well I made it home safe and sound... such a long flight!
I am glad to be home with my family. I really missed everyone....also felt good to tear out of the driveway in my car. lol
I'm also bummed... and really upset... my super nice camera is MIA. I'm pretty sure I left it in the airport in Buenos Aires. Luckily most of my pictures have been uploaded, but it was only six months old. UGH. My friend in Buenos Aires called the airport to see if they had it. They said it takes 48 hours to process lost and found items. so please everyone say a prayer that there is one honest Argentine out there who turned it in. I'm really doubting it though...
going to bed!!! jetttttt lag!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
last night here!
So I can't believe it, but it's my last night in Buenos Aires. I cannot believe how fast the time has gone. And let's hope the ash holds off... flights in and out were canceled last night. but as of now, it looks like I should be able to leave.
Trying to think of what adventures I've had in the past several days that I can write about...
I did really well in my class. Got a 9 out of 10 (that's the grading system in Argentina). I'm pretty proud of myself. =) It was a lot of hardwork, but definitely worth it in the end.
My roommate is here. I really like her. I wish she had been here during June! I could've had a buddy to hang out with. she's very sweet and nice - which is a good thing because I know Gloria was also worried. She's had some bad experiences with previous students staying here. But it looks like she got a good one!!
Thursday night we had our farewell dinner. It was sad to say bye to everyone.
Last night a group of girls went to a jazz club. I really had a great time! Our waiter was absolutely hilarious. He tried to get my friend Carolyn's number... and then tried to kiss her when we left. I was crying I was laughing so hard.
I also finally got to try some really good wine. I've never been a fan of red wind, but I LOVE malbec. definitely going to buy some when I get home!
Today I went to Uruguay. Wooot for another stamp in my passport. It was absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Although, i quite literally froze my butt off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS SO COLD!!! I was dressed warm enough, but the girls I went with did not dress warm enough. So we didn't do too much.... I'm glad my parents taught me to be prepared!!!
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and being home. I'll post again if flights don't go out tomorrow, but I don't think that will happen!!
Trying to think of what adventures I've had in the past several days that I can write about...
I did really well in my class. Got a 9 out of 10 (that's the grading system in Argentina). I'm pretty proud of myself. =) It was a lot of hardwork, but definitely worth it in the end.
My roommate is here. I really like her. I wish she had been here during June! I could've had a buddy to hang out with. she's very sweet and nice - which is a good thing because I know Gloria was also worried. She's had some bad experiences with previous students staying here. But it looks like she got a good one!!
Thursday night we had our farewell dinner. It was sad to say bye to everyone.
Last night a group of girls went to a jazz club. I really had a great time! Our waiter was absolutely hilarious. He tried to get my friend Carolyn's number... and then tried to kiss her when we left. I was crying I was laughing so hard.
I also finally got to try some really good wine. I've never been a fan of red wind, but I LOVE malbec. definitely going to buy some when I get home!
Today I went to Uruguay. Wooot for another stamp in my passport. It was absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Although, i quite literally froze my butt off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS SO COLD!!! I was dressed warm enough, but the girls I went with did not dress warm enough. So we didn't do too much.... I'm glad my parents taught me to be prepared!!!
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and being home. I'll post again if flights don't go out tomorrow, but I don't think that will happen!!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
nothing new... just felt like posting
well, I'm sitting here enjoying a hot cup of tea and listening to a thunderstorm roll in. Sad to say... but I am glad it's raining. Maybe it'll clear some of the dog crap off the sidewalks. lovely thought, huh??? but after almost a month of constantly watching where I walk in fear of smelly shoes, a good rain is a welcomed thought.
I'm also hoping my tea brings some clarity of mind for my test tomorrow. The Spanish language is pretty complex... especially once you start getting into the past/subjunctive tenses. There are a lot of concepts that aren't inherently found in English... this makes test taking especially difficult. I've spent the last two hours scouring my notes and workbook in hopes that maybe something sunk in... part of me thinks it did... the other part is saying no... and then a third part is saying... well, just do your best. (I think that's what my mom would say too!) I suppose I'll find out tomorrow...
I'm also enjoying my last night alone in my room. Katherine from Wisconsin shows up tomorrow. I've never been one for sharing my space... especially with someone from the female gender - it never goes well... but I suppose I'll try to be on my best behavior for the three days I have left.
off to study some more...
I'm also hoping my tea brings some clarity of mind for my test tomorrow. The Spanish language is pretty complex... especially once you start getting into the past/subjunctive tenses. There are a lot of concepts that aren't inherently found in English... this makes test taking especially difficult. I've spent the last two hours scouring my notes and workbook in hopes that maybe something sunk in... part of me thinks it did... the other part is saying no... and then a third part is saying... well, just do your best. (I think that's what my mom would say too!) I suppose I'll find out tomorrow...
