Sorry its been so long.

Culture things:

Everything is served with ham and cheese here: empanadas, omelets, pizza, dip for chicken nuggets, subway, sandwiches your host mom makes, milonesa (like chicken fried steak) is served with ham, cheese, and tomato sauce. EVERYTHING has ham and cheese incorporated.

Christmas-y themed leggings, long long hair, big stud earrings, and hipster scarves are all huge here. People also like to dress WAY warmer then they need to, to walk around the city.

Also, fernet and coke and Campari are the drinks of choice. Along with speed and vodka, or speed and champagne. (Speed is argentine redbull)

School:

I got a 94 on my midterm and I have my written final on Wednesday, then my oral presentation on Thursday. I took my Tango class final on Monday (it was eeeeasy cause we have been tango-ing so much outside of class). My classes aren’t hard and its fun to meet other kids who are attending university who live in Mendoza.

Tango:

Me and a few other kids in my tango class are obsessed with Tango. Last week I tango-ed twice on tues, once on wed, thurs, and Friday. I also watched a tango show on Thursday. We just keep learning new steps and improving our form and following/leading skills.  :DDDD

Being back at Baylor:

We are all planning on having an Argentina party some time during the semester. It will include: 8pm: empanadas/salad/bread and some wine and mate. 10pm: Asada, mate, wine 11:30pm: tango music begins and those who know how begin to tear it up 2am: boliche music gets turned on and fernet and coke is talked about, we mention how much we hate it and how we wish we had some for old time’s sake and then we dance the night away! probably till around 6 in the morning. Best Party Plans Ever!! :D

Food:

My favorite foods I have eaten here are:

Amazing Lasagna from this really nice Italian restaurant in Cordoba.

Empenadas! There are lots of different kinds. Like ham and cheese; beef, egg, onion, olive; cheese and tomato; “Arabe” is like beef and onion and spices (my favorite kind!)

Onion pizza!

The rice and chicken my host mom makes.

Alfajores!!!!! 3 layers of cookies with dulce de leche in between, all covered in chocolate.

Panchos!! Foot long hot dogs with tons of fixins! And tiny French fry-shaped chips put on top.

Asado! Tons of meat bbq-ed to perfection. So much meat…

Dogs

Dogs cross the street like pros. They will wait on the side of the road, and cross when the light changes with all the people. It's really impressive.

My boots are filthy because of all the dust! Stupid desert. I’m also constantly thirsty. I feel like a mermaid who used to live in water but now lives on land and can’t drink enough water. Yes I did just compare Houston to living in the ocean. I miss the moisture and humidity. But not the mosquitos.

Early Tuesday Morning

Tuesday: Had class at 8:30am for some unknown reason. But the bus I usually take just whizzed past instead of stopping at my stop like it usually does…so I had to wait for the next one and was 10 min late. But the other half of my class (read: 4 other people) didn’t come tile 9am so it was no big. Went over stuff I already know but felt bad for the kid who sits next to me cause he couldn’t understand the directions and was getting really frustrated. I know exactly what that’s like and I tried to help him out and be encouraging J.

Then I went to the cafeteria with David and Ma while they chilled before their 2pm class. I also gave David some vitamins and decongestant because he is sick and he may have gotten it from me somehow. We had cafeteria tortellini, soda, and the pizza the table next to us full of other Hawaiians didn’t want (you guessed it, olives were involved). David also showed me how to fix a broken cigarette. (He has so many skillz!)

Then I went to the bus stop and talked to Martin instead of getting on the multiple busses going by I could have gotten on. (In Argentina you are never in a hurry). But then once his bus came I got on what I thought was my bus. Nope. It took me really far away from the city up to like the hills, it was a bit scary but I just kept telling myself that busses go in a loop and I would be back at the university eventually. So 45 min later I got off at the University, walked down the hill a bus stop and got on the correct trolley after asking the bus driver if it was going to the Plaza de San Martin. Got home, ate lunch, took a 2 hr siesta and had some tea with Olga. She is sick and has this scary sounding cough like her lungs are coming out. But she went to the dr today and should be better soon. Then I went to Havanna and there were some Baylor kidos there who I sat by. I puttered around on fb and creeped all over people’s pics from the mountain trip.

