LOST... !

Today was interesting to say the LEAST!! It started out just fine. I met Thomas on the Street between our houses and we rode the bus to school. We got their early/first and Thomas tried to convince the professor this meant we ARE the BEST students, but she wasn't having it ;)

Then we took a placement test (oral and written) to see what level of Spanish we would be in come next monday!

Then one of the professors took us all to a "cellphone" place to buy one! My family is soo nice they got me one of their friends old ones so I don't have to buy a new one!! Then we all went out to eat at a really nice resturant... it was buffet style. EVERYONE was looking at us... they can all just tell we are not from here and it wasn't too long before Kelsey T. got asked where we were from. Part of it was our fault because of our United States way! In Argentina when you go to a restaurant you sit and talk and drink for a while then you order your food and sit and talk for a long time after.. For example the other night when we went out to eat, we got at the Restaurant at 9 ish and didn't leave untill 12!! :) haha! So it was our fault because as soon as we got there we went straight to the buffet, instead of waiting and talking and what not. Haha!! They even had like steak you could get. It cost 24 pesos... which is like 6 dollars :)


Our professor Eliana told Sarah and I that we looked like true Argentines! :)



My first piece of Cake here!! Something worth celebrating! :)

Then Nick and I went back to the cellphone place because they said they would have them all ready at 2:30.. But they weren't ready... no surprise :) So Nick, Devin, Thomas, Natalie and I went and got some ice-cream. I got a brownie with ice cream and it was only 10 pesos and was HUGE!! Needless to say I only could eat a fourth of it! :)

Then we all went back to the cell phone place and waited some more.... and while we waited I tried to convince Nick that he should grow a Mullett... :) .... Then is when the trouble started...

Devin wanted to go back to his apartment and grab something real quick, and on his way back stop and exchange dollars for pesos. I needed to go to. So Nick, Devin, Jessie and I set out... it started raining... harder and harder... my feet started to hurt :) and I was SOO hot with Jeans on... After 20 minutes or so we arrived at Devin's place and set out again to find the "exchange" place. I was still raining and I was still hot and wet and my feet hurt... OH it was not fun at alll!! Then we finally found the exchange place but I couldn't exchange my money because I didn't have the right identification. Then it was POURING!! We jumped accross a street that was flooding! and went into a cafe and then into a mall... It was about 4:45 and I had told my family I would be home by 5 so I tried to use a pay phone but of course that didn't work either! And of course ALL the taxi's were full because of the rain, but I didn't know what bus to use to get to my house either...

So finally the rain let up a little and we trekked back to the school and the cell phone place. I have never felt like such a whinny child in my life! Lol every other block I was asking if we were there yet! FINALLY we made it back and I walked around the corner and caught my bus for home... it was about 5:20 or so...

So then more trouble started!!... I didn't get off at my stop and went past is like 3 or 4 blocks. So I got off the bus and walked back... but before I knew it I was on Rodrigzs (sp?) street which was also like 3 or four blocks too far in the OTHER DIRECTION!! I thought I was on Camacarta St. but I was on Utzman (sp?) (A block just south of my house) and didn't recognize any thing but I knew I was close... So I stopped and asked a VERY nice girl what street we were on and where my street was. (I knew she was nice because she had on Converse :)) After much talking and pointing and map locating we figured it out and I set off again.. I was only about a block away...

BUT this time...I was still a bit turned around and I should have gone north but went south and was lost again... This time I asked a Blonde haired lady to help me... she finally just walked with me for a bit... and ofcourse asked where I was from. She said she had been to Minnepolis before :) Finally i arrived at my house!!! :)

It was a LONG day but my family made up for it! Im leaving for Buenos Aires tomorrow, the capital of Argentina, and when I got home Norma was making sure I brought all the right stuff and she had the address and number of the place we were staying and telling me to keep my money safe and what not :) The girls of course told he to stop worrying!

When they both got home they got out maps of the city and showed me all of their favorite places to go!

So im all packed and tomorrow I head off to Buenos Aires untill Saturday, so ill speak to you all then :)

My life as the 5th wheel..

