Now there are officially only two more months before I go home! It's been on my mind a lot because when I make plans for the weekend, I keep realizing that there are only eight more weekends to make plans for. Only eight more Saturday nights, eight more lazy Sundays, eight more of each day of the week...and when I think about it that way, I start to feel like it's coming so fast! This whole year in general hasn't exactly 'flown by', but now that the end is coming closer, I want to be able to slow time down just a little.
So every day, I walk to school and back home. It is definitely a walk, it's about a mile and a half, but I will do anything not to have to take the bus. I decided the buses gross me out, especially when they are crowded. And the people here are insanely crazy drivers, and I constantly feel like we are about to crash. So, to avoid that experience, I walk. It's really cold in the mornings, but it's right when the sun comes up, so it can be really pretty. It also wakes me up and when I get to school I don't feel super groggy and tired. Walking home after school is the best though. The sun hits the trees perfectly and brings out all the pretty fall colors, and it just puts me in a good mood :) 
One day after school, the street was shut off because there was a huge protest. These protests aren't too uncommon; I've run into plenty of them this year. They are always about something political that I don't understand. I think this one had to do with the taxes that farmers are having to pay. But anyways, I tried getting a few pictures. It was hard to take pictures because the people are so emotional about their cause and they would definitely yell at me if they saw me with a camera. It probably wasn't the safest thing to do, but I sneaked a few photos.
On Wednesday, I went with the AFS volunteers to an English school. My job was to speak in English about AFS to advertise what they do and try to encourage the kids to consider doing a year abroad or hosting an exchange student. I wasn't nervous or anything because I got to speak all in English, and because I would encourage people to be a part of AFS whether they told me to or not! So it wasn't like I had to make anything up. I went to a bunch of different classrooms and spoke to kids from 11 years old to kids my age. It was fun being so comfortable in front of a group of people. I was probably so comfortable because I was the only one speaking perfect English, so no matter what I said they would be amazed.
Before this year, I don't think I could have ever been so relaxed talking to whole classrooms of people. After doing that, I saw another way that I have matured. I have just become more confident overall, and it made me want to go out and tell the whole world how amazing this experience is and how everyone who gets the chance needs to take advantage of it!
Yesterday, I spent the day with Pedro and Ivan at Pedro's house. Now I can say that I honestly believe Argentinians will always be friendlier than Americans. Friendlier, more open, and just more excited and happy about everything! I'm sure there are exceptions, but I don't think I know of a family in America that would have treated me the same way this one did when I walked in the door. It was like I had gone away for a long time and they were greeting me as if they had really really missed me! Pedro's mom hugged me and smiled and I instantly felt welcome in their house. There were friends of their family coming and going as we were making lunch, and every single one of them put a smile on my face. I felt surrounded by love!
One of Pedro's mom's friends stayed for lunch and helped make meat empanadas. She is a really good cook. She taught me how to fold an empanada and make the pretty little border, which is called 'repulge'. It is not easy! My first ones turned out super ugly, but then they started getting better. 
The sauce that is put in a meat empanada has diced meat, onions, peppers, and some other little delicious spices. I have an Argentinian cook book now, so I'll make them when I get home. They definitely wont turn out as yummy as these ones though!
These are the wonderful women I cooked with. Pedro's mom is next to me, and her friend is on the left.
After about six tries, this one was my best!
You can tell on the tray which ones are mine, They are way sloppier. The professional ones made by the experienced are the ones that are all rounded out and pretty.
And they came out of the oven beautifully! I am very proud of this tray of empanadas.
We all ate lunch at this very nicely placed table (I helped with that) ;)
First we ate 'picada' which is different meats and cheeses and bread, and then we brought out the empanadas. Which tasted SO GOOD!
What a beautiful family! Pedro's dad, me, his mom, his brother, his sister, and Pedro! I will definitely spend more time over there now that I have met them. We've already planned another day where we are going to make pasta all from scratch! And then they said they would take me to the China Town of Buenos Aires. Yay!
Pedro, the awesome cook, his sister, me, his mom, brother, dad, and Ivan! Such a fun group of people!
8 more weeks in this amazing country, 8 more blog posts, 8 more skype dates...2 more months!
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