Today was the second day of school and I am pleased to say that things did get a little bit better. Not with the teachers. At all. But the students talked to Jane and I a little bit more. That was good. I learned two new names. Nico and Adrianno. Well, I think that is how you spell it. Not really sure.
Anyways, the teachers basically ignored me again today. I started trying to take notes in a class and the teacher said to me “you don’t need to do that because you don’t understand.” And I told him that I understand a little bit. And he said that I can write down what I do understand. And that’s very little but it’s not like he slowed down to help me or anything else. He just kept teaching regularly. And then he said that jane and I would have a homework assignment, but he never got to because we got called out of class to go talk to Sr. Montalvo, the director of rotary and the school that we’re at. So, he was telling us how it’s our responsibility to learn the language the best we can whether it’s taking tutoring classes or whatever we need to do. And then he said that we need to have good communication and discuss if we have any problems. Then he asked us what problems we have.
At that moment, the principal of the school walked in and said she was just getting something from her desk. But then Sr. Montalvo invited her to stay and be a part of the conversation. So, I had the owner of the school and the principal at the table and they wanted me to talk about my problems. Yeah, I have a problem. I HATE YOUR SCHOOL! Your teachers ignore me! The students don’t talk to me! You didn’t even introduce me! I don’t learn anything in class! I don’t even learn any Spanish at this school because no one even tries to help me! That’s what I really wanted to tell them, but of course I can’t because I don’t want to offend them.
They gave me the phone number of my “counselor,” but my language skills are not good enough that I could have a phone conversation with her. And she doesn’t have email. So, I don’t know what to do. I feel like I can’t talk to anyone about it. I mean, I talk to my host parents about it. It’s just that they can’t really do anything. Oh well. I don’t really know what I’m going to do. I guess just wait at least a week before I ask to have anything done.
So, after school I went and had a bite to eat and something to drink with Ben Winterberger, who is the other exchange student from our area in PA. so, that was nice that I got to visit with him besides for school. I did feel bad though because when I got home, my mom was like “I was so worried.” I guess I was an hour later than normal and I don’t have anyway to communicate with her. Like, I don’t have a cell phone or a calling card or anything. I think that my parents were talking about getting me a cell phone at dinner. I don’t really know because they talk so fast when they aren’t talking to me directly.
I asked Cony today if she talks really slow for me and she said that she does. Lol it’s really nice that my family is so helpful. I mean, I learn so much from them. I wish I could just stay with Cony all day.
Well, I had a nice nap today and that’s basically all that happened. Oh! And I had cookies that had jelly in the middle in the shape of a smiley face. Happy cookies.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
August 30
Well, today was kinda awful. My first day of school. I know that it was “only” my first day, but I hate it. It was probably one of the worst experiences I can recall. I get up and get all ready and look all nice and do my hair and my mom drives me to the school. Then, as soon as I walk through the door, the first thing the woman says to my mother is “you’re late.” (in spanish of course) and so my mom asks what time school started and she said seven. So then the principal comes out. She nods in my direction and says you need to pull your hair up and you cannot wear makeup or jewelry. No hello. Just “this is how you are unacceptable to me.” So then, I followed the principal upstairs (without talking mind you) and then she ushered me into this room with about 16 students in it. She said “this is Deidre.” She pushed a desk in behind me and then left. I stood there awkwardly for a few seconds then took my seat. The teacher didn’t say hello. She didn’t ask where I was from. She didn’t ask how much Spanish I knew. She didn’t introduce herself. She didn’t introduce me to the classmates. And no one else talked to me either. Until, a blond girl behind me said “I’m Jane.” She’s from Iowa. Anyways, she was the only person who seemed to care that I was here. The other students just talked around us and talked with each other. Well, talking is a mild term. It was more like screaming overtop of one another. The teacher just let them do this for about 20 minutes. Then she tried to talk to the class and they wouldn’t shut up, so she just didn’t teach. Jane said that that is the way it normally goes. She said that they never really study anything.
