5x3: a work in progress.

First 5 are the things I am most proud of. Last 3 are areas on where I can improve the most.

1.language advancement
- For only having been submerced in spanish for about 4 months, my spanish is wonderful! I am always having natives compliment me on how well I speak, especially for how little time I have been here. It is hard to think in english these days, and sometimes I can´t remember english words. I speak "spanglish" often, and my english has gotten so much worse. Good right? hahah.

2. understanding
- I had to go through a lot of cultural understanding involving my family, specifically my mother. It came at me so fast that I was shocked when confronted with it. It never feels good to feel like someone who you trusted and loved so much is attacking you out of the blue. That being said, I took it all in stride, and changed myself without question instead of arguing. I feel that even if my family here does not recognize the strides I have been taking I know I have tried my best to continue to understand the culture here and acostome myself to it. Aside from my family here, and the natives, I have also learned from the other 14 exchange students here from all around the world. Having conversations about the differences in culture from their countries to Argentina, and from my country to theirs. Understanding other cultures and understanding how they perceive mine has played a large role in my personal growth so far, and I´m very proud of that.

3. keeping busy
-Ever since I have arrived here I have tried to get involved in whatever activities possible. Whether it was hanging out with new people, going to new places, trying new things, or joining clubs. I have not had many dull moments in my stay here,and most of the thanks goes to my family for helping find things to do. They have been great with helping me find places to go , and explaining what I need to do to get there. Keeping busy has not only stolen away from any sort of missing home, but also provided new outlooks on the culture, and last but not least KEPT ME BUSY!

4. making friends
- There isn´t much more to this than just actually making friends, but I can explain how I have done it. My classmates are wonderful, and they enjoy me as much as I enjoy them. They introduce me to others in our school which leads to them introducing me to their friends and so on.
Meeting new people on Facebook. Facebook has been an amazing tool for meeting new people and scheduling things to do. I have met at least 20 new people through Facebook that I didnt know before hand, but then meet up with at some point. Last but not least, parties. It may sound bad, but when going out on the weekends and dancing with new people, friends become easy to make. I have so many friends here, and am going to remember each individual impact they had on me.

5.growing as a person
- I believe all the above describes why I feel this way. My dad, sister, and mother in the U.S have told me they see positive changes in me even through skype! I can tell I am changing even though I am not always sure in which specific areas. I am excited to show everyone who I have become when I get back!

3 areas for improvement:

1.Asking questions
-I plan to continue to take caution with everything I do as long as I am in a foreign atmosphere, especially by asking questions about how even the most simple task is done. By continuing to be proactive like this I will preemptively avoid many possible confrontations in the future.

2.Thinking about the perspective of others first
-I have to continualy remind myself that not even the smallest things are the same as I am used to.When I stop and think about how it may come across in another culture, I am 2 times more likely to ask a question. I will continualy keep in mind this step in order to flow smoothly for the rest of my time here and to make the best impression possible through understanding.

3.Language
- ALWAYS ask questions and not be afraid to try and speak. I haven´t had any issue with this, yet I want to become completely fluent by the end of my voyage, so must work hard at this!

Today's blog post was brought to you by the letter z and the number 14.

School

I recently started my first "real" year of school at La Fray; the school I attended for the final 2 weeks last year. I have the same classmates as last year with only the usual changes such as people moving schools ,and other moving in.

Slipping into my uniform as I stumbled around my room at 7 a.m in the morning felt unusually comfortable..Have I really become used to Argentina? Hmmm lets not get to far ahead of ourselves here. Afterall I have learned from a past of feeling comfortable too early...

In school the first days are just like the first days in the U.S. Teachers go over the general expectations,guidelines, rules, and course requirements. The difference is that you are taking 18 to 19 courses..Yes 19.

You take each of your 19 courses once or twice a week depending on the course. This makes for a nice mixture of subjects,but we´ll see how confusing it may or may not get as the year goes on.

Cargando...

Things i learned today....

Culture is different.

Things are not always as they appear.

You can not live like you did at home.

There are always questions to be ask, and you can never ask too little.

People will not alway tell you what they mean.

The mom rules all.

The knowledge of a language or the lack there of can complicate a situation more than anything else.

Blood is thicker than water.

