Back to Shool

I know. Don't look at me like that. I meant it. I personally took the time out of my "oh-so-busy" day to spell the title of this post wrong. Want to know why? I tell you why...

As I was writing in my journal not too long ago, I started talking about going back to school. It wasn't until days later when I went to put another entry in that I realized in the last entry I had misspelled school as "shool"... it gets better: Not oncedid I make this mistake. Not twice. But three times. Instead of smiling in irony and giggling at this, I felt the pit of my stomach drop.

Yes people, it's true. I am slowly but surely losing my way with academics and english, and have been doing so for quite some time apparently. I am now dreading facing my once beloved Honors English teachers in shame upon my return to Taos High.

But that is mainly what this post is about: Shool... oops, School (pardon my cheesiness).

Today I started my second week back and I'm most delighted to find that it seems to be getting just a little bit better. But I think this may be due to the fact that I am reading an excellent book that keeps me entertained in class (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo... if anyone was curious). Although this is what I end up doing with my time during most classes, I do participate here and there. Mostly in my Language class, because the teacher is nice and it's the only one that remotely interests me. There is actually one other, Culture. Yes, I have a class about culture. But again, it's quite interesting. Especially seeing as I'm now studying culture in a place where it is very different than my own.

For your very special convenience I have a nice typed schedule of my classes sitting right here that I worked hard on (jk... they gave it to me. Damn, I cannot crack a real joke today):

Lunes (Monday)-

Cultura (culture)

Sistema (sytems)

Lengua (Language)

Derecho (Law)

Martes (Tuesday)-

Ingles (english)

Quimica (Chemistry)

Tecnologia (Technology)

Matematica (Math)

E.F.M (Educacion Fisica- Physical Education)

Miercoles (Wednesday)-

Economia (economy)

EDI (uhh... not too sure really, read on)

Sistema

Jueves (Thursday)-

Ingles

Cultura

Lengua

Quimica

E.F.M

Viernes (Friday)-

Matematica

Sistema

Tecnologia

Derecho

----That's it folks. My everyday week.

I start at 7:35am and end at 12:45pm (wednesdays), 1:15pm (Mon, Tue, Thur) and 1pm (Fridays).

Now for the classes, I'd really rather not spend too much time talking about these but I will give you some idea.

Culture and Lengua I already talked about.

Sistema translates to Systems and I'm pretty sure the full title is Sistema de..something... I forgot, I'm sorry. But I've come to realize that it's like Financing. Quite boring I might add.

Derecho means Law. Again, this one I don't have too much to say about. Maybe later on in the year I will know more about all these classes (or not), but for now you will have to deal with the summarization. So... Law... yeah, pretty self explanatory.

Ingles=English. I have 3 words to describe this class: Easiest. Class. Ever. And yeah, I think you know why. The worst part is, the teacher actually makes me do the activities. What I end up doing, if someone isn't asking me for the answer, is the entire worksheet while the teacher is talking about number one still and then read my book. When she asks me for an answer, all I have to do is look at the paper and give it to her. Sometimes I read something to the class in english and I feel like God, the way they look at me. They love it. And that makes me love doing it. Or other times I will try and help someone, but I've realized I'm really quite a bad teacher so that usually fails.

Quimica... Chemistry. Well. Hm. What to write. Well I guess I can say that I had this same teacher last year, and although I didn't like her much then I'm warming up to her now. And as a matter of fact, this might be one of the only classes that I try or pay attention in... because some of the material I actually know.

Economia=Economy. Man I'm really bad at the whole school deal. Again, I'm sorry I dont have anything to say. It's boring. And I can get away with doing nothing or pretending I don't understand, so that's what I do.

EDI=.... ?....

I believe this class is one that switches according to the week. Sometimes EDI is quimica, economia or something else. It really confuses me. And I don't even remember what it stands for.

Matematica. Math.

This class is alright. Because the teacher is on the stricter side, I do pay attention. And if I happen to understand what is going on, I'll attempt the work. But otherwise, I take notes and try to figure out what the Mathematic words in Spanish might happen to translate to in English, seeing as my dictionary is not a Calculator or Encyclopedia... it doesn't help much with this.

--And there you have it. It's not very informative, but maybe after some weeks I might talk about it more. But probably not. Because this subject of talking isn't nearly as exciting as other things. And also because the more I look at my calender, and the more I fill empty spaces, the more I realize I will not be in school that much this year. :)

Oh, and I've gotten a few requests (mostly last year, teehee) to see my school uniform. Mind you, these are not very good quality photos or very flattering of myself, for that apologize, but it shows you the main idea.

The only thing different is that I will end up wearing dark grey tights later in the year due to the cold.

