The Play, the Show, etc...

This past week has been crazy busy, full of three things that I love most: dancing, singing and acting. Last Friday I went to go see a play that one of the superstars classes had put on. It was about adolescence and the struggles of being a young teenager. I went with a good friend of mine from the class (everyone kind of paired up for that, because it was 2 tickets for the price of 1 for any student from Superstars). After the play, we all went out to eat and just hang out. It was really interesting because after we had finished eating and just hanging around, some girls went to the bathroom, and a few minutes they came out (they were hysteric) saying that they saw something in the bathroom (like a ghost or something). Then a group went outside, and later I went out to tell them that they had to pay. I found them all outside around the corner talking about what they had seen/heard. (a black figure moving inside an empty building window, a noise inside that same building, etc...) So seeing that the lights were on I went inside the building and found that there were some people in there rearranging things (it was a gym for gymnastics). After that nobody "saw/heard" anything else "unnatural". I don't know what they saw in the bathroom, but it was pretty creepy considering that it was Friday the 13th.

Anyways... Then the next day my class had our play, the play that we've been working on for 2 months. It was AMAZING! I was just an extra, and had no lines. But it was hard work, I was almost ALWAYS on stage, and when I wasn't, I was backstage changing costumes as quickly as possible to get back onstage on time. I had about 4 costumes, BUT I had about 10 costume changes. I managed to get on stage when needed, unfortunately I can't say the same about some of the others. Everyone almost always made it on stage, but there were a few changes that were a couple of changes that were to fast for some people, I ALMOST missed my opening a few times, but managed to get onstage when needed. The play was amazing! I can't believe that it's over, it seems so unreal that something that took so much work and that was really one of the last things I would ever do with superstars can be over just like that (snap fingers). It was an amazing experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I find it funny how the best things of my experience here have all been something with Superstars..how funny! Anyways afte the play ended ( :/ ) we all went to go celebrate at the house of one of my classmates, I had a great time.

Then on Tuesday we had our end of year show, which was for all of Superstars. We were performing some of the best dances from that year as well as having some people singing solos. I had originally got chosen to sing a song (in English) so I sang On My Own from Les Miserables (it had to be from a musical). I thought I did ok, there were definitely times in which I've sung that song better, but I think under the sircumstances I sang it fairly well. My voice was good, it just need more strength, it sounded very weak. I know that that is because I was SO nervous, when the show first started, I started freaking out, and could not stand still. When I was singing I could feel like hands shaking (which wasn't good, because I was holding the microphone). However, despite that, I thought it went pretty well!

I thought that that show marked the end of Superstars until summer classes start, but my teacher called everyone in to tell us that we will be performing one last time this Monday before the term ends. That makes me so happy to hear! I don't really want the year to end. I'm just a little bit afraid that if the term ends and there aren't any more classes, when it's time for me to go. I won't be able to say goodbye to everybody, and tell them all how much they mean to me. I've been telling them a lot that they HAVE to be there to see me off so that I can hug them and thank them for everything they've done one last time before I go.

33 days

33 is the big number that stands between myself and going to home. In 33 days I will be getting on a bus heading to Buenos Aires from my city, and from there I will be taking a plane to Miami, and from there I will board a plane that will take me home. I have many mixed feelings about going home. Part of me is sad because I've made amazing friends here that I don't want to leave, as well as an amazing family that have done so much for me. But I'm also filled with happiness and anxiety to be finally going home. Happiness to see my home, see my cats, sleep in my bed, drive my car, see my friends, and more importantly see my family for the first time in 11 months. There are people here that I really don't want to leave though. My friends from Superstars for example are the people that really made this experience worthwhile. They're the people that I spend the majority of my time with, the people that know what I've been through, that I know are here for me. The people that I felt closest to because of our shared love for the arts. I also really don't want to leave my friends that I originally met at the english school that I went to speak at way back in June, we've kind of just kept on doing things together, and they have also always been there for me. It still feels like all of this is a dream, like just one huge long dream that I will wake up from at any minute. I can't believe in 1 month I'll be going home, I can't believe I've spent 10 months in Argentina. Speaking nothing (well almost) but Spanish, going to school, living life here all by myself away from everything that I know. It still just seems so unreal.

Busy busy busy

I haven't really written since I got back from my trip to the waterfalls, so I just thought I would write about what I've been up to since then.

Lately I've been soo busy! As soon as I FINALLY finished with school (Summer break!) I suddenly got super busy with Superstars and just hanging out with friends. In Superstars we are working on a play called "Camila - a musical of forbidden love" which is love story that's based on a true story from the history of Argentina. I have been spending so much time rehearsing for this play, I love it though. It is so much fun! I'm just an extra, but I still do a lot and I'm barely ever just standing around doing nothing. Then once Camila is over, we have this end of year performance that has some dance numbers and singing numbers. We are going to perform the winning dances that we competed in Cordoba, as well as singing as a group and then there are a few solo singers that will be singing (myself included :D ). Then the week after that, we are performing in the big plaza for a christmas show type thing. And then even though that wraps up the year for that class, we are still going to be having a Christmas and New Year's party. Then a couple weeks after that, they are throwing a going away party for me! Which  I am so thankful for! I was kind of worried about how the class would end and I wouldn't get a chance to say goodbye to all of these wonderful people! When I'm not in Superstars, I'm hanging out with friends. I've been doing a lot of things with the other exchange students, it seems like I see them at least once a week! Then I've been going to a lot of get togethers with my friends from the english school that I went to talk to a while back.

Las Cataratas del Iguazú

The day after I got back from Cordoba, I left again to go on a trip with the organization that I came with, AFS. It was a trip to the north with all the other exchange students that were leaving in January. I only chose to go on half of it because it was crazy expensive (I loved it, but I don't think it was worth that much money, we spent more time on the bus than outside of it), the half that was going to a province called Misiones which boarders Argentina. We went to the waterfalls of Iguazu, which is half in Argentina and half in Brazil. The waterfalls were so gorgeous! They were probably the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I was with AFS for four days, but I only spent one at the falls. It was really fun though, I got to meet all of the other exchange students. As well as spend more time with the girls who came with me last February, including a really good friend with whom we've completely shared this experience. We came here together and before that, we were really good friends. We live at different ends of the country though, so I was really happy to see her! It was really fun to see who the different cliques formed. They weren't that cliquiy, just that all of the separate countries hung out mostly with the people from their same country, speaking their language. As much as I tried, I didn't speak very much Spanish during this trip. 

The next trip is to the south, which is supposed to be even better than the waterfalls with all the glaciers and such...but I don't think I will go just cause it's way to expensive. At the falls, we were all talking about how much money we're spending, and the majority of the people said that they weren't going anywhere else because they've already spent a tone of money. I'm right there with them, even though I'm doing fine for money, I still don't want to spend the amount it takes to go on this trip. It's just to much. :)

Competencia "Superstars"

So this past week and a half has been the best week and a half of my entire exchange (so far ;) ). There is a lot to write about...I don't even know where to start. Let's just start at the very beginning...I'm going to make this a two post kind of thing...one on one trip and the other on the other trip...

