So my lovely Chile trip had to come to an end (like all trips do) and it was time for me to go back to sweltering Argentina. So I did my last load of laundry and packed up my bags with a few extras: Jam. Blackberry jam, Rasberry Jam and Fruits of the South Jam (specialty jam from Chile).
So Thursday morning I got up probably the earliest at of all of my vacation (7:50 a.m.) showered, ate, and packed my last minute items (toothbrush, jammies, and shampoo stuff) and organized my backpack in such a way that would be most beneficial and safe for me (remember I was traveling alone). Than I waited. I heard Tio Ewaldo tinkering around in the kitchen so I just patiently waited while talking to Pink. At about 9:20 a.m. Tio Ewaldo comes into mine and Pink's room and says "I have been waiting for you to eat breakfast. I went to into the kitchen and it looked as though no one had eaten so I have been waiting for you to eat." Now just remember I did eat, I am just an extremely clean girl and Tio couldn't even tell that I had been in the kitchen and eaten my breakfast. side note: they keep a very emaculate house. (Mom aren't you proud of me?)
So my bus was leaving at 10:00 a.m. and we were a fair distance away from the bus terminal so we said a prayer with the family and we jetted off. It was a good thing we prayed for safe traveling mercies because we were weaving in and out of traffic at 140 kms an hour. Now I really don't know how fast that is in MPH, but let me tell you it was scary.
We made it to the terminal with 10 minutes to spare and as I am asking at the AndesMar desk where my bus stop was at and I hear a voice say (in English mind you) "taleah how was your trip?" I look and it is my friend ShaLondra. I was so excited to see her. It turns out that she and a group of about 3 other ACA girls were going to be taking the same Buses that I was back to the UAP so now I wouldn't be alone! Hooray.
I got on the bus that would take me across the border to Mendoza and it was filled with catholic missionaries who were very boastrous, but nice. They were going to build a school somewhere in Argentina so they were really hyped up. To go through customs it only took 2 1/2 hours which was really nice and than we made on our Merry way to Mendoza, ARgentina.
We get to Mendoza and decide to eat at the mall. As I walk into the foodcourt I realize that I am back in the land of meat and starch and no options. So I decided to settle for Noquis (potatoe pasta) with Mashed potato balls and a Pepsi (yes I actually had pepsi in south america it is a miracle). Than we raced back to the terminal and hoped on our bus that would take us to Parana in only a short 13 hours.
Let me tell you that it was the longest 13 hours of my life. It was interesting though. An older guy was sitting next to me and after trying to talk to him I realized he couldn't speak because he was suffering from Parkinsons. His daughter and wife were sitting in front of us. It seemed all good. I had it quiet to myself except when the daughter would stare at me for a while (she was about 8 or 9). It didn't bother me until about 2 a.m though when I wanted to sleep, but this weird child kept on looking at me.
At 4 a.m. I was startled awake because this family had to get off the bus. The husband and wife moved fast, but the daughter didn't move at all, she was dead asleep. The mother tried to wake her up, but it was not working. The daughter was deader than a doornail. They started yelling and she actually started making noise, but it was quite obvious that she did not want to wake up at all. Now there are people waiting for these seat 3 men to be exact and we need to get on going, we do not want to be in the bus for longer than we need to be. THe mother now is smacking the girl (not really hard) and saying "let's go, people need there seats" the little girl just whimpers. The father has had enough of this so he tries to step in and pulls her and tells her (he actually spoke I was surprised) "get up now!" She doesn't so he starts smacking her (not as nice as the mother) she starts crying loudly and says "I'm going I'm going."
She wasn't going anywhere.
They can't get her to move and so they start pulling her out of the seat, but she is a chunkster and her parents are a bit small so it wasn't working very well. The parents continue telling her its time to go and smacking her, but nothing helps it only makes the little girl yell and scream louder, it actually was a quite terrifying noise. The three men try to help pull her out it is hard but they manage to pull her to the stairs (this is a double decker bus) the mother is now telling the girl "you are embarrasing me, get up now!" Nothing is really helping though. THey still can't get the girl off or quiet. They finally dump water on her and she yells and screams off the bus. It was a quite tramatic experience let me tell you. (I think mostly because it was at 4 a.m.) I however was quite glad when they got off and I was able to relax in peace (I don't know if I could have slept though).
