Well, Its been three nights at my new home and I LOVE IT, the house is small...no not small...cosy, and the kids are very funny and everyone is so helpful! My family even brought my cartoned milk because I didn't know how to use bagged milk, YES, milk comes in bags here. Same with Yoghurt, and Mayonnaise and sauce, well, Ketchup. I think it's the strangest thing and they all laugh at me hahaha.
The Food:
The food here is very nice! The fruit is so nice, I have never had a banana or apple that tastes so good! I think I might try venture to a big supermarket later and buy myself a giant pile of different fruits just to take a break from the constant meals of "Carne" (meat). Every night we have a type of carne and lots of cheese, Normally Ham and cheese. I've had Ham and Cheese pizza, Ham and Cheese pie, Ham and Cheese Toasties, Ham and Cheese empanadas and then the left overs of all of those to have a leftover ham and cheese feast! Que Rico! Also after every lunch and every dinner, we have a sort of pudding...well yoghurt. Its as though we eat and finish with yoghurt every time! I'm not complaining! I like it haha, and yes, I am watching my weight. :D
The City and People:
Everyday, I have explored the city and I have spoken a lot of espanol, the first day, I went with my parents to the city center to go for an exploration and take some photos, where I found some free tango classes which I might return to but that can wait till I'm fluent. I forgot to mention the the architecture is FANTASTIC. The historic buildings appear around every corner and I feel like a tourist when I stop and take a photo or two. The only thing I don't really enjoy about the city is the buses, but I've never liked buses, they're dirty and crowded and yeah. Even in New Zealand, I think the same, and so I'd rather walk to town from Kamo instead of catch a public bus. THAT'S when my friend Sophie comes in, she's an exchange student from the USA who's been living here for 5 months and decided to become my guide. She loves to run and so she came to my house and took me for a walk to "El Bosque", which is a park nearby and a a place where everyone likes to go and relax. So she took me around there and told me everything about her exchange and why she had a bad start and blah blah blah, she has a a lot to say because she hasn't spoken english as much a she used to :P Also, being the blonde american girl that she is, the perverts eg. Construction workers, always shout rude things to her and I like her to tease her about that, Until she brings up that "At least I won't be hit on my transvestite hookers". I'm a little afraid now.. It seemed like something certain to happen hahaha. Aswell as Sophie being one of my only friends at the moment..Today two workers from AFS came to take me around the city and buy a simcard, Joaquin and Jose Luis we're very nice and forced me to speak spanish unless it was something important like talking about phone plans...Which I still don't understand haha But I'll get there, Joaquin went on exchange to New Zealand and so he understands which culture I'm coming from, yaaay! But apart from that, everyone is nice and the city is wonderful, except for the rubbish but that's just what comes with a big city! :)
Mi Familia!:
In my family I have a younger brother, Marco, who's 15 and a younger sister, Ana, who's 13. They are funny, helpful and just like kiwi kids. Literally, the jokes that are made are just like New Zealand ones, sarcastic and dry! :D I couldn't have asked for better siblings, except it's strange because it's just like living with the Pearson family back home! My dad is Antonio, He's quiet but very knowledgeable, and he likes the fact that I love languages, I think he likes cultures as much as I do. And My mum, She is a lot harriets mum haha, She acts out everything very well, whether it's a dog being scared or a volcano eruption, and she loves my pineapple lumps, I couldn't have asked for a better family, I am so grateful for them!
And at the moment, I am making my phone work so I can skype from it and such :D huzzah!
that's all for now,
Chau amigos!
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Journey, Arrival and Camp
The Journey:
After my parents got us lost on another exciting tiki tour, my nerves were going wild. And although I still arrived about half an hour early, I couldn't have been more excited to get on the plane and go to Argentina! As other students slowly arrived I couldn't help but grin at them and watch them grin back all with similar feelings to me. Scared, Excited, Overwhelmed.