In the school, there are no books. There is no paper. There are no pencils. There is no pencil sharpener. There is no tv. There are no computers. There’s no worksheets. Only one chalkboard. It’s probably the most awful thing ever. Jane said that she had been there about 2 weeks and that the students still don’t talk to her. Great. I mean, the students weren’t really helpful at all. They really didn’t care that I was there. I would ask the kid that knows a bit of Spanish to explain something in statistics but it didn’t work so well.
That brings me to another point. This school is supposed to be a bilingual school where they focus on business in other countries and the students should be fluent in English when they graduate. But the reality is, no one speaks English. There is one kid in my class who knows some English, but the teachers don’t know English. Not even the English teacher! They don’t speak in English at all. They barely teach for that matter.
It’s just so frustrating for me. I can’t speak well, so I can’t do too well in school. But it’s not like it matters. Jane said that in the two weeks that she’s been here, she hasn’t had to do anything. No tests. No homework. No class participation. Just sit and don’t cause problems. That’s all. I want to be able to go to school and learn the language, but I can’t learn anything if no one will talk to me! I can’t learn anything if the teachers don’t even acknowledge my presence. The one teacher that came in didn’t even say hello to me. It’s like I was just another desk or something. I want to learn! I am trying to learn! But it’s so hard when i don’t have anyone to communicate with. I mean, I can talk to Jane just fine, but she doesn’t speak Spanish well either.
It was weird. What little interest the students had in me, it was all strange information. Like, the girls would keep asking me if I had a boyfriend. Like, where did that come from? And they boys only wanted to know what kind of music I listened to. But it’s just so random. Eh.
Anyways, I came home and told my mom that I didn’t like it. And she suggested that I ask to change schools to be with my sisters. She tried to say that I was sorta forced into going to that school because the director of rotary is the owner of the school. I would feel so much better if I could go to school with Pilar. I mean, she and my other sisters try so hard to help me learn the language. At dinner we had a quiz game where Chabelli would ask me the names of everything around and what they were in English. I learned a lot of new words. 100 times as many as I did at school. I didn’t learn a single thing at school. Nothing. I think that if I went to school with Pilar and I could be with her friends that I already know, it would make things so much better. It doesn’t make sense.
Anyways, I had statistics homework, but I couldn’t do all of it because I didn’t have minitab. I mean the united states, we actually use technology, so I don’t know how to not use it. So, I tried downloading it, but it was being so difficult. I tried skyping with Daniel several times about it, but we eventually gave up and he said we’ll try again tomorrow. I know how to do the work. I just need this program. But I don’t think that we have that class tomorrow. I don’t know.
Oh, we also had gym class today. That was pretty fun. We played handball. I’ve never played it, but it was pretty fun and the other girls thought it was cool that I got so into the game. Here the girls just don’t really try in gym. But yeah, that was my day. Rating: 2.
In the school, there are no books. There is no paper. There are no pencils. There is no pencil sharpener. There is no tv. There are no computers. There’s no worksheets. Only one chalkboard. It’s probably the most awful thing ever. Jane said that she had been there about 2 weeks and that the students still don’t talk to her. Great. I mean, the students weren’t really helpful at all. They really didn’t care that I was there. I would ask the kid that knows a bit of Spanish to explain something in statistics but it didn’t work so well.
That brings me to another point. This school is supposed to be a bilingual school where they focus on business in other countries and the students should be fluent in English when they graduate. But the reality is, no one speaks English. There is one kid in my class who knows some English, but the teachers don’t know English. Not even the English teacher! They don’t speak in English at all. They barely teach for that matter.
It’s just so frustrating for me. I can’t speak well, so I can’t do too well in school. But it’s not like it matters. Jane said that in the two weeks that she’s been here, she hasn’t had to do anything. No tests. No homework. No class participation. Just sit and don’t cause problems. That’s all. I want to be able to go to school and learn the language, but I can’t learn anything if no one will talk to me! I can’t learn anything if the teachers don’t even acknowledge my presence. The one teacher that came in didn’t even say hello to me. It’s like I was just another desk or something. I want to learn! I am trying to learn! But it’s so hard when i don’t have anyone to communicate with. I mean, I can talk to Jane just fine, but she doesn’t speak Spanish well either.
