I've been robbed...

of wishes! In Argentina when you blow out the candles on your birthday you make 3 wishes instead of one! Other than finding out that my life is short 32 birthday wishes, I had a wonderful birthday here in Argentina! So read on and ignore my excessive use of parentheses.

My day started like any other day... woke up at 6:10, hit the snooze button and slept until 6:20 (which I keep telling myself makes a difference, but let's be honest, 10 minutes of half sleep really doesn't help anyone) and took a shower. I slipped on my school uniform (Monday means jogging pants and red t-shirt) and walked into the kitchen. The lights were on so I knew someone else was up. I grabbed some cereal (maple-honey cheerio type things) and milk, but when I turned around I realized that there was a tray of food and a birthday card sitting on the counter. I grabbed my camera and took pictures (you have to document everything when you're on exchange), and my host mom came down and was disappointed that I discovered it before she could give me breakfast in bed. Oops.

The wonderful birthday card my host mom and Thiago made me!

The breakfast!

My host mom brought the rest of the family into the kitchen and they hugged and kissed me and gave me a present- clothes for clubbing (and for birthday parties)! I ate and got ready for school. I grabbed the birthday cake my host mom so kindly made for me, and my host dad dropped me off at school. The school day went on normally, but all of my teachers and classmates gave me hugs and kisses. We had the cake during my economics class. Throughout the school day they sang 7 times (in Castellano and English). We ended up not having gym class so I texted my host-mom to tell her and she said that she could still pick me up. Right before school got out she texted me that something came up and she couldn't, so I walked home. 

Because I usually eat lunch at school or the plaza on Mondays and Fridays (respectively), I had already eaten a ham and cheese sandwich so I skipped lunch and slept a siesta. I slept for 2 hours and at 4 Cami woke me up and told me that we were going to el shopping (mall) at 5. My host mom told me to wear something nice because we would be going to a restaurant afterwards. So I got dressed (wearing a new cardigan and blouse I had received earlier), we picked up one of Cami's friends and were dropped off at the mall. Cami told me she needed a dress for her graduation ceremony, so we went from store to store and had her try on dresses. At 8:30 we were picked up by my host father and from here on I should have figured it out. 

We dropped off Cami at the corner of our street (for a reason I didn't know why at the time) but Cami's friend and I stayed in the car while Amadeo picked some things up at the store. When he was done we drove home. Cami greeted us and opened the gate and Amadeo told us that he forgot his keys so we had to go around to the back. There was a strange vehicle in the carport and none of the lights were on and I was so confused. So we go around back and I see tons of peoples' silhouettes and SURPRISE! 

Looking back there were way too many clues that I should have put together but being an exchange student I'm just used to strange things happening and me not understanding why. Until I got home and saw the surprise party I honestly thought it was just going to be a low-key birthday, with a dinner out with my host family. I would've been happy with anything, but it really was a perfect night. 

My host mom had called one of my friends from school to ask her to invite the rest of the class. About half showed up which is really nice considering that it was a Monday night. TNG (Cami's friends.. and mine too) came, as well as my Rotary counselor and my friend Leonie. It was such a surprise and I had no idea what to say. We had empanadas and patties and torta and it was just so great. 

It was a little cold.. but it felt more like my actual birthday with the weather, than with the 75+ weather that we've been having here in Bs. As. 

Almost always do birthday cakes have sparklers here!

There are no words (in Spanish or English) or pictures that can capture the essence of just how perfect this moment was. Right after this picture was taken the lights were turned off and it was completely dark other than the sparkler and candle on the cake. I was surrounded by people that I've grown to love singing choruses of "Que los cumplas feliz" and this sparkler just kept burning and all I could do was sit there laughing and smiling. As the sparkler dwindled to a small flame, I blew out the candles and realized that I didn't need to make a wish, and that my life wasn't robbed of anything. 

I want to thank everyone who made my birthday so special.

It was one of my favorite nights here.
I love you all so much.

Micah 

(but before I go... more pictures!) 

With some of my classmates!

Thiago and Eze!

My counselor and host parents!

Some of Cami's friends!

My host sister and some of her friends!

Leonie, Cami and I!

So Happy!

So this post is going to be a little different.

While I'm here in Argentina not only do I want to try new things and learn Spanish, but I also want to grow as a person and learn more about myself.