I'm also enjoying my last night alone in my room. Katherine from Wisconsin shows up tomorrow. I've never been one for sharing my space... especially with someone from the female gender - it never goes well... but I suppose I'll try to be on my best behavior for the three days I have left.
off to study some more...
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
CONGRESO... and mental shutdown
well.... my days here are slowly winding down. I've loved my time here, but I'm definitely getting to the point where I'm ready for normality and my life back home. Today was especially rough... I really think my brain is running on empty. Five hours of class is killin' me. My professor today seriously talked AT us for five hours today... as well as scribbling in Spanish on the blackboard. We didn't really engage in the language or talk much... by the time 3 pm hit... I was toast. I couldn't function. I felt like I was a babbling moron. I came home and slept. Gloria was so sweet and made me some tea which also helped a lot. I'm really going to miss her. She's become my Argentine Grandma. She also told me that she was really going to miss me and that it had been such a pleasure having me in her home and that I was a wonderful person. I almost cried!!!
I only have one more actual day of class. Thursday and Friday are final exams. One written and one oral. It's going to be intense!!!!
I also have a girl who is coming for the next term coming.... she will be staying in my room with me. Not very excited about that, but oh well. It's only a few days and I plan on staying as busy as possible in those few days. That includes a trip to Uruguay on Saturday. Should be a lot of fun.
The only really fun piece of news I have.... is that I saw the Congress building on Monday. It was a holiday here which meant that the city was super peaceful. The weather was also beautiful. It also looks like the volcano is calming down... although the ash is circling the globe a second time and disrupting flights in Australia. Hope it clears up by Sunday.
hitting the hay soon.... still feeling drained after my long day of class....
I only have one more actual day of class. Thursday and Friday are final exams. One written and one oral. It's going to be intense!!!!
I also have a girl who is coming for the next term coming.... she will be staying in my room with me. Not very excited about that, but oh well. It's only a few days and I plan on staying as busy as possible in those few days. That includes a trip to Uruguay on Saturday. Should be a lot of fun.
The only really fun piece of news I have.... is that I saw the Congress building on Monday. It was a holiday here which meant that the city was super peaceful. The weather was also beautiful. It also looks like the volcano is calming down... although the ash is circling the globe a second time and disrupting flights in Australia. Hope it clears up by Sunday.
hitting the hay soon.... still feeling drained after my long day of class....
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sin Palabras...
hello blog readers!
I have returned safe and sound from Las Cataratas Iguazu! I would try to describe them to you, but seriously I don't have the words in Spanish or English to give them justice. I will post a few pics on here... there are more on facebook or I'll be happy to show them to you when I get home. If you have the chance to visit them... DO IT. It's 100% worth the trip down here.
Getting to the falls was quite an adventure. Here in Argentina, long-haul buses are a very common form of transportation. The bus terminal was huge... bigger than the airport. But let me say this. IT WAS TERRIFYING. I pretty much had to drug myself to sleep... so two tylenol pm's later... I was finally asleep. Only to be awoken by an insanely loud thudding noise and the bus shaking... then a horrid burning smell. I guess we lost a wheel or tire or something in the middle of the night in the middle of NOWHERE, Argentina. My seat was on the top of the bus right by the stairs... all I saw was the crew running back and forth screaming in spanish and cops outside directing traffic... took two hours to get it fixed. later on that morning after breakfast, we pretty much swerved off the road. Needless to say... my seatbelt was on at all times... and I'm glad i didn't die!
after we got off that bus and onto our private tour bus, we almost got into ANOTHER accident... people here drive like maniacs...
We also had a traditional BBQ at a yerba mate farm. soooooo yummy! You couldn't be a vegetarian and live in this country... just saying!!!
our hotel was nice. very "jungle" like... but the dinner and breakfast buffets were sooo awesome. I made friends with the waiters. =) It was also nice to get to know some of the other guys and gals in my program. We all stayed up late and had some drinks on saturday night. Also met a random Argentine guy who came and joined our group. He was very brave to come join us and speak English!
we also got to see the point where Brazil and Paraguay meet Argentina. There were monuments on the shore of the river representing each country. very cool!
Sunday we went to visit a native tribe... I don't know how I felt about it... I felt very sad and almost exploited, and the tribe definitely was too... It was interesting to see, but it is not something I would've done if I hadn't been forced to.
I was very glad to fly home yesterday and not get on another bus. It also looks like flights are mostly back to normal... so I should be able to fly out on sunday. woo! I miss everyone and really look forward to being home.