It was weird. What little interest the students had in me, it was all strange information. Like, the girls would keep asking me if I had a boyfriend. Like, where did that come from? And they boys only wanted to know what kind of music I listened to. But it’s just so random. Eh.
Anyways, I came home and told my mom that I didn’t like it. And she suggested that I ask to change schools to be with my sisters. She tried to say that I was sorta forced into going to that school because the director of rotary is the owner of the school. I would feel so much better if I could go to school with Pilar. I mean, she and my other sisters try so hard to help me learn the language. At dinner we had a quiz game where Chabelli would ask me the names of everything around and what they were in English. I learned a lot of new words. 100 times as many as I did at school. I didn’t learn a single thing at school. Nothing. I think that if I went to school with Pilar and I could be with her friends that I already know, it would make things so much better. It doesn’t make sense.
Anyways, I had statistics homework, but I couldn’t do all of it because I didn’t have minitab. I mean the united states, we actually use technology, so I don’t know how to not use it. So, I tried downloading it, but it was being so difficult. I tried skyping with Daniel several times about it, but we eventually gave up and he said we’ll try again tomorrow. I know how to do the work. I just need this program. But I don’t think that we have that class tomorrow. I don’t know.
Oh, we also had gym class today. That was pretty fun. We played handball. I’ve never played it, but it was pretty fun and the other girls thought it was cool that I got so into the game. Here the girls just don’t really try in gym. But yeah, that was my day. Rating: 2.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
August 28 and 29
Yes, I know that I missed a day. Yesterday was kinda crazy. Okay, really crazy. I got up and then we went to my father’s side of the family’s mother’s house (that was a lot of possessives) for lunch. I don’t remember what we had to eat actually. Weird. But I do remember that for desert the kids got BonBons. I’ve never had one before. They were so good! And then the kids sat around and played with the wrappers and tinfoil. Real sophisticated, I know. Haha Then I took a nap when I got home because I was up really late the night before. Coni did too. Thennnn… I got to meet my mom, dad, and little sister. They are so nice too. Chabelli is adorable. She’s so open and not shy around me which I love because I would feel awkward and even more homesick. But the whole family is great. They try really hard for me. And then family from my mother’s side of the family came over for dinner; which is at like 10 in the evening, by the way. That’s totally normal for them. So then I got to talk to Daniel on skype for a while while Juanmi and Coni were on “Face.” (facebook) We took a while to decide what we were going to wear that night because we needed to look good for the disco. Juanmi is so funny. He had me try on like 3 different outfits so “he can see which one looks good on me or if I look like crap.” Hahaha so, we got all ready to go and around 2 we left for Cuba Libre. We got in for free because Juan used to work there. It was really sweet. The club was so big! There was like 3 huge sections for dancing and bars on every wall. The bathrooms were gross. If you were lucky, you got to get some toilet paper from the community roll as you walked through the door. There were 3 stalls and the person behind you in line had to hold the door shut for you. There was no toilet seat. Just toilet bowl. I tried to avoid the bathroom as much as possible. Anyways, it seemed much more laid back than the club scene in America. Like, not as raunchy as the clubs they show on tv. But maybe that’s just tv. I wouldn’t know. At the end of the night, my feet killed me! Oh my did they hurt so bad. I wore heels like all the rest of the girls, but I don’t know how they do it. My feet still hurt now! So, we got in at like 6:30. Haha that concludes yesterday.
And for today, I wasn’t feeling good at all. I woke up and right off the bat I had bad cramps. I was so miserable all day. The family came over again to eat, but I could barely eat. I felt so bad. I went to my room and wanted my mom. I tried contacting some of bryson’s friends to tell him to get on skype. It worked and I got to talk to my family. I wish I could honestly say that it made me feel better, but it just made me more homesick. But then, I got to talk to my boyfriend for a good while and he actually did make me feel better. The cramps weren’t so bad. And I was able to go out and socialize. With chabelli at least. Then I started feeling bad again. Back to bed. I watched a movie on my laptop and that distracted me for a while. Then it was time to eat again, so I had a bit of rice and some meat. My family knew that I wasn’t feeling good so they recommended that I only eat that. My dad was trying to say something to me, but I couldn’t understand. It was so frustrating. I wanted to cry again. But I’m going to school tomorrow with my mom tomorrow.