Then new epic meal time is amazing. Maybe even better then the breakfast one I love so much, though that is quite a strong statement. I came home for dinner and because I couldn’t find anyone to go to and from Irish Pub with me.

"Spending Pesos Like its Monopoly Money"

-to quote a baylor kid who goes out all the time :P


omg i am finally on the internet! i havent been on since like wednesday and i have been tweekin! 
well i have gone out 4 days in a row. and here are the highlights:

on wed. i went to voodoo bar for sarah's 21st (UC Davis chick) with brandon (my new bestie). it was so much fun but we got home really late and i only got like 2 -3hrs of sleep before i had to go to class.

then thursday some kids came over to my house and cooked dinner. then best raviolli i have ever had! then we went to a boliche (a club) and got in at like 7am, slept for 2 hrs and had class at 10 til 11. then i had tango, lunch, a museum tour and got home at like 4:30. showered, slept for 3 hrs and met back up with people at irish pub for brandon's birthday. after irish we went to the chocras (an area outside of the city where there is just HUGE clubs and bars) and we drank champagne and speed (argentine red bull). its soooo good. 

soooo. we got in at like 7am after i fell asleep in the taxi. then saturday i went to this conversational partners picnic at the park. (convo partners is transfer students and mendoza students and we practice our span/eng together) its super great for meeting locals and everyone wants to be everyone's friend here. i love it! i know like tons of people already just cause everyone is ready to be anyone's friend and give you thier cell phone number. hahaha. its a totally different social dynamic.

also its considered improper to drink straight out of a bottle here. like any bottle. you either put it in a cup or use a straw in the bottle. I have been going to Irish Pub with people and trying different kinds of beers. I feel so grown up! But the one I tried that i love is this Red Ale I had on friday. The brand was "OtroMundo" but it was very yummmmy!

on saturday night i went to a birthday dinner at brandon's house and we had empenadas and pizza. we ended up on aristides (mendoza 6th street, tons of bars, restaurants, and clubs) at a bar called exxtreme. they have these giant tubes they put on the tables full of campari. which is a type of liquior with orange juice. its is a redish color though. well these tubes are huge and have a spout on the bottom. it was kinda magical. i have to go there again and ill take my camera. 

yea but everyone got tired and didnt want to go danceing so we ended up just going home early and i got home at lie 3:30 and slept til noon. then had wine with lunch cause thats what people do here.

Oh and the cali and hawaii kids keep makin fun of me for saying y'all. they just dont know what they are missin out on. its rhetorical magic! haha.


I missed my sister's graduation and the party. im really bummed about it. but im having an amazing time here and she knows i would have loved to have been there. 


hope all is well over in the states. BESOS! BESOS!

Lazy Sunday and First Monday

Sunday: Got woken up at 1pm for lunch and Olga’s grandsons came over. They are 15 and 14, so they are no longer young and obnoxious, but they aren’t quite old enough be social either. So with my minimal Spanish we did not converse very much. I decided to go to Havanna to see if I could skype my family and friends who are visiting for Sydney’s graduation party.

I was at Havanna for like 4 hours. I skyped, posted pics, fb chatted with kids, and some girls from Baylor came in and I hung out with them for a while. Next I went home for dinner and did my tiny bit of homework for the next day. Then I watched Get Him to The Greek and went to sleep.

Monday: Had class at 9am. Got very frustrated with my class being too easy and continued to talk to my teachers about moving up. I get cranky toward the end of class because I get hungry and that makes me tired. I need to start bringing a snack to eat during a break around 11am. Anyway, then we had a break till 3:15 when we had a tango class. They fed us at the cafeteria and somehow I ended up at the end of the table with the 3 boys who are in the class. Then suddenly all the other girls were gone and I just chilled with the boys till it was time to leave.

After the class we all made plans at the plaza. The girls wanted to go to Havanna and me and the other boys wanted to go to Aristedes. Which is the street with all the cool restaurants on it. (again with only boys) We ended up at a café/bar place and john and I split creppes con dulce de leche y ron. OMG! It was probably the most delicious think I have eaten yet here in Argentina. It was soooo good, you know that feeling you get when you eat a hot honey butter chicken biscuit from Whataburger? The one that makes you wanna yell and make obnoxious and suggestive noises because it is soooo amazing that our mouth is convulsing? It was like that, but more intense. Lol but since we were in a public place we tried to muffle out obnoxious.

