Happy Holidays!

Hello Everyone! I hope all had a very Merry Christmas and are getting ready for a happy and prosperous New Year! I know it's been way too long since my last post. I always find myself sit down to write and then get distracted...it's pretty easy to do when you have a whole new country to be exploring! Like last post, everything continues to be going great. It goes without saying that I've been a little homesick over the holidays but, of course, I was expecting that. However, that definitely doesn't mean my holiday season hasn't been good. My mom sent me a box that I received the week before Christmas with a Santa hat, some candy canes, five packs of gum, sugar cookie ingredients and frosting, cookie cutters, and a letter. That was really fun to be able to bring that tradition to my family and make sugar cookies with my cousins. They really enjoyed that activity and thought they were absolutely delicious. A few days later, I received a box from my Grandma and Grandpa Harmon with a 2 lb. bag of Reeses, 2 lb. bag of Sour Patch Kids, a pin for my host mom, two ornaments for the Christmas tree (it needed some...bad), and a letter. My friends and family have been absolutely fascinated by all the sweets sent and various people have recently promised me that they'll send me dulce de leche if I send them American candies when I get home. I celebrated Christmas by going out to dinner with my host dad, his girlfriend, and my two siblings late Christmas eve. We went to this huge buffet that pretty much had every type of food you could imagine: asado, seafood, sushi, asian, salad bar, etc. Obviously there aren't many gifts here because of the financial status but my host dad and his girlfriend gave me a jar of dulce de leche :) Then, after dinner, we went to the my host grandma's house (Nuki's mother) where that part of the family was. I opened two gifts: an Argentinian flag and a little bathroom bag with a caramel inside. On Christmas Eve, my host siblings and the older host cousins went out to go dancing but I decided to come home and pass the night with my younger cousins, aunts and uncles, and the grandparents. On the 25, we slept in until 12 or so and then left for the Aunt's house 40 km. outside of the city to spend the day. It's nice to go there when we're going to be together for for than a few hours just because it's more spread out and there's more space-like the cabin or ranch. We ate lots, swam in the pool, walked to the river to go swimming, and played some cards. For New Years, we will probably meet up on the 31st at the grandma's house to eat and chat for awhile. Then, at 7 am on the morning of the 1st, my cousins and I are planning on walking to my aunt's house. It is 40 kilometers away and we are estimatiing 6 to 7 hours of walking. Lots of water and sunscreen will be used that day for this girl!! I'll have to let you guys know how that goes :) These last few days I've just been hanging around. I really don't have much time left so my excuse that I have plenty more time to buy things here doesn't work too well anymore! I went to the Paseo de los Artes (artisan street market) with my host sister and I've met up with a few friends in the center to do some shopping and to eat lunch or dinner. Sometimes, I just go for a walk for a few hours on a main big street close to my house where I often find a few things I like and sit down to eat at some cute little cafe :) A few days, I've met up with friends from either school or AFS to go to a park and share some mates and chat...that's something I'm going to miss when I come home. It's been so so hot here. The 24th was 104, the 25th sbout 95, and the 26th 103....I seriously don't think it's dropped below 85 or 90 the entire past week and 75 in the night. That will be a nice welcome to Montana come January 17th...wooh. Speaking of which, January 17th is only 19 days away. And January 13, when I leave my friends, family, and new home is even sooner-15 days. That's two weeks and one day, so so crazy. I'm trying to use every last day that I have here to it's fullest and enjoy every last second I spend here in Cordoba, Alright, chau amigos (bye friends) Hasta luego (until later)...nos vemos pronto (muy muy pronto) (see you all soon (very very soon)!!! <3 Kerri

 Eating at cafe downtown

 Spending day in park with Anna (Germany)

 Christmas day with cousins in pool

 Went on a walk to abandoned airport tower

 Mili (17), Ber (20), Fernanda (19), Coco (19), Emi (14)

