Viva Argentina: 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