Then we went to Havanna so everyone could get on the internet and there were some kids from UC Davis (California) with a Mendoza girl there studying. We know them from UNC. We chilled with them and around 9ish we went to have dinner at a all you can eat pizza place. It was all you can eat cheese pizza for 20 pesos a person. STEAL! I split the pizza/beer combo with Karina, but she only wanted pizza. A liter of beer ended up being more then I expected. Not in a “I’m going to be drunk/tipsy way” just in a “that’s a lot of liquid” way. But 2 other kids got liters so we just sat at that restaurant till like 12:30, sipping and munching pizza.

Side note: they put olives on everything here. It’s gross. They give you pizza cut into slices and stick an olive on each slice. Then even if you pick it off and give it to someone else to eat, you can still kinda taste the olive when you get to the contaminated area of the slice. Pretty unfortunate. I power though :P

Next we walked back towards the Plaza and passed a park and I insisted on swinging. Then 2 others and me got on the marry-go-round. BIIIIIIG MISTAKE! I was yelling for them to stop it cause I was going to fall off cause I couldn’t hold on any longer but John just kept spinning it. Terrible boys. Then josh and john caught cabs at the casino and Brandon walked me 4 blocks to my apartment cause he didn’t feel like going home quite yet. Pretty quite/successful night if I do say so myself.

A saturday full of activities

Saturday: We had to be at the Plaza at 8:30am to get on a bus to take us out to the mountains for a day of fun and asado(delicious argentine BBQ). We got there and had coffee/tea, these sweet bread circles with apple filling, and sweet croissants (media lunas). Next we all took some pics of the mountains, each other, and everything in sight. Then about half the group got on like 20 horses, I have never ridden a horse before but it wasn’t really that tricky. They guy who helped me up explained it pretty basically (in Spanish of course). Pull the rope connected to its mouth left to go izquierda, pull right ir derecha, and pull back to stop. We went along a trail for about half an hour then came back. I had a great time even if it got the laziest/most upset horse ever. He totally was not happy about having to be saddled up and walk that day. He walked slower then all the other horses and I kept trying to get it to go faster and yelling CABALLO PEREZOSO!! Ma (hawanii partner in crime) thought that was pretty funny and we took tons of pics of each other on our horses. Then she dropped her jacket onto the ground. Which isn’t a big deal unless you’re ON A FREAKIN HORSE! So I gave her my reins to hold and hopped off my lazy horse and grabbed the jacket out of the dirt and climbed back up like a pro. No big.

When we got back there were people climbing this large hill to see the view from the top. So we climbed it. We had to cross this river, so my shoes got wet, then we realized the whole hill was covered in spikey bushes and rocks. We came down afterwards a bit scratched up and sweaty. Empanadas and wine were waiting for us at the bottom though so it was made up for. Jeeze empanadas are delicious. Its like ground beef and cooked onions and spices enclosed a flacky tortilla that’s been folded over and the edged folded up to keep it all the deliciousness inside.

Next we all hung out and a couple of the guys who work there showed us this hand trick where you hold a wine cork in the crook of your thumb, in each hand. Then using your thumb and pointer finger, change the hands the corks are in. It’s A LOT HARDER then you would think. In fact I couldn’t get it but of course David did. I think its cause he has bigger hands and cause he has tons of skills and just seems to be good at everything.

Then finally the asado was ready and we ate SO MUCH DELICIOUS MEAT! There were ribs, goat, sausage (chorizo) and steak. oh and salad too. After some sitting and chatting there was dancing. First just the locals who were all dressed traditionally were dancing but then they grabbed some of the students and that was too much fun. Of course I danced with an Argentina boy and afterwards we chatted for like 20 min. In Spanish of course, but it wasn’t as aweful as I thought it was going to be. (I have been really anxious of talking to random people because of my poor Spanish sklls) but he was really nice and talked slow for me. Apparently one of the teaching assistants who are super cool took a picture of me talking to him and told me needed to ask him out for drinks later. HAHA.