So today I got up around 10 to talk to my family a bit. It was really nice to see them!! I thought everyone here would be up around noon, because that is when they said we would eat lunch... WELL.. 3pm rolled around and we were fianally JUST EATING! :)

Then I took a nice long siesta! :) 2:30-6 or so!! Then at 6 Lucia got me up and Lucia, Leo, Danilo and his girlfriend and I drove to the bridge that connects Roasrio and Victoria across the Paraná river! ITS HUGE!! There is a 10k race on it sometime soon, and I think I will run that! They call all races Marathons! It was really REALLY confusing at first but Now I got it :)


Here is the bridge!


After seeing the bridge and driving around we went to the mall! We just walked around and chatted... got some coke and sat and talked like usual :) As I said I took a LONG nap! I didnt think I had jetlag or anything but it was 8:30 when we left the mall but before I looked at my watch I said to myself, "wow it feels like 5 or so!" I was right on for time at home!! Haha!!

On the way home I saw something that just CRACKED ME UP! We were driving and there were people out on the the streets, and on one street there were two boys. The one from behind ran up and kicked the other one in the butt, then the one that got kicked turned around and raised up his squirt gun and ran after the other!! It was really funny!!


Any way we got home and Lucia told me we had to hurry. So hurry to me means 5-10 minutes to change... hurry ACTUALLY meant like 20 ish minutes :) lol! my kind of hurry :)

So I haven't quite figured out the "dress code" I dont think I have very many "dressy" clothes by thier standards. I wore a sun dress to the bridge but to go out to eat I need to dress up MORE!! haha!! :) No one wears shorts!! Its jeans or a skirt, or a dress! I love looking at their clothes and SHOES! :) Also none of the girls use pony tails... only like clips or not at all. And the girls wear hardly any makeup only mascara :)

We at at this restaurant that makes thier own beer. We ordered a "platter" with like 7 or 8 different samples of beer... about 4 or 6 oz. each and then ordered another platter for supper. The supper included what we would have as hor 'deours! It was just cheese, meat and some olives!! But it was really good.... deep down inside I am CRAVING A NICE JUICY hamburger!! But I will NOT NOT NOT go to a mcDonalds... I dont want one that bad! ;)


The guy on the left is Elise's Boy freind and the one on the right is Leo, Lucia's boy.



From the Left. Me, Lucia, and Elise. The thing sitting infront of us is the beer sampler! :) On in the middle was honey and another was chocolate beer... the honey was good but I thought the chocolate tasted like coffee.


99 bottles of beer on the wall! They make their own behind the "bar" type thing they had HUGE brewing containers ;) When you ask for a check here they DONT separate them out on different tickets so many times everyone just splits the total cost. :)


I was the 5th Wheel tonight! It was kind of lonely, and when we go to places that are loud I can't hear anything. And on top of that I cant understand them most of the time because they talk really fast!! I only catch a few words here and there but social conversations move too fast to follow :)

Pictures 2

So not only do they sell the dogs but like this one, there are stray dogs ALL OVER THE PLACE!! I feel really bad for them :(







The above pictures are all from the National Flag Monument. The man who created the flag was from Rosario! The monument is HUGE! The green thing in the one picture had fire in it. and I thought the Cross looked really cool. It was inside the tall "building" that is behind Jim, Me,and Nick in one of the pictures.





Dog's for Sale!! Really! They come out every day to sell dogs...




These are pictures of Cordoba Street. The main shopping area. You can kind of see all the shops on the sides, and the thing down the middle of the street is a drain for water :)



After looking around on Cordoba Street we grabbed a bit to eat. From the left is Emily, Sarah, Nick, then Me, Kelsey and Eric.



The sandwiches are ALL crustless... a child's heaven! :) This one is hot ham and cheese with ketchup:)

Pictures

These are two pictures of their Dog Napoleon! He is HUGE and he snores SOOOOO LOUD!! :)




A picture at the same restaurant :) Order is Gillian, Devin, Me and A professor at UCEL (I cant remember her name)




Water and Coke anyone? When you ask for Water at a restaurant you get in in a bottle not from tap. I THINK they reuse the bottles.. after cleaning them so they always give you another glass to pour what ever you are drinking into. :)


On the first night Lucia and Noel and Leo and I went for a walk down to the Paraná River! Lucia is on the right and Nora is on the left



These two pictures are form our bus ride form Buenos Aires to Rosario. IT looks soo much like IOWA!! (yes those are cows and hay bales)

Heart to Hearts and Life Sharing in South America!

