Una Semana

I'm in Argentina, and it's already been a week. I apologize if there are any spelling errors, my laptop broke, so I'm using my host family's, and their language setting is set in Spanish, so almost everything I write is shown as an error.

Life here so far is very great and super low-key. I haven't started school yet, so I sleep in, hang out with my host family, learn Spanish, and occasionally go places with my host family. Friends and family seem to be very important here, and we're almost always accompanied by them. Hopefully I'll start school next week.

This will be a very short post, I apologize, but I didn't journal much in the beginning of the week, and I honestly don't remember a lot of what has happened. It's all kind of smushing together and becoming a blur; I can't believe it's already been a week. I've been starting to write things down though, so next week I'll have more to post.

I wish I could say I missed all of you, but to be honest, I haven't had any feelings of homesickness yet. This is, however, already the longest I've ever been away from home, so we'll see. I do love all of you though, and this year will fly by fast if it's anything like the last week has been.

besos,

Micah

2 days!

This is insane. I'm leaving in 2 days. It's definitely sinking in and saying goodbye is a combination of sorrow and joy, tears and laughter. I'm so happy to be given this opportunity, but at the same time, how do you say good bye to the life you've always known? Everything from here on out will be completely different. Different food and toilets and people and language and school and culture. I would like to say I'm ready and excited to take on this experience, but part of me is holding back. I've never completely been a free-spirited and adventurous girl. I stay pretty safe when it comes to trying new foods and doing new things, but I need to find a happy medium between being safe and living on the edge. I can skim the edge, but continue wearing a helmet and harness, and I'll be perfectly content. TWO DAYS. It's weird. I'm on a complete emotional roller coaster, as you could probably guess. Saying goodbye to friends, I'll be ecstatic that I'm leaving and excitedly talking about my coming adventures one moment, but the tears are streaming down my face the next. It's all so crazy, and I still have moments of disbelief. This has been what I have wanted for nearly two years. I'm going to be living with a host family in Argentina! I'll be going to school and learning Spanish and I'll see and try so many different things and meet so many new people.

I still have stuff to do. I have to work tomorrow, the day before I leave, which is a little insane, but it will help keep my mind occupied. I'm almost done packing, it's just the things I'm using like my laptop, purse, journal, toiletries, some clothes, etc. that I haven't been able to pack. I've already had to say good-bye to some friends and family, and that's been hard, but everything is slowly coming together as my departure date is rapidly approaching.

I leave at 11:45 am from Green Bay. From there I fly to Chicago, Miami and finally arrive in Buenos Aires at 6:15 am Friday, Argentine time, where I will be met by some members of my host family as well as possibly some friends and Rotarians.

My host family has told me repeatedly how excited they are to meet me, and I can definitely say the same to them. This will be such an amazing year, and although I have my doubts, I really can't wait for it to start.

I will miss everyone very much, and I want to thank everyone who has helped me get this far. Continue reading, I'll try to keep updating at least once a week while I'm in Argentina, but I'm not making any promises. I'll at least try once a month, it depends on how many crazy, fun experiences and things I'll have going on.

Nos vemos,

Micah

August already?!

I can't believe it's August. Time has been so strange this past year- slow when I wanted it to go faster and fast when I wanted it to go slower. My exchange used to seem so far away, and it still hasn't hit me, completely. I'm leaving this month. THIS MONTH. At this point I think I will be leaving somewhere around the 24th, but I don't know anything for sure. My vaccinations are mostly complete, I just have to take some pills that vaccinate against Typhoid. I ordered a new camera and an adapter, I have my suitcases and most of the gifts that I'm going to bring. These next couple of weeks are just going to be saying good bye, packing and making sure everything is in order. It's weird that I'm getting ready to leave but I don't know when it is exactly that I'm leaving. I've started a packing list that I add to whenever I think of something else I should bring with me. I have no idea how I'll be able to fit everything in the luggage I'm allowed to bring, although I don't know what airline I'm flying with yet, so I don't know luggage restrictions.

At this point, I'm practicing my Spanish more and more (it still kinda really sucks) and I just can't wait to leave. It's so strange to think that in 3 weeks I will be in Argentina and won't be coming home for a year. I'm not going to be going to WDPHS, I'll be going to Instituto Madre Sofía Bunge. I won't have classes in English, I'll have classes in Spanish. I won't be living with my family, I'll be living with the Gonzalezes. I won't be hanging out with the friends I've known forever, I'll meet new ones. Instead of a boring, familiar and cold year in Wisconsin, I'll have a year of experiences and memories and sights and sounds and smells that aren't even remotely close to any of the ones my family or friends have had.

I just can't wait for this year to start. I'll keep everyone posted on my departure info.

Nos vemos!
Micah