Once I had finally made it past the obstacles of crying parents and NZ's famous customs with my new posse of exchange students, we were introduced to the Spanish speaking airline, 'Aerolineas Argentinas'. No backseat TVs. Beware. However most of us were too tired to care and slept, or at least dozed, for half of the 12 hour flight. Didn't touch my book once. Sorry Ms Goldie,but Wheel of Fortune on my laptop is a lot more entertaining the the struggles of poverty. At one point, I went for a walk to go see where Lily and Toni went and I found them hiding at the air conditioned area at the back of the plane with the air hostesses andwhat I thought was a bong... THAT was when I was introduced to my first drink of 'mate', the herbal Argentinian drink that is drunk from a metal cup and metal straw which I still think looks like a drug instrument...but it still tastes very nice, like a strong sort of tea.
After that flight, we finally made it to El Aeropuerto de Buenos Aires! Which we then had to wait a further six hours for the Malaysian exchange students to arrive. It was actually more exciting than it sounds, there was heaps of things to look at including a lifesize lego Argentinian flag sculpture! :D Also going to a bookstore and seeing lots of translated books was pretty exciting too! Especially when you have the same book in your bag :D
Next, we had a bus trip through Buenos Aires to the orientation camp. As this was at night, we saw part of the nightlife in Argentina, the clubs, the people. Our hooker count got to 7. And there was one young man who was standing outside our bus window when we were making a stop and I just couldn't help but cry from laughter when he tried to hop on the bus to tell her face to face. Apart from that, the architecture is amazing and every third house was either a palace or a shack, all sharing the same cool looking creeper vines, ¡que linda! Once we made it to camp, we were served some amazing steak for dinner! Surprising, I know. Soon after, we were taken to our rooms which were nice and cosy. My room mates were Noa and Dion from NZ. No one got jetlagged at all, it was really weird, but we just put it down to just having a late night or something similar. The following morning, we woke up early and rearing to go until we found out the activities started in the afternoon when more exchange students arrived...so we sat watching spanish kids shows all morning and learnt a fun thai version of the slaps game which I really want to teach everyone when I get back... in 5 months! :D
And then BAM! Suddenly the americans, canadians, germans, scandinavians and many more cultures came through the door. Once they were settled, we all dispersed into our colour groups for activities. Team Armadillo (Amarillo) for the win. We a lot of scenario type activites in order to prepare everyone for the exchange, acting like animals included. After that was when the only Australian arrived just in time to join the talent show along with the New Zealanders. Australasia for the win. Except heads shoulders knees and toes in maori and flax flowers wasn't enough to woo over the judges and get us a winning prize... :( que lastima! Then we had dinner, isolating our New Zealand selves into an Elite group where few foreigners are allowed in, (Labour party?) That night, after a long fiesta of dancing and letting our bodies feel the rhythm, we found a giant spider in our bedroom and like the savage New Zealanders we are, we hunted it down, and killed it! It rained the next day, coincidence? I think not.
Last day of camp was rather fun, never have I ever thought that I would be pretending to be a tangled vine with a german boy that was as determined as me not to let the gardeners win. Once again Maria, I{msorry for kneeing you in the face, it{s an intense game to play. After this, I had an amazing time just getting to know eachothers cultures and traditions but sadly, that had to be ruined because of the end of orientation camp and how we had to say goodbye to all our nuevos amigos. :( Right now, I hope they're having an amazing time travelling all over Argentina to find their host families andI wish them the best of luck. Buena suerte! ;D Y hola from La Plata!