While we chilled some more(there is tons of just hanging round here in Argentina) The older guy who is in charge gave some of the boys cigarettes in exchange for kisses from the girls. Such a player! Haha so of course I had to participate, it was really amusing. After some dessert of dulce de leche in a form I had not seem before and some champagne(so many cheers happened SALUD!!) we got back on the busses and drove the 2 ½ hrs back to the plaza. We got back at 8:30pm and I went home, ate dinner, showered, got dolled up and chilled for a bit.

Then around 11:30 we all met up at the Plaza to go to the Irish pub before going out for the evening. At the boliche (big argentine club) there was much dancing, laughing, and 90’s music if you can believe it. They love that stuff here! I got in at like 5am. An early night for a Mendocino!

Mas Actividades

Friday: I had class again and I did not feel well at all. I think I even had a fever for a while. Then we ate lunch and went to our Tango class. This was SUPER FUN because we learned the tradition Mendoza dance called the Folclore, I saw it on the holiday a ton and was trying to watch people and learn it. But I’m sure I had a fever during our dance class. I went home later and got on the internet at Havanna and chatted with Jerod and we planned a meet up at the Plaza to walk around and have dinner with anyone else who wanted to come. But no one else got the fb post in time so we just walked around. Later we stopped at a restaurant and I wanted cheese fries. But they only had fries alone and cheese separate. They brought out the fries and a place with 2 slices of cheese on it. I laughed pretty hard, and then stuck the cheese in the middle of my hot fries and it melted pretty decently. Deliciouso!! Later John met up wth us and we walked around some more and went to Havanna because he had never been there. (now he is addicted too) I had a tiny coffee and couldn’t fall asleep till like 3am. Que molestado!

Actividades

I am having a quiet night in because I think I am still a tiny bit sick and because there is no one to walk with me to and from the Irish Pub where some kids are watching the basketball championship games. So I think I am going to recount what has been going on with instead of just talking Mendoza. I will post them gradually so it’s not a bombardment, cause I just typed 4 pages…. HOLY SHARK BAIT BATMAN!

Wednesday: was the holiday when I had no school and we made/ate empanadas and went to a festival at a plaza about 15 blocks from my house. Then we ate dinner and I went to Havanna (Argentine Starbucks) to get on the interwebs and encountered some kids from UNC(Universidad Nacional de Cuyo)((The school I am taking Spanish classes at with other transfer kids from Baylor and kids from Hawaii) who I knew there.

Thursday: we had our first day of classes and I began to realize that I know a lot more Spanish grammar and vocabulary then the other kids in my class. Went home after school and ate lunch. Then I met up with some students at the Plaza Independencia and we walked around the city window shopping and chilling in Havanna. My throat began hurting while we were walking around and I thought it was from the exhaust from all the cars on the roads and the dust.  

Things that are big here

Carbonated water

everything in glass bottles

Very small coffees

Very big shots

Ugly guy hair

Foot long hotdogs as drunken food of choice

Roasted and candied nuts

An alcohol called fuente they mix with coke. It tastes like toothpaste…

Dancing at clubs doesn’t start til 2am. So I got home at like 7:30 in the morning after tons of dancing and a hot dog runwhen I went out with some Hawaiians and Argentinians.

Men Stare...

Manners:

So Wednesday was a holiday and my host mama Olga had a few friends over to celebrate. We all had lunch together and ate tons of empanadas, which are delicious. But the whole time I was giggling to myself because my dad is kind of a table manners Nazi and the ladies I was eating with were doing things like putting their elbows on the table and not putting their napkins in their laps. They are all super sweet and everything was wonderful, I just couldn’t stop giggling to myself about all of it.

Problems in the City:

Men stare. I was warned about it. But some do so much more politely then others. At a festival on Wednesday, I was walking with Olga and this guy who had to be at least in his 40’s walked past us. As he did, he lifted up his sunglasses and looked right down at my probably right down my shirt. I was surprised and embarrassed. If I had not been taken so off guard I would have flicked him off and yelled. But I didn’t react fast enough, but next time, if its during the day near lots of people. Oh I can’t wait to see that ass hole’s face when I freak out at him.