First, this is the palest I have felt in my ENTIRE LIFE!!! haha! Everyone here is soo tan and Im pasty white!! :(

Also its 11:15 am here and EVERYONE is still asleep! HAha i was just talking to Devin on facebook and its the same case at his house! This is MY KIND OF PLACE!! :)

But, last night Lucia and I went out to this really really COOL store/ bar/ restaurant. It is really quite and has a store with ALL sorts of thrifty things,,, post cards, magnets, notebooks, hair piece, jewelry, clothes.. and more. Then in the back of the store is a restaurant with trees and plants and vines growing up the walls, its painted all sorts of colors and just has a ton of lounging places!

So Lucia and I went there, it is her favorite place. We ordered drinks. I have fante de cola... im not sure on the spelling, but it is a Argentine specialty it tasted like Coke and whiskey.. it was okay :)














Here are some pictures of the resturant/ bar. It was called Mercado de Diseño. The red "boxes" on the wall are old broken tvs that are now decoration. And the big brown envelope on the table is the MENU!! :) In the winter Lucia said they sometime show movies here along the back outside wall!

We just sat and talked for at least 2 hours! I think that is my favorite part about here! Everyone loves just sitting and drinking coffee or whatever and JUST TALKING!! :) LOVE LOVE LOVE :) Its sooo laid back :)

So we shared stories, she told me about her Quinceria (spelling?) its like our Sweet 16th Birthday but they celebrate their 15th! She was telling me hers was nothing extravagant or huge, she didnt want to get a big dress and go all out so it was just a small party with friends. Then she told her Noel had a HUGE party and went all out! HAHA it reminds me sooo much of Breanne and I :) <3>

So we left this place and went to the supermarket, and on the way we had a sort of heart-to-heart!! It was BEAUTIFUL!! or at least as close as you can get to a heart to heart when you dont speak the same language :)

She wanted to know what people in the United States think of or hear about Argentina. She told me "Im sorry but I just to have to get it off my chest and ask you." I had to tell her what I thought was truth and said not a WHOLE lot, and that sometimes the impression is "bad" like its not as nice or safe. I think she was a bit sad when she heard that I got the yellow fever shot and was told not to drink the water. She said yellow fever is a thing of the past, but she understand that it was just a precaution. :) I understand why we were advised not to but at the same time it was just like they dont live in HUTS! :) I told her Rosario REALLY reminds me of Iowa... we all look the same and I have seen numerous blonde haired blue eyed people!

So then she told me what they thought of the United Sates... or what the misconceptions were :) It was what I thought it was. She said they know we are nice, but because of the past and things our government has done there are groups of people who don't like us. Its understandable. I told her many of the people in the US have no idea what the government does. For instance, it didn't surprise me but we have some of our Army in Haiti, and just before I left I got an email form the US embassy in Argentina saying there were many groups in Argentina who would be protesting our Army being there. But I had no idea that were there... Maybe im not involved with the news as much as I should be, or Im ignorant..?

I dont meant to bash the ARMY or anything like that, and these opinions are solely mine own but I am learning and growing as I form my own opinions, so please try to take offence to what I may think or believe. And if you believe otherwise shoot me an email I would love to chat:)

Either way had a small heart to heart just like I do at home with my ladies and gents. And I realized this is EXACLTY why I wanted to go on this trip. Its more than just learning Spanish, buts is about showing each other that we are more alike than we think we may be. We can break down misconceptions of each other and be friends :)

MI Familia!!

Norma is my "mom." She is wonderful!! She is always smiling and laughing! I would say just an all around happy person! She is always the first to tell me good morning and ask how my day was.! If I could describe her better I would say your typical hispanic mom :) She is a GREAT cook!