 Beautiful view of Carlos Paz

 Continued walk down to the lake

 Taking some group photos along the way

 Gangsters

 We misjudged how far we had to walk (waiting for parents to come in cars)

 MT Christmas cookies

 Decorating sugar cookies with host sister and cousins

 USA, MT, ARG cookies

 Santa's workshop

Contents of Gma's package

Summer Update

Hello all! Sorry that it's been so long since my last update. I've been doing really great...pretty much just living the life in Argentina on summer vacation! I usually go to bed a little late and wake up a little late, as one cousin claimed "Kerri, you've become nocturnal, I swear!!" I'd say the weather here is just a tad different than the US, it's usually in the mid 90s during the day with a good thunderstorm in the afternoon. At night, it doesn't cool off too much so I sleep in shorts and a tanktop with the fan on full blast and no sheets...and I still wake up in the middle of the night pretty much panting and sweating. I told my parents that if I were at my house with people that I would feel comfortable disrupting when they're asleep, I would take a shower probably 5 times a night to cool off! As the same cousin stated, "It doesn't cool off too much during YOUR night, Ker. Maybe if you slept at nighttime, it might be a little more comfortable!" But, as uncomfortable as this may all sound, everything is going amazingly amazing. During the day, I go out with my friends downtown to shop, eat an ice cream, lay in the sun on the roof and drink terere, or simply meet up in a park to relax and talk. Oh, and of course, don't forget the midday siestas wherever they may happen (on the roof, in the theater, etc.) At night, we go out dancing, meet up to eat pizza, go to the movies, or go on the roof and watch the stars...like I said, it really is the life. This past weekend, I went to an AFS camp in a little town about a hour away from Cordoba. There were about twenty of us and we all met up at the terminal to take a bus there. Our camp was like a little camping site with various cabins full of bunk beds, a dining room, and a big pool. Guess what?! I killed a scorpion!! I was standing in my room changing into my swimsuit and all of the sudden this little thing comes scurrying by my feet. Obviously, I've never seen a scorpion before but when it lifted up it's tail thing (the pincher), I knew what it was!!...so I stomped on it:) The AFS director confirmed it was a scorpion but said they had never seen them at the camp but not to be scared...even though all the girls were absolutely freaking out. My host mom said that you have to be careful of them here in the summer, especially in wet places like the bathroom. I'll be keeping my eye out!! Anyways, it was so so hot both days but also very very fun. At first, I was not very happy that we had to go at 7:30 in the morning and stay overnight but I'm so happy that we went. It was the last camp we'll have together here in Cordoba before the kids who leave in January go home so it was really nice to all be together this last time. We did some really great activities, played in the pool, laid out to watch the stars, etc. but the thing that made it the most special was simply being with the friends that I have made over the past 4 1/2 months. It's so hard to explain-my friendship with these 20 other AFS exchange students. It's almost like these kids who go on exchange all have so much in common-who knows? maybe that's what made them all go in the first place. We're all so similar, we just fall right into place like we've known each other our entire lives. It's the moments like when I'm laying out in the grass with my best friends from Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and the US that I'm really going to remember and miss in a few months, years, decades...it's these moments that make me so scared to leave. Now that's a whole other topic...my departure. We'll leave that for another post...my bipolarness, my yearning desire to see my friends, family, home and my growing fear to abandon the life, family, and friends that I have formed here over the past few months...I don't expect many to understand, but it's how it is-it's how everyone said it would be. Anyways, hope life is going as good in the States as it is here! I love you all lots and will see you soon...only a little over a month!! -Kerri

 My best friend from Germany, Anna, and I after playing with some paint :)

 Franci Sinatra from Italy (I call her Frank Sinatra) and I 

 Anna and I again

 Fun with paint!!

 Silvia from Italy and I

 My best friends from Italy and I

 Friends from school (Mili, Faten, and Juli) and I

 Kids who leave in January with our certificates

 Drinking terere and suckers on a hot day

 Terere on the roof with school friends

 AFS Cordoba Girls-I love them!

