Turbellino de cambio

I have been unable to update for a while because I have been having too much fun!Well, where to start?
Approximately 1.5 months ago, I switched host families. I am currently residing with Familia Cordoba Gandini. I have a host sister my age, Martina, who went on exchange last year to Canada. We get along quite well and she is super fun to hang out with. I have two other siblings as well, Joaquina and Ramiro. Joaquina was just married about a month ago and now has her own house about five minutes away. Ramiro is studying agricultural engineering in a proving called San Miguel de Tucuman, so I do not see him too often. My host mom, Alicia, works at a public notary, and is incredibly sweet. My host father, Jorge, works with agricultural engineering, and is pretty cool too. I have 3 dogs, one of which just had 6 adorable puppies. In the last month, I have been to 2 beautiful weddings that I will never forget. The first one was my host sister's, and the other my host cousin's. Weddings here generally begin with a short Catholic church ceremony, followed by a reception with dinner and dancing until 7am. Truly a night of celebration and alcohol. It's fun to see everyone just letting loose and completely enjoying the night. My host sister just returned from her honeymoon to Malaysia "luna de miel."
I began university here (UNCA) and am studying french, history of Argentina, and philosophy. I also started Carribean Dance, which is really an energetic and fun class. I must mention the CRAZY weather here. Yesterday hacia mas calor que la mierda (in other words verrryyyy hot)..literally sweating all day. And today, its raining and really cold. The weather is very unpredictable here. There was also apparently an earthquake yesterday, but I felt nothing.
Last year, a girl from Holland, Dominic, stayed with the family for 10 months for her exchange, and she came back to visit a couple of weeks ago. It was really nice to meet her and listen to her experience.
I am still going out dancing every weekend and truly enjoying my time here.
I leave Wednesday for La Plata and Buenos Aires for a couple of days for another wedding, and am definitely pretty excited!!

                                                  My sister, Joaquina, and Pablo

My exchange student friends

Lies, me, and Meret in Cordoba

All the exchange students at the meeting in Cordoba

My sis, Martina, and I at the wedding

My family (the two girls on the right are my cousin July and Dominic)

Popular songs here/photos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze8kKZAcx5s eres tu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWBjvNIJagg&feature=channel La Despedida

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zp1TbLFPp8&feature=fvw Danza Kuduro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpoFBlH4wMI Descontrol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrGRTlJA3Tk&feature=fvst nina bonita