so last Thursday (not last Thursday but the one before) I got on a bus with my entire superstars team to go to another province called Cordoba for a dance competition that we would be competing at. I was going with some really good friends that I haven't known for very long but we've grown really close. When we got to Cordoba the next day (8 hour bus ride), we went to our hotel and got situated in our rooms (I shared a room with my best friend and two other girls that I haven't really talked to that much beforehand). Then after lunch we all went downtown to the shopping mall to shop for a few hours (they were all really excited because there isn't a mall in Santiago). We all broke off into mini groups, and my friends just talked and walked around looking at clothes. Then after we'd gone through the entire mall we went upstairs to bowl (which is another thing we don't have in Santiago). That was really fun and I got reminded of just how badly I play. Then after we finished, we went to the food court and got McDonald's (which is another thing we don't have, it tasted exactly the same as home...which kind of scares me...I can't believe I chose to put that in my body). Then we went back to the hotel for dinner (which we couldn't eat cause we were stuffed). After dinner we just kind of hung out in the lobby until late (the kids over 18 got to go out) talking and eating junk food. The next day my friends and I got up early so that we could go downtown some more. We got back around lunchtime and after lunch we went on this city tour which was on the double Decker bus with the upstairs outside. That was amazing because we got to see the entire city. The city of Cordoba is absolutely amazing and I can't believe I finally got to see it. Then after the tour we all went to the main plaza where there was this huge sidewalk that was as big as the stage we would be competing on (you know what's coming), then for the next hour and a half we just stayed there with the gathering people, practicing our dances. Me and a friend finished early so we went to buy a snack and we just sat and talked. It was really nice to have a deep conversation with someone, it feels like forever since I've done that (plus my friend is probably one of the best friends that I've made here) Then after everyone finished, we went back to the hotel to get ready for a play that we were going to called "El Jorobado de Paris" which is "The Hunchback of Paris", which I think it's off of The Hunchback of Notre Dame but I can't be sure. That play was amazing, the voices were to die for. I didn't understand what they were saying, but when they sang I could kind of get what the story was about. Then afterwards we went back to the hotel and got ready for the next day. Sunday morning at about eight we all went on the bus to go to the competition. On the way were getting all pumped up for the competition and for the ten lucky students (Myself included) who got to go to a class taught by choreographer of Christina Aguilera (earlier that week we had a competition to see who got the ten spots...I feel like if I had competed I wouldn't of gotten a spot. But my teacher was super nice and thought that I deserved to go so that I could get the full experience :) ), getting a little anxious too. When we got there, the class had already started (the people from my province are always late...it's just how we are) and there wasn't much time to learn anything before the class ended. Regardless, it was amazing to meet the choreographer of Christina Aguilera. Then we returned to where the rest of the group was getting ready. We still had plenty of time so I just kind of hung out with everyone and helped the people with unfinished costumes (there was that much undone, thank god). Then they started doing hair and makeup...which I feel like it took longer than it should of, but it was a long process. And it paid off too, because in the end the hair, makeup, and costumes all looked amazing!

Me in my entire costume (the skirt goes all the way down to my feet). I love this costume so much, the boys costume is only a little bit different. They only where the skirt with a bare chest with this really cool design...like this:

Anyways, after what felt like forever it was finally time for us to dance. As soon as we got off the stage everyone was ecstatic! We all thought we danced really well (minus a couple of wardrobe malfunctions). After a couple of the other groups from our dance academy danced, it was finally time for the awards. After the opening words thanking everyone for being there and naming all the province that were there (they forgot to say my province which was immediately fixed due to my entire team (myself included) screaming the name of our province), they started naming who won and such. When they named the category for Adult section for Contemporary dance, everyone held their breath...then everyone started screaming, and jumping up and down and hugging each other. Because guess what? The dance that I danced in won first place! Gold medal! We also won a trophy for the highest score of the entire competition and a special mention for the creativity and charisma of the dance. :D So then as you can imagine everyone was pretty wild and people started crying, and I myself couldn't stop screaming and jumping up and down and hugging everyone I could get my hands on. This whole trip was amazing and it made it even better when we won, and we didn't just win...we dominated the competition. That felt kind of amazing, not just because I like winning but because it makes the only experience that I might ever have with this team even better, even more memorable.

So then we went back to the hotel and got ready to go out and celebrate. Then the next day we got on the bus and went home. That entire trip was the best time I've had here in Argentina, I don't even know how it could have been better. There was absolutely nothing wrong with that trip. Everything was perfect. :D

Exchange Students, and waffles

So these last few weeks have gone by so quickly. I don't even know where all the time went. Within these last couple of weeks I've been spending a lot of time with the other exchange students, I see them at least once a week. About a week ago we had another AFS orientation with everyone. When I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE. It was the 7 exchange students that arrived in August, 2 exchange students who arrived in February (me and and a boy from Thailand), 2 people who returned from exchange in August, and a girl who is going to England in January. It was really fun to talk to everyone and get advice on returning, as well as giving advice about going on exchange. We ate, and then we played some group building games (3 legged race, pop the balloon, etc..) it was really fun! Then that night we all went to the house of the girl who had spent a year in Norway and returned in August. That was pretty fun too, some of the people got really drunk so it was pretty funny to watch.

Then about two days ago I went to go get a package that someone sent for me. When I looked inside it, it was a waffle maker! two months ago my aunt told me that she had sent me a waffle maker, but it never got here. Then finally it didn't! I've been going a little crazy with the waffling (yes it's a word in my book), but hey you leave something for a long time and then your able to eat it again? you will go a little crazy. It's just how it is. The waffles are really good too! They taste so much like the waffles from home!

R.I.P

This past Tuesday the mother of a friend from Superstars passed away. She had gotten sick right after my last dance competition, and I thought she was getting better because they brought her home from the hospital, but apparently she had gotten worse. My Superstars teacher told us all that she had gotten worse and that she was about to die. Then on Wednesday, as I'm getting ready to go to Superstars practice,  I get a text from another friend saying that there isn't any because she passed away (she was really involved with Superstars). I can't even imagine what her kids are going through. To think that my friend, who is my age, lost her mother only a few days ago is completely unbelievable. That her entire world turned upside-down right infront of my eyes. My heart goes out to her and her brother, and well, her entire family. I didn't really know her very well, and I'm not GREAT friends with her daughter, but I do see her at Superstars and we talk, and we are friends.

So then I started thinking about my family and if something were to happen to my mom while I was on this adventure. I started getting really nervous, but then I talked to her on Skype and I know that she is completely healthy and alive. So I feel better :)

Anyways....RIP (I don't know how to say it in Spanish) Ana nunca te voy a olvidar, espero que estás viendo abajo a tu familia, y que los cuidas durante esto tiempo. Te aman mucho, y están muy tristes ahora.

(I said: RIP Ana I will never forget you, I hope that your watching down on your family and help them through this time. They love you very much and they are very sad right now.)

Las Estudiantinas

This weekend was the weekend of "las Estudiantinas" which is a week dedicated to all high school students. "Las Estudiantinas" are parties that are only for students in high school (there are also some for college students). There are four estudiantinas, on four different days, wednesday, thursday, friday, and saturday. Each day there is a estudiantina for each school (and of course the schools have to share because there are a lot of high schools in my city).


I had originally planned on going to all of them, but that didn't quite work out, so I just went to 3 instead of all 4.

I'm not entirely sure how to start, and this is taking a lot longer than expected. So I'm just going to go day by day.

Thursday: Thursday was the day that kicked off las estudiantinas (well it was for me). There was one on Wednesday but I didn't go to that one due to things with my classmates. Anyways, after school I went to classmate's house for lunch. Then after that, we went to the club.

Friday: That day after lunch, I went with a friend to the house of her classmate and hung out with her and all of her classmates. That was so fun! We all made T-shirts and just hung out, they were all really excited because the club we were going to was the one for their school, so..GO SCHOOL SPIRIT! Then we left and went on the bus to the club, it was us (30 teens) and a few other people. It was really fun because they were chanting and singing the entire way. Once in the club, we all danced for a while but eventually everyone kind of broke up into 2s and 3s and went off to different parts of the club. I stuck with my friend and her friend. It was great! I have never had so much fun at one of those clubs before.