After what seemed like an eternity we made it to Parana, grabbed a bus that went to DIamante (about 20 km from the UAP) and than grabbed another bus to Libertador San Martin (home of the UAP). We made it from Santiago, Chile to La UAP in 26 hrs. I was so happy to get off the bus and back into the familiar little Villa, I had missed it.
So thank you all for your prayers. I am safe, my stuff is safe and soon I will be rested.
what a good vacation.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Years in Chile!
So it is finally 2008 and I really can´t believe that I am actually in Santiago, Chile to celebrate it. It was quite an interesting experience. Here is how it went.
So because we are good Adventists the family decided to celebrate New Year´s at Sundown with a nice dinner. So we sat down to Dinner about 9:45 p.m. and had a lovely dinner and chatted and just had some good family time. Side note: I was actually able to participate in this conversation unlike the Christmas Dinner conversation. I was very proud of myself.
So after dinner we cleaned up and got ready to go watch the fireworks at El Centro de Santiago. As we were nearing El Centro we could see cars all up and down the city streets and the overpasses (we were on the autopista or freeway if you will) and people just crawling the streets. We get off the autopista and park in a little parking lot and start joining the crowd of people to this one bridge like overpass that gives a straight view of this Tower that is the center of the fireworks show.
After being covered in confetti we finally got to the top of the bridge and let me tell you the sight was pretty amazing. People crowded on this bridge confetti streaming everywhere the streets below also filled with people and confetti, wow it was awesome.
One minute before New Years and the confetti really started going and people´s champagne bottles started to pop. I froze because I did not want to get any champagne on me (ewww gross smell) and I thought that it was quite dangerous to let the corks go flying in such a small confined area with people whose eyes could be poked out by a mysterious flying cork. However never fear I was not hit by either (the cork or the horrid alcohol) and was able to enjoy the fireworks. It was so much fun to see them in such a crowd that was so hyped up.
Than we returned home, but it took forever because the rodes were full of cars and pedestrians. Important note: They do not care about pedestrians here. If you are walking in the street be aware because you will probably be hit. THe cars speed up when there are pedestrians. They do not care. So stay on the sidewalks or in the site of a police officer. So we just turned up the radio and sang along with the VIllage People to "YMCA". It was a blast. And because south america doesn´t care about the language difference we rocked out to other American oldie favorites. So all in all it was a good time.
We got home safely (sigh of relief), drank our sparkling cider (hooray!) and me and Pink went to bed around 4 a.m. and I woke up around 12 p.m. the next day. Fun fun fun.
Feliz Año Neuvo!!!
NOTE: I JUST ate my FIRST BLUEBERRY MUFFIN IN SOUTH AMERICA. IT WAS AMAZING!!! THE END
So because we are good Adventists the family decided to celebrate New Year´s at Sundown with a nice dinner. So we sat down to Dinner about 9:45 p.m. and had a lovely dinner and chatted and just had some good family time. Side note: I was actually able to participate in this conversation unlike the Christmas Dinner conversation. I was very proud of myself.
So after dinner we cleaned up and got ready to go watch the fireworks at El Centro de Santiago. As we were nearing El Centro we could see cars all up and down the city streets and the overpasses (we were on the autopista or freeway if you will) and people just crawling the streets. We get off the autopista and park in a little parking lot and start joining the crowd of people to this one bridge like overpass that gives a straight view of this Tower that is the center of the fireworks show.
After being covered in confetti we finally got to the top of the bridge and let me tell you the sight was pretty amazing. People crowded on this bridge confetti streaming everywhere the streets below also filled with people and confetti, wow it was awesome.
One minute before New Years and the confetti really started going and people´s champagne bottles started to pop. I froze because I did not want to get any champagne on me (ewww gross smell) and I thought that it was quite dangerous to let the corks go flying in such a small confined area with people whose eyes could be poked out by a mysterious flying cork. However never fear I was not hit by either (the cork or the horrid alcohol) and was able to enjoy the fireworks. It was so much fun to see them in such a crowd that was so hyped up.
Than we returned home, but it took forever because the rodes were full of cars and pedestrians. Important note: They do not care about pedestrians here. If you are walking in the street be aware because you will probably be hit. THe cars speed up when there are pedestrians. They do not care. So stay on the sidewalks or in the site of a police officer. So we just turned up the radio and sang along with the VIllage People to "YMCA". It was a blast. And because south america doesn´t care about the language difference we rocked out to other American oldie favorites. So all in all it was a good time.
