Chau Argentina.

I'm back. Living, breathing and experiencing life in my beloved Oregon.

Leaving Rosario was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Saying goodbye to all my friends in the program, to my friends in Rosario and to Marta. I will forever treasure all of them and all of the experiences we've had together.

Now that I'm back in the states, after an exhausting 24+ hours of flying, sitting in airports and lying to customs, I am beginning to reflect on these past three months. I look through my pictures, I read this blog, I unpack my things and cannot help but wonder if it was all just a dream.

Whatever it was, it has changed me and the rest of my life. I have the same name, I have the same clothes - although none of them fit my new South American body - but I am not the same person. I cannot wait to being sharing what I learned with all of you but most of all I cannot wait to see where this new life takes me.

And with that, I bid the blogging world farewell... until my next adventure.

Besos. Chau.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!

As of today I am officially on summer, soon to be winter, break! Sweet victory. Last night we took my friend Nicki to the bus terminal and said our final goodbyes since she has an earlier flight. While we had our final hugs and promised to visit each other soon - watch out Michigan, I'm coming for ya - I suddenly realized how real the end has become. I will never forget the moment Nicki and I met in the Houston airport, scared out of our minds for the three months to come. Little did we know what was in store for us...

I probably won't be blogging or internet-ing much more this weekend so here's my cute little itinerary for those of you who are interested: Friday is our farewell dinner, as well as my last day in Rosario. I leave for Buenos Aires Saturday morning where I'll spend the night, go to the zoo, enjoy my last lunch with Lacey and Morgan, and then head to the airport. Assuming I don't get lost or decide to miss my flight I should officially leave Argentine soil at 11 PM - 4 PM West Coast time - on Sunday. Then at an absurdly early hour on Monday I'll land in Houston, Texas before I depart for my beloved Oregon. Then, I rest my feet in my Birkenstocks, throw out some hugs and... sleep.

As for this thing below: I'm a nerd, and making slideshows is more fun than studying for finals.

85 Days Later.

The other day I was walking to my Human Rights final talking with my professor when she asked me how the past three months have been.

I wish the answer was as simple as the question.

It’s safe to say that the past 90 days have been the most challenging days of my 20 years of existence. I can also confidently say that I have never learned so much - about myself, about cultures or about God - as I have in these three months. In reality I don’t think I’ll ever be able to understand how much this experience has changed me. Every day my views and customs were challenged, I was a walking and talking representative of the United States, forced to ponder why I did the things I did, or thought the things I thought.

I have experienced both the worst and best days of my life in Argentina. These last three months have literally defined bittersweet for me. While I am excited for the endless possibilities being in an unofficial English speaking country has ahead of me, I am also preparing to miss my Spanish speaking alter-ego. We’ve been thru a lot together, me and Uu-endy.

I cannot count how many conversations about politics, religion, world issues or boys I’ve had with Marta. Conversations which I like to think challenged her thoughts of us US-ers. Also, in a matter of 13 weeks I have done some incredible things. For instance, I’ve seen the grave site of Evita Peron, waded in the Atlantic Ocean, ridden a roller-coaster in Uruguay, sat under waterfalls, gone zip-lining through the rainforest, and stayed up until sunrise eating ice cream… I’ve also made some amazing friends, learned more than any human should know about Che, had my heart broken over the history of Argentina, vomited in the Southern Hemisphere, and in theory picked up some Spanish along the way.

So, my blogging friends, now I find myself preparing to return to you, a changed woman, ready to bore you all to death with my endless stories and change the world along the way.

Watch out.

Tuesday night, November 24, 2009 at 9 o’clock Rosario, Argentina was precisely:

33℃ = 91.4℉

That’s hot.

Embracing the End.

Exactly one week from today I will be standing on beautiful Oregon land. As excited as I am to breathe in that clean, crisp air I still cannot fathom that this is my final week in Rosario. Finals have commenced and so has the reminiscing and goodbyes.