I was nervous about school until I talked to ben on facebook. He said that it’s really easy. That makes me feel better. I hope that I will make friends to help me too. Also! Good news, I got to “talk” to mr. hall today. I miss him so much. I am going to get ready for bed now. Goodnight!
And for today, I wasn’t feeling good at all. I woke up and right off the bat I had bad cramps. I was so miserable all day. The family came over again to eat, but I could barely eat. I felt so bad. I went to my room and wanted my mom. I tried contacting some of bryson’s friends to tell him to get on skype. It worked and I got to talk to my family. I wish I could honestly say that it made me feel better, but it just made me more homesick. But then, I got to talk to my boyfriend for a good while and he actually did make me feel better. The cramps weren’t so bad. And I was able to go out and socialize. With chabelli at least. Then I started feeling bad again. Back to bed. I watched a movie on my laptop and that distracted me for a while. Then it was time to eat again, so I had a bit of rice and some meat. My family knew that I wasn’t feeling good so they recommended that I only eat that. My dad was trying to say something to me, but I couldn’t understand. It was so frustrating. I wanted to cry again. But I’m going to school tomorrow with my mom tomorrow.
I was nervous about school until I talked to ben on facebook. He said that it’s really easy. That makes me feel better. I hope that I will make friends to help me too. Also! Good news, I got to “talk” to mr. hall today. I miss him so much. I am going to get ready for bed now. Goodnight!
Friday, August 27, 2010
August 27
Today was a great day! I slept in til about 9:30 which felt good since I wasn’t feeling too good last night. I think it was too much of that strange new drink. It has a bunch of tea leaves in a cup and you pour koolaid over it and drink out of a metal straw with a strainer at the bottom. It’s quite good. Anyways, back to today… I got to go outside! Until this point, I hadn’t left the house, but Coni, Juanmi, and I went into town this evening. I got my money exchanged and I bought some tshirts for my school uniform. And I also went to the supermarket and got some drinks for tonight. It was so cool to see the “city.” Nothing is over 3 stories high, but there is a ton of land covered. The people are quite nice and I got to see a lot. Juanmi speaks English quite well, so he has been helping me out a ton. I feel like I can ask him what everything is much easier than Coni. And it helps him with his English too. To learn my new words, I try to remember to put them on sticky notes on my computer. That way I can see them all the time. I think that it will work quite well. I am already feeling quite at home here. It’s so great. I hope that school goes just as well for me. Oh, and my parents and Chabelli will hopefully be home tomorrow. so, that will be interesting. We’ve been listening to music and dancing around all evening and I’m having a GREAT time. Signing off for today!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
August 26
Today was pretty uneventful. I got to try some cool new things though. I got try el flan. It tasted like vanilla pudding. But es muy ricoooo. Also I tried this drink thing. It’s a glass filled with some sort of crushed up plant. Tea leaves maybe? Looks like oregano. And you pour the pear flavored drink into it and drink it with a special metal straw. And everyone shares it. It’s really good.
Oh also, I got to meet a lot of Pilar’s friends. So many names! But I’m trying to remember them all. And, my language is getting better already. When I don’t know what a word is, I ask. Coni has been so helpful. She’s gone around the house and labeled everything! Here, they don’t say tay-o-yas for towels, they say ty-az-as. Interesting. Coni said that tomorrow we are going to walk around town. I’m really excited for that because I’ve been inside all day. Well, I guess Pilar has too. Today has been a nice day to relax. I am starting to learn how things work here.
I talked to ben today and he said that he already has a lot of friends at school. That’s encouraging. I hope that they like me too. I should have asked him what his classes were like. Dang. Well, I guess I can ask tomorrow. Or, I’ll just find out on Monday.
I don’t know when my parents and Chabelli are going to come home. They broke down on the free way and I think they are staying in a hotel somewhere. I hope they are okay. Well, I am done for the day. More updates tomorrow. Carpe diem.