Edgardo is the dad. This is a very VERY VERY "typical: family. Edgardo takes care of all the appliances and "handy" work. I told you my fan broke and he was going to fix it. He was very nice about it breaking and he figured out what went wrong. Its is something with my converter. But I can buy a new one here! Um... He loves his sports espically fotball... soccer :) He told me all about the teams in agrentina. I tried to explain that my dad likes wrestling, but I dont know that he knew what that was :) I find myself talking about the Hawks a lot! ha! He told me he was going to wear the Hawkeye shirt I gave him yesterday because it is raining right now and it may be cool tomorrow. (I probably shoulnt have gotten them BLACK shirts) :)hah

Lucia is the oldest daughter, 26 or 27 I think. She is the one who picked me up from UCEL the first day with her boy friend from Chile. His name is Louie... i think :) She always calls him Mi amor! It is very cute :) Umm.. she is studying ecomonics at UCEL and this is her last year. Did I mention she is BEAUTIFUL!! :)

Nole is in the middle. She is 24 or 25. She has finised college and works for a radio station. 88.1 :) She is a bit... fiesty? LOL! Her job is perfect, because she went to school for journalism and now is working at the radio station. She told me she would like to some day work for a magazine and then tv. She thinks it would be cool to talk to celebrities and famous people. She is VERY very social and I think knows how to have a good time :)

Danilo is the brother and the youngest. He is 22. I have only seen him once. He goes to collge but I dont know what for or anything. He has a girlfriend...the call he took at the dinner table :) He does have a mullet :) ha! Lots of people here do. He likes to and does play soccer and was hurt last year... but Lucia piped up at supper and said he was hurt mentally not physically ;) I think she was just showing him some sisterly love :)

Grandma Cita- obvioulsy the Grandma. I dont ever see her though. Lucia told me just before I got here she fell? and broke her leg? So she is in bed at all times. Danilo and Noel take turns feeding her? or at least they are in there when she eats. She is very soft spoken or has a hard time talking. She liked the sunggie :) And she kept telling me that she hoped I was and will have a great time!! I am :)

Nepolian is the dog! He is HUGE!! Its a St. Bernard. They shaved or cut all his hair short expect for his head and the end of his tail... he looks like a GIGANTIC poodle!! :) Haha :) He awlays comes to the table at dinner and is afraid of storms. He likes to sit under the table and have us pet him with his feet. ?? ;) He wanted me to play with him today... but I told him no.. I cant say Im a huge pet lover espically after that dumb dog we got, Elly ;) He always stops at my door when I'm in here, but will only come in if I look at him! HAHA! If i do make that mistakes I just walk out of the room and he follows then I walk back in and move the door so he cant see me... lol.. I know that is REALLY mean :/

Thats really all for the family. They are EXTREMELY NICE and the girls invite me everywhere with them! I could not have asked for a better family... here or at HOME!! :)

2.18.10

2.19.10

Hola, Today has been a good day! :) Primero, encontramos a la UCEL where we had orientation! They gave us coffee and pan... but no one really ate any. I wonder if that is an united states thing or not so much... by thing I mean to not eat what ever someone gives you. Part of me thinks it is..i always think, when someone gives me something that I "sholdn't eat it?" I dont know...

But speaking of how things are differnet... their dinners are MUY DIFERENTE!! First off they eat at 10PM!! Thats crazy... not to mention not very healthy.

They dont drink milk... mucho cola - COKE! y cervesa (beer) haha!!

They reachover eachother at the dinner table... Joel would HATE IT!! :)

Last night Danio got a call on his cell and he took it.

They "move" around a lot... like get up and get things and leave and come back... just things like that.

Maybe it is not REAlly weird, but I guess I kind of saw my family's manners as somewhat strict and thought they would be more strict here... :)

Tonight we ate empandas!! They were DELICIOUS!! Dad would have LOVED them because they had lots of onions!! :) Norma made some with tuna too so I didn't have to eat meat today... it was very nice of her.

I spent a LONG time talking to Edgardo about soccer and where we lived. He was very gracious and drew me a map of our block to show me where we lived and what streets we were around. It really helped ALOT!! :)

Day 2

Today we all meet up at UCEL and meet with Eiliana (the study abraod lady at UCEL) she was very nice and helpful. It was like an orientation and we discussed life in Roario and our classes....

Lucia was going to show me how to use the bus but we missed it! So we took a cab!