 Frank Sinatra and I

The entire AFS Cordoba group!

Remainder of Trip

11/21 21:30- Today was another very fun and exciting day...but also very physically tiring! We were awoken at 7:30 to get ready and shower and were instructed to meet in the breakfast room at 8. The same food was served for breakfast today but I am very content with it as it is the best breakfast I've had since being in Argentina: watermelon, melon, juice, yogurt, medialunas, and cereal. We loaded the bus at 8:30 to depart on a few hour ride to the river where we were going white-water rafting. Upon arrival, we got off only to load some of these heavy duty van type buses to drive to our launch site. We headed up a narrow, curvy, washed out, and steep road where following the river upstream. As it was a hot, humid, not windy summer day us smart ones applied loooots of sunscreen and bug spray (those who didn't had a great punishment waiting for them). Those who wanted a wetsuit were given one, obviously not Annalea and I, the two Montana girls who have both swam in much colder water in Montana. We were all fitted with lifejackets, given an oar, and split up into groups of six plus one guide. The ride was absolutely amazing. There were 9 rapids, the first 7 being Class II and the last 2 being class III. The scenery was absolutely fabulous and the weather was perfect. When we arrived back to our withdrawal site, some of the guides had stayed back to cook asado while we were rafting. We ate a good lunch of choripan (bratwurst) and chips. Then, about five of us (3 being American girls) decided we were going to swim in the mountain lake that the river dumps into (Cabra Corral). It was sooo warm and I swear it was like the Dead Sea. I could float when I was actually trying to sink-so crazy. On the ride back to the hotel, pretty much everyone slept the entire time and, right upon arrival, everyone bolted for the shower. A few minutes ago, we got back from dinner at an empanada/steak restaurant that was really great. Our night still is not finished. At 22:30 we will go to my first "Pena" which is like a dinner spot with live folklore music and a dancefloor but we won't eat dinner, at least as I understand it. Hope break is going good. Love you all.

11/22 21:30- Right now, we are half way through a 24 hour bus ride. I swear that when I go home driving to Chester or Missoula is going to be nothing. We woke up at 7 this morning and loaded our bags and everything onto the bus, ate breakfast at the hotel, and got on our way. Since then, we have been on the bus. Everyone slept for the first few hours but then kids started singing, dancing, playing music, playing cards, etc. Us Americans on the other hand had gone to the supermarket last night and bought EVERY American brand of food we could find. Needless to say, they were all junk food like Lays, Pringles, Oreos, Skittles, M and M's, Hubba Bubba, Sprite, Fruit Loops, and Trix. We poured everyone sprite and did a toast where everyone said what they were thankful for. I said something to the point of "I am thankful for the amazing friends and family that I have both here in Argentina and back home in the States. I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have been provided with to come to Argentina and for the opportunity to travel in the country on this trip. I am so happy to be here with all of you sharing a day as special as this. Although it may be the weirdest and most untraditional Thanksgiving that I have every participated in, it will be one that I know I will never forget for as long as I live." I'll just say I'm glad I brought my toothbrush on the bus so I could brush my teeth after eating all that healthy healthy food. Right now, we are in Resistencia where we started the trip as a half-way point. Some kids are only doing the first part and some only the second part to Iguazu. When we load back up, we will head to dinner, then we have another 12 hours on the bus to arrive in Puerto Iguazu, the town near Iguazu Falls in the northeast of the country. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!!!