Saturday: Then saturday I went with almost all of my classmates. That wasn't quite as fun. I was with the classmates that are completely opposite from me. They had gotten together beforehand (I didn't go because they met in a place that was really far away and I couldn't get there), and had taken that time to get drunk. So by the time we met up, they were completely wasted...I'm not entirely sure how they got in. Because the security is to tough, they don't let anyone in who has been drinking or taking drugs. The day before, they didn't let five girls from my group in because they had been drinking. They had to go home, maybe that will teach them a lesson..follow the freakin rules. Anyways, my classmates got in, and after about 15 minutes, I wanted to leave. Other than them being completely wasted and me being worried about them because they always looked like they were going to pass out, there were soooo many people I could barely move, let alone dance. Then, when we were walking around (my classmates seemed to like doing that a lot) I was always in the back (which everyone had warned me to not be) and so I was always getting pulled from the group to another group where boys would try to kiss me (ok, so people go to las estudiantinas for 1 of 2 things...or both. Dancing and hanging with friends, or kissing cute people). I didn't feel safe at all. At one point I was completely surrounded by boys that were all trying to kiss me and feel me up, and it really scared me. I wanted to cry. So then as soon as I found my classmates I just told them I was done. Then I turned around and left.

So it wasn't a great ending, but las estudiantinas were pretty amazing...at first! :)

Trouble in School

My school here used to be the one thing that kept me here. However, after I changed families and started doing more activities, I haven't really been enjoying school as much as I did earlier. My classmates haven't really been the most friendly to me, and it was starting to just get to the point where I don't really talk to my classmates very much because if I try to join a conversation they kind of push me out. I don't know if they are doing it on purpose, but sure feels that way. Anyways, today was a really good day and a really bad day. It was good because we were picking the King and Queen of the school dance that we're going to have (we pick one king and queen for each grade), and they all voted for me as queen! Which is super exciting!! I can't wait!

And it was bad because my Lit teacher told me to group up with two other girls for a presentation that we had to do today. Usually I don't do anything in class, so my group was kind of like "she has to do something?". So they gave me the material to study, and made it very clear that if I didn't study they would not pass. So I studied and studied, and tried to understand the text...I have no idea why, but it just didn't stick in my brain. I got to school this morning and I couldn't remember a thing about the subject, and I told my group that, and one of the girls (pilar) said "Ok, then we won't do the presentation, because we can't do it if some people know the material and others don't". I felt so bad! They weren't going to pass because I didn't know the material, which I didn't think was far at all. So the teacher comes in and asks us to come up, and Pilar went and talked to the teacher (she was always my classmate that helped me with everything, and was always nice to me), when she came back the other girl in the group (carolina) starts talking to her about how they should talk to the teacher and they should do the presentation and that it wasn't far that they weren't going to pass because I didn't study (I did study, but she was completely right, it wasn't far, and I almost went up to the teacher to explain what had happened so that they could still pass). Then another girl (someone who wasn't in the group) asks me if I had studied, and I tell her that I did, but that I don't know the material (I know, I know, your probably thinking that I didn't study too, it sounds ridiculous, but it's true) then Carolina says to the other girl, "no she didn't study", to which Pilar stares at her paper nodding her head. and I was just so...I don't know...I seriously wanted to cry. Then the other girl sees my face and says "Oh so you didn't understand then"...but the thing was that I had translated it and I did understand it when I was reading it, but it just didn't stick in my brain. Now, I feel absolutely horrible! I told them that I'm sorry, but I will never be a part of their group ever again, I will make sure that I never do another project with them(or with anyone) because I don't want that if I can't pull through for them they can still pass.

It was also bad because later I was hanging out with some other girls and we were about to leave and one girl asked the other girls if they wanted to go downtown and I was thinking that they met me too...I guess not because when they left I got stuck behind the younger students that were leaving (it's also a primary school too), and when I got out they were already around the corner walking towards downtown..I guess I wasn't envited...Okay.

So now I don't know what to do, because they elected me queen, but I originally wasn't going to go to the one at my school (There are ones for each high school). My friend had envited me to go with her and her class, and I was going to go because I know her and her friends and they are really nice, and I know I'll have a great time! But I feel like if I don't go to mine then my relationship with my classmates will be non existent. I just don't know if I'm going to enjoy myself, because I feel like I will probably get pushed out again so I will be by myself the whole time...I want to be with friends...if they don't want to be my friends then I don't really want to hang out with them. But I also don't want to tell them that I'm not going.

Well I'm sure I'll figure it out...At least there isn't any school tomorrow (it's a holiday...for people who teacher small children...there are so many holidays here that the U.S will probably never have..:/ )

Stephanie <3

Newbies :D

So, a week ago or so 7 new exchange students arrived from all over the world for this next year! There are 2 Italians, 3 Germans, 1 norweigan, and 1 from the U.S.! I've only talked with 3 of them on facebook, but I'm making plans to go downtown with some of them soon! I'm so happy that there are more exchange students here now, before, it was just me and a guy from Thailand. Which was fine and we are talking a lot more now, but I still want to meet everyone else and be friends with them all!

That's all I have to talk about with that now.

:D chauu

Stephanie <3

Superstars Competition

Wow, it has been a really long time since I've updated my blog! So many things have happened since my trip to the other provinces!

A few weeks ago my Superstars team (see posts below to now what Superstars is) had a competition. It was jazz, musical comedy, Contemporary and hip hop (4 numbers). I only danced in two of them due to consume problems (the contemporary piece and the musical comedy piece).

First off I would just like to say that I could have never prepared for what it was like.

Dressing room: Everything was chaotic. Some people danced 7 numbers, which means that they all had 7 costume changes. One number after the other, usually they only had one number in between each number...needless to say everyone was very stressed trying to change their costumes. There were people everywhere trying to change their costumes in time.

Costumes: I had two costumes. One of them was this orange and blue skirt that went all the way down to the floor and a blue and orange one sleeve bra top thing. We all had payed someone to make that outfit. So the day of the competition they hand me my skirt, but tell me that they were still working on my top. So I wait, and 15 minutes before we go on, I ask them about it and they tell me that they didn't have time to finish it, so I had to improvise and put on a black tank top instead. There were two others who had to do the same, and one girl who couldn't dance because they hadn't even finished her skirt. The second costume was a musical comedy number with a little bit of jazz. We had long sleeve blank shirts, and black pants with white gloves that were supposed to have lights in them so that we could turn them on for the finale. The people who were supposed to put the lights in the gloves told me that they didn't have enough time to do it...that isn't as big of a deal as the first costume was, but still I feel like I should just do everything myself next time.

So despite everything, we won the competition (which means I will be traveling to another province to compete again!) I was actually really surprised that we won for two reasons: 1) the costumes were a complete mess because everyone had something a little bit different. and 2) because even though the choreografy was great, nobody was in sinc with eachother, everyone was rushing about the stage trying to get to their spot (especially for the finale of the contemporary piece) and did I mention the costumes? Whenever we had this big pose, everyone would be running over each other trying to get to our spots. It was insane, we looked/sounded like a stampede...but I guess I'm the only one that thinks that because we won. WOOHOOOO!

That's all I have about that...I'm going to go right about everything that's been happening since then until now.

:D chauu

Stephanie <3

Las Termas, Salta, and Tucuman

A few weeks ago my host family (my host parents and one of my sisters) and I went to the province named Salta. On the way we also visited a city in my province called "las termas" and a province called "tucuman". Our first stop was las termas, which was only like an hour from my city. Las termas is a tourist town in my province, it's known for it's warm water. For that reason, it's a very poplular place for people who want to go swimming in winter (there aren't any indoor pools here). First we went to this national park that was a guided tour on this bridge thing that went in a circle. There were various birds and three dinosaurs. The T-rex, the one with the pointy tail, and the one with the long neck. Then after that we went to this race car museum. It had all of these old race cars and motorcycles, there was this one motorcycle that was soooo old it looked so weird, it was really fun though! Then after that we went to the airport because my host sister had never been to an airport before! Then we went downtown to a feria (which is a street market), it was great! I'd never seen anything like it before we just shopped and my family told me about everything that I didn't know about (which was a lot). Then after lunch we headed to our next stop, the province of Tucuman. After checking into our hotel (so cheap but so nice) we headed downtown and just shopped and looked at all the beautiful buildings. All of the buildings were like old victorian buildings.

