My life in Argentina: 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 :)