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!

Funny ARGENTINIAN facts...

Although I can't say that I was born and raised in Cordoba, I am finally adjusted to the lifestyle here! The things that seemed so different and shocking at the beginning are now becoming my normal...
1. You don't dare use a pencil in school, only pens and white out.
2. Kissing strangers and friends alike on the cheek is the only acceptable way to say hello and goodbye.
3. Facebook is only called "Face".
4. The social hangout for kids your age is McDonalds.
5. The ground is the new trash can.
6. It is 85 degrees outside and you leave with a pair of jeans and a jacket to fit in.
7. You are very unpunctual. "I'll be over at 7 o'clock" really means "I'll leave my house at 8 o'clock."
8. It is the most difficult task to explain the meaning of the term "o'clock" to your English class.
9. Calling friends, family members, and teachers "Fatty", "Ugly", "Fool", etc. are simply terms of endearment.
10. Your parents are perfectly content with waking up at 5 in the morning to pick you and your friends up from the disco.
11. Coca-Cola is simply called "Coca" and is the new juice.
12. Water comes out of the tap warm and has to be refrigerated before drinking.
13. Eating dinner at 1 in the morning just happens. For that matter, so is eating dinner at 5 in the morning.
14. Facebook is the only reliable communication.
15. Mornings and breakfast don't exist. You start your day at 11 and your first meal is lunch.
16. You drive on whatever side of the street is open. You park wherever you can find a space and  facing whichever direction. You pass on city streets on whatever side is open.
17. You honk your horn before open intersections to signal your presence but hardly slow down.
18. The smell of cigarette smoke hardly even makes you cough.
19. Cockroaches are just like ants, common bugs found outside.
20. Milk is drank hot with sugar...unless you're an American exchange student.
21. Bakini bottoms are Brazilian bottom cuts which pretty much look like thongs.
22. You arrive to a party 2 hours late and are still the first one there.
23. The worker fills up your car with gas (like Oregon).
24. You try to walk with your hands in your pockets for fear of the stray dogs (or maybe that's just me).
25. In public restrooms, you must pay the toilet paper lady when you enter for a wad of TP.

Food, Food, Food!

 Finally, a post all about Argentinian food! There are many traditional foods and drinks that are very popular here such as asado, mate and terere, empanadas, dulce de leche, and many more! Most of these include some time of ritual/tradition/event that goes along with them.

Asados-Usually done with the family on Sunday afternoons but can also be had with friends before soccer games, etc. If with friends, everyone pays about 25 pesos (6 dollars) for the cost of meat and food but if with family, then no. The meat is beef, pork, lamb, and chorizo sausage (as far as I know), seriously any cut imaginable. I have adapted a principle that it's better not to ask what you're eating and instead just eat off of taste and flavor! The men, the barbecue masters, season the meat with secret spices such as lemon, salt, etc. and then put it in the barbecue over lots of hot coals. For about 2 or 3 hours, the meat cooks, the salads, desserts, and side dishes are made, and people talk. Once finished, the meat is divided and served on huge platters.

The asado barbecue

 Cooking the veggies

   Nuki and her vegetables

 Enough meat to serve the world

Mate and terere-Drank more for the social aspect than anything else and shared between friends and family.  A "mate gourd" is made of a calabash fruit that is harvested mature, hollowed, dried, and formed into a round shape with a hole in the top. The straw or "bombilla" is usually made of silver and has a filter at the bottom to prevent the leaves from entering. The gourd is filled 1/2 of the way with yerba mate leaves that have been dried, chopped, and ground. The leaves are shaken to one side so there is a small opening on the other. You cover the mouth of the bombilla with your thumb and insert the straw into the bottom of the cup in the opening. Then, hot water is added to top the gourd off and a spoonful of sugar is usually added as well, depending on taste preference. There is one person in the group who is the designated "cebador". Mate is always always always passed to the left. The person drink the entire gourd of mate before passing it back to the cebador to refill and pass to the next person. The same bombilla and gourd is used for the entire group. Also, it is very bad and rude to stir the mate with the bombilla so it is best not to even touch the straw! Terere is prepared virtually the same but instead of hot water, cold juice is used.

Empanadas-Pastry turnovers filled with meats, cheese, corn, etc. and then fried or baked. These are often sold at vendors in the streets and are also made in the home.

Dulce de leche-Really similar to our caramel but a million times better or "mas rico". There are many different brands and styles sold but my favorite is the colonial style. I'm planning on giving all my clothes away and only coming home with dulce de leche. It can also be made in the home which we tried to do on Monday. While it was cooking, it was seriously so so good that my cousin and I were just eating it from the pan by spoonfuls. However, when we took it off the heat it crystallized and the sugar became all grainy. We figured out we added too much sugar so we're going to try again with less. A guilty pleasure of mine: take a spoon when no one is looking, reach into the fridge, uncap the dulce de leche and enjoy a big spoonful of it...