We got home safely (sigh of relief), drank our sparkling cider (hooray!) and me and Pink went to bed around 4 a.m. and I woke up around 12 p.m. the next day. Fun fun fun.
Feliz Año Neuvo!!!
NOTE: I JUST ate my FIRST BLUEBERRY MUFFIN IN SOUTH AMERICA. IT WAS AMAZING!!! THE END
Christmas Day in Chile
So basically everything Christmassy happened Christmas Eve night. However for Christmas day we went to Viña del Mar. It was really cool because that is where the beach is. I can now say that I have had Christmas at the beach.
We also toured around the city. It is really big. This is also where the Navy is and all the Military schools, Congress and stuff like that.
Christmas was cool.
We also toured around the city. It is really big. This is also where the Navy is and all the Military schools, Congress and stuff like that.
Christmas was cool.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas in Chile
So I have just finished the christmas experience in Chile man oh man was I tired. (So I actually had to sleep before writing this because I was sooooooooo extremely tired. Read on and you will know why.)
So at this house we start the festivities on Christmas Eve. There is a huge dinner and we eat and talk and enjoy one anothers company. I thought in my mind great dinner! HOwever this dinner is at the time when the vampires come out to play because we sat down at the table at 11:00 p.m. at night. (one of the reasons why I was very tired)
The guests for dinner including me and one of Barbara´s (the older sister) friends Patricio who is a very important political scientist. He teaches at NYU half the year and than in Chile for the other half, he writes for a periodical too and I am sure a lot of other stuff also. It was pretty amazing to have such an important person at the Christmas table.
Table conversation was very interesting since we had the political scientist for dinner ("No speaking of politics at the table" rule went out the window last night). Number one because in Chile they speak uber fast and it is very hard to keep up. Second because he was talking about American politics a lot. Thus it was easier for me to stay in the conversation. (Now when I say "stay" in the conversation I mean listening. I hardly speak when they are rattling off because once I understand what they are saying and translate my comment they are already on a new topic. Chile is where they speak the fastest spanish.) All in all I enjoyed my dinner conversation immensely.
For dinner we had: Asparagus, Peas, Corn, Turkey (not the vegetarian friendly type), Potato balls (very delicious), Salad, Ranch Dressing, Palmitos, Apple Sauce (usually used for the turkey, but I put it on my potato balls and I think I have a new favorite combination-potatoes and applesauce. Try it.). Than for desert we had an ice cream cake type thing, christmas cookies (made by me and Pink), Pan de Pasquas (Panitoni bread) and hot chocolate. This feast ended at 1:00 a.m. You read right. ONE A.M. (second reason why I was uber tired)
However the night went on.
The father and Barbara took the other guest home and I went on the computer to skype my family. Who just basically hung up on me because they were having a Christmas Eve party and to busy to talk to their daughter who is in another continent in a foreign speaking country, without any family or anyone. BOO-HOO-HOO. (If you haven´t noticed I am putting on the guilt trip and to fix this pain that you guys have caused you can deposit more money in my account. thanks much appreciated =p )
Barbara and Tio Ewaldo (that is what I call him) got back around 2:20 a.m. and we opened gifts. I was so surprised too. THis family who has graciously opened their home to me also got me stuff. It was soooooooooooooo nice. I am so blessed to have such a loving family to stay with. THye gave me some jammies, nice lotion, some pilates pants (the mother is a pilates instructor) and a fun beach towel. It was so nice of them. I got them all bath sets (you know the ones with bubble bath, shampoo, conditioner, scrubies and bath salts.) It was a fabulous christmas. We finished all these activities at 3 something a.m.
At four a.m.I went to bed. I was so tired. I woke up at 11 a.m.
It was a great chilean christmas. How I loved it, but now i need to take a nap.
FELIZ NAVIDAD!
So at this house we start the festivities on Christmas Eve. There is a huge dinner and we eat and talk and enjoy one anothers company. I thought in my mind great dinner! HOwever this dinner is at the time when the vampires come out to play because we sat down at the table at 11:00 p.m. at night. (one of the reasons why I was very tired)
The guests for dinner including me and one of Barbara´s (the older sister) friends Patricio who is a very important political scientist. He teaches at NYU half the year and than in Chile for the other half, he writes for a periodical too and I am sure a lot of other stuff also. It was pretty amazing to have such an important person at the Christmas table.