I have returned safe and sound from Las Cataratas Iguazu! I would try to describe them to you, but seriously I don't have the words in Spanish or English to give them justice. I will post a few pics on here... there are more on facebook or I'll be happy to show them to you when I get home. If you have the chance to visit them... DO IT. It's 100% worth the trip down here.
Getting to the falls was quite an adventure. Here in Argentina, long-haul buses are a very common form of transportation. The bus terminal was huge... bigger than the airport. But let me say this. IT WAS TERRIFYING. I pretty much had to drug myself to sleep... so two tylenol pm's later... I was finally asleep. Only to be awoken by an insanely loud thudding noise and the bus shaking... then a horrid burning smell. I guess we lost a wheel or tire or something in the middle of the night in the middle of NOWHERE, Argentina. My seat was on the top of the bus right by the stairs... all I saw was the crew running back and forth screaming in spanish and cops outside directing traffic... took two hours to get it fixed. later on that morning after breakfast, we pretty much swerved off the road. Needless to say... my seatbelt was on at all times... and I'm glad i didn't die!
after we got off that bus and onto our private tour bus, we almost got into ANOTHER accident... people here drive like maniacs...
We also had a traditional BBQ at a yerba mate farm. soooooo yummy! You couldn't be a vegetarian and live in this country... just saying!!!
our hotel was nice. very "jungle" like... but the dinner and breakfast buffets were sooo awesome. I made friends with the waiters. =) It was also nice to get to know some of the other guys and gals in my program. We all stayed up late and had some drinks on saturday night. Also met a random Argentine guy who came and joined our group. He was very brave to come join us and speak English!
we also got to see the point where Brazil and Paraguay meet Argentina. There were monuments on the shore of the river representing each country. very cool!
Sunday we went to visit a native tribe... I don't know how I felt about it... I felt very sad and almost exploited, and the tribe definitely was too... It was interesting to see, but it is not something I would've done if I hadn't been forced to.
I was very glad to fly home yesterday and not get on another bus. It also looks like flights are mostly back to normal... so I should be able to fly out on sunday. woo! I miss everyone and really look forward to being home.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
a request?!
so I was told... that people are reading my blog!!! AND they're requesting more! (this is for you Julie!)
Things down here are pretty good... The stupid volcano is still wreaking havoc on the airport. I think international flights are taking off... I'm a bit worried about my trip to Igazu this weekend. I'm hoping we can fly back. Will keep you updated!
I also realized I forgot to post about my experience at the hospital. Nothing major happened... I just was having a major issue in my left eye. So my professor told me to have it checked out. I just had an irritation in the second layer of my eye in the corner.... i was supposed to go back but it cleared up in a day. But hospitals here are weird!!! they have numbers and room numbers.... and your number "dings" when the doctor is ready to see you... so weird!!!
Over the weekend, Michaela Ruthie and I went to the San Telmo fair. It's basically 10 blocks of STUFF. There are street performers and food and stuff to buy. lots of fun!!
Monday I got to hang out with my friend Tony who lives here. I stayed out entirely too late... I'm getting too old for that!!!! It was fun though. We went to see the Hangover 2 (or que paso ayer 2 LOL) It was in English with spanish subtitles. There were several awkward moments... where I laughed and no one else did OR I laughed before everyone else did (they were still reading the subtitles) We also got drinks at a very cool bar by my house.
Today Michaela and I went to El aterno bookstore. It's sooooo beautiful. It's in an old theater in downtown Buenos Aires. I could sit in there all day!!! oh and I MIGHT have had a very delicious cafe calypso (coffee and baileys)
Walking home the other day... there was a random dance/drum party in the party by my house. very random but very cool. It was a big group of kids dancing. SO adorable.
I leave for Iguazu tomorrow! yea!!! people in my class went last weekend and they said it's UNBELIEVABLE! I really look forward to seeing it. Just hope we can get back!!!!
Miss everyone so much. Also looking forward to getting back to the states.... having some space... not being hot and sweaty and cold all at the same time... and not being shoved on the subway.
Things down here are pretty good... The stupid volcano is still wreaking havoc on the airport. I think international flights are taking off... I'm a bit worried about my trip to Igazu this weekend. I'm hoping we can fly back. Will keep you updated!
I also realized I forgot to post about my experience at the hospital. Nothing major happened... I just was having a major issue in my left eye. So my professor told me to have it checked out. I just had an irritation in the second layer of my eye in the corner.... i was supposed to go back but it cleared up in a day. But hospitals here are weird!!! they have numbers and room numbers.... and your number "dings" when the doctor is ready to see you... so weird!!!