Things I’ll miss…

1. Time: In the states we view time as a burden, something that ruins our morning by forcing us out of bed, something that we watch with dread as the seconds slowly pass during the day, or something we wish we had more of as the years go by. Here time has an entirely different context. They simply don’t care. Go out, get dinner, sit and chat for six hours - it’s normal. The waiters don’t bring the bill until you ask them too. There is no sense of panic, no rush, just enjoying the company and relationships of those around you.
2. Nights: While I’ll never be a true Rosarino and stay out till 9 AM I do enjoy the freedom of being able to go get ice cream at 3 AM. It’s not only an option, it’s incredibly normal. Heck, 2 year olds are out getting ice cream then. I’ve also grown to love the late night dinners. At first this was excruciating, waiting till 9 or 10 o’clock to eat, but now it’s a very normal part of life for me.
3. Sweets: Alfajores, medialunas, dulce de leche, helado… Argentina knows what they’re doing when it comes to pastries and sugar.
4. Besos: It’s a well known fact that I’m a bad hugger but besos, I can do those. Every time someone greets another person or says goodbye they give kisses on the cheek. This includes entering and exiting from parties or group events, which means giving everyone a beso. Sometimes it’s tedious and not very time efficient but in the end I really do love it. It’s another example of how this culture is more focused on building relationships than being on time.
5. Cafes: Distinción and Zona. I cannot count how much time I’ve spent in these cafes. How many coffees I’ve drank or how many medialunas I’ve eaten. It really hasn’t hit me that they straight up don’t exist in the US.

Things I cannot wait to be reunited with…*

1. Birkenstocks
2. Flannel
3. Driving - a car, a bike, a scooter, anything…
4. Mexican food
5. Life without humidity, mosquitos and cockroaches

7 days my friends. 7 days.

* It should be noted that these lists reflect things I will miss, or things I already miss. Of course I miss you all back home and cannot wait to see all your beautiful faces again. That goes without saying.

Awkward Transitions.

Friday I had to say my first of many goodbyes. It was our last day volunteering at the school. I’m not going to lie, I dreaded going there every week but I still was on the verge of tears when the principal was thanking us for our time. He said he was “infinitely” grateful and that their doors were always open for us. It was so sweet.

To be honest though I didn’t really develop a relationship with the kids nearly as much as I did with the ladies in the kitchen. Roughly five women work there and they never cease to amaze me. Those women’ll touch anything, they’re all incredible cooks and they all have hearts of gold. I’ll never forget eating in the kitchen with them and explaining what an airplane is like, or what snow feels like. Seemingly simple things that I’ve never considered having to explain before.

On another educational note, when students graduate here they get egged and then flour gets dumped on them. It’s a messy madness.

This demonstration makes streets messy. Last night I had a funny experience on a street. Lacey and I were speaking English when a man interrupted us to ask where we were from - an all to common experience. After 10 minutes of awkwardly avoiding his attempts to go out with us, he sang us some tango songs. Right there. On the street. Stranger man busts out his tango voice.

Tango is a big deal in Argentina. So big in fact that they have special places where people go to dance tango, and folklore, called milongas. Everyone who goes there is at least 40 years old, except us. Three of my friends from the program have been learning tango for the past couple months and I finally got to go watch them on Friday night. It was a fantastic cultural experience and truly like another world.

Then, I saw…

Alicia.

My first host mom. A woman I never, ever thought I would see again. She’s a tango instructor so naturally she was there that night. It was the strangest thing to see her. While enjoying my final weekend here, I instantly was thrust back to memories of my first weekend in Rosario. It was one of those moments where I spent some time pondering… “Holy cow. Three months. Three freakin’ months.” I’m still slightly terrified of her though so I avoided her all night.

Luna Nueva.

It’s time for a little honesty. I like the Twilight series. Scratch that. I love Twilight. Naturally this means I went to see the world premier of New Moon, the second movie in the series, on Thursday night.

The Crew: Lacey, Morgan, Belén, Mailen and I

The Destination: The Showtime Cinemas at Alto Rosario “Shopping”*

The Strategy: Use our US world-premier-of-massive-chick-flick knowledge to arrive early, be first in line, first in the theater and most excited.

The Result: Complete success

I certainly never, ever thought I would attend the world premier of any movie in a foreign country. It was mind-boggling. Alto Shopping is like stepping into the US, except for the grasshoppers and unidentifiable bugs on the floors. The theater actually had assigned seating, which I think is kind of brilliant, but we still were the first ones in line. Seriously. I don’t even think there would have been a line if we hadn’t started it. Naturally this means we were the first ones in the theater. For those of you who have had the pleasure of experiencing the cinemas in Independence, rest assured, it’s BIGGER.

