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I'm not sure where to start this post, seeing as I did much more in Buenos Aires after my last post. 

But I can say that my last couple days there, I did pretty much the same thing as the days before: walking around the city, seeing some famous monuments and meeting many new people. We went to a park called Palermo Woods, which you can walk to from the apartment. It's like their version of Central Park, it was beautiful. There are so many rollerbladers everywhere (Dad you would like it). Even though its winter here, it got so hot somedays! The subway one day was torture. It was so crowded and everyone was sweating. 

A very tragic thing happened on my third or second to last day there. My camera was stolen. Well, my bag actually. But the only valuable thing that was in it was my camera. This might seem like extreme bad news, but to me its first: A lesson learned, and second: Grateful feelings. This is due to the fact that right before we went out to eat (when it happened), I had decided to take out my wallet (which had my credit card, debit card, I.D. and my passport in it) and my plane ticket I had just gotten for the flight to Comodoro before we left for lunch. I don't know what I would've done if I had left all that in there. But I had had this feeling that something bad was going to happen when I did that, talk about intuition. 

So I am so very sorry, but it will be a little bit before I can post more pictures. But let me get back to some good news!

So the morning of my flight I had to wake up at 4 15 a.m., a bit of a change from the last couple mornings. Juli and Fran took me to the airport in a taxi and I got there at 5 00 a.m. I checked my bags on ( paying a heavy fee because of the weight) and went through security to board the plane at 6 00a.m. The flight was only about 2 1/2 hours (most of which was spent sleeping) before I saw the coast of Patagonia. It is beautiful here! It may not be green, sunny, warm or tropical, but it is equally gorgeous. With its small mountains, random looking cliffs sticking up everywhere, something that looks somewhat like sagebrush and waves crashing onto the rocky coast. 

If I thought it was cold in Buenos Aires... Nothing compared to here. The minute I stepped off the plane ( down the stairs because there's no connecting thingy) I was hit with the oh-so-famous wind of Comodoro Rivadavia. And believe me, it was not warm wind. Only wearing a sweatshirt for warmth, I rushed inside and quickly got my giant bags. Lili was there waiting for with a smile. After a quick kiss and very, very few words, we were in the car on the way home. The entire drive was along the coast with mountains on the other side. 

After many one way streets (which confuses the hell outta me) we arrived home into the warmth. The house is nice and groomed all the time thanks to Vilma. Ramiro (Rotary counselor) came over for a quick visit and then I went in my room and fell into a dead sleep (I had only gotten 3 hours of sleep the last night). I woke up to find Lili gone to work and Belu home with a friend from school, Pau (or Paula, they love their nicknames). Pau speaks amazing english and automatically began helping, teaching and translating for me. We went around the house and they showed me different objects, while labeling them with pieces of paper in spanish. 

After Pau left to her english class, another friend came over, Agust (Agustina). She speaks amazing english as well, she just spent 3 months in the States. She also helped me with a few things that day. With the help of people like this, I already feel like I'm accelerating exponentially. Soon Agust had to leave and so did Belu. So I was home alone (except for Vilma of course). I did a little unpacking and then took a short nap. 

That night was Friday night. So Belu had several of her friends over, including Pau and Agust. The others I met were Dani (Daniela) and Vale (Valeria). The taught me some simple card games and I had a great time. I automatically felt comfortable with these girls, and they were impressed with my spanish... which made me feel like I was goin somewhere :). 

The next day I was awoken by Lili when she slowly explained to me that Franzika was going to be here soon. 

OOPS. I didn't mention Franzika did I? She is a Rotary student from Germany who will also be staying in Comodoro. But because her family is having some problems right now, Lili and Belu gladly are welcoming her into the home for 2-4 weeks.

Anyway, me and Belu ran out to pick up some dry cleaning and when we got back Ramiro and Franzika were there. She is incredibly nice and sweet and is sharing a room with me. Because she doesn't speak any spanish and limited english, I have found myself doing much translation, which I can tell already is helping a lot. 

That day (yesterday), Belu again had her friends over and everyone decided we should go wash Lili's car (that Belu uses). Piling 7 of us into one small car we headed into town.

It was somewhat sunny and warmish (not without the wind of course), and I had a great time. And of course I met more friends. That night was much the same as the night before, cards and such. Franzika had to excuse herself at 8p.m. to sleep because she is suffering from jet lag... rough.

Today was a fine day as well. We had a great lunch of asado (meat... lots of meat), bread and such and they had some family friends over. After that we (by we i mean a group of friends) went on a very cold walk and came home and just sat around and talked. Well, them talking me and Franzi smiling and nodding.

It is now 10 30p.m. and Franzi has gone to bed. I have school tomorrow and I'm extremely nervous. Pau is in some of my classes along with Becky (exchange student from California) so I will hopefully not be completely lost but I am still scared.

So far I am loving it and I'll let everyone know how school goes! And when I get a camera I'll be sure to show where I'm living! 

xoxo