition~
This class is about composing music, but with things other than normal instruments, and with unusual rhythms. I am actually horrible at this class, and it happens to be my longest.
11:50-1:00 Lunch/Break~
On Thursday's I always buy this little chocolate bar with peanuts called a 'Block' before class. Something about it is so addicting!
1:00-3:10 Music History~
I like this class, but only because there are fun people in it. I don't think the teacher likes me because last time I skipped the class to watch a piano concert in the school and he saw me afterwards...
3:10-4:10 Spanish~
I have my own personal tutor, courtesy of the school. I haven't actually experienced this class yet, but my first one is this Thursday

Friday:
7:30-8:50 Geography~
I think this is my favorite teacher. He is super hilarious, and he knows pretty good English, so he will start teaching in English and then I feel like the only one who can understand for a change
8:50-10:20 Argumentation Seminary~
I have no idea what this class even is
10:20-11:50 Choir~
Again
11:50-12:10 Lunch
12:10-1:30 Improvisation~
In this class the kids each play and instrument and take turns improvising. And again, I just listen.
I am also going to have piano lessons Friday, and I think I start this week

So every day of the week I have different classes, which is really different than Bend High. It gives you the whole week to finish homework though, so I'm definitely not complaining. Although I don't even have to do homework at this point. I also don't take tests, except in English :) But next time I will have to take the English test in Spanish. Darn.

These times are the official times printed on my paper, but classes don't really follow them exactly. Sometimes we are let out class up to 45 minutes early, and sometimes we don't start until 10 minutes after we are supposed to. Again, definitely not complaining. Also we get little breaks during the long classes where everyone just walks in a big loop around the school and talks. There are places to buy snacks all over the place, so everyone has little cookies or crackers during breaks or between classes.

For lunch, there are two really popular places to eat. One is called Doña Maga, where you can
find pretty much the typical food that people eat here. There are a lot of sandwiches with croissant type bread and Different types of pastries. Ham and cheese is really popular in sandwiches and empanadas. I tend to go there a lot. Then, there is a Chinese restaurant that is kind of buffet style. There are little plastic trays and then you choose from rice and noodles and other Chinese type food. It's really good, but I haven't been there much.

I'm still sick, so I haven't started running or dancing yet, but hopefully I will start by Friday. Everything is still settling in, and once all the little kinks are taken care of, I'm sure this will really feel like my new life!

Día de Macaroni con Queso

So despite the fact that u have a horrible cough and a stuffed up face, today was super fun! I love my friends here...I can't say it enough times. I speak a lot of English when I talk to them, which is bad because I need to learn my Spanish, but it's so hard not to take advantage of their English abilities. They are all almost fluent!
But anyways, I woke up this morning pretty early, feeling worse than yesterday(which seems to be the case every day) and ate my usual breakfast consisting of Leche Chocolatada(hot chocolate) and corn flakes. I already feel accustomed to not eating a lot for breakfast. Then, I took a shower and got ready to go to Ivan's house with Emilio, Fac, and Renzo to make macaroni and cheese from scratch. Here, you definitely don't find Annie's mac and cheese in a box, or any kind of mac and cheese in a box for that matter. The food turned out amazing, as I expected, and we watched Stuart Little(in Spanish of course). Anything tastes better home made, but I still want to make some Shells and White Cheddar for my host family :)
Then, we listened to music, got on facebook, watched some Spiderman...not too much different from what my friends and I do at home. We also watched Modern Family...best show ever :)
Throughout the day, my cough got stronger and more painful, and I got more and more stuffed up, so being home feels good. As I'm writing this, my amazing host mom is heating me up some arroz con leche with a hint of dulce de leche. Sweetness always makes me feel better. But tomorrow is all about relaxing for me, even though I haven't done any sort of physical activity for the past week and I feel super weak and fat.
So yesterday, we went to visit a dance studio that I am going to take classes at. The architecture of the building is so antique looking, I almost feel like I'm in an old movie. But it is beautiful. When my cold goes away, I'm going to start taking ballet and contemporary classes there. I saw a few hiphop/reggaeton classes and I will probably end up taking them, but for now I'm just going to start out with ballet. It is really close to my house, so I can walk.
I really wish I had pictures of today, because I want to save these memories on a camera...but I will have one in a few days, and this will get more interesting.
Hasta Luego!

Ok, here I go....

Alright first blog entry. I decided this would be a good thing to have as a way of sharing my experience with everyone and it may reduce the amount of time I spend on Facebook :)

So I have been living here almost three weeks now and I love it! When I first arrived to my city, it was the middle of winter. And this is place is not as close to the equator as I expected, so temperatures were ranging between 35 and 50. The clouds were gray and the only color I could seem to find in the city was the grafitti. But each week has been warmer and sunnier. The winter is fading and spring is almost here!
As the sun came out, colors starting popping up everywhere! There are green trees every ten feet lining the streets and there is amazing architectural buildings scattered about the city. I love it more and more every day!
I am living in a house quite smaller than mine, but it is right in the middle of the city, and here this house is considered quite large. I find that the little things I may have dreaded at home are actually luxuries here. I don't have a dryer or a dishwasher...no more complaining about switching the laundry or loading the dishwasher.
I have a host brother, Emilio who is 17 years old and in the same school year as me. We get along really well and I love that he speaks fluent English. I don't know how I would be surviving without a translator. My host mom is awesome. She works so hard every day and always makes sure I am on track. And I love her more and more as the communicating gets easier. My host dad is also awesome. I find that it is really easy to understand his Spanish, and we get into long conversations about how beneficial this experience is for everybody.
My school is amazing!!! I can't even explain the atmosphere in words. It is an arts school filled with amazingly talented people and beautiful paintings and songs coming from every corner of the building. The kids are so upbeat and exciting, and I felt accepted the minute I walked in the door. I have already made memories with my friends from school. The most fun one was when we made spagetti and cheesecake. I decided I am going to learn to make it from scratch while I'm here. Along with bagels and maccaroni and cheese :)
Tomorrow is Saturday and I am going to go run in 'el bosque' which is a huge park with beautiful trees. I have been talking about how I miss my cross country team, so I was able to get a pretty big group of people to come run with me. Pretty excited:)

I don't have anything to take pictures with unfortunately because I use my iPod and I lost it in the airport. But luckily a nice lady found it and sent it to me. So once I have that with me and I figure out how to upload pictures, I'll put them on here!