The movie itself was fantastic. A solid chick-flick with an audience filled with just enough 13 year old squealing girls.

It didn’t even phase me that I was in Argentina. Until we left the movie and began analyzing it in Spanish. Analyzing might imply that we were debating serious world issues, really we were arguing...

...Arguing over which boy was hotter.

TEAM EDWARD.

* Malls are called “shoppings” here. Go US cultural influences.

Facts.

1. Iguazu photographs have officially been posted.
2. My toesies are going to hit US soil in precisely 13 days.
3. The previous fact freaks me out.
4. My ankles are swollen.
5. Marta gave me 4 amazing gifts last night: 2 soccer jersies, 1.85 lbs of Dulce de Leche and a massive Mantecol Christmas candy-bar.

PS. I'll hopefully be adding more photos in the coming days, in case you're interested.

Speechless.

To put it simply, Iguazu took my breath away.

Never in my life have I had so many moments of awe and amazement. However, instead of giving you a boring play-by-play of my weekend I’m just going to describe some of my favorite and most surreal moments from each day.

“La Garganta del Diablo” - literally the Throat of the Devil. This waterfall was our first destination within Iguazu National Park on Friday morning. To get there we took a

short train-ride, then we walked for 15 minutes along bridges to cross the river. Along the way we began seeing the mist and hearing the roaring thunder: the anticipation was building. Then we came around the corner and saw this…

50+ rowdy college kids instantly fell silent. I wish I could explain to you how gorgeous it is. How something could be so powerful and deadly but still seem so soft and gentle.

From there we went to the Upper Trail to see more waterfalls. Except, this time we could see the entire jungle as well. I’ll be the first to claim that Oregon is green, full of luscious trees and nature, but less face it, Oregon ain’t got nothin’ on Iguazu.

Our adventures at the Park ended by taking a boat ride under the waterfalls. Yep. While you were all working and studying on Friday I was feeling the gentle pounding of Argentine waterfalls on my back. During the boat tour we also got extremely close to the shore of Brazil, so close in fact that I’m willing to claim we crossed the border line. So, I pretty much went to Brazil too. Kind of.

That’s one of the neat things about Iguazu - it is the intersection of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. So, Saturday morning we went to view the Three Frontiers monument. With a little practice and a lot of saliva I’m certain I could’ve spit on both Brazil and Paraguay. Or at least chucked a rock across the river.

In the afternoon we went on a rainforest adventure. It started with a hike, which I wasn’t the biggest fan of since the mosquitos loved me, despite 14 layers of “Off.” After the hike though I had one of the greatest experiences of my life: zip-lining thru the Argentine rainforest during a thunderstorm.

The rain and wind actually got so bad that only half of our group got to go, luckily I was in the first half. As I was flying through the trees, feeling the wind and rain on my face I couldn’t help but thank God for this experience and for creating such beauty for us to enjoy.

Once I landed on solid ground the rain turned to tropical rain STORM. So, we all joined hands, danced and skipped in a circle while we got completely soaked. Then we went off and repelled down a small mountain side.

Not exactly your standard weekend, but certainly one I will never, ever forget or take for granted.

Irak y Cuba.

It’s time. Time for Las Colectividades.

I found out about this event during the first week of classes and I’ve been looking forward to it for two months now. Picture the Scandinavian Festival, except bigger, tastier and global. Nearly every major country in the world - minus the USA, Mexico and Canada - is represented. Each country has a booth for food and most also have booths for entertainment where you can watching dancers, listen to music or watch bands. It starts every night around 10 PM and will be here all week. It’s pretty much amazing.

Last night we went with Belén and Romina who brought six of their friends. To summarize: I ate dinner in Iraq, watched drumming and dancing - by dancing I mean a 50 year old woman belly dancing - in Brazil, sipped on a Piña Colada in Cuba and reminisced on the smells of sauerkraut in Germany. While in Germany we also learned that many US Christmas songs, such as the Little Drummer Boy, are actually normal German songs. Or so the Rosarinos claim.