Until then...

Besos

p.s. Estimated time or arrival for Malia Reeves: T-minus about 5 days. :D :D :D

Summer Days Driftin Away ♫

Hello readers!

As some of you might know, I started school today. *sigh* Summer vacation is no longer in existence for me. Although I suppose I've been a bit spoiled by having two summer vacations in one year. Because I didn't do to much this summer besides relax and have some fun, I can't really think of much to talk about. Only that today was the first day of school and I already felt like falling asleep in class. I had the thought that if I understood the lesson better, it would be more interesting for me... I was wrong, now it's boring and the teachers know I understand better therefore contemplating actually making me do something this year. Not only is iboring, but there is another aspect of nodding off:

Try having about 3 months straight of sleeping in till 12:30 p.m. or later in the day no matter what time you went to sleep the night before... and then being rudely awakened when having t now wake up at 6:30 a.m.

Actually, for almost the entire summer my alarm was set for around noon... if it wasn't set, I ended up sleeping until who knows when. Some nights, I think I even got over 13 hours of sleep. Lucky me you say? Bah! Bad habit, and now I'm paying for my extreme slothfulness.

On other news, this past S...s...aturday (are weekdays capitalized?) was my elder sister's 21st birthday! Yayy! And I because I just couldn't muster up the effort to ship- or pay for shipping-something to her, I made a video. And I'm just a little proud of it, just a little... ;) only because it took me for-ev-er to figure out the new version of iMovie. Anyway, here's the link if you haven't already seen it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js22tSYRoJM

AND.. did I mention she gets here in Argentina less than 2 weeks?!!? yeah... I probably did, because I'm pretty damn excited.

A few comments before I put up some pictures (yes, please contain your excitement).

• If anyone so desires to hear or see more of something or anything I haven't talked about, please leave me a comment/email as to these desires. I would like to put up more posts, but many times I just don't know what to post about.
• If it happens to be another of your desires... Here is my mailing address if anyone feels so inclined to send a card or anything for my nearing birthday... *cough*30th*cough*.... hint-hint. That was a little selfish, but really some people have asked. :)

Krista Reeves

196 Cayelli St.

Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut

Argentina 9000

• And finally, free hug coupon to whoever can tell me what song and what movie the title of this post is from. (Malia, Dad-I'm sure you know, give someone else a shot :D).

Now, on to more exciting things:

Some pictures from my summer!

In Rada Tilly on the beach with Franziska!

Party, Party

"Mexican Night" at Ele with the exchangees

Yeah, I still got skill (oh and that's my very lovely new foreign exchange weight belly stickin out ;D)

Fun on New Years

Me and Becky!!

Catchin some rays... of cancer most likely... jk mom, jk ;)

Relampagos! (go look it up)

My blog just got a makeover!... The result of an extremely bored exchange student. hehe. :)

While I'm posting, I might as well put up a few pictures I took the other night.

Wednesday night around 9 pm I was in Rada Tilly staying at a friends house. At this hour, we could hear thunder starting and lightening hitting the sky. Excited we ran out to the beach (she lives pretty much on the beach) and looked around. It was amazing! The sky had turned a bright pinkish color in some places and there were crazy shaped clouds everywhere. Looking out over the water there was fog starting to roll over toward the land. Eventually, the fog reached us and we were enveloped. But you could still see the tops of the hills peaking out over the low clouds.

The thunder didn't stop, and every 10 seconds everything was lit up by lightening bolts. Seeing as we were standing on the beach in almost the middle of a thunder storm, I thought it a goodidea to go back inside. But it was too beautiful and magical... and there were other people still there too. So we stayed taking pictures and marveling at what was happening around us.

Soon enough, I could feel the electricity in the air. The little hairs around my forehead were literally almost standing on end. That's when I decided I wanted to go inside.

It wasn't until it actually started raining and the lightening was about on top us that I convinced my very stubborn friend from San Francisco to head towards the house.

Once we got there we pulled two chairs to the big windows, lit a candle (electricity was out) and watched the rain pour down for at least and hour and a half. The electricity didn't come back on until the morning. It was truly a good night.

The next morning, we found out some bad news though. In Comodoro, 3 people drowned it rained so much. Apparently they shut down the roads and everything was insanely flooded! When I got home my host sister even told me that our kitchen had flooded and they had cleaned it up earlier that day. But I can still see where the water came through the roof.

It. Was. Crazy.

Now I only have one question: If it rains this much, how come there's no damn plants here?!