Table conversation was very interesting since we had the political scientist for dinner ("No speaking of politics at the table" rule went out the window last night). Number one because in Chile they speak uber fast and it is very hard to keep up. Second because he was talking about American politics a lot. Thus it was easier for me to stay in the conversation. (Now when I say "stay" in the conversation I mean listening. I hardly speak when they are rattling off because once I understand what they are saying and translate my comment they are already on a new topic. Chile is where they speak the fastest spanish.) All in all I enjoyed my dinner conversation immensely.
For dinner we had: Asparagus, Peas, Corn, Turkey (not the vegetarian friendly type), Potato balls (very delicious), Salad, Ranch Dressing, Palmitos, Apple Sauce (usually used for the turkey, but I put it on my potato balls and I think I have a new favorite combination-potatoes and applesauce. Try it.). Than for desert we had an ice cream cake type thing, christmas cookies (made by me and Pink), Pan de Pasquas (Panitoni bread) and hot chocolate. This feast ended at 1:00 a.m. You read right. ONE A.M. (second reason why I was uber tired)
However the night went on.
The father and Barbara took the other guest home and I went on the computer to skype my family. Who just basically hung up on me because they were having a Christmas Eve party and to busy to talk to their daughter who is in another continent in a foreign speaking country, without any family or anyone. BOO-HOO-HOO. (If you haven´t noticed I am putting on the guilt trip and to fix this pain that you guys have caused you can deposit more money in my account. thanks much appreciated =p )
Barbara and Tio Ewaldo (that is what I call him) got back around 2:20 a.m. and we opened gifts. I was so surprised too. THis family who has graciously opened their home to me also got me stuff. It was soooooooooooooo nice. I am so blessed to have such a loving family to stay with. THye gave me some jammies, nice lotion, some pilates pants (the mother is a pilates instructor) and a fun beach towel. It was so nice of them. I got them all bath sets (you know the ones with bubble bath, shampoo, conditioner, scrubies and bath salts.) It was a fabulous christmas. We finished all these activities at 3 something a.m.
At four a.m.I went to bed. I was so tired. I woke up at 11 a.m.
It was a great chilean christmas. How I loved it, but now i need to take a nap.
FELIZ NAVIDAD!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Sabbath in Chile
You would think that Sabbath in another country with another family would be different, but thanks to the Adventist culture that spans across the world it really wasn´t.
I woke up got ready, ate breakfast and emailed my friends and family to say that I was alive (the internet wasn´t working the night before). Than there was some rushing around the house looking for last minute items before leaving the house just before we would miss sabbath school.
We went to sabbath school and church. During church we had the local litte adventist school sing a song. My goodness it was awful! I however would not have it any other way. It seems to be a christmas tradition to have the local church school sing a song way off key. HOwever it was so cute and I loved it. Than the adult choir came up and sang ´hark the herald angel sing´and ´angels we have heard on high´ (remember this is all in spanish) and than the pastor did his sermon. A very normal Sabbath.
However during church a couple came in and they looked very American and I said ´hey look Americans´. Side note: here in south American they can spot americans like none other (except they think that I´m brazilian. Oh yeah I got more of ´are you from brazil? during churchI however didn´t get to talk to them after church so I was never confirmed in my assumption.
Tonight was also the church school´s christmas pageant. we went to it and it was wonderfully awful. Kids singing off-key, the bossy little girl making sure that everyone is doing their part (this girl was moving people in there proper places it was very funny) and the kids playing with the microphones. It was really christmas.
Afterwards they had hotdogs (real hotdogs mind you, in South America they haven´t really caught on to veggiemeat) and soda. I would just like to say I had tomatoes and guacamole in a hotdog bun, vegetarian pride! I saw the ´Americans´, but this time I talked to them.
They were from America (I was right!) and working for the Embassy. They went to southern and we talked for a bit. Something pretty cool was that the wife colporteured with one of my colporteur leaders way back when. What a small Adventist world.
Than I played ´Taca-taca´(fusbol) and me and my friend pink stomped everyone. I have never played ´taca-taca´ so well in my life it was so much fun. Than we came back.
So my first official day in Chile was nice. Relaxing and a good way to get in the culture. NOt so shocking since it was Sabbath and Adventists are so much alike where ever you go. I love Chile!
I woke up got ready, ate breakfast and emailed my friends and family to say that I was alive (the internet wasn´t working the night before). Than there was some rushing around the house looking for last minute items before leaving the house just before we would miss sabbath school.