If you're my friend on facebook then you might have seen my status:
So I can't wait until January... I'm starting my New Year's resolution now.
Each day for the next 365 days I will try my best to write a letter, facebook message, skype, email or contact in any way one person that I need to say thank you to or tell them how much I appreciate or love them or how they changed me as a person. 
If you get a gushy facebook message from me in this next year, you don't have to respond or say anything back, just read what I say and know that it's 100% true and that I'm glad you're in my life.

Scientists say that people who express gratitude are happier. Recently I was sick and watching youtube videos when I stumbled across this video:

This video is what gave me the idea. So far it's only day 3, but the 3 messages I have sent have at least made me somewhat happier, and the responses I've gotten back have made me smile, as they said that my message made them smile. It's a win-win situation for everyone. 

So while it might not be very realistic that I contact one person a day and tell them I appreciate them, I'm going to try my best. I pick the person at random, so if you're number 1 or number 365 I appreciate you all the same. I might send you it on your birthday or just a random day. You might be surprised you're one of the 365 people that I send something to. If  I don't send you something, it doesn't mean you aren't a super great person, it just means that I can only pick 365 (and probably less than that.. I know I'll forget some days or I won't have access to a computer). Maybe I'll repeat some people if I feel like it. The nice thing about this is that it's my project. I can do it how I want, and it's not a challenge, it's just something that takes five minutes and makes me happy. 

I've been doing a lot of thinking (what else is there to do when you're sick besides sleep, watch videos on youtube and think?!) and I'm so happy I'm in Argentina. Even when I'm sick. Even when I'm homesick (which is usually only when I'm sick-sick). I couldn't imagine myself in any other country. It's my perfect fit. I love the accent of Spanish. I love taking siestas. I love the food. I love the weather. I love that school is so different. I love that it's not a huge country but it's so diverse: there are big cities, mountains, volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, beaches, farms and salt flats. I love that life is generally slower here. I love that I can go clubbing and it's socially acceptable and I won't get in trouble. I love that everyday is different and exciting. In general it's not as mundane as my life in WI. 

There really aren't things that I hate. There are things that are different and things that I miss, but nothing I hate. 

Last weekend we hosted a young boy, Juan,  from a different province. It was a mini basketball exchange. Juan stayed with our family for four days, and in November my host brother will go live with either Juan's family or one of Juan's teammates. My host brother's basketball club had activities set up and then they also played against each other. It was all very Argentine, I feel like something like this in the US wouldn't work as well, or people would be weary about having their young children live in someone else's house for four days. (It's different than a year long exchange.. I'm 16, not 9, and the families that I stay with have background checks). 

Yesterday I went to a friend's house (mine.. not Cami's!) for the first time! Sad, I know, but it's hard making friends when there's a language barrier. School gets better everyday and I'm actually surprised with how much Spanish I know. I still have troubles, but it's been less than two months and I knew very little Spanish before hand, so give me a break. I can understand pretty much everything in normal conversation, people just need to slow it down a little for me. Teachers' lectures is another story. But I've gotten to the point where I know better Spanish than most of my classmates know English, so 95% of the time I speak in Spanish and they dumb down what the teachers say for me. 

I was going to go clubbing with Cami last night but an hour before leaving I got sick. I was really looking forward to going with her, but she has her fiesta de egresados on Thursday and I'm going to that. Plus I still have 8 months to go clubbing! 

So being sick sucks but I'm happy and I don't want to go home any time soon. 

I miss and love you all. 

Look out for a letter/message/skype date in the next year when it's your turn to receive something from me about how much I appreciate you ;) 

Micah 

Clubbing and Campo and Cataratas, oh my!

Life continues to be great!

On October 3rd I went clubbing for the first time! It was probably the strangest experience I've ever had, but definitely fun and I can't wait for the next time I can go. Each schools' seniors plan and throw a party at a club to celebrate that they're graduating and to raise money. Basically all teens in the area are invited, and the one that I went to there were over 6000 people in attendance. However this was the first one of the 'season' and it's one of the largest/most important secondary schools, so the others are typically smaller. There were people everywhere dancing, drinking, talking and smoking and you had to hold hands and form human chains with your friends anytime you went anywhere otherwise you wouldn't see them again for the rest of the night. The building was huge, but it was so crowded. We went to one of my host sister's friend's house before to hang out and then we all got into taxis and drove to the club. We arrived at the club around 12:30 and stayed until a little after 5 in the morning. Keep in mind this was a Thursday night.. and either 6000 students in the area would either be super tired at school in the morning, or they wouldn't show. But I didn't get to sleep (much) or go to school! My friend Leonie from Switzerland and her host mom picked me up at 8:30 and we drove 4 hours to el campo!