A few pictures:

This last picture is what I like to call "All you need on a dark stormy night". Peanut Butter. Some of the only good tasting beer from Argentina. A candle. And homemade peanut butter cookies... that were made in the dark I might add. :)

DDL

Dear readers,

I'm sorry to have made the realization that I have not posted for quite a while. This is due to the fact that there hasn't been much to post about. So I've decided to talk a little about some "normal things".

Almost the entire month of January my host family was in Buenos Aires, as I previously mentioned. While they were gone, my days consisted mainly of waking up late, taking a shower, eating, surfing the internet, occasionally walking to the grocery store and cooking when I was bored. I was worried that I was wasting my time away doing these things, but I found reassurance. There is a forum out there for exchange students all over the world, where we can chat, complain and share experiences. While reading this, I noticed that most of the people in South America who have summer vacation right now were going through exactly the same thing I was. Boredom is just part of the process.

But enough about that. The family is home now and the house is once again crowded. I'm currently sharing my bedroom with my host sister until the older kids go back to University in Buenos Aires.

Last night was actually my host mom's birthday. I wanted to bake something for the party that night but I also wanted to make sure that people would like it. One thing I've realized in Argentine society is the lack of variety. The meals (as good as they are) tend to be the same thing over and over again.

Usually meat as the main course, like cooked chicken or parrilla (what they call the grill) grilled hamburgers. With a side of perhaps potatoes or zapallo (I don't know what it translates to, but it's some kind of bright orange squash) and once in a while rice. Also with salad consisting of iceberg lettuce and some tomatoes drenched in oil, vinegar and lots of salt (coming from a family of spinach salads everyday, can't say it's my favorite).

Many other times we have pasta, empanadas or pizza delivered from the family's business, La Chacha. Empanadas are very tasty of course, but I like a variety of sorts in my diet.

As I complain about this repeated routine, I must point something out: If one of them were to come to the U.S. they would possibly think the exact same thing. "Ugh, spaghetti again tonight?", "I've eaten so much broccoli I think I'll start turning green" (p.s. I haven't had broccoli in 51/2 months, since I left... I don't even think I've seen it here), "Why are there so many kinds of cheese and why can't I find another kind of mozzarella?!"... etc. I could go on but I think whoever is reading this gets the point. Everything we do, think, eat, whatever it is, is what we are used to. And when this accustomed routine changes, notice is found that the way we live isn't the only or the right way. And maybe, just maybe, we enjoy this new routine so much we move or change all or some of our ways. As for me, I still enjoy the good ol' American diet... especially a real breakfast, which doesn't exist here.

Anyway, I was talking about Lili's birthday. Searching through recipe after recipe (which I admit is something I actually very much enjoy doing), I found something that was dead-on perfect: "Brownies with Dulce de Leche".

➜Tip for future Argentina residents/travelers/etc.: You make something you think they won't like, slap a dollop or two of Dulce de Leche on it and you just created their new favorite food.

Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration... but close enough.

So along with my now-gone-brownies, there was cake with a layer of DDL (future reference: the use of DDL stands for 'Dulce de Leche'), DDL flavored ice cream covered in almonds and Apple Strudel... without DDL. Surprised? Me too.

One of my observations with this strudel made me chuckle to myself. The pronunciation of strudel here is along the lines of 'estrrudul' (the 'rr' is rolled of course). Thanks to Franziska I know the pronunciation in Germany is something like 'streusldkjd' (some german guttural sound). I sat for about 5 minutes marveling at this revelation, until I realized it was almost gone.. so i ate some.

Before the dessert was even brought out though, the enormous hunk of meat the caterers brought was fired up. By this, I mean literally. Once it was cooked throughly, two giant sparklers were stuck in it and it was lit on fire. This is where Happy Birthday was sang... for the first time. The birthday song I'm sure many of you know in spanish.... 'Feliz Cumpleaños a Ti' etc. But here in Argentina it's somewhat different. It goes along the lines of 'Que los cumplas feliz', with a faster rhythm.

And so the Asado (meat) was cut right off the mass onto the waiters plates. The festivities progressed...

This isn't by far the first party of this kind I've been to, just thought I would share a little bit of tradition. It's also an excuse to post, since I haven't done that in a while either.

My future schedule looks a little something like this:

March- School starts

April- Northern Argentina Rotary trip

May- Parents come

June- Return to States June 21

And there will also be a few side trips in between those I'm sure, seeing as my sister will be coming to Argentina in March for 3 months and would like to visit her. But for now I'm enjoying the last of my summer... my extremely windy... dust blown... summer (as the doors shake).

Until then...

Bienvenidos 2010

2010 is here!!!... and that also means there's only 20 days left until I've been here 5 MONTHS! Thats half my exchange! But I think I need to let everyone know what I've been up to lately...