The next day after breakfast, we went traveled to our final destination, the province of Salta. After checking into our hotel (which used to be a castle, so it was all old and fancy, and really really nice!) we went to go get dinner and just stayed in watching movies. Then the next morning we went downtown and went in this (I don't remember the name) thing was kind of like a ski lift, but your boxed in...we went up a mountain in that to this little park were you could see the entire city. It was absolutely gorgeous! I could've probably stayed up there all day! Once we were done with that we went to the feria of that city and did a little shopping. Then we went back to the hotel.

The next day we took the long car ride back to our city. And that concludes the amazing (I know, I know, it doesn't sound amazing...but trust me, it was.) trip to Salta.

:D Chauu

Stephanie <3

Homesickness (again), and Exchange Students

I have been starting to think of home a lot more than usual. I'm convinced that it's because most of my activities have been put on hold because of the winter break, and even though I've been pretty busy with friends I still have a lot of down time to think about home, which only makes me more homesick. Even though I'm starting to get homesick, it isn't even remotely close to the feeling I had before I changed families. I'm doing much better with this new family, they aren't perfect, but they are the perfect host family for me.

On another note, I feel like my exchange is about to get even better (What? how?) because in a couple of weeks 8 new exchange students will arrive and I can't wait to get to know them and make 8 more friends from all over the world! I've already met a girl (on facebook through an AFS page) from Germany. It was a little hard to talk because she didn't know much English, and almost 0 Spanish, but I know that it will be easy enough to communicate with her when she gets here!

:D chauu

Stephanie <3

Wow, August already!

I can't believe that it is August already! It literally feels like these last couple of months have just flown by! Next week I start school again, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that. I'm kind of wishing that it was summer already, but then again I don't want it to be summer because then it will almost be time for me to go home. I'm excited to see my classmates, but I'm also a little nervous because right before the break my classmates did something REALLY nice for me that didn't really end up working out and they will be pestering me about it. Asking me all sorts of questions about if it worked out, if it didn't, why it did, how I'm feeling about it, etc... Right now I'm feeling like if I never went back to my school here, I would be perfectly fine. I also feel that there is no way in hell that I will change schools. It just won't happen. Firstly, I don't want to run away from something just because I'm nervous, if I did that then I wouldn't even be in Argentina right now. Secondly, I don't actually have any reason at all for changing schools other than me being nervous over almost NOTHING. I seriously think I'm getting worked up over nothing, but you know what? I can't help it, it's just happening.

On another note, next weekend I'm going to another province called Salta! It's supposed to be absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to see something outside of Santiago del Estero!

Chauu,

Stephanie <3

Dia del Amigo (friend's day)

Dia del Amigo, or friend's day, is something that I think the U.S. should DEFINITELY have. It is a day specifically for celebrating friendships and it was so much fun! Everyone gives each other little gifts and gets together to be with each other on this day. For me that day wasn't really that much different from any other day. The only thing that changed was that I spent the entire day with my friends instead of half the day with them.

Stephanie <3

Goodbye Friends

This Monday/Tuesday were the days that almost all of the exchange students went back to their countries. I am sad that they had to go home, but that is just how it works. Soon there will be new exchange students that I will be able to meet. I'm really excited to see who they are and where they're all from. Since my exchange student friends have gone home, I've been thinking about how weird it would be to go home, and just how much I don't want to go home. Even though I miss home a lot. I can't think about leaving here. However, luckily I don't have to think about that for a few more months :)

Juntos (get togethers)

This weekend has been so much fun! First this was the weekend that marked the beginning of my 3 week winter vacation. Secondly, on friday I got together with some friends from this English conversation class that I'm going to. It was great! We watched movies, ate lomitos (look it up, it's this sandwich thing that sounds a lot like a hamburger but isn't) and Ice Cream, and played games. Other than the fact that I was super tired, it was really fun! Then Saturday, I got together with some other friends and that was also really fun! We watched "Nightmares on Elm street" because I had wanted to because I absolutely love that movie, and it was really scary but I still really love it!

Even though the entire weekend I've been thinking of something REALLY annoying that happened at school Friday, it was a pretty fun weekend!

Stephanie <3

Half way

I'm Halfway through my experience here! Which is a good thing and a bad thing. I'm very happy here, and I don't want to go home. But at the same time there is part of me that really misses home, my family, my friends, my cat, my school, 4th of July, reading in english, the food, etc... I miss everything. Even though I'm happy here, and there is no way in hell that I going home early. There is still a part of me that misses the things back home. This past week I've been in sort of a funk. I've been thinking about all of my exchange student friends that are going back to their homes in a week, and are packing, and buying things for family and friends. It's been making me think a lot. A lot about home, and what it will feel like when my day finally comes, which doesn't feel so far away considering this past month (after the switch of families) has gone by so fast. I'm already half way through my experience and before I know it, it will be December and I will be the one thinking about what to get my friends and family, and how to get everything into my one suitcase.

Stephanie <3

Two subjects

Ok so I want to talk about two subjects, and since I have recently started feeling really unmotivated to write here. Instead of writing 2 separate posts, I'm going to right one very long post, right here, right now. :)

1) School:

This past week, after break, has gone by really quickly and has been super fun. However, after that 5 day weekend, I feel kind of done with school. If I were to just stop going to school, I would still have a life because all of my friends are outside of my school. I have "friends" at my school, but we never hang out after school. There are literally 3 girls I hang out with outside of school. Don't worry, I'm going to quit school, one because I will be sent home if I do. And two, it's part of the experience, and even though I'm not having very much fun there anymore, I still really love my classmates.

Another reason why school isn't very fun is because NOBODY helps me anymore, my 3 best friends at school do, and they actually TELL me about stuff. Everyone just expects me to know about tests and projects, just because the teacher told the entire class about it, one time. We had a group project in health, I knew about it because my friend had told me about it. So I went to the work meeting, and the other people were surprised that I came because they thought that I didn't know about it. THEN WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME ABOUT IT. I actually want to get credit here!  And then there was another project that I had absolutely no idea about until my friend told me about it (she was in a different group) the day of the presentations. Then my partners ask me why I didn't do anything, and they heard my response they said that they were going to tell me about it the day before but I wasn't there (for family reasons). Then after the presentation (which I didn't participate in) my partners told me that I wouldn't get a chance to make it up. I mean I shouldn't be blaming any of this on them, because it is MY responsibility to know about these things. But they can't expected me to know everything that everyone else does just because I've been here for 4 months. They know where I'm at with my Spanish, and I need help with these things. I think that they think that I don't try, and that I don't care if I get credit. Oh how little they know about me...

2) Life:

My life outside of school has been absolutely amazing. Firstly, I met the majority of my friends at the English school where I kind of help with (it's really complicated what I do there). I go there 3 times a week and I go to different classrooms, so I'm literally friends with the entire upperclassmen from that school. Then there is the separate friday classes that I go to where all they do is speak in english. I have met so many people there because literally EVERYONE goes/knows of people who go to the english school (Asicana is its name). Then I have my Superstars class (IT'S STILL AMAZING) which I've met people there to. I am so happy where I am with my social life, and my family life is really good as well. The only thing that would make this better, is a best friend exchange student. But hey, it's very possible that that won't happen. So I'm perfectly content with living my last 7 months the way things are right now (social life wise).