We went to sabbath school and church. During church we had the local litte adventist school sing a song. My goodness it was awful! I however would not have it any other way. It seems to be a christmas tradition to have the local church school sing a song way off key. HOwever it was so cute and I loved it. Than the adult choir came up and sang ´hark the herald angel sing´and ´angels we have heard on high´ (remember this is all in spanish) and than the pastor did his sermon. A very normal Sabbath.
However during church a couple came in and they looked very American and I said ´hey look Americans´. Side note: here in south American they can spot americans like none other (except they think that I´m brazilian. Oh yeah I got more of ´are you from brazil? during churchI however didn´t get to talk to them after church so I was never confirmed in my assumption.
Tonight was also the church school´s christmas pageant. we went to it and it was wonderfully awful. Kids singing off-key, the bossy little girl making sure that everyone is doing their part (this girl was moving people in there proper places it was very funny) and the kids playing with the microphones. It was really christmas.
Afterwards they had hotdogs (real hotdogs mind you, in South America they haven´t really caught on to veggiemeat) and soda. I would just like to say I had tomatoes and guacamole in a hotdog bun, vegetarian pride! I saw the ´Americans´, but this time I talked to them.
They were from America (I was right!) and working for the Embassy. They went to southern and we talked for a bit. Something pretty cool was that the wife colporteured with one of my colporteur leaders way back when. What a small Adventist world.
Than I played ´Taca-taca´(fusbol) and me and my friend pink stomped everyone. I have never played ´taca-taca´ so well in my life it was so much fun. Than we came back.
So my first official day in Chile was nice. Relaxing and a good way to get in the culture. NOt so shocking since it was Sabbath and Adventists are so much alike where ever you go. I love Chile!
Vacciones de Navidad...Vamos a Chile!
So the time has actually come for christmas vacation and I have choosen the option of going to Chile. I am staying with a friend that I have met at the UAP. Her name is Camila, but we all call her Pink. Any who here is the journey so far.
So I left at 4:40 p.m. on thursday from the UAP and was pretty excited. Really who wouldn´t be excited if they were going to Chile (now Uruguay is a different case)? So I left with another ACA student who was by coincidence also going to Chile on the same day. This was really good because my traveling buddy never showed (he was a native of Chile) so at least I wasn´t going to be alone. (at this moment my parents are breathing a sigh of relief)
So I took a bus from the UAP to one of the bigger cities called Parana. Here I was supposed to catch a bus from there to another bigger city just outside of the Chilean border called Mendoza with this guy (his name is David btw). HOwever when we finally looked at our tickets we realized that they were two different bus companies and that we actually wouldn´t be on the same bus (gasp!). I was going to be alone (double gasp). So we said our good-byes and boarded our different buses.
I got in my bus and was so happy to find out that I was in the very front of the very top of the double decker bus. So I had more leg space and a great view of where we were going. A cute old lady sat across the isle from me and we talked for a bit. she thought I was brazilian (most people think I am. this is the 3rd person to say so) but than I set her straight and told her no that I was American (no lying even in other countries). Than I fell asleep (this part of the trip went throught the night so it was sleepy time)
I woke up about an hour and half later because the person who was to sit next to me came. So I moved my stuff let him sit and went back to sleep. A while later the bus attenedant came around and handed out food which was four different types of Ham and Cheese sandwiches. HOoray! SO I turned to him and was like "I´m vegetarian would you like my food?" and he was like "you are from the Villa aren´t you?" (La Villa is the city where the UAP is located) and I was like "yeah I am." and he was like "me too!" SO thus by the grace of God I had an Adventist student sat next to me on my trip, how amazing is that?!? We started talking and I found out that he is actually roomates with the boyfriend of one of the girls I knew at Union (complicated enough?) It is such a small Adventist world isn´t it?
I finally made it to Mendoza and met up with the other ACA guy and two other girls from the UAP and it turned out that we would all be together on this bus. We got on our bus and I was able to sit next to David who is also from Union (Slinga-da-ink!). It was a decent trip until we got to the Chilean border which took 3 hours to get through! My goodness it was long, but seeing the Andes and being able to go through them was soooooooo cool. My travel buddy David Carlson was so excited about it and kept taking pictures of the mountains, the only problem was they looked all the same. He would finish taking a picture and say ´ahh this looks the same as the las the last one, oooo look a mountain!´ and than proceed to take another picture. It was funny.