Oh also, I got to meet a lot of Pilar’s friends. So many names! But I’m trying to remember them all. And, my language is getting better already. When I don’t know what a word is, I ask. Coni has been so helpful. She’s gone around the house and labeled everything! Here, they don’t say tay-o-yas for towels, they say ty-az-as. Interesting. Coni said that tomorrow we are going to walk around town. I’m really excited for that because I’ve been inside all day. Well, I guess Pilar has too. Today has been a nice day to relax. I am starting to learn how things work here.
I talked to ben today and he said that he already has a lot of friends at school. That’s encouraging. I hope that they like me too. I should have asked him what his classes were like. Dang. Well, I guess I can ask tomorrow. Or, I’ll just find out on Monday.
I don’t know when my parents and Chabelli are going to come home. They broke down on the free way and I think they are staying in a hotel somewhere. I hope they are okay. Well, I am done for the day. More updates tomorrow. Carpe diem.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
the 25th Arriving
Well, this morning started off rough. I tried to sleep. Carley seemed to be able to do that fine, but I couldn’t. The turbulence on this plane is unreal. I felt like throwing up my insides for 2 hours. Thanks goodness for Ms. Nolan! She’s distracted me with blogging and a movie. It’s working! Oh she’s also quite entertaining when drowsy:
“That plane has been next to us the whole time!”-Carley
“That’s the end of the wing, Carley.” -Deidre
Well, I’ll be back later.
We’ve made it through the Ezieza Aeropuerto. Let me just say now, that I am NOT PLEASED with Shiela once again. I was not informed that if I did not have a visa, I would have to pay $140 US dollars. What if I didn’t have that money on me? What if my credit card didn’t work yet? I could have been detained! Needless to say, she will be hearing from me. In other news, we haven’t seen Jonathan since we got off the plane. Thank goodness. We did, however, get called beautiful by the man loading our luggage into the bus. He was so nice. He tried so hard to help us but we just couldn’t understand. He came onto the bus and asked us if we needed anything. It took us a few tries, but then we understood and said no.
Poor Carley was having the hardest time dragging her bag. And I mean literally dragging a 50 pound army bag. My 3 large bags were also quite cumbersome.
My thoughts at the moment: I can’t live here. I can’t even communicate! Our best strategy thus far has been to look pathetic and say ¿qué? it’s exhausting all ready. I should be taking more pictures. Maybe that will relieve all this stress. Dang, can’t. Camera is under the bus. Oh well. Back to the topic. I am scared to death. What if I can’t understand my sisters? How will I do this on my own? Everything is in Spanish! (I know that was sorta a given)
I just saw a Ford Fiesta. Appropriate.
I’ve made it through checking in at our second airport. And yes, this deserves its own entry. We start by approaching the domestic flights counter after waiting in line because we were told that we were flying to domestic airports. So as we approach the counter, the woman saw my passport and said, “passports a lado.” And pointed to where we had scoped out before called “international flights.” So, after we wait in line at the International section. I get up and say “tengo un vuelo a Iguazú.” I am promptly pointed right back to the counter where I was previously turned away. So, we wait in line again. Carley seems to ba able to check in fine, but when it comes for my turn, I am “told” (or gunted and motioned) that my bags were too heavy or something and that it would be 40 pesos. I had to go to the cashier in order to get my boarding pass. She tells me 80 pesos. And I tell her that I don’t have any pesos. All I have is US dollars. She does her calculations and tells me I owe 47 dollars! For those of you who don’t know the exchange rate for US dollars into pesos is 4 pesos to a dollar. I should have paid 20. But, I think I was ripped off and the woman didn’t speak any English so I couldn’t ask any questions. Carley and I examined the receipt thingy that she gave me and we think that you’re only allowed 1 bag, and because I have 2, I had to pay extra. That, I can understand. However, the 80 to 47 makes no sense. Would someone please enlighten me.
So, now we sit and wait to find out what gates we should be at even though the flights leave in an hour and 10/20 minutes. I’m hungry but I have no pesos. I’m tired but can’t sleep. I’m anxious but can’t scream. This day has been quite rough.