AND DONE. :D....for now.

5 day weekend

So it's been a little while since I've updated this blog, so I thought that I should post :)

Last weekend we had a 4 day weekend because Thursday was the national flag day. However, because none of the teachers for my class were there, my class also got Wednesday off, so it was really a 5 day weekend. Anyways, that Thursday was also the grandma's, and an uncle's birthday. So the entire family came over, and we had this huge double birthday party with everyone one my host mom's side of the family. Then of course I took a picture with the Argentine flag! It was great, they had kareoke and I sang 5 times! It was great!

Then on friday my host sister and I had a pajama party (it was just a sleepover, just with guys there until 6 in the morning) with some friends. That was incredible! It was definitely the funnest get together since being here. We talked, watched movies, sang/played the guitar, and ate. I had so much fun!

Then Saturday my host sister and I just watched movies in bed on a projector the entire day, that was so relaxing! I was so tired, but couldn't go to sleep so that was the second best thing. Then Sunday I went shopping at wait for it...wait for it...A THRIFT SHOP. And I found a pair of ugg like boots for 80 pesos, which is less than 20 dollars.

Over all I think this was a pretty fun weekend, and i hope that they keep on coming!

Rain

So yesterday was a little crazy. First, when I was in school, it started raining, and not only just a little bit, but a lot. So it kept going for a while, and when school had ended, I looked outside and found that it was flooding! Like really flooding, the streets were completely filled with water and water was flowing on to the sidewalks. I mus say, I was a bit scared about getting home. At first I was like, "oh this will be fine! I only live like 4 blocks away!" but then I realized that to get home, I needed to cross streets, which were completely filled with water. I don't know why I was scared, but it seemed like I would be stuck at school with no money to buy food until the streets were drained. Like the water was somehow poisonous or something. Then my host sister, one of her friends, and I decided to just wade through the water, so we took off our shoes and socks and started walking through the water to our house. I must say it was actually kind of fun! I mean it was really cold, but still kind of fun. Then later that day, when the water had finally gone away (it was surprising how quickly it went) I went to my dance, singing, and acting class (it's called Superstars) for 4 hours, then after that I went to the english school for this conversation class thingy. That was really fun! There is only one rule, no spanish in the classroom. I had so much fun there! At first the teacher just told them that I was another student, but then later we told them who I am. They had figured out that I'm not from there, because of my english skills. But seriously they all talk really well in englis, I feel like they talk just as well as I do. But still they would tell that I was from an english speaking country. Then once the class ended, I walked with this girl to her bus stop, and I was surprised how easy it was to talk to her. If you know me you will know that when I meet new people, I have a hard time thinking of things to say. Well with her it was so easy, I just talked, in Spanish of course!

So like I said, that day was a bit crazy! But it was also really fun! And you know what? Those types of days have been coming WAY more frequently than before...This is experience is definitely going to be AMAZING!

WHAT?

This past week has been really busy, fun, and tiring. This week I started this really fun class. It's jazz dance, singing and acting. I love it so much. Everything about that class is amazing, the people, the cost (it's pretty cheap), the material, and just the class its self. And I met this pretty amazing guy who speaks fluent english, but it's not what you think becasue....HE'S GAY! He hasn't said anything about it, but it's really obvious, because guys just don't act like that. He reminds me of a guy friend I have back home because he is so out there and crazy. He is the first gay guy I've met here, and it's very possible that I won't meet another openly gay guy again here, because people are still working through the whole accepting process of gay people.

A New Life

This past week has been crazy. So much has happened and I find myself in a completely new life than the one I was living a week ago. Last tuesday morning, I had a fight with my host sister and left the house for school without her because she wouldn't get up for school until the time that we had to leave. So I asked her mom what I should do, she said that I should go to school. So I did, and my host sister got mad at me because of that. Then after school, when we were waiting for the bus. She turned around and asked me if I was going to ask AFS to change families. I was absolutely surprised by this question, and instead of answering I asked her if she wanted me too and she said yes. Then immediately asked the volunteer who is supposed to be my friend and someone whom I can talk to and someone to help with any problems if she could talk that same day. So then when we talked, she said that my host parents had called her the previous week asking her if she could talk to them, but she had told them that she couldn't that week and that she would let them know for the next week (now I understand why they called her and so did she). Then after we talked she came over to my house and talked with my host parents, and they told her that they wanted me to change families. So then yesterday (Friday), I changed families and now I'm in a household with a 15 year old sister who likes almost everything that I like, it's amazing, I feel like I could talk to her for hours. I also feel like part of the family too, because when I arrived the dad walked me through my chores and how things are run here, and all of that. They have hosted 5 exchange students so they know how to be patient with me if I mess up or don't understand something. I now have 5 siblings, one girl lives with her grandma, another girl lives with her boyfriend, and a boy lives with his girlfriend. So there is just me, one girl, one boy, the mom, and the dad. I feel like this is really the perfect fit, I'm really comfortable here. And also, since I don't live with her anymore, my old host sister and I are actually pretty good friends. I guess all it took was for us to not be living together.

Birthday

So Friday was my birthday and it was really fun. I didn't think it would be which is part of what made it to so fun. So first I was pretty sure that everyone had forgotten at school, even though the previous day my friends and I were talking about it. So my host sister and I walk into the classroom and nobody even wishes me a happy birthday, or even said hi like they always do. They were completely ignoring me. Then after the first break, my friend tells me that we have an off period because the teacher is absent (I'm an exchange student, it's pretty hard to be suspicious of these things when I'm barely grasping it myself). So then 15 minutes later when we go upstairs, the lights in the classroom are turned off, and I'm walking pretty slowly like I normally do so everyone is ahead of me. Then when I get to the classroom, I here "SURPRISE" (in Spanish) and they start singing happy birthday to me, and theres a cake with candles and all of this. And I'm just standing there with the biggest smile on my face ever. Then after that everyone wishes me a happy birthday and we eat cake (One of my classmates made it and it was delicious) and just chat until the next class period. Nobody has ever thrown me a surprise party before! It was amazing! Then later when I got home my host mom had bought this delicious chocolate cake, it was chocolate cake with dulce de leche (kind of like caramel) with a hardened chocolate layer on top and on the sides. Man was it good, I ate way to much for someone who was sick. But hey it was my birthday, and I'm gonna eat surgery stuff on my birthday :) . Then that night I went out to eat with my friends and then went partying and a friends house. That was fun but staying up all night when your sick isn't great and I had absolutely no energy. So then the next day I was just sick and I was in bed all day. But you know what? it was totally worth it :)

YEAH!

Wow, so much has happened in the last week! After that fun day that I posted last week (Wasn't that title the most creative title you have ever seen? :D) it has only gotten better. First, on Friday, I wasn't going to do anything but then while talking with a friend from school on facebook, she asked me if I wanted to go downtown with her. So we went downtown and talked and got some ice cream, and then we went (wait for it) to a roller-coaster park! I didn't even now that this city had one! The rides weren't nearly as fun as the rides that are in the U.S. but it was still so much fun! And then after that I went home and skyped with my mom, for a little while, but she had to leave early so we scheduled to chat sometime soon. Then on Saturday I went to another friend's house and her, another friend, and I just hung out for awhile while trying to study for an English oral exam that they had that next Monday (I obviously didn't have to take it). Then on Monday I hung out with them again right after school, and we were going to go to see a movie but they didn't want to so we just went downtown and did a little shopping. Then on Wednesday I hung out with another exchange student for almost the entire day, then after that I got to talk to my best friend. And I'm so excited for tomorrow because.....IT'S MY BIRTHDAY

Fun day

Yesterday was so much fun! Firstly, the senior class at my school had the revealing of the senior jackets and the senior banner that the senior class always does, and it's always in the form of a sort of festival type thing. That was amazing it was so much fun! There was all of this paper confetti and this dance crew and people playing music and for like half an hour we were just dancing around the senior class. Then afterwards when the seniors left, the other four classes had to clean up the mounds of confetti, I'm in the fourth year class (out of five years) so my class just supervised. Then in the afternoon I went downtown to go to the Spanish class for me and two other exchange students, and then one of them texted me saying that there wasn't so I just went over to her house and hung out for a few hours, and ate pizza and talked with her family. It was really fun. Then I met up  with my host sister and we met up with these two really cute guys and just talked and walked to the bus stop. Then we went home, but I think this day has been the funnest (yes I'm counting it as a word) day that I've had in a really long time! I hope that it continues to get more fun and more fun, and not the continually bad days that I've had since I've gotten here.

