The End is Near

Kayla, me, and Lili at the
cena de despedida de CC-CS

It seems like everyone is thinking about THE END. More specifically, the end of the world. Sadly enough, I am preparing myself for the end of part of my world - my time here in Argentina. Just like preparation for the end of the world, I am making sure that I spend time with the people who I care about the most here, I am starting to say my last good-byes, and I even have a bag of random items that I keep close to me that are filled with memories from Argentina. I have gone to good-bye activities with my program that included an elegant dinner with all of the lovely ladies from the semester. Some have left already, leaving a number of us here to continue living life as we know it here. At this point, I have finished most of my classes (with my last final being on Tuesday). This is it. This is the point I was waiting for. Do I feel different? Do I have wisdom to share with everyone? Do I understand who I am?

I am definitely feeling a little sad leaving Argentina. I have made great friends and created memories for a lifetime. Plus, I had the opportunity to improve my Spanish. What will really change about life though? For one, I won't be speaking Spanish all the time anymore which is a little bittersweet. I do enjoy practicing the language, but at times it is so much easier to express myself in my own language. Additionally, transportation will be so much easier. I will be able to drive my own car when I need to, and I can walk to class in less than 10 minutes every day. I will go back to eating three meals a day at "normal" times (instead of eating dinner at 9:00 PM earliest). I will always be connected to technology through one form or another.

No, I am not complaining about the fact that I wasn't always connected to the internet and that I had to walk/take the bus to school. The fact of the matter is that I lived a great life here with changes to what I saw as "normal." I have learned to adapt to my surroundings. It was always easy - there were always ups and downs. Sometimes the bus didn't come on time and sometimes I couldn't wait to eat dinner because I was accustomed to eating earlier. These "problems" of sort were really nothing in comparison to the amazing times that I have had down here.

In order to pay tribute to my time here in Argentina, here are some of my favorite experiences from these past 5 months:

1. LAS CATARATAS DEL IGUAZU, ARGENTINA

I am thankful for having seen one of the 7 Wonders of the World. It really was such an amazing site. It was the perfect day - not too hot, not too cloudy, and not too humid. We were walking through the jungle in the park when all of a sudden, we just heard them out of nowhere. We turned a corner, and there they were. The sound was beautiful. I was so happy to be in nature. I was away from all the buses, pollution and noise. Later that day, we got to take a boat ride underneath the falls. We got soaked but it was so worth it. I went into a waterfall!

2. ULTIMATE FRISBEE

I have been lucky enough to be able to play in a tournament and play with a team every week! I met people from Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and Uruguay playing frisbee. It really makes me work on my Spanish. At the same time though, it's an opportunity to spend time with friends playing a fun game. Plus, my favorite frisbee moment was being on TV when we were at the tournament in October. Additionally, I have taught some of my friends here how to play ultimate. They are going to go back to their own provinces and teach their friends how to play as well! It's really a sport that brings people together.

3. COOKING EMPANADAS

Me, Gustavo, and Joaquin cooking away!

One day, after acing one of my tests, I was relaxing with my friends drinking terere (basically it's mate + juice) when all of a sudden, my friend Joaquin thought we should all celebrate my academic success by making empanadas from scratch. Joaquin, Gustavo, and I were all crammed into the kitchen of Gustavo's apartment, working together to make empanadas criollas. They were filled with ground beef, onion, green onion, orange pepper, hard boiled eggs, oregano, and salt. Joaquin guided me as he helped me make the dough - instructing me how much flour/water to use and how to kneed the dough just the right way. Later that night, our friends Franco and Dani came over, and we all feasted on empanadas caseras, homemade empanadas! It's just an example of the many amazing times that I had with my friends.

4. RELAXING

I am not going to lie - personally, life here is much calmer than in the US. There is not as much pressure to have everything perfect and to do it all by a specific moment. Plus, people here make sure that they have time for themselves. They don't rush meals - fast food is not that fast. They take siestas (naps) so that they're well-rested. They make sure that even if they have a job and commitments, that they take the time they need just to reset. Drinking mate is a perfect example of how some people relax. Sometimes, I am so busy going and going that I don't take time to just breathe! I have to remember that I have to take care of myself as well!