I have made it to my new home. I had to fight back tears the whole ride here. I feel so stupid. I don’t know how to communicate and it is so frustrating. I can speak well, but listening to others is quite difficult. Anyways, after my flight was delayed for 2 ½ hours in Aeroparque, I got on my flight and had smooth sailing or flying to Puerto Iguazú. I got to fly over the jungle. It was amazing. All you can see is trees. Just trees. For miles and miles and miles.
I was picked up at the tiny little airport made out of brick by my sister Coni and her boyfriend José (i think that was his name). I couldn’t understand him at all, but with Coni, I can understand every word and speak well too. I’m glad for that even though she won’t be in my school, which is right next door by the way. The house is nice. I have my own room and I’ve settled in. Coni is trying to make pizza. She says that she doesn’t know how to cook though. I offered my help, but to be honest, I don’t know that I’d be much of a help anyways! Well, Signing off for today.
“That plane has been next to us the whole time!”-Carley
“That’s the end of the wing, Carley.” -Deidre
Well, I’ll be back later.
We’ve made it through the Ezieza Aeropuerto. Let me just say now, that I am NOT PLEASED with Shiela once again. I was not informed that if I did not have a visa, I would have to pay $140 US dollars. What if I didn’t have that money on me? What if my credit card didn’t work yet? I could have been detained! Needless to say, she will be hearing from me. In other news, we haven’t seen Jonathan since we got off the plane. Thank goodness. We did, however, get called beautiful by the man loading our luggage into the bus. He was so nice. He tried so hard to help us but we just couldn’t understand. He came onto the bus and asked us if we needed anything. It took us a few tries, but then we understood and said no.
Poor Carley was having the hardest time dragging her bag. And I mean literally dragging a 50 pound army bag. My 3 large bags were also quite cumbersome.
My thoughts at the moment: I can’t live here. I can’t even communicate! Our best strategy thus far has been to look pathetic and say ¿qué? it’s exhausting all ready. I should be taking more pictures. Maybe that will relieve all this stress. Dang, can’t. Camera is under the bus. Oh well. Back to the topic. I am scared to death. What if I can’t understand my sisters? How will I do this on my own? Everything is in Spanish! (I know that was sorta a given)
I just saw a Ford Fiesta. Appropriate.
I’ve made it through checking in at our second airport. And yes, this deserves its own entry. We start by approaching the domestic flights counter after waiting in line because we were told that we were flying to domestic airports. So as we approach the counter, the woman saw my passport and said, “passports a lado.” And pointed to where we had scoped out before called “international flights.” So, after we wait in line at the International section. I get up and say “tengo un vuelo a Iguazú.” I am promptly pointed right back to the counter where I was previously turned away. So, we wait in line again. Carley seems to ba able to check in fine, but when it comes for my turn, I am “told” (or gunted and motioned) that my bags were too heavy or something and that it would be 40 pesos. I had to go to the cashier in order to get my boarding pass. She tells me 80 pesos. And I tell her that I don’t have any pesos. All I have is US dollars. She does her calculations and tells me I owe 47 dollars! For those of you who don’t know the exchange rate for US dollars into pesos is 4 pesos to a dollar. I should have paid 20. But, I think I was ripped off and the woman didn’t speak any English so I couldn’t ask any questions. Carley and I examined the receipt thingy that she gave me and we think that you’re only allowed 1 bag, and because I have 2, I had to pay extra. That, I can understand. However, the 80 to 47 makes no sense. Would someone please enlighten me.
So, now we sit and wait to find out what gates we should be at even though the flights leave in an hour and 10/20 minutes. I’m hungry but I have no pesos. I’m tired but can’t sleep. I’m anxious but can’t scream. This day has been quite rough.
I have made it to my new home. I had to fight back tears the whole ride here. I feel so stupid. I don’t know how to communicate and it is so frustrating. I can speak well, but listening to others is quite difficult. Anyways, after my flight was delayed for 2 ½ hours in Aeroparque, I got on my flight and had smooth sailing or flying to Puerto Iguazú. I got to fly over the jungle. It was amazing. All you can see is trees. Just trees. For miles and miles and miles.