'El campo' basically means the country or farms. We stayed Friday- Monday on the farm that Leonie's host family owns. The land was absolutely beautiful and it was crazy to stand outside and do a 360 and not see a single other house or barn or tractor in the distance that didn't belong to them. They had dogs, chickens, sheep, cows and horses. It was all very similar to Wisconsin, except they had these:

A farm with palm trees!

It was a very relaxing weekend. I've never seen so many stars in my life! The sunsets were just as incredible! The food didn't always agree with Leonie and I so we drank a lot of tea, took quite a few siestas and watched movies. We also were our goofy selves and took tons of pictures and I even got to ride my first horse! I'm not sure if I liked it all that much- I guess I had higher expectations. In the movies it's always a rider who just hops right up with the wind blowing threw her hair as she's sprinting through a field or down a dirt road. In reality for me, it took a lot of effort to get up, the horse had a bad shoulder so we couldn't go very fast, it was kind of uncomfortable and I didn't know how to use the reins. Plus the horse kept stopping to eat various plants in the yard. I'm glad that I can add riding a horse to my reverse bucket list, but I don't think I'm really cut out to be a cowgirl. Oh well. All in all I had a great time, despite a flat tire on the way back and a few stomach aches from the (delicious, even if it did make me a little sick!) food. 

If you notice the title: Clubbing and Campo and Cataratas, oh my! You'll notice that I've included the Cataratas as well. While this isn't something that I've done yet, 10 out of the 11 inbounds are going at the end of October/beginning on November. I've included it just because I'm so excited! As Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, and we'll be on the trip on the 31st, I've convinced the other inbounds that we're going to celebrate it with costumes and candy and a scary movie. I think they're excited too- they've never celebrated a Halloween (even if it's not the same as dressing up and going door to door begging for candy). 

I'm not going to tell you exactly what the trip is, because I want you to be surprised with the pictures when I get back. Stay tuned, and sometime in November you'll get to read stories and see pictures of the trip! 

I'm so happy here. 

Thank you to Rotary and my family and friends for this wonderful opportunity. 

But before I post, here are some more pictures from my weekend on the farm: 

Until next time!
Micah

Time Flies

It's been over a month already!

 I apologize for not writing... crazy, exciting things have been happening. If I'm not blogging it's because 1) I haven't done anything exciting to blog about OR 2) I'm having such a wonderful time and I can never find time to blog about all the fun things I've been doing. Thankfully it's the latter!
Before starting my exchange I read tons of blogs about other kids who went on exchange. A lot of them stopped blogging half-way through the year or they would only blog once every month or two. I had the best intentions of not being like them (and it's still not too late) but I have a feeling that as the year goes on blogging will definitely slip my mind. I'll try to keep you all informed on what I'm doing, but I'm always either at school, doing something fun, or sleeping because I'm exhausted from doing fun things (and Spanish- oh my gosh, it's exhausting. I loved to take naps in the US, but here it's almost mandatory to keep myself functioning. And Spanish is one of the easiest languages to learn.. I can't imagine having to try to understand Arabic or Thai or Chinese all day long).
I'm getting used to everything, even the things that would be totally bizarre for you, and used to be for me, are becoming normal (or at least I'm just getting used to expecting the unexpected).

 I'm comfortable here. I love my host family and school, but school still continues to confuse me. If a teacher doesn't show, we don't have a sub, we just talk or listen to music. I still haven't figured out exactly when we have break... bells ring (randomly? I don't know.), kids randomly leave the classroom, even when a teacher does show we have at least one period a day where we do absolutely nothing, and then 2 or 3 times a week they'll have a test and I can't help but wonder how or when they got the material. I'm sure as I learn more Spanish I'll understand exactly what goes on, but it's already been 3 weeks in school and I feel completely useless. I take notes and try to participate as much as I can, but keep in mind I've never taken an accounting class, a law class, an organizational management class (I still don't know exactly what this class is), a politics class, or a geography class, let alone in Spanish. Yesterday I was told we didn't have school Thursday or Friday, but today I was told we do have school Friday, which is fine, it's just different.. in WDP we know at least a month in advance that we don't have school on a certain day, unless it's a snowday or something.