It's best to learn and move on.

the reason someone gets upset with you is because they want the best for you

Right now I am watching "El Superclasico del Argentina"; which is the biggest soccer game of the year. This game features the two biggest fan-based teams in Argentina which both are rooted in Buenos Aires la capital. If you are argentino you are almost always either a fan of Boca Jrs. or of River. I am a fan of the best..BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCCCCCCCCCCCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahem hem...sorry about that outburst..

Argentina is just about half and half of people who represent Boca Jrs. or River (a.k.a the devils).

The colors:

Boca: Blue and Yellow

River: Red, White, and Black

Baby, your a firework!

Yesterday there was a fireworks show on top of the Mt. next to El Dique (the lake). I went with 6 exchange students and 2 sisters of exchange students. We sat at the top of the hill amongst a mob of people, vendors, and smoke from meat cooking. I ate an 8 peso chori-pan (fancy type of brautwerst) and I also "consumed" my first candied apple...That was an experience...never again. The delicious apple was not worth the price my poor teath payed for trying to bite into hard candy on the outside..Once the fireworks started everyone just stood there and watched of course, but they lasted about 10 mins or so. The sad part is that these fireworks were better than the ones I saw on July 4th in the U.S....Our independence day....
The whole night was a great success,but then again anytime you spend with the people you love it is going to be great:)

Sweet Times at La Fray High

"Tomorrow is my first day of school! FINALLY.. I haven't been to school since June 6th. Woah that is a long summer; even though it wasn't always fun and games. My school's name is La Fray, and is named after.....I forget, but I will let you know later. My uniform consists of a

light blue shirt, grey pants, and shoes. School starts at 7:20 and ends at around 12 ish. I will be put into a class that will

be my class for the remaining 2 weeks of the year, and I will have different teachers for each subject come to my class to teach. The class that I am in is about 30 kids more or less, and they have been in the same class with each other ever since school started! They have a family-like bond that can be very intimidating to a new person. "- Miles before first day of school.

Miles after 2 weeks of school- "My school not only functions as the largest public school in Catamarca, but the University of Catamarca. It is huge! Pictures to come :) It has tons of classes that are about 20x25 and 7 kioskos for food and drink. It is practically a group hang out spot that technically we all have to be at for a certain amount of time. I "have" 5 "classes" that I "attend" each day, and they last for about a little more than an hour. In between periods we have 15, 10, and 5 minute breaks in which everyone leaves thier classroom to converse with others in the courtyards, play futból, buy snacks, or flirt with the opposite sex. This whole side of the story is skewed because I have only attended the very last 2 weeks of school, so I can't give you the whole side of the story. That being said so far school is a breeze. :)"

Random Thought: Technically this week we "have" "school", but you only have to go if you have tests or what not to make up. Here in school, there is no REAL attendence.. Yes the teacher at the beginning of the day takes attendence, but you dont get in trouble even if you dont come to school for 3 months straight. The jist is..everything here involving school is much more lax..Ha at that, everything here is more lax!:D Ill elaborate on the next or later post.

For now I am sorry for not writing, and I am also bored of this subject. I will probably randomely elaborate on it through other posts on accident. As for now.

O'reavau. (or however you spell it )

Glacier!

Have you ever been on a glacier? Have you ever even seen a glacier in person? Have you ever drank the water that flows from a glacier? I have. Not many people can say that they have even ever seen a glacier in person let alone hike on it and devour the blood of the beast.

Seeing a glacier:

Woah! How did this happen? Where did it come from? How is it still here? These are questions you ask yourself when happening upon a glacier. The incredible mass that is just staring you in the face saying , "yea, that's right", leaves you completely breathless and lost for words.

Hiking on a glacier:

Once suited up with your trekking cleats attatched to your shoes, you begin the adventure. Stepping onto the glaciar feels like walking on a glacier. Whatever you would imagine, it is just that. A glacier is like a kid's playground because when you are on it you just want to run all over it and explore the whole thing! At any moment you feel as though one slip and you could break your neck, so you have to respect the glacier.

Drinking the water of a glacier:

Certainly this water is better than "Ice Mountain". Imagine drinking the most naturaly purified crisp water that has been chilled to the perfect refreshing temperature. There is no other way to describe it, glacier water is the best water you will ever drink.

More to come on other nature items.