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPKlsKHD8_w Cosculluela

Descontrol

I am going to sum up what I've done in the last month here. So forgive me if my writing is jumbled and I write random details. School is out for summer vacation until the end of February!! In early November, I joined a yoga class and have not gained any weight since my arrival. Since I live so close to the mountains, many times I go for runs/walks there in the mornings. I met the other 10 exchange students, which made me feel much happier here. When I arrived, all the other exchange students were on the South trip and I felt all alone.Since I arrived 2 months late, the other exchange students all had a chance to bond and adjust to everything together, so it's been a bit difficult for me because so much had already happened with the intercambios prior to my arrival, and many times I'm out of the loop. It's all good though. I just need to remember that everything happens for a reason. It gives me a chance to spend time with Argentines and practice my spanish when I don't hang out with the exchanges students.
I sang karaoke with the exchange students in a bar called Tercero Tiempo, and after we went dancing. Every weekend I go out dancing and get home at 6. When I speak in English, I noticed that I definitely have a different accent. When I spend time with the intercambios, they all have different accents: for example, australian, dutch, french..and so whenever I speak in english, it's like I have a weird combination of everything. Not to mention Im forgetting english.
I went to an asado (bbq) with the exchange students last month and when I arrived I sat down to eat, and realized my plate and silverware were dirty. Someone had already used my utensils. I asked if it was mine and they told me yes. As you can see, Argentina is all about sharing.hahah. I have definitely gotten over my fear of germs. The 20th of November was one month from the leaving the U.S. In 2 weeks it will have been 2 months! I made pancakes for my host family and chocolate chip cookies-which they loved. We put dulce de leche on the pancakes and they were delicious!
In Argentina, it's definitely a culture where everyone is always keeping busy and doing something-no matter the hour of the day. It's funny because sometimes I just like to relax and lay in my bed and listen to music. I was just relaxing in my room one day, and my mom came in and asked if everything was ok.Of course! I guess my mom perceived it as something being wrong but that definitely wasn't the case! So I explained to her that I don't need to be constantly doing something or be out of the house to be happy. I'm perfectly content sometimes just doing nothing and relaxing.
Sundays are normally family days, where we go to the grandparents house in the countryside and spend the day there. Im tan.And freckled more than ever. It gets extremely hot here. Its crazy though becasue the weather can change incredibly fast. This past weekend it was so hot that the electricity went out multiple times. My family and I decided to eat dinner in the backyard because it was too hot to eat in the house. All of a sudden, a huge wind comes, lightning flashes, and it starts pouring down rain, and the power goes out again. We got our flashlights and candles and moved all of our food indoors because the wind was insane.
I went to El Rodeo, Las Juntas, and Las Talas which are different parts of the city located in the mountains. It was absolutely beautiful.
The first weekend of December, I went with the exchange students to the Argentina/Chile border. We went to Las Termas(hot springs) and swam/had a BBQ there. We spent the night and the next day drove to the border which was at 5000 altitude. The road to Chile was the most windy/hilly one could imagine. I was pretty close to vomiting the way there. A couple of us had to use oxygen masks for the altitude change. The scenery the whole way there was incredible.I can't find words to describe how beautiful it was. I saw Harry Potter in spanish and actually understood EVERYTHING.Que mas? I've been to a fair share of birthday parties thus far.Been thrown in the pool a couple of times.I saw a movie in english here-Skyline.
I learned that instead of saying Que lindo you can say Que churro to say something is pretty.I tried this delicious food last night for dinner.It was yellow oatmeal with cheese, ketchup, and sugar. Its definitey interesting haha but its delicious.
Every December 8th in the evening there is a procession for the Virgin del Valle. 70,000 people (peregrinos) come from other provinces of Argentina to make promises to the Virgin and to walk next to the Virgin. Everyone comes the night before, cycling,walking,driving for the procession, and sleeps in the plazas with tents. Its very moving to see all the people that have traveled for days to catamarca, exhausted and with sunburns, and that they can all come together for the same cause. December 8th is also the day when we put up all the Christmas decorations. I have begun reading the Bible in Spanish as well. I was reading Genesis and came to the part about el arbol de conocimiento de bueno y malo y me di cuenta que puedo relacionar mi tatuaje a eso tambien.
I went to a new boliche last weekend which is located in the mountains. We dance outdoors, and danced till the sun rise. Sunday, I went with my family to the countryside to the grandparents house. We bought homemade dulce de leche mmmmmm.My aunt read my palm and told me: I am going to live a long life, have a lot of money, I will do a fair share of traveling, I will have two children, a girl and a boy, many times my intelligence dominates what my heart wants, and that I am very sencible(dont know what that means in english) but it means situations greatly affect me. for example, if i see someone really sad, I'll be really sad.If someone is happy, I am happy. If someone is crying, I'll cry. And that's so true. It was impressive that she was able to tell me that. My family here is awesome. I feel so close with everyone-the cousins,aunts,uncles,grandparents. I truly have a second family here and I guarantee I'll be back to visit them someday. They're so caring and I truly feel like I am a part of their family.
My uncle invited me to go to Mendoza and to Valparaiso Chile for a couple of days, and I will leave next week with my host sister. I'm super excited! Its so weird to write in english..its difficult to think of how to word things sometimes!

Asado

Catedral

My classmates

Jamon, Queso, y Aceituna Pizza

Stunning mountains 5 mins from my house

7 de noviembre

7 de noviembre

I am still completely and utterly in love with the people of Argentina. I am astonished that every single person I meet is full of unconditional love, genuity, kindness, and has a certain spirit about them that shows me they have a passionate thirst for life, and immediately accepts you as part of their family. I wish everyone in the world could see that we’re all family, and just enjoy life without a worry in the world like the Argentines. I went to my first fiesta last night and finally hung out with college people. We danced until 6 in the morning, and as the sun was rising we all listened to 2 guys playing,singing a beautiful song in Spanish. Probably one of the best moments of my life. I kind of want to live here forever.Everyone asks me about California.They  think its pristine beaches, mansions, and celebrities. It’s their dream to travel to where I live.Ha. But honestly, what they have right here in Argentina is a thousand times better. They just don’t realize it. I was walking home from a club with some friends Saturday morning as the sun was rising, feeling the crisp morning air on my freckled skin, inhaling the sweet smell of Catamarca, gazing up at the towering mountains that surround the valley, completely taken aback. People truly live their life to the fullest here, and make every moment count. Anyways, what have I done since I last wrote? I’ve been attending school, going out with friends on weekends, caught a glimpse of the last couple minutes of an Argentine wedding,went to a communion of one of my host cousins, bought a super cool alpaca sweater, went to my first Rotary meeting, and begin swimming lessons soon. So, it’s Spring. And the heat is unbearable.I’m not exaggerating. I literally almost passed out 3 times today. I also get really sick from the heat in school due to the lack of air conditioning, and my uniform which keeps my body temp pretty warm.Still tryin to adjust. My BFF’s here are mosquito repellant, ice, and my Tao Te Ching. The insects here are vicious little creatures. Spiders the size of your hand and mosquito bites the size of a quarter.

Random fact: In school here, the students are taught British English. So whenever someone tries to speak to me in English, they have a cute british accent. Harry Pottr comes out on the 17^th here!! In ENGLISH!!