I was picked up at the tiny little airport made out of brick by my sister Coni and her boyfriend José (i think that was his name). I couldn’t understand him at all, but with Coni, I can understand every word and speak well too. I’m glad for that even though she won’t be in my school, which is right next door by the way. The house is nice. I have my own room and I’ve settled in. Coni is trying to make pizza. She says that she doesn’t know how to cook though. I offered my help, but to be honest, I don’t know that I’d be much of a help anyways! Well, Signing off for today.
August 24, Leaving
Well, there’s no turning back now. We’ve officially left for Dallas. The airport experience was already a humorous time. Well, right after all the crying and hugs goodbye. Thus far, Carley was called pregnant and I lost my boarding passes. Yes, Eric, I can never make fun of you for that again. In my defense, these inside jacket pockets are too small. I feel quite outgoing now that I’m with Carley. I hope that I will feel the same when I’m by myself. I’m glad I’m traveling with her though; I can only imagine the blubbering mess I’d be if I went alone. My laptop also keeps me company. Thanks Daniel for all the movies! Well, I shall finish this post later.
Well, for the most part, the Dallas Airport was fairliy uneventful. Sat around. Charged the laptop. Took a shuttle to our gate. Ate some chicken. But thennnnnnnnnn… we met a very interesting person as we sat at our gate. Carley, being the brave soul that she is, sat next to a wild haired young man. I’m not sure who initiated conversation, but before we knew it, we both had nick-names and were listening to fictional stories of kings and beggars. If you think that this ended in the gate, you’d be quite wrong. While on the plane, he managed to find us among the 335 seats and asked for paper. Paper? Anyways, he returns maybe a half hour/hour later with our paper covered in strange poems and drawings. We thought it was hilarious! It really was, so we made one back! We filled it with random Spanish words and stupid pictures. It was sooooo awkward walking up the plane to give it to him. Carley’s like “I just wanted to see if you’d do it.” Well, I now wish I would have chickened out. When we got our next TWO notes, things got a little crazy. He was um yeah, so, that ended quickly.
Well, for the most part, the Dallas Airport was fairliy uneventful. Sat around. Charged the laptop. Took a shuttle to our gate. Ate some chicken. But thennnnnnnnnn… we met a very interesting person as we sat at our gate. Carley, being the brave soul that she is, sat next to a wild haired young man. I’m not sure who initiated conversation, but before we knew it, we both had nick-names and were listening to fictional stories of kings and beggars. If you think that this ended in the gate, you’d be quite wrong. While on the plane, he managed to find us among the 335 seats and asked for paper. Paper? Anyways, he returns maybe a half hour/hour later with our paper covered in strange poems and drawings. We thought it was hilarious! It really was, so we made one back! We filled it with random Spanish words and stupid pictures. It was sooooo awkward walking up the plane to give it to him. Carley’s like “I just wanted to see if you’d do it.” Well, I now wish I would have chickened out. When we got our next TWO notes, things got a little crazy. He was um yeah, so, that ended quickly.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Getting ready
Well, here I am ready to go off into a world unknown. I will soon be flying to Puerto Iguazu, Argentina for at least 9 months to be a foreign exchange student through the Rotary International Youth Exchange. I am super excited about my new family. They seem amazing! 4 daughters! hooray! I've always wanted a sister. (or more than one.)
It hasn't been all fun and games though. The paperwork and nerves it takes to do this has been daunting. I've gone through phases of wanting to go, and not wanting to go. (I think that it's directly correlated to the frustration with bureaucracy.) I will miss everyone so very much but I hope to keep in touch and make new friends too. This will most definitely be a test of who I am and who I will become. I can't wait for the journey.
It hasn't been all fun and games though. The paperwork and nerves it takes to do this has been daunting. I've gone through phases of wanting to go, and not wanting to go. (I think that it's directly correlated to the frustration with bureaucracy.) I will miss everyone so very much but I hope to keep in touch and make new friends too. This will most definitely be a test of who I am and who I will become. I can't wait for the journey.
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