That was an isolated incident. On the rare occasions I am walking home or to the plaza at night, some guys will stare as I pass then and mumble/whisper things. Sometimes its hola or Buenos noches. Sometimes I hear Hermosa(beautiful). Some times its kissing noises after I have passed. It’s getting on my nerves, but at the same time it doesn’t even matter. They make their choices and I can choose to let it affect me or not. They do not have the power to make me feel uncomfortable unless I let them. So far no one had touched me, and if they do I’m going to make a scene, but I don’t think it is going to happen. 

Limon y Sal

Ah well things have gotten busier so I’m gunna try to summarize what I have been up to and what I have learned in the past 2 days.

Spanish:

            My host mother speaks no English and she speaks Spanish very fast. On the first day, I could not follow what she was talking about unless she repeated it and used sign language because when all the words are strung together I have trouble picking out individual ones that I recognize. Now that I have been here 2 ½ days, I am already tons better at picking up what she is saying. That means I only catch a little more then a third of what she says. But I am doing way better. Also, I have stopped having to translate a lot of what she says to English in my head. I just understand the Spanish…if that makes any sense. I have also met a boy who speaks great English and Spanish, so I ask him how to say a few things when I see him.

I start Spanish classes on Thursday.

The Holiday:

            I have no class Wednesday because of the holiday. May 25^th is the day Jose de San Martin began the revolution against Spain. Their independence day is July 9^th when San Martin liberated Argentina, Chile, and Peru from Spain. So tonight I saw a military band in the plaza with Olga, my host mama. There were fireworks and they played patriotic songs of Argentina and of Mendoza. It was in front of this gorgeous fountain. I took a video so I will post that on facebook instead of trying to describe it to you. :D Anyway, tomorrow there are lots of festivities to attend and we are making empanadas and other cultural foods. I’m excited!

Culture Shocks:

            Not too many yet. But people stare here. Not just at me but at everything. So I get looked at a lot, but it’s not a big deal. No one has yelled to me or tried to touch me on the streets or something. Though I did piss off a drunk bum the other night when me and some friends were sitting outside at a restaurant and he was asking for money. I told him to go away in broken Spanish and he said something I didn’t understand. Then some cops came over and made him leave. But when I asked my friends what he said they wouldn’t tell me. :P

The only other thing is that I’m pretty sure I come off as rude to the native speakers I encounter because I don’t really talk to them when they try to address me. Like people who I have to share the elevator with, or the doorman at my apartment, or the waitress at the coffee shop I frequent. They try to talk to me and I just smile and nod because 9 times out of 10 I don’t know what they are trying to say. And even if I need to tell them something, I don’t want to because I probably won’t understand their response.

 I pissed off a waitress earlier today when I didn’t understand that she was telling me that I had to buy something in order to keep using their Wi-Fi. I just kept telling her I didn’t want anything. They got some friend of a friend who speaks English to tell me what was going on. Yes, I am that rude person, but oh well!

PS. Jessi: I am listening to Limon y Sal, missing you!!! <3

Day 1

Once I was home from the airport with my host mama, I unpacked and got situated. After eating and a nap we went to a café about a block from her house where I could get on the internet for free. I skyped with my mom for like 20 min but didn’t really have anything to report since I have only just gotten here and I felt a bit rude ignoring my host. So we had these CUUTTEE tiny cups of yummy coffee and she bought me a Havana chocolate. It was super good; I’ll have to bring some back for a few of the lucky ones getting gifts. :P Joking!

You all probably know how awful I am with names, so of course I cannot remember host mama’s name. But I will covertly figure it out SOON. She is the best though. Since I don’t speak much Spanish it is hard for me to just start up a conversation, so as we walked around she would just talk slowly about the shops and how young people will dance all night on the weekends.