I made it to Santiago at 8:30 p.m. the next day (friday). Santiago is pretty cool looking very NorteAmericano (american) there are SUVs and PIzzahuts. It is very modern for south america and I love it.
My friend Camila and her dad picked me up from the bus terminal and we made our way to her home. They live in a suburb of Santiago and it is very much like the suburbs of America. NIce quiet and gated communities. We arrived at her house about 9:00 p.m. thus ending my long jouney (about 28 hours).
Her family is super sweet and there is a christmas tree and christmas lights on the house. I am super blessed to be able to spend christmas with a family even if it isn´t my own. I however miss my family very much so ´Yo family! I miss ya have a Merry Christmas!´
So I left at 4:40 p.m. on thursday from the UAP and was pretty excited. Really who wouldn´t be excited if they were going to Chile (now Uruguay is a different case)? So I left with another ACA student who was by coincidence also going to Chile on the same day. This was really good because my traveling buddy never showed (he was a native of Chile) so at least I wasn´t going to be alone. (at this moment my parents are breathing a sigh of relief)
So I took a bus from the UAP to one of the bigger cities called Parana. Here I was supposed to catch a bus from there to another bigger city just outside of the Chilean border called Mendoza with this guy (his name is David btw). HOwever when we finally looked at our tickets we realized that they were two different bus companies and that we actually wouldn´t be on the same bus (gasp!). I was going to be alone (double gasp). So we said our good-byes and boarded our different buses.
I got in my bus and was so happy to find out that I was in the very front of the very top of the double decker bus. So I had more leg space and a great view of where we were going. A cute old lady sat across the isle from me and we talked for a bit. she thought I was brazilian (most people think I am. this is the 3rd person to say so) but than I set her straight and told her no that I was American (no lying even in other countries). Than I fell asleep (this part of the trip went throught the night so it was sleepy time)
I woke up about an hour and half later because the person who was to sit next to me came. So I moved my stuff let him sit and went back to sleep. A while later the bus attenedant came around and handed out food which was four different types of Ham and Cheese sandwiches. HOoray! SO I turned to him and was like "I´m vegetarian would you like my food?" and he was like "you are from the Villa aren´t you?" (La Villa is the city where the UAP is located) and I was like "yeah I am." and he was like "me too!" SO thus by the grace of God I had an Adventist student sat next to me on my trip, how amazing is that?!? We started talking and I found out that he is actually roomates with the boyfriend of one of the girls I knew at Union (complicated enough?) It is such a small Adventist world isn´t it?
I finally made it to Mendoza and met up with the other ACA guy and two other girls from the UAP and it turned out that we would all be together on this bus. We got on our bus and I was able to sit next to David who is also from Union (Slinga-da-ink!). It was a decent trip until we got to the Chilean border which took 3 hours to get through! My goodness it was long, but seeing the Andes and being able to go through them was soooooooo cool. My travel buddy David Carlson was so excited about it and kept taking pictures of the mountains, the only problem was they looked all the same. He would finish taking a picture and say ´ahh this looks the same as the las the last one, oooo look a mountain!´ and than proceed to take another picture. It was funny.
I made it to Santiago at 8:30 p.m. the next day (friday). Santiago is pretty cool looking very NorteAmericano (american) there are SUVs and PIzzahuts. It is very modern for south america and I love it.
My friend Camila and her dad picked me up from the bus terminal and we made our way to her home. They live in a suburb of Santiago and it is very much like the suburbs of America. NIce quiet and gated communities. We arrived at her house about 9:00 p.m. thus ending my long jouney (about 28 hours).
Her family is super sweet and there is a christmas tree and christmas lights on the house. I am super blessed to be able to spend christmas with a family even if it isn´t my own. I however miss my family very much so ´Yo family! I miss ya have a Merry Christmas!´
Friday, November 16, 2007
Buenos Aires!
So I just returned from my trip to Buenos Aires the actaul capital city of Argentina and it was a blast. We did oodles and schmoodles of fun educational things that were so enlightening.
We started off on Monday and went to an estancia (ranch) where real Gauchos are (gaucho=Argentinian Cowboy) and we rode horses had an 'authentic' gaucho meal (I didn't because I'm vegetarian as are 80% of the ACA students) watched the Argentinian folklore dances which were so interesting. Those Gauchos can really throw it down.
We than made it Bs. As. and got settled into our 4 star hotel that had a bathtub with jets (hidromesajes) and television that was in English because all of S. America watches American television with spanish subtitles, I love it.