There are many other dishes that I've tried as well that are really tasty that don't have any sort of tradition like the others! These include:
Milanesas-Pretty much like chicken fried steak but a little less quality. They are a bought frozen and already breaded and only need to be  fried with some oil. These are really really common for dinner meals.
Arroz con leche-Cooked rice with lots of milk and sugar. My host mom made this on Monday and it was so good. It is usually served cold but I tried it hot as well.
Alfajores-Sweet biscuits with dulce de leche in the middle covered with chocolate and powdered sugar. They are bought in the kiosks here and are eaten as snacks. I really want to learn how to make these!
Criollos-Biscuits specific to the Cordoba area of Argentina. Usually ate in the merienda meal with dulce de leche or butter.
Vivi's birthday cake-Layer of vanilla cake then dulce de leche and peaches, another layer of vanilla cake then whipped cream and strawberries, another layer of vanilla cake all frosted in dulce de leche and cool whip. I don't know the real name of this but we my Aunt Vivi made it for my cousin's 18th birthday and it was sooo good...
Mayonnaise-Seriously, everything here is eaten with mayonnaise-rice, meat, veggies, salad, everything. I think it's kind of like Ranch for Americans.
Well, I think that about sums up my rave about Argentine food. Hope I didn't make you too hungry! Hasta luego

ARG vs. USA school

Now that I have officially been here for almost 5 weeks, I am really settling into the school system here, however different it may be from the United States! School is very exhausting because it is about 6 hours of trying to comprehend and speak Spanish. However, I love going to school because of the friendships that I have formed with my classmates and the interactions that we have there. It has been such an interesting experience slowly realizing the differences that make Nuestro Senora de Loreto so much different than Bozeman High. Here are some examples that I've noticed:

1. The students stay in the same classroom the entire day. Instead, the teachers rotate rooms for each hour.
2. Each day of the week my schedule is different but each week my schedule is the same. I have 14 subjects throughout the week, most one time and a few two times.
3. We are not served any food at school. There is only a little "kiosk" where cookies, pop, etc. are sold during breaks.
4. The kids stay in the same class with each other every class, every day, every week for the entire year. They have been together since they started at the age of 5.
5. I am in 5th grade here. In the US, there are 5 years of primary, 3 years of middle, and 4 years of secondary-12 years altogether. There are 12 years as well here, but instead only six years of primary and six years of secondary. At Loreto, the primary school kids go in the morning and the secondary school kids go in the afternoon.
6. The teachers and the students interact on a much more personal level than in the US. Here, they are not only your teacher but most are also good friends. One of my teachers is nicknamed "Gordo" or "Fatty" and it is not offensive. The students and professors joke a lot with each other.
7. If a teacher doesn't show up for class, there is no class. If it is the last class, we get to go home early. If it's in the middle of the day, we have a break where we eat, talk, play cards or soccer, etc.
8. Once school starts, the doors to the school are locked and you have to ring a doorbell to enter. When the principal opens the door, you give them your journal to be marked tardy. Also, this way you can't leave school early for any reason unless a parent/guardian comes to pick you up.
9. Loreto doesn't have any hallways. Instead, when you leave the classrooms you are outside in the courtyard. It is very similar to a motel instead of a hotel.
10. One of the biggest differences is that we have uniforms. Everyday, you must wear a white collared shirt with the school emblem on it but there are three different options for pants: jeans, navy blue sweats (not really our sweats but more formal) , or blue slacks.
11. The bells really have no meaning. On break or at the start of the day, class does not start at the bell but instead whenever the teacher enters the classroom.
12. When the teacher enters the classroom, all students must stand up and say "Buenos tardes, profe/profesora" before sitting down.
13. Obviously, the biggest difference is the times. Every day, school starts at 1:30. On Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, it ends at 6:40. On Tuesdays, it finishes at 7:20 and on Wednesdays, at 8:05.
Some random pictures that my classmates took in class the other day!

 Some of my classmates-Victoria, Flaviaa, and Pamela

 Nice look from across the classroom

 Why don't boys in the US wear scarves?!

 My classroom

 Here's what we call studying!

Another picture of Victoria and Flaviaa

Pictures

Sorry I haven't been adding pictures to my posts! I have so many pictures and so few posts that I wouldn't be able to show them all. If you're interested in looking at them, just follow this link! Chao!
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.416093051783008.95492.100001469516836&type=3