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.