The Blogs are becomed distanced..

As I have noticed, my blogs are becoming a lot more distanced from the previous blog post. And right now as It's a lazy sunday afternoon, I decided I have the time to write one. The only problem is that I can't remember what I've done over the passed two weeks so I'm just going to update everything I guess.

First of all, my language, As I came here on a scholarship focusing entirely on improvement of language, It means I have to constantly monitor how my language is improving, or declining...like my english for example. I'm too lazy to edit this whole blog, so you'll see how much my english gets. But, I'd like to say my spanish is improving but I don't really think it's a matter of improvement or just being confident with how fast you speak it, I'm pretty sure my spanish is the same level as it was before I left..But I can easily make sentences now without having to think of the verb, how to conjugate it and then actually pronounce it. Also my listening is becoming better as I am now able to understand most of new peoples voices, Like the TV...I can even hear the accent between someone from spain and someone from here! Apart from my Spanish and English are going, I've also started Chinese classes as a bit of a challenge and I'm thoroughly enjoying the side culture of China!

Second update, my schoolwork and friends. Because I am beginning to understand the TV and newer voices, I can now understand the majority of what my teacher is asking me to do and can actually do homework. Also along with all this, I've realised that I can help people with their French, Maths or English homework if they help me with Literature, Media studies or Production Techniques. I feel a little more settled into my school now as I can make my way around the classrooms and find where all the little offices are and such, and don't always have to follow friends like a lost sheep. My friends are still as awesome and friendly as they were from the start and I really don't want to leave them. I'm already dreading having to make the experiences I have now into memories...But I hope that I can skype or visit them a couple of years time after I have a degree, hopefully in Modern Languages and Linguistics in general. Then I can continue my great argentinian adventure!

Something I have noticed about Argentinians is that they are all really into their soccer. ALL OF THEM. I don't know how many times Ive had to explain that in New Zealand, we don't really have the same thing with rugby or soccer, I know we do.. But I've decided that New Zealand in general is more about their National teams than regional teams, I doubt many of you know all the rugby players ages for the warriors.. And just now my brother just shouted GOAL from his room and walked out cheering... hahaha. Also here, you HAVE to have a team, I'm with my family who's Gimnasia, just like the rest of my neighbourhood. But then my class is Estudiantes, so you get real pressured to choose between them, hahaha. The other day we went to one of the more tougher games for Gimnasia, we came out with 0 - 0 so we we're thankful that we didnt lose! But It was quite an experience to be part of an exciting crowd, you really learn a lot about the culture by getting right into it.. Also they have this giant banner that goes down across the whole of the crowd to show who's boss! Oh and then there was another thing I thought was rather funny, when there was a little dedication about the Malvinas, the crowd started jumping up and down shouting that whoever doesn't jump is an englishman!

Heres a photo of the banner...

Aswell, as the being part of the culture, so is going out...Just like New Zealand minus the binge drinking and adding more to the actual dancing. ITS A LOT OF FUN. They have this music here called cumbia, it's kinda like the same beat the whole time, everyone hates it here but still listens to it in the clubs, exactly like how every hates dubstep but still listen to it. The fiesta I went to two nights ago was organized by my school year for the end of year trips that they have in their final year, They really know how to fundraise here.. anywho, So seeing as it was organized by my year, we all got in for free with our VIP bands which also entitled us to arrive there in the buses. Completely free. They buses were probably my favourite bit as everyone was yelling at the top of their lungs, waving out the windows and slapping the roof yelling about how much they love their school and hate the rival school hahaha. This bracelet also entitles me to the next party next weekend so I guess I might try go to that aswell...if it wasn't for the fact that we're moving house the next day...I dont think I want to die..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR__WMtmN90 My Brother just told me to show everyone this song. This is a famous cumbia song...I just realised that they all look like douchebags when they dance aswell...

Anyway, I can't really think of anything else to update everyone on, but I'm going to go skype my family soon and leave you with a photo of me at the club, I keep getting told that I've already become and argentinian...this photo kinda proves it.

Well, in the next few days, I'm going to get some maple syrup off Sophie and finally cook pancakes with maple syrup, fried banana and bacon. Oh how I miss that so much! I hope you're all having fun with Escuela, NCEA, University, Work or whatever else your doing! And I'll see you all very soon! 

 

Easter Weekend and such!

Dear Blog,

I have now reached week 6(?) of my overseas adventure and I feel like I’ve have finally settled into life here. I even went for my spontaneous bikeride that I sometimes did in New Zealand... The Spanish language is becoming a lot easier to understand and I feel like I can reply to most things with knowledge that what I’m saying is as correct as it’s ever going to be. The slightly annoying thing is that this isn’t actually Spanish that I learnt at school and will have end of year exams with, this is Castellano Spanish and then it further develops into the regional version of Castellano Spanish which is known as Español Rioplatense. Also my English is going down the drain as a few of you may have noticed when I talk to you on Facebook. However all in all, I can understand Spanish in general now...most of the time. Anywho, in this post I’m going to write about a few of the little things that have happened over the past few weeks, beginning wiiiithhhhh “El Boliche”.