On another note: Tomorrow afternoon I’m leaving with my program to Iguazu Falls. It’s a 20 hour bus ride from Rosario and we’ll be gone till sunrise on Monday. I’m certain it’s going to be a life changing experience and I am freakishly excited. Get ready for a mega blog upon my return.

¡FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS A WESLEY Y A MI PADRE!

You Impregnated Me!

Saturday was fútbol day.

First a few explanations. Rosario has two soccer teams: Newell’s and Central. This rivalry isn’t like a college rivalry where you pick the school you attend, rather it’s entirely personal choice. Now add to the mix all the other teams throughout Argentina, for instance Boca Juniors and River Plate in Buenos Aires, and there ends up being an absurd amount of teams to chose from.

Personally I’m a Central girl - mostly because Marta wouldn’t let me live here if I chose Newell’s. However, despite our personal feelings we had to go to a Newell’s game on Saturday because Central doesn’t have any more home games while we’re here. The game was against River Plate from Buenos Aires. We bought tickets for the River Plate section since none of us were Newell’s, while this seemed like a good idea at the time, it wasn’t.

With only a small section being dedicated to visiting teams we ended up being in with the hardcore River Plate fans. Belén explained to us that some teams will actually “hire” people to lead cheers in their sections. Kind of like cheerleaders, except middle-aged, smelly, hairy, shirtless men. They take their roles extremely seriously and many of them have tattoos devoted to their team.

Right, now take five 20 year old girls, put them in the middle of a crowd of nasty old men smoking pot… That was my Saturday night.

It was actually a lot of fun though and we learned some sweet cheers which I’ve now successfully forgotten. We left early to go to a bar though because we feared for our lives.

Oh, then Lacey developed some weird rash, swollen hand, allergic reaction thing so Belén called her mom [who’s a nurse] and we went to the hospital so she could get a shot in her butt. Except it was a maternity hospital so we had a bunch of pregnancy talks while we waited. Including explaining the difficult verb: to impregnate.

We finished the night with empañadas and Buscando a Nemo.

Star Spangled Banner.

Yesterday I found myself in a seemingly unending park singing the Star Spangled Banner in Zavalla, Argentina. Just another moment to add to the list of surreal experiences I’ve had on this journey.

Lacey, Morgan, Belén, Gabriel [Belén’s brother] and I went to visit our friend Romina’s home town. Zeballas is about an hour bus ride from Rosario and is a small town of about 5,000 people… Obviously, I loved it. The six of us spent the afternoon in the park sipping mate, eating cookies and finding massive spiders.

Naturally, we wound up comparing the US and Argentina. Today’s topic was patriotism. We explained the Pledge of Allegiance to them, which was one of the weirdest things I’ve done in a while. I haven’t really thought about the POA since I was in grade school. The POA is nothing though compared to the granddaddy of US patriotism: The Star Spangled Banner. Which they insisted that we sing for them. I won’t lie, we stumbled and forgot some major chunks of the song but after a few tries we got in our groove and busted it out like true baseball fans.

Speaking of baseball… Yankees: 2009 World Champions. Holla!

After mate we went back to Romina’s house and spent the evening eating empañadas and looking through photo albums. Including all of her Quince* photos. We spent a couple hours hanging out with her family then caught the bus back to Rosario. Thus, another marathon day in the life of Wendy.

*Cultural note: Here girls either have a traditional Quinceanera party or they go on a trip to Disney World. Also, if you have no idea what I’m talking about you should Google it.

Bruno.

Marta is the kind of woman you’d want to have as your crazy grandma. The one everyone is scared of at first but ends up loving. I’ve decided she’s the official “crazy grandma” of our building.

Thus, Bruno entered my life. He’s 9 years old and lives on the floor below us. Marta and his mom are friends and talk to each other from their windows every night - it’s hilarious. I met Bruno a few weeks back when I came home early one day and caught him hanging out with Marta. He instantly got nervous and shy though so he left moments after my arrival.

Wendy Fact: I’m an awkward person and I thrive on awkward situations. Because of this for the past month I’ve been waving and getting super excited every time I saw him. In our building, at the local kiosk, on the street... Every time he would shyly look away and dismiss my presence.