After all our sad goodbyes, I made it to my host family. I couldn't have wished for anyone better! :D They are solovely and it turns out I can hold a conversation (kinda) for 2-3 hours in spanish! I'm so excited to go and see the rest of my city and meet lots more amazing people, well, I typed this all last night on my phone but my phones being lame so I'll wait until I have wi-fi before I upload any photos, sorry guys! But I hope you're all having fun whereever you are! And I'll catch up with you when I'm next available. :)
Chau
After my parents got us lost on another exciting tiki tour, my nerves were going wild. And although I still arrived about half an hour early, I couldn't have been more excited to get on the plane and go to Argentina! As other students slowly arrived I couldn't help but grin at them and watch them grin back all with similar feelings to me. Scared, Excited, Overwhelmed.
Once I had finally made it past the obstacles of crying parents and NZ's famous customs with my new posse of exchange students, we were introduced to the Spanish speaking airline, 'Aerolineas Argentinas'. No backseat TVs. Beware. However most of us were too tired to care and slept, or at least dozed, for half of the 12 hour flight. Didn't touch my book once. Sorry Ms Goldie,but Wheel of Fortune on my laptop is a lot more entertaining the the struggles of poverty. At one point, I went for a walk to go see where Lily and Toni went and I found them hiding at the air conditioned area at the back of the plane with the air hostesses andwhat I thought was a bong... THAT was when I was introduced to my first drink of 'mate', the herbal Argentinian drink that is drunk from a metal cup and metal straw which I still think looks like a drug instrument...but it still tastes very nice, like a strong sort of tea.
After that flight, we finally made it to El Aeropuerto de Buenos Aires! Which we then had to wait a further six hours for the Malaysian exchange students to arrive. It was actually more exciting than it sounds, there was heaps of things to look at including a lifesize lego Argentinian flag sculpture! :D Also going to a bookstore and seeing lots of translated books was pretty exciting too! Especially when you have the same book in your bag :D
Next, we had a bus trip through Buenos Aires to the orientation camp. As this was at night, we saw part of the nightlife in Argentina, the clubs, the people. Our hooker count got to 7. And there was one young man who was standing outside our bus window when we were making a stop and I just couldn't help but cry from laughter when he tried to hop on the bus to tell her face to face. Apart from that, the architecture is amazing and every third house was either a palace or a shack, all sharing the same cool looking creeper vines, ¡que linda! Once we made it to camp, we were served some amazing steak for dinner! Surprising, I know. Soon after, we were taken to our rooms which were nice and cosy. My room mates were Noa and Dion from NZ. No one got jetlagged at all, it was really weird, but we just put it down to just having a late night or something similar. The following morning, we woke up early and rearing to go until we found out the activities started in the afternoon when more exchange students arrived...so we sat watching spanish kids shows all morning and learnt a fun thai version of the slaps game which I really want to teach everyone when I get back... in 5 months! :D
And then BAM! Suddenly the americans, canadians, germans, scandinavians and many more cultures came through the door. Once they were settled, we all dispersed into our colour groups for activities. Team Armadillo (Amarillo) for the win. We a lot of scenario type activites in order to prepare everyone for the exchange, acting like animals included. After that was when the only Australian arrived just in time to join the talent show along with the New Zealanders. Australasia for the win. Except heads shoulders knees and toes in maori and flax flowers wasn't enough to woo over the judges and get us a winning prize... :( que lastima! Then we had dinner, isolating our New Zealand selves into an Elite group where few foreigners are allowed in, (Labour party?) That night, after a long fiesta of dancing and letting our bodies feel the rhythm, we found a giant spider in our bedroom and like the savage New Zealanders we are, we hunted it down, and killed it! It rained the next day, coincidence? I think not.
Last day of camp was rather fun, never have I ever thought that I would be pretending to be a tangled vine with a german boy that was as determined as me not to let the gardeners win. Once again Maria, I{msorry for kneeing you in the face, it{s an intense game to play. After this, I had an amazing time just getting to know eachothers cultures and traditions but sadly, that had to be ruined because of the end of orientation camp and how we had to say goodbye to all our nuevos amigos. :( Right now, I hope they're having an amazing time travelling all over Argentina to find their host families andI wish them the best of luck. Buena suerte! ;D Y hola from La Plata!