El Boliche is what they call a night club here, and some of my class mates we’re buying tickets to the opening of a club or something like that, and it was open for all school students in La Plata...I think. I was a bit sketchy on the details but went along anyway. I can’t remember if I mentioned this before but fiestas here start at like 11ish and go till about 5-6am. They sure know how to party. SO my amigos and I went to a house before hand, got ready and made our way to town at 1am when everything was only really just starting. IT WAS PACKED. I had to wait in a line for around 30 minutes explaining to people that we all don’t play rugby in New Zealand and how I’m pretty sure more people play soccer... Once I finally made it inside we kinda squirmed our way around people and found a small patch of air where some more classmates were, we danced, talked and complained about  the lack of the space the whole night, apart from my bathroom mishap where I needed to pee, and we went to the bathroom and there was 3 identical walls and the taps and people were peeing on whatever wall they choose...so I thought. So I did the same, after 5 seconds I was kicked out and my friend was trying to explain that I wasn’t drunk for peeing on the wrong wall, just foreign. So here’s a tip everyone, when peeing on a wall, make sure it’s a wall you’re allowed to pee on. And after that mishap I returned to the cramped area and then we all decided to leave and sit outside and hangout, that was a lot nicer.. They all explained that the boliches aren’t normally that packed and so I think we’re all going to come back another night. Supposedly they don’t really care too much about ID here, I can just casually buy a bottle of Vodka if I want...

Speaking of which, My AFS advisor, Jose Luis, and I went to a pub the other night and had a beer each. I felt like a real man with my frothy mug and all, It was great. Also the other night was the 21^st birthday of my other AFS advisor who went to NZ on exchange and knows what my culture is. SO I went to his small fiesta at his apartment and hung out with the other AFS Volunteers all night as I was a bit younger than the others, I still had a lot of fun explaining swear words and when to use certain ones.  I hope Joaquin had a good pre-birthday fiesta and I hope his second one will be just as fun and better! Happy birthday again! Also the AFS girls of La Plata, you best be coming to this one. :P

Also, that little fiesta was the beginning of my long Easter weekend of laziness. Ah, bliss. Staying up late, sleeping all day, speaking a foreign language, and visiting family AND A THEMEPARK...That’s the life I want to lead. Let’s skip straight to the traditions of Easter first. Luckily enough, they have the same ones with the chocolate eggs, so I didn’t feel too far from home, we only ate two giant ones amongst each other, but it was still so good. Apart from that, as this is a country with a high catholic population, there was a lot of church services and a giant parade in La Plata and Buenos Aires celebrating Jesus and the resurrection, I kinda half wanted to go, but I only discovered it when we were watching it live on TV. Practically Jesus wanders through town with the cross and everyone follows him. It looked really neat! Apart from the religious side of Easter, we went and visited the family aswell, Grandma, Aunty, Uncle and the cousins! Such a cute family I have! We had “Asado” which is an Argentinian BBQ containing different types of meat and the famous Spanish sausage “Chorizo” It was riquísimo! But In the end, Easter still had the same feel as Easter always had and I’m pleased about that.

And for my final topic, THE THEMEPARK. Hahaha, I’m kidding, it wasn’t really a theme park with a log flume and giant rollercoaster, it was more or less a miniature Disney land hence the name, “El Republico de los Niños” which translates to “The Childrens Republic”. It’s a park made for kids and literally run by kids, the town has a vote for which child they want to be the president of the place and then that child becomes president. Simple as that! Anywho, It had little castles all over the place, a giant lake where you could rent rows boats or go on a pirate ship ride, a train that went round and round the park and if you haven’t seen my photos on Facebook yet, there was a live show of Spanish Aladdin right before the park closed! That park was a lot of fun, I want to go park and explore the rest of it, it was honestly so massive...I think, I ‘m pretty sure couldn’t actually see the barrier fence the whole time I was in there...

Well it’s 11:30pm now and I haven’t been going to bed early because it’s been such a long weekend... and so I gotta be ready to look my best at school as the token Kiwi boy. I don’t think I have anyother label apart from not being able to play volleyball at all... haha :(.
Just so everyone knows, I do miss you all and think of New Zealand every now and then but I’m also in love with my temporary home at the moment so you’ll all just have to wait for my return halfway through the year, keep living awesome lives everyone and I’ll post another blog soon!

CHAU!

PS: Just tried to add photos, but the internet is being lame, so you'll have to go to my Facebook to see pictures sorry. :)