Time to Change

Wow, what a week!

So this past week was really fun! I had made plans with some friends from school to hang out on the weekend, and my host sister went to a retreat all weekend so I was really excited to have those plans so that I wouldn't be staying home all weekend. So about Thursday or Friday they cancelled, so I asked the other exchange students if they wanted to do anything, and they couldn't so then I asked some other friends from school if they could, they couldn't. So I ended up staying home all weekend, which originally I didn't want to do, and I think it would have been more fun to do something, but it wasn't that bad. Saturday I had a lazy day and just stayed in bed all day. Then Sunday I went outside and read a little then went with my host mom to pick up my host sister from her retreat.

Then on Monday everything just went downhill. I was practically in tears the entire day. Firstly, when we got home from school, I went to go on the computer to talk to my mom about rescheduling our skype. My host sister asks me why I'm always on the computer and she said that she personally doesn't like to be on the computer all the time, and would rather do something else (basically that means that she wants me to spend less time on the computer). I completely understand, I absolutely should not be spending so much time on the computer. She completely misunderstood, I do like doing things, and I'm only on the computer when I'm at home (which has been all the time since I still haven't started my activities, because I'm waiting for her to ask about them. I think I'm going to ask her who she's going to ask and then ask them for her because I would really like to start doing things), but when I'm at home and I have absolutely no idea what to do, and when it's me and her I go on my computer, so then I asked her what I should do when I'm home and she replies by saying, whatever you want. (Ok but the thing that I want to do is what your saying for me not to do). Also, this shouldn't be a reason because I'm here and not at home in the U.S. but my computer is my life, I listen to music on it, I watch movies on it, I blog, All of my photos are on it. Everything I do is based off of my computer, it's ALWAYS (minus when I was like really young) been like that. So I went into the bathroom and cried (I'm not so sure about this sharing a room thing) not because I wanted to go on my computer, but because I had absolutely no idea what to ever do, I didn't want to just sit on my bed twittling my thumbs for the next few months. It felt like there was absolutely nothing to do in that house.

The second thing that happened, was that night after we had eaten. I had eaten part of an apple that was bad, so I threw it away (I've done this before). So my host sister goes to throw something away and she comes back with my bad apple and starts yelling at me about how I don't throw half eaten apples in the garbage and if I don't like it than someone one else in the house will eat it. And if I want to do that then I can by my own fruit. First of all I had done that before, and have seen my host mom do that. and second of all no body told me not to do that before this point, so I was really surprised that she was yelling at me. It's not like I was full and just threw it away because I didn't want it. I threw it way because it tasted disgusting! So then I was really shaken up, it isn't so fun having someone yell at you know matter how stupid the reason. And since I share a room, I went to go show and then just spent 20 minutes in the shower crying. And then after a little while when I know that I need to get out I go to sleep. At this point I'm just wanting to go home, like there is probably nothing I would rather do.

Then the next day we're at school and my host sister asks for the notes that I had borrowed from her (I had borrowed notes for Biology for a test that I had had to take) and I hand them to her. Then a few minutes later, she turns to me and tells me that she's missing one. I say didn't I give you 2? and she says yes but I gave you 3. I know I didn't take 3 I took 2 but she doesn't believe me, she thinks I lost it. And honestly I'm starting to re think maybe I did take 3, but no I know I only took 2 because that was all that I needed for the test and if she doesn't have it that's her own fault. I'm pretty sure she won't let me use her notes again.

However, after that point it has gone uphill I don't know how but later that day I found out that I'm actually passing all of my classes, I'm not entirely sure how, but I am. The downside is that I have missed a lot of school my folder says that I've missed  9 and 1/2 days of school (I didn't miss that many days, but I'm not going to argue with the school, I'm pretty sure that I may have forgotten to get my folder signed by my host parents when we left school early when the teacher didn't show up) and I have 9 tardies (every 3 tardies is on absent) so I'm up 12 absents and if I get to 15 I get kicked out of school, which means that I will be going home. So we got up earlier this morning and this will probably be our schedule for the rest of the year, I can't have any more sick days. If I miss anymore I'm in serious danger of going home, I just can't believe that I let it get to that point.

Freeze

Today was so cold, which is what I'm used to since it's kind of always like that in Oregon. It would of been fine if I wasn't on my way to school with a skirt (school uniform), so my legs were freezing pretty much the entire day (no heat in the school, not like they need it for the majority of the year but it would be nice on days like today). I'm ready for tomorrow though, I have my extra coat (so cute with skirts) and my leggings all ready to go so I'm not freezing tomorrow.

On another note, yesterday we had a test in math that I had absolutely no idea about until that class. So without studying I managed to get a 9.5 (the test was out of 10). I'm really happy with that score.

Sick

Well, I've been sick at least two times before this. But those times were more like mini sicknesses that were all leading up to this final sickness, which I got yesterday. Oh it's horrible, it's just like a really bad cold but I've missed two days of school and I've been home in bed for the last two days. Maybe when your in your own country with your family that's fine. But when your in another country and missing your family and friends and whenever your home alone for too long you start missing them more, then it's horrible. Plus this week was going to be the busiest week I've had here and now I'm sick so I couldn't do anything that I was going to do. Well I should have seen this coming, I downed an entire care package of cookies in one weekend. Which isn't anything new, but I shouldn't have expected eating that much would be the same as back home, because I guess here is a lot dirtier than the U.S. and so if you eat that much junk food, your going to get sick. That is one mistake that I won't make again. But I'm determined not to get sick like this again here. It also doesn't help that this week I talked to my parents a lot and it was my sister's birthday so I was thinking of her that day as well. So this week hasn't been that great but I'm hoping that it will turn around soon or that next week is a lot better.

May

Wow, I can't believe it's already May. I know that during these last few months it didn't feel like it was going by quickly, but now that it's may it feels like they went by so fast. And yet, I don't really feel like I've accomplished anything. I'm owning up to my friendlessness and I'm going to start trying harder, ask more people to do things with me and not be afraid of whether it'll be awkward or not. I just hope that once I start asking people to do things with me, they will return that gesture and do the same to me. I guess we'll see. This past week has been fairly eventful and I don't feel as homesick as I did (minus the fight I had with my sister, which we talked about during lunch today and everything with her is perfect again). Every tuesday I'm going to chill with the other exchange students and see the city, and every thursday I have Spanish lessons (which I started thursday, and the teacher said that I actually speak Spanish pretty well), then I'm making plans to be on a tennis team ( I don't understand, I ate so many bad things and was so lazy in the US and didn't get bigger, and now I'm here and I'm eating healthier and exercising more and I'm starting to get a little tummy...That is the most confusing thing ever, maybe my body just isn't used to the food and how much meat people consume here...) and I'm going to take salsa and join a non church choir if I have room. I'm feeling pretty good at the moment, I feel like having all of that stuff going on in my life will be busy but also good because I'm not going to be at home missing my family and friends as much and wishing I could go home, I will be getting my full experience in Argentina. I just feel bad for my parents, because I'm not entirely sure how much all of that will cost....And I'm paying for everything because it's not my host family's responsibility to pay for my activities.