October 27th

The disparities between U.S. and Argentine school systems are vast. Lets just say I am incredibly grateful for the school systems of the U.S. My first day of school only 2 of my 4 teachers were present. Students were burning papers in the middle of class and throwing crumpled up papers in the fanblades (which were landing on students heads, including mine) for at least a good 20 minutes. The teacher did absolutely nothing.  The students show no respect whatsoever, and the teachers let the students take advantage of them. It was utter chaos.The private school I attended for 2 days (private school should have higher standards,right?) had 10 subjects distributed throughout the week, and instead of students moving to different classrooms, the teachers move. Honestly, there is no way on earth I am going to be able to deal with this 6 hours a day everday. I was quite upset and talked to my host family about this. They were very understanding and I am trying to transfer to the university here to study languages. It's very close to my house and I am going to talk to the teacher and director of the school to see if this is possible.
Today is the national census of Argentina, and no one has to attend school. Also, the previous president Nestor Kirchner (from 2003-2007) passed away today from a heart condition at the age of 60. There will be no school tomorrow in light of this. Kirchner's wife, Cristina Kirchner is the current president. Each presidential term here is 4 years, and the next election is in March. Instead of a White House in Argentina, there is a Casa Rosada (Pink House) which is located in Buenos Aires. I went to a Rotary Club Asado (BBQ) last night and didn't get home until 3.It's difficult for my body to stay up so late and wake up so early, and get almost no sleep on the weekends. I'm constantly tired, but it's worth it. I'm still adjusting to the time change and long days here. I wake up and my mind still thinks I'm in California.
Since I last wrote, I attended a very elegant quinceanera, and learned how to dance southamerican style. The popular music here is reggaeton, cumbia, and american music. Daddy Yankee is well liked. I did some pretty intense hiking in the mountains near my house.Every Sunday, my family has an asado with all different types of meat, including chorizo, morcilla, costilla,vacilo,and lomo en tira. I had the wonderful privilege of accompanying my host parents to the carniceria to purchase the meat, which definitely scarred me a little bit. There is this huge grinder that cuts through the bloody bones of meat, and splatters all over the floor. I am easily grossed out. Argentines eat EVERY part of the cow. We have meat everyday. My iron levels will no longer be low!
I also went 4 wheeling a couple days ago with my host cousin and toured the city that I live in. There are stray dogs everywhere, and some were chasing us.I'm glad I have my rabies shots!
I met the most attractive man in the entire world a couple days ago at a restaurant. He was our waiter, and i kid you not, he has the most beautiful teeth and accent in the entire world.
I am reading my first legitimate book in spanish, "Herede, un fantasma."
I am still loving the plethora of kisses I get everyday. I wish everyone in the world had the affection that Argentines have.
I have been having weird dreams, which is totally normal because I always have super vivid and abnormal dreams.
At night, the wind is SUPER intense. The sounds I hear at night consist of very strong spurts of wind, and dogs barking.

I've been in Catamarca for 3 days

After 15 long hours of being in planes and 6.5 hours of being in a car, I am finally in the beautiful San Fernando del valle de Catamarca. It literally takes ten minutes to walk from my house to the mountains, which are absolutely stunning.I am kind of living in a desert. There's cactus everywhere, and I don't wear makeup because it would just sweat right off (It's only spring!).oh! Theres a salt desert 30 mins away from my house.When I landed in Argentina, I immediately noticed the majority of the males(who are beautiful btw) have longer hair than men in the U.S. The Castellano accent is muy impresionante. It's quite different than the spanish i was taught.The differences are:
the y makes a j sound
the ll makes a j sound
the s's aren't prounced
the vos form is used
and everyone speaks SO fast
But my spanish is coming along quite nice. I haven't met one person that speaks english (which is good) and I literally think in spanish. It's so weird typing in english..I'm honestly forgetting my english-it takes me a second to think of certain words.But whenever someone speaks to me, my heart just flutters with happiness and intrigue at the accent.
I've never recieved so many kisses in my life. I literally get like 20 kisses on my cheek a day. I love how friendly,warm-hearted, and outgoing the Argentines are. They are truly beautiful people. Family is very important in this culture. I've met quite a bit of members of my host family, who by the way are incredibly kind. Every night my host mom "blesses me" and says Dios te bendiga and kisses me goodnight on the cheek. Everyone stays up super late here-till 2 or 3 in the morning. I'm going to a quinceanera tonight that starts at 10pm and ends at 6am.
Differences I've noticed so far include:
Family is of utmost importance here. Meals are important too
Everything is in celcius, kilometers, and military time
There are a greater number of police
There is a siesta from 3-5 where the negocios (businesses) close and the town sleeps
The keys are all gold and really cool looking.They look ancient.
Clothes dryers do not exist.
The cashiers in the grocery stores have chairs that they sit in instead of standing.
There is a bedet in the restroom
Foods I've tried so far:
Lengua de vaca (cow tongue)
Dulce de leche yummmm
pastel de papas (cake of potatoes) It has fried potatoes, olives, eggs, beef
milanesa de vaca-carne de vaca con pan
flan (I've definitely had this in the U.S. though)
Oh! we also have a limited amount of water for the year, so there are certain times of the day where we can't use water. It never rains here, so we have a very limited supply. I start school Monday!