11/23 22:45-Hello all, we made it to Puerto Iguazu this morning right before lunch. On our way, we stopped in the town of Wanda and visited this place where they dig for semiprecious stones. It was really interesting and pretty to see but a little bit downgraded as we had a pretty inexperienced guide and it was pouring the entire time, but still cool. After lunch, we had some time to settle into our cabins (I'm rooming with 2 American girls and 2 Japanese girls) and then these awesome safari type trucks with no sides came to pick us up. Let me explain, in Puerto Iguazu it rains aaaaaaaall the time, the roads are dirt, and the soil is like bright red so pretty much everything is just like muddy mud mud. We drove through the middle of the Amazon rainforest for about 20 minutes on this really muddy road slipping back and forth the whole time...it was like a rollercoaster ride! But then, the fun stopped when our truck got stuck. We waited a few minutes and then another truck came and picked my group us. We arrived at this trailhead where they fitted these holster type cables around our legs and stomachs to do the zip-line and rapel. Then, we had to hike a few kilometers and we arrived at the top of this 15 or so meter waterfall. One at a time, we went to the edge and our cable was hooked onto this rope that went down to another guy who was at the bottom. We were instructed to jump. After jumping, you come back to the waterfall and kind of push off as you climb down a rope. For those of you that have rock climbed, it's like being holstered down after you reach the top. The whole entire time, you're in this waterfall and tons of water is falling over your head. You end up in a pool lake thing at the end where you can swim until the others are done. FUNNEST THING EVER!!!!!!! I insist that my family tries this sometime. Then, we took another hike to the zip-line activity. Pretty standard zip-line but very fun! Once again, this would never happen in the US as one simply has a pair of heavy gloves and reaches behind them on the cable to stop themselves. It was very high over the jungle canopy, the view was great, and it lasted for a long time. There were five different cables, I think. Those two activities were so so fabulous, I could do them over and over. Came back to the hotel for dinner here and headed to bed for a long day in the sun at Iguazu National Park tomorrow.

11/24 23:00-I am still in awe. This post will not even come close to doing justice for how beautiful Iguazu waterfalls are. It's just something that you have to experience for yourself. We woke up, ate breakfast at the hotel, and drove in the bus to the Iguazu National Park Entrance. Obviously, this is a very touristy attraction so all signs have English translations and all guides are required to translate what they say into English. The entire day was spent in the sun walking to and from different viewpoints but I swear that I could spend weeks admiring the falls. Not only the sight of sooooo much water pouring over, but the sound of this amount of water is so loud it's unbelievable. We ate lunch at a restaurant in the park and, in the afternoon, we did a really fabulous activity where we took boats on the river where the falls are. It was called the "Gran Aventura" or "Great Adventure". During the excursion, we actually go undeeer where the waterfalls are various times and everyone gets soaking wet! I even got to touch Brazil and Paraguay...!!!! I can't even try to explain what I saw today anymore...Pictures and videos will come soon. Returned to the hotel. Ate dinner and headed to bed after a very long and hot day. Love to all!

First days of trip!

Hello! I have been trying to keep a few entries in my iPod on long bus rides well it's still fresh in my mind of what we've been doing. Staying at same hotel last night, tonight, and tomorrow night with wifi so will update quick. love you all and happy thanksgiving!