Freedom

Two months in and I have no freedom. Today I had my big presentation in front of the entire school, and I told my sister that we needed to leave early. We didn't leave early, so when the bus dropped us off I was a little late so I started walking the few blocks to the school really quickly. One I got to the school I immediately went to go hook up my computer. Then my host sister comes in and tells that she needs to talk to me after the presentation. So then I'm really curious cause she said it in a weird way, so I asked her what about. And then she tells me that I walked so fast that she couldn't see me and she didn't know if I was ok, and that I can't do that again. I'm kind of mad that after two months I can't walk from the bus stop to the school without making sure that the person I'm with can see me. So anyways after school I was going to talk to the family about it. And when I talked to the dad, he pretty much told me the same thing that the sister did earlier. So now I'm completely wondering why I can't do anything. I don't know everything, but I know enough to be able to get around by myself. Enough for them not to need to keep that close of an eye on me. Plus they've said it themselves how responsible I am, so why don't they trust that I know enough to get around by myself. The only freedom I want is the exact same freedom that they give their daughter.

Best Day

So yesterday was probably one of the best days I've had here. First I had school, and we got let out early. Then I had P.E. (volleyball), which wasn't anything different but it was still fun because I got to hang out with people that I normally don't. Then right after that I went to a sort of reunion thing with AFS and I got to hang out with the other exchange students. Plus the volunteers helped me figure out what I could join and do as far as activities (which made me feel amazing because I know have plans for the rest of this week). Then after that I found out that my friends from school were coming over to hang out (I found out like 20 minutes before) and we ate and just hung out. And then the boys came and they brought wine with them, so then everyone was drinking (The parents weren't home) and I had only gotten 4 hours of sleep the previous night and hadn't slept during siesta (P.E. and the AFS thing) so I didn't really need to drink anything to be drunk and crazy. So then at like 2 I tell them I'm going to bed because we have school tomorrow, and in my head I was thinking why did the parents go out and let the daughter have people over this late on a school night (parents are a little bit strict so this is shocking). Then my friends tell me that we don't have school tomorrow (I'm still in shock that no one told me sooner), so that was a nice surprise since I was really not looking for to only getting 4 hours of sleep that night as well as the previous. Anyways probably one of the best days I've had since being here.

Accent

So, I'm starting to notice that I have developed an Argentine accent. Like how I say some letters differently from how I was taught. For example "my name is/I'm called" is "mi llamo" and I was taught that the double L's are said like a Y's. But now I say the double L's like SH, and saying it the other way just sounds wrong to me now. Also "may" is "mayo" and I was taught to say it like "my-yo" but I say it like "my-sho" and saying it the other way feels wrong too.

Wine

Last night I went out with some classmates and we went to a park and drank wine with fanta and coke with fernet the entire night. I must say this weekend hasn't been the best and by the time I went out with them I had so much on my mind and felt so alone that all I wanted to do was stop thinking and do something stupid, I didn't of course, but I was really tempted to just down the wine. The first thing was that I don't actually have that many friends here, and the friends that I do have, we don't hang out together. So I don't really do anything except tag along with my host sister. The second thing is that I can't understand anything, and even though my language skills have massively improved, I'm still having so much trouble understand almost everyone. The third thing is I'm trying to decide if I should do my senior year over again so that I can have more time to look at colleges and take the SATs again and just have my entire senior year. You know, if this continues throughout the next few months, I will have to go home early. I just really hope that it gets better, and I don't do something so stupid that I get kicked out. Wish me luck.

Worse? Can't Happen

Ok, I don't know how this day could possibly get any worse. First I leave the water on the table after lunch (which is what I always do) and while I'm about to wash the dishes, my host sister tells me that I need to put it in the refrigerator after eating ALWAYS, then she says that my host dad has told me to do that from the beginning (I had absolutely no idea that he had told me to do that, I think they overestimate my Spanish understanding abilities). Then while I'm washing the dishes my host sister comes into the kitchen and says "Stephanie! What happened?", I look down to see that the entire kitchen is flooded (It was a surprise to me too). So then I look under the sink where there is a bucket (where the drained water goes), yeah, it overflowed. So then she goes to get the dad and he comes in and starts talking really fast and really loud (he's mad) and tells my host sister to take care of it and goes back to his room (I'm apparently her responsibility). So I've managed to make my host family mad at me for the first, excuse me while I go cry and wish to go home for like the twentieth time since I've been here. And you know what? this week had actually turned out really good, until this point. Now I'm right back to being really homesick. I know I got lucky with this family, but I don't have a good feeling about them. I don't know why.

Trouble in Paradise

Exchange students change families all the time here, it seems like AFS Argentina can never find the right families. I got very lucky with my family, because they are the perfect match for me. I have to say though, I do kind of want to change families just to see how different other families are and experience a life in another family's home. Maybe I should've come here with the program where you change families 3 times within the year to experience new things instead of with AFS. That was the only reason why I might have wanted to change families. A couple days ago, my host sister and I are walking to the bus stop to go to P.E. (Volleyball) and she starts talking to me about how her and her mom are having trouble working with the dad. She told me why they were mad at him and that the parents may get divorced, and that they may start fighting and that she hopes that I don't get scared because of that and want to change families. I told her that even though I don't want them to fight they need to work out their problems, and that I don't want to change families. But now my host sister is completely icing him out and the mom is a little cold towards him too. I just feel really bad for him because it's like they are ganging up on him. So I just want to say that the family almost ALWAYS eats together. So now every meal we have is so awkward because they're mad at him and he is frustrated towards them and I'm just sitting there quietly eating my food. At that point I still was like "ok they will work it out soon". But then tonight we were having hot dogs for dinner and I got out the bread and passed one to my host sister than I asked the host dad if he wanted one and he said sure. Then my host sister said to me in English (since he can't understand English) "next time be quiet". That was unexpected, she can ice him out all she wants but as soon as she wants me to ice him out too, that is when I start having problems. Especially since he didn't actually do anything to make me mad at him. I do understand why she is mad at him, but it isn't my place to interfere and take sides. I'm Switzerland.

Mail

My family has never really been that progressive with sending mail when someone is gone, but this trip they said that they would. I went to the post office to send my sister a birthday present (she's turning 21 in the beginning of may) and also to ask about receiving mail (because my mom had tried to send a package and a letter and my grandparents tried to send a letter) and they said that nobody can receive mail from the US in this city. Well that makes me feel amazing! I was kind of hoping for some care packages. So my mom told me that she would just give one BIG box full of care packages when I get back, that sounds pretty good but in between now and then is my 17th birthday and Christmas. Oh well I can't change how the mail system works, I just can't stop thinking that there has to be some way that people can receive mail from the US, because there have been many students hosted in this city from the US.

Improving

So today I was in class talking to some classmates and I realized that instead of thinking about how to say something when I want to say something, I just say it. I don't have to think about if it will make sense, it's just instinct. Which means...my language skills are improving!!! That makes me feel really happy. I mean there are still so many things that I can't say, and there are still so many things that I do have to think about before I say them. But now, there are so many things that I can say and there are so many things that I DON'T have to think about before speaking.