Well folks, on Thursday, I won.

Morgan came over for dinner and we ran into Bruno on the street. I freaked out like usual and then he came over to see Marta. While Morgan and I were in my room he kept peering around the corner and watching us until I finally got him to come in and hang out with us. After a few minutes we got him to break out of his shell. It was all downhill from there. We spent the next two hours eating, laughing and best of all: practicing English.

Electric Romance.

When I arrived home from classes yesterday I knew something was off - literally. The elevators weren’t working but I figured it was a sign from God telling me to stop being so lazy. When I walked up the stairs though the lights weren’t turning on like normal, in fact it just kept getting darker, and darker, and darker. Then I heard Marta knocking on our neighbors door. I couldn’t see 3 inches in front of me but we found each other and she lead me to our apartment.

The electricity had gone out. Again.

On toasty days like yesterday, when everyone turns on their air conditioners, except us since we don’t have one, it gets to be too much and eventually the electricity just quits. It also probably didn’t help that it has be super stormy here lately. The sound of wind and rain has both put me to sleep and woken me up these past few nights.

Without light and without homework I had about 4 hours to kill with Marta since she wouldn’t be watching her movies like normal. So, we sat down to a nice romantic candle light dinner. I was instantly reminded of home and the best tradition ever: Bryant family candlelit dinners.

After dinner I shared some maps I had downloaded of the US and Oregon so I could better explain where things were. After I taught her geography lesson we spent the night going through all of my pictures: volleyball, graduation, Wanda, Seattle, Mexico, Uruguay, Cordoba... and best of all the Hood to Coast. She refused to believe me when I explained that monster of a relay to her. It was also a very surreal feeling when I showed her pictures of Uruguay - a place so close to Rosario and yet she has never been. I couldn’t help but realize how blessed I am to have had so many experiences in my life.

It actually turned out to be a really cute little night. Especially when we were both shuffling around the apartment with our candles to light the way.

Canal Cinco Maraton 2009.

I ran my first 10K today.

It’s gonna be tough to live up to it too. When Lacey and I made our way down to the river for the starting line we instantly realized this run was going to be fun. Hundreds of people had gathered and were clapping along to the live bands. For the first time in a long time I felt like I belonged here too. We were all wearing our matching shirts and I finally wasn’t “the girl from the US.”

Until some guy asked me to take his picture. Struggle.

Now for a play-by-play of the race. It started awesome, everyone counted down and was cheering like it was New Years. Then, the battle began. We ran. And ran. And ran. There were a few hiccups when people attempted to direct me in Spanish while I was bumpin’ to English music but I stuck with the old guys and tried to blend in.

At about the 7K mark we got to run through a tunnel. I am naturally a tunnel lover so running through one was even more special for me. While we were going through people started shouting and really took advantage of the echo factor. I chuckled. At this point I was still running. Then the thunder started. By the time I exited the tunnel it was downpour status. I was drenched within seconds but it was so amazing. At one point or another I finished this race too.

En fin. Canal Cinco Maraton was an awesome success.

40℃ ≠ 40℉.

I know you’re all probably surrounded by chilly, rainy weather but I want you all to take a moment and remember the heat, the misery and the sweat we experienced this summer. The week when your clothes became glued to your body the moment you sat down [especially in Volkswagens]. The week when fan custodial rights were debated. The week of horrid hotness.

Now imagine that heat and throw in massive amounts of humidity. Doesn’t that sound peachy? This my friends has been life in Rosario these past few days.

Hot.

Humid.

Hyenas.*

Friday may very well have been the peak of the heat thus far, it was also the day of our Gaucho Party! None of us actually understood what that meant until we finally experienced it. We were driven an hour and a half outside of Rosario into the countryside. There we took over someone’s ranch, had a massive asado** and enjoyed being in nature again. I love moments when I get the opportunity to reconnect with green rolling hills, fresh air and serenity. Every moment was surreal for me: Hanging out in the Argentine countryside, on a hot spring day, the day before Halloween. I don’t do that very often.

All in all this day was very enjoyable for me. Except when I produced 2 liters of sweat. Or when I walked into our inferno apartment and Marta informed me the water was out.

