School!

Today was my first day of school at Nuestra Senora del Loreto! My host family and natural family had to go through a long process to transfer me from a huge public school downtown to a small Catholic private school that is a walkable distance away from the house. It is very different but very nice. The school is similar to a motel in that the classrooms open to the outside-there are no hallways. In the middle there is a big courtyard. In my grade, there are about 30 students. Nuestra Senora has younger kids as well, but no older kids I don't think. I have never been a new student at school before so it was a very new experience for me! After I registered, the principle brought me to both of the classes in my grade and introduced me as "Kerri from the United States" in front of the class. When I entered the class I was going to be a part of, all of the students started cheering "Kerri!!!" and chanting "E.E.U.U." I sat down at a desk in the back right corner and before I knew it, all 25 or so student had moved their chairs into a circle around me. A bystander would have thought I was some moviestar or celebrity. From that point on, I was interrogated with questions about school here, my friends, my family, pretty much my entire life. I was even asked if school in the U.S. was like High School Musical portrayed it, if students really broke out into song on the cafeteria tables. It was tempting to dive into a deep lie with that one. In Spanish literature class, the teacher eventually gave up on teaching for the time because the students couldn't stop talking and asking me questions about American life. The afternoon continued like this until the end of the day when all of the students meet in the courtyard and are addressed by the principal to close in prayer. However, before the prayer, she said "Students, we have a new student with a us today. Her name is Kerri Marie McInnis, she is from the United States, and lives in Montana which is next to California" (she said that with such authority that I couldn't correct her...nice try). The principal asked me to come to the front of the body of about 300 students. She went on to lead the students in a "Hello Kerri McInnis from Montana" cheer and the students broke out into applause. I think at that moment that my face could have been mistaken for a tomato...seriously. I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to attend a smaller and more personal school in such a big city. I really enjoyed it; the teachers and students were very understanding and welcoming and I know that it is going to be a fabulous experience for me, Kerri Marie Red-Face McInnis from Montana.

One week!

I've been away from home for one week-Argentina for six days. I can already feel myself starting to improve in both understanding and communicating in Spanish. It's been nice to have a week off of school to overcome the culture shock, the language change, the different schedule, everything. I've had the opportunity to see many of Cordoba's attractions such as the various museums, monuments, parks, etc. Also, I have really been able to bond with my extended host family and get to know everyone. I have spent a lot of my time with my 18 yr. old cousin because she has already graduated from high school. As time goes on, everything is improving and I know that once school starts, it will be even better. I think that I will start school on Monday at Our Lady of Loreta catholic school My experience this far has widened my perspective to one that includes ways of life around the world instead of just my home. It has made me so grateful for all the opportunities that I have had. Well, it's 12 in the morning here so I should probably get to sleep... Until next time! Nos vemos!

Differences and Difficulties

It's not better, it's not worse, it's just different. I have been repeating this to myself so many times over the past 24 hours. Everything is so different here and I'm trying to get used to it. For me, the language barrier has been my biggest difficulty and is very frustrating. I normally am a very talkative person but I haven't been able to talk much while I'm here. I have difficulty understanding and talking to my family but I manage to usually get my point across. I really hope that this starts to change soon. Also, the culture is so different. My family stays up very late and the teenagers are often out until early in the morning. However, they sleep until 12 and go to school from 1:30 until 6. Another difference is the eating times. They have a light breakfast of rolls in the morning, a rich lunch with meats and bread, and a rich dinner with meats and bread as well. Everything has bread. I miss my home and my family so much right now. However, I know that they will always be there when I return and that this opportunity will not always be here for me. I am trying to get used to the way of life here in Argentina. I know that it will just come with time.

Planes, Buses, and Automobiles

What a long week-but so much fun, so many memories, and so many new friends! I left on Wednesday morning at 4:45 from my house and flew to Miami with another girl from Bozeman. We arrived at around 3 and attended an orientation there until Thursday evening. 

Taking a walk in Florida on our last night in US!

 Twenty-four other kids from the United States and I boarded the plane to Buenos Aires, Argentina at 11 at night. We flew overnight and arrived in Argentina at around 8 in the morning.

Finally over South America!

We waited at the airport for the students from Canada and Iceland, then took bus ride to the three orientation sites. I was at a camp called Lazareno that was about one hour outside of Buenos Aires. There, we met many other kids from around the world. We stayed in houses that had bedrooms with many bunk beds and there was a big meeting room that we were in a lot. It was very cold outside and it didn't help that the Italians always leave the doors open-brrr!! I left on a bus to Cordoba at 11 Saturday evening with a friend from Belgium and a few other students. We drove overnight and arrived here at around 8 Sunday morning. We arrived earlier than we expected so had to wait for our families to come for awhile. It was such an amazing feeling when they called your name-knowing that this family had opened up their lives, families, and houses to me for the next 6 months. Soon,  my host brother Pedro, my host sister Mili, my host mother Nuki, and I were in the car headed to the house. They drove me through the center of the city to show me around a little. Their home is very close to the edge of the city so we had to drive for about 15 minutes. It's a nice house with a small office, Pedro's bedroom, Nuki's bedroom, a table, a small kitchen, and Mili's bedroom. For the rest of the morning, we sat at the dining table and talked some. Then, other cousins, aunts, and uncles all showed up for the asado. Meat, onions, and peppers were barbecued on the fire in the backyard, salad was prepared in the kitchen, Pepsi and Cola was bought, and bread was warmed. The meal was fabulous and plentiful-not to mention the amazing lemon pie for dessert. The meal was considered lunch and ended around three. Mili, two cousins, and I went to the center of the city to walk around, shop, and take pictures. We had a fabulous time together. When we got home at around 10:30, it was time for dinner. After we had a meal that was similar to the one at lunch, I decided that it was time for bed. It had been a very long day! Mili and I both slept until about 12 o'clock. The father owns a restaurant and so he brought us lunch-pasta, meat, bread, and meringue pie. Mili then went to her school which begins at 1:30. Nuki is a biology teacher so, on Mondays, teaches from 8 until 3:30. When she got home, she took me to the center of the city to buy a simple cell phone, exchange my dollars to pesos, and get money from the ATM. We then walked around and entered the old magnificent cathedrals, looked at the statues and fountains, and walked by the artisans. We picked Mili up from school and went to a bakery on our way home to buy some rolls. I decided to go with Mili to the gym tonight for awhile. I am trying to get enough sleep to catch up from my travel days but also get out and take advantage of the experience.