Volleyball

Ok, I want to talk about P.E. at my host school. You can choose between three different sports, Volleyball, Handball, and Gymnastics. Now I'm not a huge fan of sports, the only sport I like is Dance. However, I had to choose, so I chose Volleyball. Now, I should not be playing volleyball because it is probably very dangerous for the other players to be around me when I'm playing volleyball. Today was our first time playing, and I sat down half way through to find little purple marks all up and down my arms (mostly my left since I'm left handed and served with that hand), and I don't think they're bruises because bruises aren't that small. No, they're more like little blood spots just under how ever many layers of skin someone has. And the worst part is my thumb muscle hurts so it hurts whenever I use my thumb on my left hand, which is a problem because I'm left handed. But, other than that I think my first practice was a success. I managed to get the ball all the way to the other players while serving, and I was pretty good at passing the ball too. I just hope my arms are better by next practice...

School (Differences and Similarities)

I wanted to post more about my host school, but this time I want to talk about the differences and similarities between my host school and my US school. First of all I have to wear a uniform, and I actually like that because I can sleep longer (I sleep so much here, I'm ALWAYS tired), but the uniforms aren't exactly attractive, I mean I guess they could be worse, they aren't plaid! But the shirt could be so much better as well. Secondly, I only go to school 4 hours a day (here, you either go to school in the morning or in the afternoon. I go to school in the morning), which I really like, but then I then I have a lot of time on my hands because even though I've been here for two months I haven't made that many friends thanks to my lack of language skills so I basically just tag along with my host sister. I also find it easier to do the work and keep up with everyone else in the class because they don't go to school that much they don't learn as quickly and go slowly because of the short periods. Thirdly, here you don't get to pick the classes that you take because you don't change classrooms, the teachers do, so you have the same classmates for the entire school day and the subjects that you get are the subjects that you get. I have mixed feelings about this, if it was like that for my school in the US I would absolutely love it because you become amazing friends with everyone in your class. But since I'm in a new country and trying to get involved and meet new people, I don't really know how I feel about it because it makes it harder to meet more people and branch out and make more friends, because everyone in the class just kind of hangs out with each other during the break and your classmates are your clique.

Activities

Two months in to this experience and I still don't have any extra curricular activities. It's a lot harder to get involved when there aren't any extra curricular activities at your school. I wish that I could find clubs to join and classes to take. I talked to people and they told me about a choir I could join but that is all I can find! I'm not going to give up though, because I want to meet more people and get really involved and have lots of activities. I didn't come here to just sit at home sleeping, I came here to have a whole new experience and just going to school won't cut it for me. I want to do more, and if I don't do more I will most likely end up going home early because of all the free time I have, I will probably be on the computer or something missing my family and friends. It is important that I get involved if I want to finish this experience and not go home early.

Two Month Point

The rest of the time after that has gone by pretty quickly, it didn't feel like it was at the time, but looking back on those first two months it seems like they went by so quickly. I'm starting to feel better now, but during those two months I was very emotional. I was very depressed and I wanted to go home I didn't want to be here anymore. All I wanted to do was go home and continue living my life and not continue on with this experience. I was always wanting to talk to my mom and dad, because whenever I talk to them (while being here) they always help. I was actually REALLY considering going home but I talked to my mom and dad about it and they made me want to stay until the end. I'm starting to feel better, I'm more busy now that I was before and I can go places by myself so that means that I'm able to do more. I'm not nearly as emotional as I was before and I'm starting to make all of these plans with dance lessons and clubs and hanging out with friends so I think that it will get a lot more fun!

School

My first day of school was kind of overwhelming but also really fun. One thing you should know is that if your ever thinking about being an exchange student and you don't really want to be outgoing, choose Argentina. Everyone is super outgoing and when your an exchange student from a different country everyone in your host school in Argentina wants to know you and be your friend. Another thing is that the schools here are very different from the US. There aren't any extra curricular activities in the school, no clubs, sports, fundraisers, nothing. It is all core classes and you don't change classrooms, the teachers do so you don't get to pick which classes you take. You get what you get. 

When my host sister and I walked into our classroom, people just kind of looked at me, and when we went outside of our classroom for a five minute prayer (my host school is a Catholic private school, and we pray for 5 minutes everyday before class and have to take a religion class), it felt like the entire school was looking at me. In History (my first class on mondays) I didn't understand a word of what the teacher was saying and had to focus on not crying. But then in English class (second class on mondays) the English teacher told me that my classmates wanted to ask me questions, and he told me to reply in English. After that point people started talking to me and I started making friends. Like I said before you don't have to be outgoing here because everyone else is. More and more people came up to me all asking questions about the US and about myself. I really liked this because it was really easy to make friends. 

My Host Family

Now I want to talk a bit about my host family because my host family is a very important part of this entire experience because without them I wouldn't have been able to come to Argentina. I have to parents and one sister. The mom is so nice and doesn't speak a single word of English which I really like because I feel like I'm learning when I'm talking with her. The next member of the family is the dad, he speaks a little bit of English but when he speaks English it's really funny because he says everything in a really funny way. After that first week I haven't really gotten along with him that well, it's not like he's mean or anything I just don't really particularly get along with him. The next and last person is my host sister, we have done everything together. She has shared all of her friends with me and we are inseparable (partly because we like hanging out with each other and partly because my host parents JUST started letting me go places by myself). She speaks a lot of English she takes English class, and it's surprising how much English she knows, one time when I was feeling really homesick she came and talked to me and I didn't have to slow down or anything she could understand what I was saying and reply back. It was really surprising. Even though I don't really get along with the host dad, this family is the right host family for me.

My First Week

My first week here was actually pretty nice, the first day I wanted to go home, but after that I was kind of fine. I didn't start school until the week after that one, so I got to sleep in really late and stay up late. We went downtown and I met some of my host sister's friends, they were all so nice but I couldn't understand anything that they were saying apart from "hello" and "what's your name?". After that I didn't really do much, I just spent time with my host family and got to know them a little bit better. Then on the next weekend I had my "Survival Orientation" with AFS and the other AFSer's. It doesn't sound like I did very much, but I had a lot of fun that first week. I don't know how but at the end of that first week I felt like I understood so much more of what people were talking about. It's amazing how much that first week counts or at least felt like it counted.

Traveling and 1st day

Even though I'm already two months into this trip, I want to start at the very beginning and tell you everything about what has happened within those two months. Let's start with when I first came here...

I flew on a plane from Miami to Buenos Aires with all of the other exchange students from the US (we had had a little orientation before leaving so we all got to know each other a little bit). It was about a nine hour flight and we got in at like seven in the morning. Everything didn't feel real at all, yes everything was in Spanish now, but it felt like a dream that I would wake up from any minute. When we got in we went through customs and then out to find AFS volunteers with signs leading us to a big open space. There we found out that we would be there until seven at night (12 hours, an entire day in the airport of Buenos Aires), we weren't very happy about that but we were able to get to know all of the other exchange students from different countries. After that we went to the bus station where we would all go to our separate towns and cities. There were three other students going to my city with me, one boy from Thailand, a girl from Australia, and another girl from the US. After a 14 hour bus ride we finally got to our city where all of our host families were waiting for us.

After I met my host family, we went to my new house and dropped off my luggage and to show me where I would be living for the next year of my life. I share a room with my host sister, and it's very different from my room back home, but it's absolutely perfect. Then we went to downtown to do a little shopping, buying school uniforms and such. I had one week before starting school, so I had a little bit of time to relax and learn a little bit of the language before diving head first into probably the hardest part of this entire experience as far as language wise, school. Anyways, after shopping we went back home for Siesta (a period during the hottest part of the day were people just sleep or do low key activities in the house) then at about 10pm we had a bunch of people over for barbecue. Then at about 2am everyone left and we all went to bed, I was exhausted!

Getting Started

Hello, my name is Stephanie and I am currently in Argentina as an exchange student with AFS. I got here in February so I'm starting this blog a little late, but hey, later is better than never! Anyways I'm going to try to blog as much as I can, but just be aware I can't keep a blog to save my life! But I'm going to try :)