Fun Fact: Tomorrow (Sunday) Lacey and I are running in a 10K race. Why? Because we get shirts.

*Hyenas weren’t actually involved - although we did talk about them in my Che class the other day... But really I just needed a third “H” word.

** Think of a BBQ, except better, and Argentine.

USA.

I don’t say this very often so prepare yourselves... I’m proud to be a citizen of the United States of America. I would say “American” but I figure it’s better to be specific, and politically correct.

Argentines love to talk about politics. Seriously, it’s a sure-fire way to get Marta chatting when I don’t know what else to talk about. This past week my Human Rights class has been going over Argentine history since Peron’s first presidency. The dictatorships, the disappearances, the corruption and the controversy. It’s riveting.

I wish so badly this was a Disney movie and I could end it with a blissful happily ever after but truth be told I don’t know how much things have changed. Sure, people don’t mysteriously “disappear” and I don’t have to fear for my safety on a daily basis, but things are still so different than in the states.

A few examples: During the 1990s under the reign of President Menem - people here refuse to say his name because it’s bad luck - pardons were issued for people involved with the mass torturing, disappearances and killings of the Dictadura during late 70s. In 2001 there was a mega economic crisis in Argentina. I believe it was also this year that they set a record for the most presidents in a week: five. Five presidents in one week. Now the President is Christina Kirchner, the wife of the previous president. Confused? Probably. I’ll wrap this up. I’m gonna go ahead and say it: Argentina under Christina reminds me an awful lot of what is happening in Venezuela right now. In December a new law will be enacted in which news and media will be restricted. One of the most basic rights for us in the US will just be gone in Argentina.

Sorry for my little rant, I could really go off about this for hours. All I really wanted to say is that I am suddenly so grateful for all the rights and freedoms we have in the states. Things which I’ve never seriously questioned or thought twice about. Things which I loathed learning about in the 8th grade. Things which are now... precious to me.

Empanada Night!

I think I’m the only person in the world who updates their blog this much.

Yesterday I had one of those surreal, “I’m in Argentina” moments when I caught myself singing along to Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Somehow I found myself in an outdoor cafe decorated with hanging lights, local artwork and retro TVs with Lacey, Aniela and Malen. I felt like I was in a secret world within Italy. Best of all though there was a live concert as well.

While we wished we could’ve stayed there the rest of our lives Lacey, Morgan and I had to get back to my place for.. Empanada Night! Marta is a pretty competitive host-mom and she always gets sad that I never bring friends to our house so she made dinner to celebrate the end of Midterms. It was adorable. She got all dolled up - yep, makeup included - and set the cutest dinner table for us. Then we feasted.

This woman made 40 empanadas. Ten for each person. I lost count after 6 but I’d say I slammed a solid 10+. Of course we also needed dessert so she ordered a kilo and a half of our favorite ice creams: Frutilla strawberry, Banana Split, Oreo, Chocolate Almond, Chocolate Rochera and Coconut. I know we don’t use the metric system in the states but rest assured it was A LOT. We ate it all too.

Somewhere between all our eating we also had some hilarious conversations. It was fun getting to share her with Morgan and Lacey. It was also cute when only I could understand what she was saying - not because I’m good at Spanish but because we understand each other. By the end of the night the four of us had made a pact: Hermanas de Sangre Blood Sisters. Marta said it was like the Mafia and she’s the “Godmother.” I’m hoping the Argentine Mafia is nicer than the Italian one.

And now for my Spanish revelation of the week: I don’t have to translate Spanish to English nearly as much anymore. In fact it’s when I consciously try to that I get into trouble. The trouble is responding. I still have to formulate a sentence or question in English and then translate it. But at least I’m getting closer to victory?

Viernes.

I swear everyday feels like a year here. Every night I reflect on what I did and it always amazes me how much I can do and experience in one day. It’s a drastic change from my relaxing, tranquil Monmouth life.

First, a fun little apartment update for you. Thursday night just before dinner I was reading in my room when I overheard Marta frantically calling her son on the phone, “Tengo un problema de la casa.” Literally, “I have a problem of the house.” For the past week or so we’ve had a water problem. It started as a slight drip, then progressed to a drizzle, then she got a bucket out... Then, full on, non-stop steady stream of water in the kitchen sink.