11/19 2:10: Hello all. Figured I'd try to keep a little journal along my trip just to record down everything while it's still fresh. I left Cordoba at 21:30 Saturday night with aSwiss girl and Finlandian girl, both who arrived in Cordoba in February. From Cordoba, we had a 11 hr. bus ride to Resistencia in the province of Chaco. The Swiss and I got lucky and had the best seats on the bus: top level and very front, full windshield view and room to stretch legs. A blanket and pillow were included and with those I was out for the night. When we stepped off the bus in Resistencia, it was so hot I couldn't get my sweatshirt off quick enough. Two AFS volunteers and two Italian boys that had already arrived were playing cards and waiting to greet us. We waited another hour or so and finally left with 7 students and 2 volunteers. We took taxis to one if the volunteer's houses...or should I say mansion, where we all changed into shorts and had a cool glass of agua. Then, we were off to the supermarket to buy food for lunch. We bought lots of lasta, bacon, cream, etc. and a huge watermelon to top it off. In regards to the cooking, I'll just say I LOVE Italians. The two boys cooked the 9 of us a full Italian pasta lunch...mmm. Meanwhile, we took turns setting the table, pouring terere (mate), relaxing in the sun, playing ping ping in the backyard, and sitting in front of the fan. After lunch at around 4:15, we all walked down the street to the house of the cousin of the volunteer...another big one with a big pool in the backyard. The afternoon was spent swimming, jumping off the wall into the pool (for the boys), swinging in the hammock, taking pics, and eating watermelon. Pretty similar to Montana November days, no? After showering and all, we headed to the terminal to meet the others. How fun! There are five of us girls from the states and were having a great time catching up from August! Overall, there are about 35 students I would guess...Japon, Thailand, Italy, Germany, EEUU, Switzerland, Finland, and lots lots more. We left the Resistencia terminal on a nice two level bus with TVs, reclining chairs, and a water/coffee/pop bar at 22:30 with an 11 hour ride ahead to Salta province where we will spend the next couple days. Dinner was fine-three plain sandwiches, an empanada, an an alfajor for dessert. I swear I will NEVER wear shorts on a bus again.....so cold. Slept a good two hours but woke up a few minutes ago shivering. No blankets or pillows provided but you guys know me-I can sleep anywhere. There is a huge thunderstorm outside right now: rain falling, thunder cracking, and so so much lightning. I hope we have good weather. Not to mention they drive like 30 mph on the highways here and it's really frustrating me. Alright, I'm going to try to sleep again so I'm not to much of a witch tomorrow even though they just turned the air on again! ah crazy Argentinians!

11/20 17:45: Hola! Hope you guys are having a fabulous Thanksgiving week and a good two day school week. I'm having an absolutely amazing time on my trip, though it may be a little different than you all...95 degrees and spent the day in the desert today. Yesterday was lots of fun. We arrived in Resistencia at around 9 and went to the hotel in Salta. I am rooming with a girl from Minnesota and one from Chicago. We lucked out and got the corner room with four beds and lots of room...but a broken air conditioner. Luckily, it cools off lots at night where we're at. At 12 we met for lunch in the hotel of pasta. Then, we went out with a guide and had a city tour which also included a gondola ride to the top of a mountain...such an unbelievable and peaceful view. We went to a street with a bunch of artisans and I bought a few things (surprise)! We went to dinner at a restaurant where we were served empanadas, salad, steak, and fruit salad for dessert. Woke up this morning at 530, are breakfast at hotel, and loaded bus. We had a 2 hr. ride to Jujuy in which we all slept. There were lots of artisans, monuments, etc. to walk around and shop at. Also, there were the hills of seven colors which are best explained through pictures...kind of like layered colored rocks and sand that makes awesome mountains. We did a three kilometer hike through the hills in the middle of the dessert. Lots of sunburns this afternoon (no, Mom and Dad, you've taught me well to use sunscreen). After, we drove another hour to the city of Huemaca where we had a typical dish for lunch of cooked meat, carrots, potatoes, and onions mixed together with fruit salad for dessert. We had some time to check out the artisans and local shops...I love them. We stopped on our way back to the hotel to do a hike to these ancient tenples/huts/pyramids/rock structures where it was very windy. Loaded the bus back up and now we are still in our way home to Salta. I've heard that tonight we'll have dinner then we're going out to a Pena which sounds like a disco with folklore music...should be interesting! We will go white-water rafting tomorrow...can't wait!! Pictures to come. Have a good vacation and please travel safe. Love from the desert, Kerri

Empanada Joint Restaurant

Just a quick post. Uncle Logan and Aunt Amanda mentioned to me a few weeks ago that they had heard that a new restaurant was coming to Missoula that just served Argentinean food! Today, Annalea Kamplain (my friend from Bozeman who is also in Argentina) and I found an article about it that was in the Missoulian. The main dishes that will be served are empanadas, dulce de leche, and mate...just what I'm guessing I'll be needing. Feeling a road trip with Annalea this spring!
http://missoulian.com/business/local/new-restaurant-to-offer-pocket-of-argentina-in-missoula/article_72ab26f8-6ff2-11e1-8198-001871e3ce6c.html

Halfway!