We had a Rotary conference about two weeks ago. It was tons of fun! There are 11 inbounds. We all speak either English, French or German and they're all so cool. I can't wait for the trips that are planned! Our first is in October- we're going to the Iguazu falls! Then the day after we get back from that trip 2 other inbounds from the US and I are going to Uruguay to get our visas renewed- all the others are getting them renewed in Brazil when we go to Iguazu, but because we're from the US we would need a visa to enter Brazil, and we don't need one to enter Uruguay.  The conference wasn't as organized as they are in the US (nothing here really is), but that's one of the things I like about Argentina. This year already has taught me to relax more- I never know what's going on and I've learned to just follow what everyone else is doing.

 I do feel like a child, though. I have to be told what to wear, because I never know what's appropriate, and the only way I understand what you're saying is if you speak to me like I'm 3. That and I have no idea how to get from one place to another, or how to use the microwave, or  when it's appropriate to *insert action here* or say a certain thing. And I don't have as much independence here. One, because I'm an exchange student and thus I can't do certain things, but two because kids here don't always have tons of independence. All summer long I was used to waking up, being the only one home, making my own breakfast, driving somewhere to visit a friend, run an errand, or working. Here I'm rarely home alone, I rarely have to clean anything or make my own food, I can't drive (not that I would really want to- traffic is ridiculous here, and about 95% of the cars here are manual and I have no idea how to use a stick shift) and if I have to run errands it's with my host mom or host sister. A lot of families here have housekeepers that help clean, do laundry, and cook lunch, a stay home mom, or both (like my family) at least for part of the week, so a lot of children don't have to clean. It's also not common for teenagers to have jobs here.

Another thing that I like here is that siestas exist because night-time isn't just for sleeping, it's also for partying! I've been to a birthday party that started at 9 on a Monday night, and sleepovers are super common on school nights. This Sunday I'm planning on going clubbing (which I've been told most kids here start doing when they're 14) with my host sister and her friends and she told me that means that we won't sleep in between clubbing and going to school. That's what siestas are for. (But if I'm really tired my host parents said that I'm allowed one 'sick' day a month to stay home and sleep).

Aniyways, life is great! Plenty of things have happened that are worth telling you about, but if I go through what I've done everyday this month, this post would be 20 times as long.

I miss and love you all!
Besos!
Micah

Escuela (2 semanas!)

So this week was great, but the biggest and most exciting thing that happened was me starting school! Please note that while I'm mentioning differences between West De Pere and Sophia Bunge, in no way do I prefer one over the other. As an exchange student we're taught to say that things are different, not better or worse. Please don't get offended if it sounds like I'm degrading either school, as I'm only picking out differences to explain what school is like for me here in comparison to how it is in the United States. Please also know that this is just my experience, and my view on things.

I'm attending a large (large for Ituzaingo, small for WI standards) Catholic school in my town called Instituto Madre Sophia Bunge. I'm the only exchange student in my school, despite what I originally thought. I have a uniform, which I'll add a picture of eventually.The uniform is a plaid skirt, white polo, blue socks/tights and black shoes. For gym I have jogging pants, a red shirt, white tennis shoes and a track jacket. I actually enjoy it; it allows me to fit in a little bit more. However, everyone still knows me as the girl from the United States. All of the younger kids love saying hello and goodbye to me in English and sometimes they wave and blush if I look at them, which is super cute.

At school we have 2 different tracks- Sociales and Economía. I'm in the economics track, which means my classes are more business related. Currently I'm taking chemistry, English, micro and macro-economics, math, Spanish literature, politics and city, organizational management, history, law, accounting, a religion class, geography and gym. There are 19 other kids in my class, I think, with only 3 boys. I really like everyone, and they're super helpful with Spanish and translating/explaining what's going on. My Spanish skills are still very minimal, but I'm learning. I brought my yearbook from freshman year to show them, and they thought it was the coolest thing. They really enjoyed the Senior pictures and pictures from homecoming and prom. They thought it was hilarious when I told them I rode the school bus to school, and they kept saying 'this is just like in the movies!'. They were also jealous of the fact that we have school sports and lockers.