While I was freaking out about the money aspect, Marta was terrified we were going to single-handedly drain the water tank which supplies the entire building. Luckily though on Friday morning, Juan, the door-man-porter-guy was able to come and fix it so rest of the building, and I, could take showers. Go Juan.

Once I was nice and sparkling clean it was time to go to the elementary school and serve up some hot lunches - on a hot, humid Rosario sauna day. It kind of defeated the purpose of the shower... Also, someday I’ll give you all a better explanation of what we do there, but not today.

After volunteering I didn’t want to go home so I ventured out on my own to do some shopping. At one point I went into a bookstore. Out of nowhere a waiter about my height, bald and probably 30 years old showed up. I was a little confused as to how he was going to help me find books but then again everything baffles me here. I quickly ditched him though and went on my way. However, when I was leaving he was waiting at the door. Long story short, about 10 minutes later I had convinced him that I don’t have a cell phone but rather a house phone, which I don’t know the number of. I’d also received his digits and may have implied that I’d actually use them. Sorry, Estanis Lao but it ain’t happenin’.

Later that night I met up with Lacey and our friend Belen - who’s probably reading this. Hola Belen! We intended to watch a movie but got distracted by talking and by the weather. At some point in the day it switched from overwhelming sunshine to blinding lightning, thunder and tropical rain storms. November in Rosario is going to be interesting.

Once we had sufficiently discussed the weather we went to dinner with our other friends Aniela and Malen. We ended up being at Oh Carols for about 5 hours that night talking about everything under the sun, in every language under the sun. Music, movies, boys, Quinces... In Spanish, English, Japanese and Arabic. Kind of. Also, they played the some awesome music there. Spice Girls, Oasis, Guns ‘n Roses and.. Coldplay. It’s safe to say I got excited.

At one point we agreed to switch and let them practice their English with us, which turned out to be incredibly challenging. For the first time in my life I actually felt more comfortable speaking Spanish than English. It was also fun for them to realize what we go through everyday and how exhausting it is. Ah, life abroad.

In the educational world: It’s worth noting that I officially survived Midterm Exam week. Holla. Also, not that any of you really care but I have unofficially decided to double major in Social Science and Spanish. Double holla.

Nerdy Coffee.

Me gustan palabras.

Words are pleasing to me.

Tuesday was a good day. Here are some words to give you an idea of what topics I discussed: Che Guevara, Juan & Evita Peron, Richard Nixon, the Cold War, Vietnam, Woodstock and Alcatraz.

Confession: I’m a nerd.

Dinner was good too. We had bratwursts, they call them choripan but let’s be real, the Germans clearly beat Argentina to this sausage in a bun. I asked Marta about everything I had learned today, basically so she could tell me the same things and I would already know what she was going to say. It’s a trick I use so she thinks I understand her. Anywho, then I rocked her world by informing her that the US CIA are the ones who killed Che Guevara and that Alcatraz is no longer an active prison but rather a tourist island.

Don’t worry, the night only got better from here. I then busted out pictures I have of Monmouth - thanks Kate! - including Rick’s Coffee, The Scoop, Kate’s cell phone, country roads and uhh.. my bedroom. Needless to say, I think Marta might move in with us.

Naturally this lead to a discussion of Rick’s and of US coffee in general. Marta is officially the first person I’ve ever met who doesn’t know what Starbucks is. Gold star. I then had the honor of explaining “coffee” in the states. Frappuccinos, mochas, tall-grande-venti - to which she replied, “You wouldn’t sleep for a year after drinking that!” - and most revolutionary of all, iced coffee.

Although, I must admit, I’m rather dreading returning to the states and having to pay $5 for a cup of coffee again. Here you only have to scrounge up 5 pesos ($1.30) to get a coffee and two medialunas. Amazing.

Also, a disturbing fact: I think I live with a woman who enjoys Fruit Cake. She calls it Pan Dulce (sweet bread) but it sounds disturbingly similar to the infamous Fruit Cake: A tough, durable, strong bread with fruits which is only consumed during Christmas season.

Wow. Who knew I could write so much about history and coffee.