My last blog talks about my traveling to Corrientes. It was great! I loved seeing and experiencing a different part of Argentina, and let me tell y

ou... it was different. The main thing was probably the heat. After not being in heat or humidity for a very, very long time, it took some getting used to.

Most of my time there was spent like this: 1:00 p.m. Wake u

p and lunch. 2:30p.m. The poolside for the day. 6:00p.m. Activity (shopping, or hanging with

friends). 9:30p.m. Dinner. After 9p.m..... night life!!

The night life was so cool there. They have something they call the cost line (translated into english), where its a long walk with restaraunts and clubs right nex

t to the huge river. And throughout the entire night there are people hanging out, talking, drinking and partying next to the river. And the clubs are o

utsid

e, which is really nice for a change.

Anyway, because all the things I did went somewhat in that pattern... I'm going to put up a few pictures to show the rest.

Part of the coast line in the daytime.

When returning to Comodoro, I had quite an interesting flight experience that I'd rather not go over again... once is enough for me. Long story short: 2 Delays, Slept in the airport, another 2 delays and a cold and rainy start to Christmas Eve.

Christmas celebrations here all happens on the 24th. For dinner

, it was Asado of course and lots of dinner guests, all of which were family members. This is a picture of the table we set for the night.

After dinner, while enjoying some chocolate and such the hour strikes midnight and the entire family runs outside to celebrate Christmas day. Fireworks were going off EVERYWHERE. All the families of the neighbors came out with their same glasses of champagne to greet the neighbors and watch the fireworks. And I'm pretty positive that the fireworks that were being set off a couple houses down would definitely be illegal in the States. I even got to see a couple of the traditional mini hot air balloons go up in to the sky they call: Glo

bos. They were my favorite. Although the dark stop

ped me from getting a nice picture of them, here's a picture I found on Google:

After everything started to slow down and people started going back inside for a second glass of champagne, it was time for the kids to do their own celebrating.

On Christmas and New Years, just about every teenager from Comodoro Rivadavia heads down to Rada Tilly Beach where they meet up with their friends and party until far after dawn breaks. Here's a picture of the sunrise I was there to see:

... and yes, those are all people behind me. We left Rada Tilly and headed back to Comodoro around 9:00 a.m. You can only guess that I didn't wake up until around 4:30 p.m. Chrismas Day.

As much as I absolutely missed my family and a traditional Christmas these last couple weeks, it was definitely an experience well worth experiencing.

New Years was pretty much the same thing. This time with less p

eople but still some good food and fireworks and champagne at midnight. And again, to Rada Tilly. But this time I didn't get home until 9: 30 a.m.

And so... starting the 4th of January I will have some quiet time. I have found out recently that I will NOT be switching host families and I am the only exchange student in this situation. Good thing I like my family eh? Back to being alone.... my host mom is having a surgery and has to go to Buenos Aires for it. All of her kids who live up there (including my host sister who lives here) are heading up there on the 4th. Until the 11th, it will be just me and Vilma in the house. On the eleventh, Vilma is leaving to Buenos Aires also and my

host brother Juli is coming down to stay with me. And because my German host sister, Franziska switched to her next family, I will have what I haven't had in a while... quiet time for myself. And it will be weird, but I'm looking for to something a little new.

Here are just a few more pictures from my holidays.....

Me and my host abuelo with the yummy piggy :) Man I have opened my eyes a bit.

The siblings. All of them in the house right now, plus two.

Vamos al Norte!

Hey everyone... here's a little update of what I'll be up to the next couple weeks...

 

Today, actually, I will be hopping on a plane to fly to Buenos Aires. On Saturday, I'm going to be taking the ACT's. After this "lovely" and extremely long exam, I'm going to be heading up to a different province, Corrientes. 

I have some friends from Taos who are actually from Corrientes and only moved to Taos about three years ago. For those of you in Taos, Raquel and her family. Seeing as their father still lives here in Argentina, they come down for every Christmas and Summer (U.S. seasons). I get to stay with them for about ten days!

I'm so excited to get to see them and travel to a different part of Argentina, experience something new! I could do without the detour in Buenos Aires, :| , but hey! Its all worth it in the end I suppose!

Hasta luego

K

A few more pictures...

I've decided to put up just a few more pictures from my South Trip.

The Americans
Left to right:
Tucker-North Carolina, Gil-New York, Laura-NY, Miles-Washington, Emily-New Jersey, Drew-Colorado, Sarabeth-Vermont, Emily-Virginia, Me- New Mexico and Catherine- New York
Me and Torrun (Norway) at the bottom of the Glacier

The Group
The countries (no specific order): USA, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, France, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway and Japan.