Over the weekend, Michaela Ruthie and I went to the San Telmo fair. It's basically 10 blocks of STUFF. There are street performers and food and stuff to buy. lots of fun!!
Monday I got to hang out with my friend Tony who lives here. I stayed out entirely too late... I'm getting too old for that!!!! It was fun though. We went to see the Hangover 2 (or que paso ayer 2 LOL) It was in English with spanish subtitles. There were several awkward moments... where I laughed and no one else did OR I laughed before everyone else did (they were still reading the subtitles) We also got drinks at a very cool bar by my house.
Today Michaela and I went to El aterno bookstore. It's sooooo beautiful. It's in an old theater in downtown Buenos Aires. I could sit in there all day!!! oh and I MIGHT have had a very delicious cafe calypso (coffee and baileys)
Walking home the other day... there was a random dance/drum party in the party by my house. very random but very cool. It was a big group of kids dancing. SO adorable.
I leave for Iguazu tomorrow! yea!!! people in my class went last weekend and they said it's UNBELIEVABLE! I really look forward to seeing it. Just hope we can get back!!!!
Miss everyone so much. Also looking forward to getting back to the states.... having some space... not being hot and sweaty and cold all at the same time... and not being shoved on the subway.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
been busy!
so my original idea of writing everyday certainly hasn't been working. It's a combination of being too busy OR not having anything exciting to write about. I suppose I could write about what I'm learning in class, but that'd be incredibly boring to read about!
I'm trying to think what I've been up to!
Thursday we went to Plaza de Mayo to see Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo march. it was pretty incredible... pics!
after the plaza we went to Catedral Metropolitiana. It's a very beautiful temple-like church. The tomb of General San Martin lay here. He is the "liberator" of Argentina and fought the war to gain their independence. We got to see the elite guards "change". very cool! more pics!!
After the catedral, we went to one of the oldest and most famous cafes in Buenos Aires. Cafe Tortoni. It was pretty damn good!!!! yet another pic! (that's my friend Bethany with me!)
Today Michaela and I went back to the Recoleta fair. I love that place!! I got a few more gifts and bought another hat from the cute little old lady who knitted my pink one. (she remembered me! lol!) We also went down to La Boca. It's one of the oldest neighborhoods - VERY touristy. it was a lot of fun... so much to see and do! We walked around for awhile... this area is definitely sketchy so we made sure to stay on the tourist drag and took a taxi there and back. EVEN MORE PICS!
hopefully you noted the curly hair! seriously i've given up fighting the stupid humidity here. I can't keep my hair straight. so it's going curly.
my only other news to report is... laundry here is crazy weird. you take your laundry and have a little chinese lady wash it for you.... it weirds me out having some random person see my dirty clothes... that and my pants were LITERALLY as tall as she was... I feel like an amazon in this country. no one here is as big as I am. even the guys. if they are tall, they probably weigh about 120. yeahh..... it's quite disturbing for me.... and quite painful for the old self esteem. just thankful I don't live here all the time.
anywho. off to bed. I hope someone is actually reading this!
I'm trying to think what I've been up to!
Thursday we went to Plaza de Mayo to see Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo march. it was pretty incredible... pics!
after the plaza we went to Catedral Metropolitiana. It's a very beautiful temple-like church. The tomb of General San Martin lay here. He is the "liberator" of Argentina and fought the war to gain their independence. We got to see the elite guards "change". very cool! more pics!!
After the catedral, we went to one of the oldest and most famous cafes in Buenos Aires. Cafe Tortoni. It was pretty damn good!!!! yet another pic! (that's my friend Bethany with me!)
Today Michaela and I went back to the Recoleta fair. I love that place!! I got a few more gifts and bought another hat from the cute little old lady who knitted my pink one. (she remembered me! lol!) We also went down to La Boca. It's one of the oldest neighborhoods - VERY touristy. it was a lot of fun... so much to see and do! We walked around for awhile... this area is definitely sketchy so we made sure to stay on the tourist drag and took a taxi there and back. EVEN MORE PICS!
hopefully you noted the curly hair! seriously i've given up fighting the stupid humidity here. I can't keep my hair straight. so it's going curly.
my only other news to report is... laundry here is crazy weird. you take your laundry and have a little chinese lady wash it for you.... it weirds me out having some random person see my dirty clothes... that and my pants were LITERALLY as tall as she was... I feel like an amazon in this country. no one here is as big as I am. even the guys. if they are tall, they probably weigh about 120. yeahh..... it's quite disturbing for me.... and quite painful for the old self esteem. just thankful I don't live here all the time.
anywho. off to bed. I hope someone is actually reading this!
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