Lluvia y comida

(this picture is at the corner (escina) at the bus stop close to mi casa)

Hola amigos! Today was my first morning in Argentina. I woke up to a very loud and fast spanish conversation between my host parents Graciela and Raul at 7:30 a.m. but gladly went back to sleep until 9:30. When I got up to get ready for my first day of orientation, I had coffee con leche and my left-over pancake desert for breakfast. It is very humid here so I didn't bother fixing my hair and opted for the top-knot. It has very strangely been raining here for the last two days, which is uncommon for the summer season I was told. Before I could get to orientation at my university, I had to buy a bus ticket. So Graciela and I walked a couple of blocks to a small shop and I bought a bus pass for 50 pesos, approx $12. We then waited on the corner by this beautiful tree for the bus as I tried to explain to her what a sorority is :). I was suppose to be at UBP at 11:00 a.m., but the bus didn't pick us up until 11:00 because it was running late, causing me to be late for my first day of orientation. But, I quickly learned that time is of the essence in Argentina and something such as being late that would cause me a near panick attack at home is no big deal here. I ate lunch at UBP and it was amazing. Empanadas were the appetizer (I thought they were the main course and ate them all), chicken (pollo or pojsho) and papas fritas (very similar to buffalo chips from B-dubs) and helado for desert. The ice cream is so much more delicious here, which I didn't think it was possible to make ice cream taste better. I also tried Yerba Mate for the first time today. Yerba Mate is a tea like drink that is very common in Argentina and is shared and drank with the familia. I listened, wrote, and spoke in pure spanish for my first full day (except for a few exceptions). I'm loving it! Not feeling overwhelmed for the most part by the language. The accent is still a little difficult to understand, but I've even started saying cashay rather than calle already. Another student who has been here for 3 semesters told me that my spanish is muy bueno, which gives me confidence. I can't imagine how much my speaking ability is going to improve over the course of this semester. Tomorrow is another day of orientation and I will be scheduling my classes. I already feel more comfortable and happier than yesterday so I hope to continue increasing those feelings.
Hasta mañana todos!
---Alex

Finalmente

I finally made it to Cordoba after a grueling trip. 2 hours to Dallas Fort Worth, 2 hour layover, 10 hours to Santiago, Chile, 4 hour layover, 2 hours to Cordoba and now I'm finally here after clearing immagration and customs. When I wheeled my cart full of luggage out of the airport, there was a huge crowd of people waiting to pick up passengers. I first found Laura, the coordinator from my university.. She then directed me to my host mother Graciela and brother Sebastion. In Argentina you greet anyone you are meeting, saying goodbye to, thanking, or are greeting with a kiss on the right cheek. We got into the family's car and Graciela told me that my spanish is very good, which made me feel better. I so far have been comfortable speaking to natives, but it's the listening and understanding that is hard. The natives of Argentina have a different accent than I have learned. The double l, ll is pronounced like sh or ja instead of ya. So words like llama and calle are tripping me up, but I'm already catching onto it. It's been hard realizing that I won't be seeing the people I left at home for 4 months. It seems like a world away right now. I'm hoping that once I get into a routine, that world away feeling won't be so prominant and I won't be ready to leave Cordoba when the time comes just as I didn't feel ready to let go of my loved ones at the airport. I took my first trip to  Super Urca tonight to get some shampoo and other things. I was excited to see Graciela buying a huge hunk of beef in the hopes of falling into a carne coma. Dinner was tastey. Graciela prepared hamburgers, potatoes, and bread. Most interesting, we had pancakes for desert. Not just one pancake, but a 4 tiered pancake cut into slices. I am very excited for tomorrow. I have orientation at 11:00 a.m. My host mother is taking me to the university for the first day. But, the day after that, I will have to buy a bus pass and take the 15 minute ride solo. I can't wait to meet the other international students and to create a new friend circle. I especially need it right now as I work past the tough emotions that come with change, culture shock, and insecurity about the language. I will soon report back about my first day of orientation. Adios until then. <3
---Alex

Soy nerviosa

It's the day before I leave and I'm a little nervous. It's so crazy to think that in 24 hours I'll be flying over the Pacific Ocean and in 48 hours I'll be having dinner will my new host family. I received word from them the other day and discovered that I will have a host mom and dad, two host sisters, and two host brothers who are 16 and 13. I am so excited to meet them and to finally be there. I have been planning and waiting for this trip to be here for nearly a year, overanalyzed, and felt every emotion possible, and  now it's just time to get there and find my place in Cordoba. SO EXCITED!

Antes de mi viaje

Hola Amigos! It is now t minus 4 days and counting until I depart the "The Good Life" of Nebraska and begin la adventura de mi vida! I have begun the process of packing and unpacking, packing and repacking, and I must say, for a shoe and purse addict like myself, I'm not having too much trouble fitting everything into my two suitcases. Have to save room for some Thin Mint girlscout cookies and life saver mints (staples in my life). More happenings to come soon. Adios for now!
--A