Last night she told me the Cab's with the red lights were free. I took this to mean it was free of charge, apparently she meant unoccupied! HA!! :) Blonde?

Um... not much else has happened today. We went to the supermercao and got some extra thing I needed like Shampoo.. I used my credit card.... After I signed they asked for my number. I had no idea what they were talking about of course. I gave them my passport number, but in South America (I think all of it?) not every one drives so not every one has a license. So for identification they have a seperate card with their "number on it." It was interesting.

Also!! This morning I noticed my fan was no longer working. I didnt know why, but I came home this after noon and they had taken my converter out of the wall. After much confusion, and Lucia translating... I figured out something wen't wrong when I plugged it into the wall!! And when it was plugged in the phone and the lights in the house do not work! :? woops! and I think I broke the fan. I told them I would replace it but the dad says he thinks he can fix it.

Day 1... Its been a LONG DAY!!

Its been a LONG day!!!

The plane flights went well... minus that I got NO sleep! Haha. Also, a survival tip for you day... Dont text and walk at the same time. I was texing the lovely Miss Drogo while walking to the bathroom in Dallas, and the next thing I know I was in the Mens Bathroom!! haha... awkward :)

So we got to Buenos Aires and through customs at 9:30, and after a 4 hour Bus Ride we arrived at Rosario! I slept for much of the ride but Argentina looks EXACTLY like Iowa :) In the summer that is .... minus the random horses and cows in the ditch on a few occasions. and the fruit stands on the edges of the road. It was nice to see some green!

We got to the Edge of Rosario and I can't say I was quite prepared. At the edge of the cities are the "houses" where the poor live. It was really unbelievable and sad, it made me glad for all the things I have!

TIME TO MEET THE FAMILY!!

We arrived at UCEL and meet all the families and packed up to leave with them! Lucia came to get me with her boyfriend Louie (I think). SHE IS BEAUTIFUL!!! We took a taxi back to her house and she showed me around and introduced me to her dad and HUGE HUGE HUGE st. Bernard named Napoleon!

By the time I got there it was time for the meal they eat between lunch and dinner... its more like snack time with small sandwiches and pastries. This was at 4:30!

Then Lucia, louie and her sister Noel and I went out for a walk around the city before dinner. We walked to the Parana River.... How every compared to contrary belief there are no actual Parana. Parana is the English word for that fish and it is not the same in Spanish. :)

We stopped at a restaurant along the river and had some drinks outside.... LET ME TELL YOU THE BEST PART ABOUT WINTER... no bugs!!! :) Then we took a taxi back to the house. She told me the Taxi's with the red lights were free, but we still had to pay??

Finally, we got back to the house, just in time for supper at 10:30!!! And it wasn't just supper but they litterly have a 4 course meal!! :) We had beef... but I swore it tasted like sausage :)

Finally it was time to unpack. More on their house later!! :) Tomorrow we have orientation at UCEL from 9 am - 4 pm. Then Lucia said she would take me shopping for all the little things I need....

This is a picture of my host family!! From the left Maria Lucia, Maria Noel, Danilo, Edward, and Norma.

They seem VERY nice!! :)

Leaving TOMORROW!!

Well, I'm leaving in less than 24 HOURS!! But I have yet to pack, and I'm sure that comes as no surprise to most of you. :)

I'm excited to leave, but it's a bit bitter-sweet I suppose. Saying and doing those "last" things always brings a lump to my throat, but I've learned in these past few months that I have the BEST friends and family that anyone could possibly ask for!!!! It makes me smile :)

My biggest fears:

Getting there and not understanding a word they say.

Not having any contact back home... if my adaptors don't work, or I have internet problems

Missing EVERYONE

My safety... I can't same I'm ready for a city of 1,159,004 people quite yet (Thank you Molly P.) I do enjoy Conrad's 1000 people :)

Im excited to:

Run in 80 degree weather!! (NO MORE SNOW!!)

Meet mi familia

Travel

START school

Meet new people and learn from them!

I haven't quite decided if I will post lots of blogs here or use email to write back home. I will use this to post pictures though!! and possibly videos if I take some :) Please forgive my terrible spelling.

Well... I should probably start that packing...