(Yes, I already have plans to return at some point in my life... hopefully as soon as possible!)
In short: My trip was FANTASTIC! I could not have asked for more (except for maybe more time abroad)!
The first few weeks were however, not quite as fun. After the first few days, I started to realize that my host dad wasn't exactly the most respectful or helpful to my host mom. He was also hard to talk to... not because I didn't understand him, but he joked around nearly the entire time and was never serious. (But it's okay). I talked to my liaison there, and he said that my host dad didn't mean bad. We (my host mom and dad), talked and everything was at better standing soon after. (However I never did create a very strong relationship with him; I was closer with my host mom). I was also "sick" with something of allergies for a few weeks, though I think I was still adjusting to the elevation, climate, and "landscape" change. (Meaning, everything was dirt, the only paved roads were in the city or highway so there was a lot of dust in the air).
BUT... NO WORRIES!!! The rest of my trip made up for everything!
I was able to participate in a few karate classes (here I practice taekwon do, ju jitsu, and eskrima). I ended up creating fantastic relationships with all of the students there. I even taught a few seminar-like classes, and before I left, I taught alongside the karate instructor a special class for the younger karate students and their parents to participate in together! Here we also gathered food, clothes, and toys to donate to the less fortunate in my city for the following Sunday's Día de Niño. I still talk to nearly all of my karate "family" there via Skype and Facebook! How I love the Internet! I even had offers to stay with them when I go back.
School was okay in Argentina... eye opening more than anything... I never imagined going to school, but having the teachers change classes instead of the kids. It also amazed me how... different... the disciple was in the schools. In short, there was none. I met a lot of kids there too and still communicate with them too!
I loved the food, it was more or less the same, but I was able to try new things... including beef liver, intestine, and morcilla (a blood sausage made from either pig or cow). I brought back recipes to make empanadas, and about one hundred other things... I fell in love with the Argentine cuisine... especially the bread!!!
The music was amazing! One of the karate students, one who was actually a magician and who put on a show for everyone one night as we were drinking mate together at the instructor's house, gave me three CDs filled with Córdoba's sound of Cuarteto!
I was able to participate in a few English classes at a local English Institute (that the head AFS advisor ran), and with her we participated in two television interviews, and a radio interview to let all of Villa Dolores know about the AFS program and the students that were currently there!
I brought back mates and alfajores for all of my friends and family and have talked their ears off, trying to tell them about the rich culture of Argentina... and convince them to apply to study abroad... I've even considered becoming a volunteer for AFS in the future! (And those promised 'small gifts' for all who donated $50! The calanders for those who donated $100 will be comming up shortly as well, but with school starting, these last few weeks have been a bit hectic). No worries though, (I didn't forget)!
Overall, I learned so much more than just a few facts about a culture or a few new vocabulary words in Spanish... this was definitely a life changing experience for me and I can't be happier that I was chosen to participate in this program! I send a huge 'Thank You!' to all for helping me get to where I am today! I seriously hope to promote AFS's magic as much as possible! I can't even describe how beneficial this experience was not only for myself, but for my friends and family both here and there as well! I hope to someday return to Argentina and reunite with all of those who helped change my life for the better in just a few short months. Right now, I feel as if I have touched the world, and in some form made it smaller. I honestly can say that studying abrod was the best thing I've done so far in my short 17 years of life. And it's all thanks to those who supported me through the challanges both before, during, and even after as I left my family in Argentina and returned back home.
Thank you!!!
~Brianna J. Moczynski
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