Wow! It's so hard to believe that on June 22nd, almost a full 20 days ago, I left my home in Wisconsin, and headed off on what has been so far, a wonderful experience, challenge, and life changing event for me!
(And to think, it's only July 10th!!! I've still got a full month to enjoy!)
When I left Mitchell International Airport in Wisconsin early that Wednesday morning, I'll admit, I shed more than a few tears as I sat waiting to board the plane... as the plane was talking off... as the plane was in the air... as the plane was landing (please note, it was only about a 15 minute flight to Chicago where my connecting flight to Miami, FL was to take off at 10:30 or so)... I've never been away from home for more than two weeks, and even then, I was with people I at least knew... the flight I was on was taking me on an adventure of a lifetime and , today, I can't be more happy!
In Chicago, I met another AFS student who was on the same flight to Miami as I was; Nick Van Handel lives not too far from my own home near Milwaukee! Although he is on a slightly shorter program than I, knowing each other was a definite bonus as we arrived in Miami.
In Miami, we had an overnight Gateway Orientation at a hotel (whose Wi-Fi wasn't free and who's pool we weren't allowed to use... broma, I just wanted to be able to check in with my family back home and let them know everything was okay!), where I was able to meet with all the AFS students with destinations somewhere between Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay. As the Argentina group left the hotel the next day, I was no longer 'alone', nor was I just with Nick, I had met the rest of the American AFS students going to Argentina and had gotten to know some obvious life-long friends! One of which lives in the same city as I do now! (And another from Oregon (which I learned I pronounce wrong) who made fun of my Midwest accent... I still say I don't have an accent: y'all are da ones tha' jus' talk funny!
We boarded our flight, and two meals and eight hours later, we landed in EZE in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Here we met the eight or so Italian AFS students (all going to Pánara near Buenos Aires, the same city that Nick was headed!). We took a bus to another Orientation site, this time at a hostel an hour or so from the airport. Two days later, and now, as a family, we headed off to the bus station where we said our 'goodbyes', wished each other luck, and finally headed off to our host families...
After a twelve hour bus ride I finally met my host mom and dad (and dog). We stopped at my new home to drop off my suite case and my carry-on bag (which now has a nice-sized hole in the top from traveling!), ate an asado (Argentine BBQ), and soon headed off to my first Argentine Adventure! (No rest for the restless!)
Our first day together, we spent at El Dique de Viña, a dam near another small city called Mina Clavero (where another AFS student is staying). Here, we shared mate, took our first pictures together, and got to know each other better as a family! We returned home a few hours later, had dinner, and I woke up the next day ready for more!
Since then, I've met my host mom's family, spent time with Katie Whalen (the other AFS student in Villa Dolores), took a bike ride to La Boca del Rio, taught a seminar-type class at a local Karate school (and participated in many classes that followed), drank a submarino (warm milk with a dark chocolate bar on the bottom) on the top of a mountain, went to a boliche (a dance) until 5 in the morning, bought two Argentine ponchos, gone to a despedida (brides maid's party) and the wedding that followed, and visited the English Institute who's head profesora helped find my host family here in Villa Dolores!
Coming plans include a visit to Córdoba, the nearest 'big' city, and of course; next week I finally start school as an Argentine student! Hopefully I will be able to meet more people and make my experience here even better (if that's possible!) than it is already!
I will soon post pictures of my adventures here so far so please keep checking back!
¡Beso!