  I always seem to start my posts off in the same manner, but what can I say? It's what I get to thinking about when I go to write...how fast everything is flying by. People always said that the time will fly before my eyes but I never believed it, especially the first few weeks I was here and it seemed like January would never come. Now look at it...I departed on my adventure on August 22nd with little idea what was ahead of me. I arrived in Cordoba on August 26th overwhelmed by my new surroundings. Now on 4 November, I have been away from what I've known my whole life for 74 days. I have 74 days left until I will return home as well. Every day that passes, my feelings confuse me even more. I know that doesn't make sense to anyone reading this back in the states but my fellow exchangers know what I'm talking about. Every day, I am reminded of my longing for my family, friends, and home. However, every day I dread more and more the day that I'll leave the place that I can now call my second home, the amazing people I have met here, and so much more. I swear exchange students are some of the most bi-polar people around; one second we want home, and the next we never want to leave. But that's what it's all about-the experience.
  It is 5:30 on Sunday 4 November. I'm trying to figure everything out about the new time differences resulting from Daylight Savings Time in the US. Now, I am four hours ahead of Montana. This week I just went to school, the gym, etc...pretty normal. On Monday morning, Mili and I woke up at 7 to go to a visiting Museum of Natural Science with Nuki and her science class. Then, Monday evening I went to yet another English institution to visit with some students. They always ask the same questions, but I still enjoy it. It's so interesting talking to them. Yesterday, two of my cousins, Mili, and I went to an event called "Global Village". It was in a huge building and there were different stands for almost every country in the world with artifacts, pictures, flags, etc. from the country. Each stand had at least one citizen from the country. Also, there were workshops for four different languages including English, workshops for dances from around the world, and food for sale from different countries. I really enjoyed it. Before going to the United States stand, I saw a black man (there are lots of morachos who look like islanders here but NO black people) who looked in his early 20s and he was wearing long basketball shirts, a t-shirt, tall Nike socks, Jordan tennis shoes, and a Miami Heat hat on backwards...no doubt that he was from the US. It's amazing I could tell so easily just from the clothes he was wearing. We got to talking and it turns out he just arrived four days ago and is a psychologist from Washington who just signed a contract to play professional basketball in Cordoba for a year. He said it was so amazing to hear another American talk as he knows absolutely no Spanish. He asked me where I was from and I said Montana and he went to ask "Whitefish, Missoula, what city"...I was amazed he was familiar with it. It turns out he lived in Whitefish for a few years and his best friend was starting point guard for Carroll for four years...SUCH a small world. Then, last night was my cousin's birthday party. Some of the cousins (what the Harmon family would call "elders" and a few "middlers") got together at her house for a few hours. All the others except one cousin and me went out to go dancing at a disco but I was pretty tired so just decided to come home. I slept in this morning and this afternoon Mili, Pedro, and I went to an asado at their dad's house. It was soooooooooooo good. There was all types of meat like pork, beef, chorizo sausage, and even cow intestines; salads; bread; and a chocolate ice cream dessert. Everyone else in the house right now is sleeping a siesta for a few hours. Tonight, we have the family birthday party for the cousin where we'll go to the grandma's house and eat a big dinner...then school this week.
  I am so excited to leave for my trip on  Saturday, 17 November. I already bought the bus ticket and everything and I'm all ready. Except I still have to pack, but everyone knows that will be done the night before or the morning of :) I was told of a few activities that we'll do while on the trip. The first is that we will go for a hike. The second is that we will go white-water rafting. And the third is an excursion in Iguazu Jungle which consists of a bridge tour in the trees, a zip-line tour, and rappelling over a waterfall. I'm sure my mom is so happy she signed the Activity Waiver saying I could do all of these...right, Mom? The 1st and 2nd of December we have a camping trip with AFS but I don't have much information on that. One month left of school and then summer vacation!! I know that we will spend Christmas with Nuki's family at my aunt's house in Zikiman which has a pool and New Year's with the dad's family. It's getting very very hot here. Usually, it is about 90 or 95 degrees and humid during the day and it's not even summer time. Also, there are lots and lots of mosquitoes but no bug spray. I don't know why they don't use it. Instead, they just spray Raid everywhere.
  My Spanish continues to improve and I have been told by lots of people that I am lots better than when I arrived. I can understand pretty much everything but it's still a little harder to talk. At least I can have some conversation with people! School is going good...still pretty basic but I think that's just how the education system is here. I attend all of my 14 classes but only take tests and get grades in 5 of them: math, English, Catholicism, mediation (problem solving), and psychology. My English teacher absolutely loves me. Sometimes she doesn't give me an assignment because she doesn't want the kids to cheat off of me and will instead just give me a 10 or an 100 in the  American system. Also, she invited me to go camping with her some weekend...She likes to be able to practice her English!
  Well, that's about all I have to say about how life is going for this girl...Just living it up in Argentina and taking advantage of the little time I have left. Hope all is going well with everyone. See you all in 74 days! Love from the southern hemisphere, Kerri