Than on Tuesday it was raining, but that was okay because we went to the Palacio where the president and his family live and got a lovely tour of the house. We made our way to the catedral de San Martin which the Cathedral of Argentina and it is sooooooo beautiful, really ornate, but in a cool museum type way. We ate food at the Adventist Restaurant in Bs. As. and it was descent not great, but food in Argentina is not good so no loss.
Later on that night we saw a professional Tango show along with a Charrango player. A charragno is a 8 stringed intrument the size of a ukulele and is the folk instrument of Argentina it is very common in the northern parts. Any way the guy playing the charrango was extremely hardcore and was totally rocking out while playing the Argentinian folklore songs it was comical and amazing at the same time, perfect for a great show.
Wednesday we saw Eva Peron's grave and the Arboretum and the United States Embassy! we sang the national Anthem and had a good time seeing good ol' American soil.
We went to a buffet that was interesting it had a cow brain salad and one of my friends tried it It was thoroughly gross the waitress was even grossed out that he actually ate it. It was funny.
We went to Boca saw the colorful homes and businesses and I bought 2 soccer jerseys. Boca Juniors Jersey and River Plate they are like the biggest rivals so it was kinda funny walking out of the store with both of them.
In the afternoon Wednesday I went to the Hardrock Cafe and it was great for one main reason:
Real macaroni and Cheese! It was honestly the best mac and cheese I've had ever, maybe because I haven't had real American food for over 2 months, but it was soooooo good. It was just good to see American culture I really do miss it.
We than walked back to our hotel and the area we were walking in was really pretty the very ritzy area of Bs. As. and we saw a couple of the embassies which was fun.
I also took both the Subway (subte) and the bus (cole) all across town and only cost me 1.50 pesos which was cool because other people took taxis and they spent over 20 pesos to go not even half the distance that I did. (Don't worry mom I was traveling with very strong boys so it was safe. )
Than we came back to the UAP. It was a great trip.
Love you all
We started off on Monday and went to an estancia (ranch) where real Gauchos are (gaucho=Argentinian Cowboy) and we rode horses had an 'authentic' gaucho meal (I didn't because I'm vegetarian as are 80% of the ACA students) watched the Argentinian folklore dances which were so interesting. Those Gauchos can really throw it down.
We than made it Bs. As. and got settled into our 4 star hotel that had a bathtub with jets (hidromesajes) and television that was in English because all of S. America watches American television with spanish subtitles, I love it.
Than on Tuesday it was raining, but that was okay because we went to the Palacio where the president and his family live and got a lovely tour of the house. We made our way to the catedral de San Martin which the Cathedral of Argentina and it is sooooooo beautiful, really ornate, but in a cool museum type way. We ate food at the Adventist Restaurant in Bs. As. and it was descent not great, but food in Argentina is not good so no loss.
Later on that night we saw a professional Tango show along with a Charrango player. A charragno is a 8 stringed intrument the size of a ukulele and is the folk instrument of Argentina it is very common in the northern parts. Any way the guy playing the charrango was extremely hardcore and was totally rocking out while playing the Argentinian folklore songs it was comical and amazing at the same time, perfect for a great show.
Wednesday we saw Eva Peron's grave and the Arboretum and the United States Embassy! we sang the national Anthem and had a good time seeing good ol' American soil.
We went to a buffet that was interesting it had a cow brain salad and one of my friends tried it It was thoroughly gross the waitress was even grossed out that he actually ate it. It was funny.
We went to Boca saw the colorful homes and businesses and I bought 2 soccer jerseys. Boca Juniors Jersey and River Plate they are like the biggest rivals so it was kinda funny walking out of the store with both of them.
In the afternoon Wednesday I went to the Hardrock Cafe and it was great for one main reason:
Real macaroni and Cheese! It was honestly the best mac and cheese I've had ever, maybe because I haven't had real American food for over 2 months, but it was soooooo good. It was just good to see American culture I really do miss it.
We than walked back to our hotel and the area we were walking in was really pretty the very ritzy area of Bs. As. and we saw a couple of the embassies which was fun.
I also took both the Subway (subte) and the bus (cole) all across town and only cost me 1.50 pesos which was cool because other people took taxis and they spent over 20 pesos to go not even half the distance that I did. (Don't worry mom I was traveling with very strong boys so it was safe. )
Than we came back to the UAP. It was a great trip.
Love you all
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