After all our sad goodbyes, I made it to my host family. I couldn't have wished for anyone better! :D They are solovely and it turns out I can hold a conversation (kinda) for 2-3 hours in spanish! I'm so excited to go and see the rest of my city and meet lots more amazing people, well, I typed this all last night on my phone but my phones being lame so I'll wait until I have wi-fi before I upload any photos, sorry guys! But I hope you're all having fun whereever you are! And I'll catch up with you when I'm next available. :)
Chau
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Departure!
At this current moment, I am on my way to Auckland airport. I finally said all my last goodbyes after a week of goodbye dinners, longlasting hugs and an amazing farewell sign. Oh and especially the tears harriet left on my shirt. :p
It's a fantastic feeling to know that your friends care about you and are already waiting for your return. However I cant let all that hold me back from the amazing experience I am about to endure! I've been told a million times that Im going to have a great time and I think that it's only now just beginning to sink in!
Im overly excited right now, to think within a few months I could be fluent in Spanish! I can't wait to meet all my new friends and my new family. I couldnt have thought of a better way to get out into the world! Its strange to think that dreams really do come true if you put your mind to it..
Goodbye Whangarei! have a fantastic few months without me! :D
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Skype Date
Today I had a skype date with my host family before I see them in 2 weeks, and I think it was quite funny for both sides of the camera haha. It was the first time I had really been put on the spot for using my spanish skills and so I made quite a few mistakes and couldnt help laughing at how many times we had to repeat ourselves because of the language barrier.
On top of this language barrier, there was also the bad internet connection causing it to be a mix of spanish and static that I was trying to interpret. However I think I could tell that they were laughing at the situation as much as I was. The repeating "que"s and "como"s probably took up about 95% of the conversation. haha
But, from what I can gather, my family aren't too serious and look as excited as I am to be in Argentina.
I think I'm going to fit in well.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Antes mi intercambio!
Hey everyone, I've now set up a blog for my time in Argentina as it's only a matter of weeks until I actually go.
I'm hoping to update this at least once a week while I'm over there with many photos of the people I meet and the things I experience, and most important of all - my learning of the language!
I am very excited as I've already got in contact with my family, who seem pretty down-to-earth and very welcoming to my foreign self. I've also got in contact with another exchange student called Sophie who's been telling me that everyone is waiting for this New Zealand boy with the funky accent, so it's a bit more comforting that there's actually a lot of people waiting for me.
The only problem is that I haven't even started packing...I don't actually have a clue what to bring... I know there's the usual things like clothes, toothbrush, books...But what else? It's a lot more difficult packing for 5 months than just a 1 week camp.
Well, that's really all I can think of to say on my first post and I'll be returning to this in a couple of weeks. So i'll leave you with a picture of a map showing everyone where I'm actually staying and a few links to my school's website and city's wikipedia.
Adios amigos
http://www.nacio.unlp.edu.ar/ - My school
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Plata - My town
I'm hoping to update this at least once a week while I'm over there with many photos of the people I meet and the things I experience, and most important of all - my learning of the language!
I am very excited as I've already got in contact with my family, who seem pretty down-to-earth and very welcoming to my foreign self. I've also got in contact with another exchange student called Sophie who's been telling me that everyone is waiting for this New Zealand boy with the funky accent, so it's a bit more comforting that there's actually a lot of people waiting for me.
The only problem is that I haven't even started packing...I don't actually have a clue what to bring... I know there's the usual things like clothes, toothbrush, books...But what else? It's a lot more difficult packing for 5 months than just a 1 week camp.
Well, that's really all I can think of to say on my first post and I'll be returning to this in a couple of weeks. So i'll leave you with a picture of a map showing everyone where I'm actually staying and a few links to my school's website and city's wikipedia.
Adios amigos
http://www.nacio.unlp.edu.ar/ - My school
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Plata - My town
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