2 Months from Home!

  It's so hard to believe that today, the 22nd of November, marks two months that I've been away from my home, my family, my friends, and life I've known for all my life. It's so hard to explain what my life has been like in that time.  It's been such an amazing experience and I feel like I've grown so much and learned so much about myself here. I'm not saying that there haven't been obstacles, challenges, difficult days, and times when all I want is my home; however, everything has been so worth it thus far. There is nothing like the first time you can answer a question from someone on the street without saying "No hablo mucho espanol", the first time you can successfully ask for directions from a stranger, the first time you claim a package in the post office while having a conversation with the customs officer, and many other similar experiences. Although they may seem like small feats, it's the sense of pride and accomplishment that they provide you with. In Argentina, most students end their education after high school. I had a deep conversation with my English teacher the other day in which she explained to me the education system here. Almost all jobs only require a high school education.  At my school, most of the students are in middle-class families. She says that as long as one is not at the bottom of the social classes, most Argentinians are perfectly content in the middle-class. For these reasons, the students seem to have very little motivation to continue their schooling. She said that even a few years ago, the students were much more disciplined in class and Argentina had a higher standard of education. However, in the past years, the necessity for an advanced education has declined, student's motivation for an advanced education has declined, and for these reasons, Argentina's standard of education has significantly dropped. When I return to the states, I will have so many reasons to be so thankful for the opportunities that are provided to me such as a wonderful education, a job that I enjoy, and many other things like this that many people around the world aren't given the chance to experience.
 Like I said, lately I've just been living the life of a typical Argentinian student. Going to school during the week, going out and sleeping on the weekends, etc. Last Wednesday night, I went to an English school with an Australian friend to talk to the students. There was another 21 yr. old American boy there who is serving a religious mission here in Cordoba, also. I have asked to go to similar classes Thursday evening and Friday afternoon. It's amazing how much the teenagers enjoy talking with, listening to, and answering questions to me, the gringo. Also, this past Sunday was Mother's day. All of my host cousins and I got together late Saturday night at the Grandma's house to make a surprise pizza dinner for the entire family. It was so funny to be sitting down to a family dinner at 1:15 am. and heading home at 4:30. Sunday evening we went to my aunt's house to celebrate a cousin's 13th birthday party with a big family dinner, once again. Very fun weekend! And, the best part yet...I received a package from my mom and dad this morning! I had to go to the central post office to claim it and there I had to wait to go through customs with it. I found it pretty funny because the officer had to open all packages to check the contents. The other boxes contained things such as business shipments from around the world but when he got to mine and opened it, bags of Reeses and candy corn, Halloween stickers, boxes of cake, and jars of frosting were found. I don't even know how to describe the look on his face-fabulous. Anyways, hope all is well wherever you are reading this from. Love from Argentina <3 -Kerri

 My cousins-18 yrs. and 1 yr.