Then we went to the plaza independencia and the fountains have their water turned blue for the holiday on the 25^th. (the Argentina flag is white and light blue) Which I thought was super cool, but I didn’t bring my camera otherwise I would have plenty of pics of hippies, artisans selling their wears, blue fountains, and stray dogs getting in people’s way. It was all so interesting but one thing that I have learned is that no matter what city you are in, the hippies are always selling the same things. Metal jewelry made out of forks, woven bracelets, rinky-dink toys that fly, and necklaces/earrings made from precious stones with leather straps. They are authentic but I could go to Portland/San Francisco/Austin and buy something very similar from many a street vendor. :P

After that we walked back toward our house and she told me how one of her friends was coming over for dinner and I told her I wanted to go to the café to get on the internet to talk to my friends. She thought that was a great idea and I was home in time for dinner. But her and her friend were talking about political stuff and Obama and I was too tired to try to keep up and I also don’t have the ability to understand everything they are talking about to I took a shower and read my book for like an hour. OMG, the book I am reading is incredible. Right now it is talking about what love is, and it says that love lets those it loves be whoever they want to be. And the only person I could think of is Jessi, my wonderful roommate who lets me do and be whoever I want even with when I get crazy idea. She loves me regardless. Jessi. You are the absolutely the best ever and I miss you like crazy :D <3

Post Flight

Once I landed in Mendoza I got my passport stamped…which was not as exciting as I thought it was going to be. But went through customs and found my host mamma. She is soooo nice and doesn’t speak ANY ENGLISH. She handed me her phone and a card that said “Your Ride” So I dialed it for her and she told a guy in a car we were ready to go. He picked us up and drove us around Mendoza and she pointed out lots of stuff and told me how its usually busy but since its Sunday most of the stores are closed.

We got to her apartment and the elevator is one of those that has the two grates you pull across the door and buttons that don’t light up they are just pegs. Its all super neat! Her apartment had the radio playing as we walked in and she told me she always likes to listen to music. God the match of her and me was made in heaven! :D

As I unpacked she made us lunch. It was sooo good! It was baked chicken, this salad that was mostly tomatoes and avocado, with a bit of lettuce and onion. Oh and bread. Yummmmm. Then for dessert this chocolate custard stuff with cake on the bottom. She just called it postre so I’m not sure what an English equivalent would be. Also, they play some English songs on the radio station we are currently listening to and I could only think of Chloe as one of our favorite songs came on. Haha that one by Bruno Mars that is like, today I don’t feel like doing anything, I just wanna lay in my bed. :D

Well I’m already taking pics and almost done unpacking. But I need a NAP! After traveling all night and waking up every hour or some cause my hand was asleep will really take it out of you. lol

I was gunna post pics but they arent uploading but they are all already on fb. 

This blog was meant for you to keep up to date on my time here but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know what is going on with you, or at least that you are reading about my adventures. So if you are so inclined, leave me a comment with what you did today or how you family is doing. Or if you want a more lengthy interaction email me at waking.up.in.waco(at)hotmail(dot)com. 

The Flights

You know when you are at a theme park and you convince yourself you really want to go on the tall ride that brings you high in the air then drops you straight down? So you get on the ride telling yourself it’s going to be outrageously fun. But right as it stops at the top, you get that sinking feeling in your stomach and you realize its not fun, and you have no idea why you convinced yourself you would like this, and all you want is to get off but that’s absolutely impossible. The only way off is to free-fall back to earth.

Well sitting on the plane while everyone is boarding on the first leg on my journey, which takes me to Miami, I’m feeling just like that. Like all the time building up to this, I knew that I would really enjoy the trip, but now I feel kinda of sick and uneasy. Like I’m at the top of the roller coaster and all I want is to get off and not go around doing extraordinary things. But the only way back to Katy is on the plane ride in July from Buenos Aires.

Now I’m sitting in the Miami airport and I just had that sinking feeling in my stomach that I can only describe as a mixture of excitement/anticipation and terror. It doesn’t help that people only speak Spanish in Miami and all the department stores in this place are playing Hispanic music. I’m going to be studying my Spanish notebook furiously on my next leg of the flight.

Also, airport food is overpriced. But I guess it makes sense that its just like at theme parks. Ya can’t leave and you’re hungry. Well I need to go find a water fountain to fill my water bottle at and see if I can tap into some wifi so I can let my family know I have arrived safely.