In the morning at my school we have a flag-raising ceremony, and a morning prayer. We all line up by grade level, I'm in the second to last grade. They say what I believe to be the Hail Mary and Our Father in Spanish. They also say something while the flag is being raised, but I don't know if it's religious or not. Then, one of the teachers or the headmaster says another prayer. I was included in the prayer on my second day at school and almost every person in the room turned and looked at me, it was so embarassing. My first day there, kids were super excited. I was kind of scared at some points, people were just flocking towards me. They handed me their phones to listen to various types of music, and asked whether or not I liked it. They also asked tons of questions, which was a little difficult because of the language barrier. I may have accidently told a girl I was personal friends with Justin Bieber. Oops. She freaked out, and I later had to explain to her that I thought she had asked if I knew who he was, not if I actually knew him. I think at first some of the younger kids kind of assumed I was famous because I was from the United States.

School is a lot different here. Security is higher.. in the morning to enter school grounds we have to be buzzed in, as the entire school is surrounded with gates and walls, and then we have to be buzzed in again to enter the actual school. The way class is taught is also different. We don't have electronics in the classroom that aid in teaching (other than lights, our cellphones and calculators, if you count that). But no iPads or netbooks or SmartBoards, like in WDP. If we want a copy of something, we have to pay for it. Textbooks are also the student's responsibility.. we can either buy one new or take another student's and make a copy of every page, but either way we have to pay. Teachers use the chalkboards and textbooks to teach, so many of the classes are lecture based. Classes also seem to be more relaxed, as we haven't gone over as much information in one week as we do in West De Pere. Teachers and students in general have closer relationships here than in the US. Because the kids sit in the same spot everyday, all day long (as teachers move rooms, not students), teachers expect the class to look the same way everyday. It was funny to see their faces as they scanned the classroom to see if everyone was present, when they noticed that I was there. Some teachers assumed I was just a transfer from another school so they would start speaking to me in rapid Spanish and all I could do is give a blank stare, say 'uhhhhh' and desperately look around the room for help. The language barrier is still the hardest part about being here. In stores, on the street, etc. people don't question whether I know Castellano because there definitely aren't any tourists in Ituzaingo, and foreigners are just about as rare as they are in De Pere.

My favorite class is math, as it's pretty universal and I've always just liked math. If I don't understand something my math teacher just shows me how to do it and I watch, we don't really ever have to talk. So far it's also kind of a repeat of what I learned last year, so it's nice to refresh and have something familiar. My least favorite class is English. I'm not a fan of the way it's taught, and if I'm going to participate, I feel like it should be to help the class, not because I need to prove to my English teacher I know English. If you need me to prove to you that I know English, I can definitely write a paragraph about my favorite movie like the rest of the class, but I find it a little over the top to make me buy/make copies of an English book so I can do the exercises and show to you I do know the difference between 'I walk to school' and 'I sleep to school'. Oh well. It is nice though as it's a break for my mind and I use it as a time to practice my Spanish, when I can.

Overall, I really like school here. I get bored, but that's only because I get sick of trying to understand what's going on. I know that once my language skills get better, school will be a lot more enjoyable as I'll be able to talk to the teachers and students more. I'm making friends (I think? haha), but as I'm still trying to get used to the language and my surroundings, I'm still not comfortable (and I don't think my host parents are either) with going out with only friends quite yet.

It's been a wonderful two weeks. There's been a few small ups and downs, but overall it's been pretty great. I still have many weeks left, and I'm sure the ups and downs will become more drastic, but I'm so excited that I'm in Argentina. Originally I thought it would hit me when I got on the plane or when I got here, but I still laugh at myself sometimes and have to tell myself that I'm in another country and that I'm here for an entire year. I don't think it's going to hit me until I leave Argentina, when I'll be sad to leave.

I love all of you, but homesickness still hasn't hit.

(But a shout out to Kaylee Beck in Africa! I definitely miss you, hermana.)

Until next week, maybe!

Micah

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