 Cousins-14 yrs. and 1 yr.

 Cousin Lucas "The Skater"-14 yrs.

 Big family-some of the cousins!

 Cousins Fernanda and Florencia-18 yrs. and 14 yrs.

 Birthday cake

The birthday girl, Florencia-14 yrs. old
 America is boring. Why can't we have sparklers on our cakes?

 Dance time! Cousins-18 yrs., 7 yrs., 1 yr.

 Cousins and best friends-4 yrs. and 5 yrs. 

 Dance lessons!

Mom and Dad's amazing package

Daily Adventures!

It's so hard to believe that I have already been here for 1 1/2 months and that I only have about 3 1/2 months left. Time is definitely flying by! Recently, it seems like I've pretty much just been experiencing the life of a normal Argentinian teenager. A normal week day starts with waking up at about 11:45 unless I have gym class (9:30-10:30) or have to go to the center, eating breakfast, and getting ready for school. One of the most prominent differences that I have yet to adjust to is what breakfast consists of. Since you get up so late, their breakfast foods are pretty much what an American would eat for lunch or dinner. For example, this morning my host mom woke me up at 11:30 with a nice breakfast in bed that I thought would consist of bread, butter/dulce de leche, and a coffee (Mom, if you are reading this, know that I'll have some high expectations when I return home). Instead, she brought two trays for Mili and I both consisting of bread, juice, and a full plate of spaghetti, meatballs, and mashed potatoes...mmmm. After eating "breakfast", I shower, change into my uniform, etc. before my host cousin Rami comes at 1:15 to take us to school. As said in previous posts, the school hours depend on the day. After school, I walk home (about a 20 minute walk) unless it is Mon., Wed., or Fri. in which I go to the gym. No matter the time I arrive home, my host brother and I walk to the nearby bakery for "creollos" which are like biscuits for the merienda meal. Dulce de leche, various marmelades, butter, hot chocolate, hot milk, and coffee are all served to accompany the bread. It is not uncommon to eat this meal at 8 or so. After merienda, we either do homework, chat with friends, watch TV, or something like that. Then, at around 11 we all sit down together to have dinner. I really enjoy this time because it is a time to talk with my host family and grow closer to them while at the same time learning Spanish and enjoying a meal. After eating, everyone heads for bed to use the computer or watch some TV. Usually, Mili and I go to sleep at around 2 in the morning. Writing this post has kind of made me think about how weird this schedule sounds, but I guess it's just became normal sometime in the past six weeks. Let me just say that I'm going to be a little messed-up when I return to the States.
Not a lot of big events have occurred lately so it's been pretty calm. Last weekend was a really relaxing long weekend and we just hung out around the house and did some cooking and cleaning. Mili, one of the cousins, and I made alfajores (see food post) and a marmalade cake on Saturday night. Both turned out sooo tasty and were gone within hours! Sunday night, we got together with lots of the family to eat pizza and talk at one of the aunt's house that is a few blocks away. I was just advised that on Saturday, October 20th, I have a full day orientation with AFS and all the other students here in Cordoba from 9-6 so we'll see how that goes. Mili told me that in the beginning of November the family is taking a trip together. From what I understood, it sounded like we are renting a camp in the forest in the province of Los Gigantes to stay at for a couple of days so that should be very fun! Also, I am really looking forward to my trip to the north of Argentina which is later in November. Sounds like a great time coming up. Hope all is going well in Montana, Washington, Ohio, or wherever you may be reading this in! My love from Argentina, Kerri

 A typical class

 Some of my classmates

 Spring sunset

 Spring sunset

 Spring sunset

 My home for 6 months

 My home for 6 months

 Rolling out alfajor dough

 My crazy cousin and sister

 Very messy!

 Making a clean work surface

 Finished marmalade cake and alfajores

 Showing off our hard work!