After a minor mental breakdown right before take off…during…and a bit after; I started watching the in flight movie and from there I was good. I got to Santiago, Chile just fine and during the flight to Mendoza I sat next to a really nice guy from San Juan who helped me fill out my immigration sheet, where you put all the things your bringing into the country and your passport number and all that whatnot. He spoke some English and I speak some Spanish so we could communicate but not quite carry on a great lengthy conversation.

I am here and not very articulate. It has been an emotionally draining day. Hope all is well in the states. :P

Wow...I got a shout out :D

I emailed one of my favorite pep talk bloggers and she posted my email as a shout out to something awesome happening! Her post was:

You’re Ready.

Pep talk: You’ve done enough prep work. In your mind, you’ve rehearsed the upcoming scenario countless times and you’ve anticipated how you’ll handle any variables. Now it’s time for action and you are prepared. Go get ‘em. 

Today remind yourself: I’m ready.

I have been feeling really overwhelmed lately and I just read this and knew...I'm f-ing ready!!!

Thanks so much Rachel! <3 Her response to my email was:

This experience will add so much flavor 
to your already spicy life. Soak it in. xoxoxoxoxoxo

Just 3 Days!!

The Packing Starts

My bed is currently littered with cosmetics, jewelry, medicine, vitamins and small electronics. I have been going through my copious amounts of all those things and picking out the few I will take with me. Earlier my momma and I went through my wintery clothes and picked what I should bring and shouldn't and what needs to be washed before its packed. We also identified what I still need: A few solid round neck t-shirts, a camera charger, decongestant, chap stick, and cotton balls.

But a few things I did get today were an adaptor, a converter and the locks for my bags that the security guys at the airport won't cut off(Ace Hardware. Thx GP!). I also applied for a credit card through my bank so if I have to make a transaction in Mendoza at a bit of a sketchy coffee shop or trinket store and my account info gets stolen, it will only be on my credit card and not tied back to my actual account and my real money. Hopefully it gets here in time for me to take it with me. :D

Now I'm just trying to see everyone before I leave and not think about everything I have to do once I get back :P

Just 5 Days!!

Loans, Luggage, and Liability.

Loans
Yippeeee! My loan has been approved and sent through all the legal channels. I officially accepted it this week and I am financially set for my travels. I was allowed more funds then the tuition actually costs, so I can use the extra money for my argentina cell phone costs, books, and whatever else I need to purchase while there.

Luggage
My momma and I went shopping yesterday for lots of things I would need for the trip, so I got a big suitcase, some tights, and gifts for my teachers and host family. I also got some new gladiators and a bag that is going to function as my carry on for the plane, my backpack for class, and my overnight bag for weekend trips through the Baylor program. I LOVE MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY! Its all coming together and I'm getting really excited, well excited and scared. (Can you name the song I just partially quoted??)

Liability
I had a minor melt down this week when I didn't have a list of exactly what papers I needed to make a copy of to leave here with my parents, and I almost wrote my program director a frantic email. But I pulled it together and just started gathering all my important papers and I kinda figured it out on my own. I copied my passport, my student abroad insurance card, my credit card, the list of emergency numbers in Argentina, my itinerary, and the brochure that came with my travel insurance so my parents would have all that whatnot.

Just 7 Days!!

Packing Prep

When I packed up all my things from my apartment a few days ago and brought it all home, I did not do so with much order in mind. Clothes from the closet went into the bins with the non-closet clothes. Then all other possessions either went into storage or into a few other boxes. What this all means is that the stuff I would need to pack for Argentina is all mixed up between all of the boxes I brought home.

So the other day I went through all my clothes and organized them into winter clothes potentially going to Argentina with me, summer clothes, and clothes I won't wear till I get back up to Baylor. Now I am all set to decide what minimal winter clothes I will be packing in the one large suitcase I will be allotting myself.

Yep, its going to be winter in Mendoza when I get there. CRAZY right?! Good thing I have gotten a pretty good fill of summer already living in the south. I already have a pretty respectable tan from laying out by the pool with my family for all of easter weekend and going to the beach with them for Mother's Day. It was 91 degrees here today when I was driving around. So a high of 55 low of 35 sounds kinda nice, though I will miss me some Houston humidity.

Just 12 Days!!