Saying good-bye to a few friends at English Talk!

What am I going to miss the most? The people. The people here in Argentina really have taken care of me well. I have made great friends who have helped me create memories. I have heard many inspiring stories which has reminded me to continue to dream big because since I have made it through these past five months, I have the strength to do so much more! Most importantly though, I have received so much love. My friends are there to help me with anything I need. My friends celebrate with me. My friends relax with me. They are there for me. I know that once I leave, I probably won't see most or any of the again in my lifetime. The opportunity to get to know them and have them help me learn has really been enjoyable and been worth the time, effort, and money. I would like to let this end of my life here to be a new beginning for my life to come! I still don't have all the answers to who I am, but I know that I can live through the journey!

I would like to shout out to my friends I met in Argentina right here: Thank you for being in my life. You've made my time in Argentina one to remember. I hope that as we part, there might be some chance we might see each other again. Plus, if you're ever in the United States, feel free to give me a call!

Asado, anyone?

It's always a good time when people can come together and relax while grilling some burgers and hot dogs, right? Here in Argentina, they have something similar to a barbecue: asado. One person buys kilos of meat, and then a few lucky men stand by the parilla (it looks like an outdoor fireplace where you cook meat), poke the fire, and make sure that the asado comes out delicious. Women DO NOT cook asado. Every time that the host of the night has to leave the parilla, he asks another male to watch over the fire. It's just something that boys do best! Additionally, each family has a different way of preparing the asado, therefore at the various asados I have been to, the meat always has a unique flavor. For example, yesterday, my friend seasoned the meat with salt and lemon before putting it on the parilla. When I bit into the flank steak he cooked, it was just exploding with flavor.

An asado is important for more than just the food. It's a time for friends to spend time together. The asado can take a while to cook, so in between cooking, serving, and eating, the entire process and take up hours. Plus, one of the Argentinian's favorite activities is to talk. People will joke, tell stories, and like the other group cooking asado last night, sing. They do all of this while passing around a giant glass of fernet and coke - an alcoholic beverage that is only popular in Córdoba. The ambiance of everything is just so relaxed!

When I ask my friends what their favorite food is, it's always asado. For birthdays, people ask for asado. When there is something to celebrate, people have an asado. It's central to the Argentinian lifestyle! However, that does not mean that these events are frequent. Usually people have an asado every few months - I was just lucky enough to go three times in two weeks!

I don't have any pictures from the asado, but check out this video (in English) that shows a little bit of what the meat that they prepare looks like! Argentinian Asado

The Spirit of the Game

 
Last weekend, October 6th - 8th, I took a trip down to Bahía Blanca in the province of Buenos Aires to play with Ultimate Córdoba for their first ultimate frisbee tournament ever, Torneo Raza Ultimate 2012. I became part of Ultimate Córdoba a month and a half ago when someone also from the United States saw I played ultimate and invited me to join. I came to scrimmage the first day and I think I made a good impression, because by the end of practice, they invited me to the tournament for the following month and asked if I wanted to order a jersey. Of course, because of how much I missed ultimate and my team, I ended up agreeing to ordering a jersey and going to the tournament. I mean, come on, why not?

The day eventually came to leave to the tournament. I was so nervous! I knew one person pretty well because he helps with English Talk as well, but otherwise everyone else was just an acquaintance. I hopped on a bus and headed off only to realize that I left a day earlier than I was supposed to (and I still don't know how they let me on with my ticket for a day later - lucky enough, nobody ended up having a ticket for my seat!). I arrived the next morning before the team got there, but someone from the host team picked me up from downtown and took me to a place to stay and rest before everyone else got there. When the team came a few hours later after spending 33 hours on the train, then came the fun. 

Ultimate Córdoba - Team Pluiföj

We were invited, as a team, to join a couple people from the home team to be interviewed on live TV to talk about ultimate. As we entered the television studio, many emotions started to rise. I was nervous but excited! Initially, I said that I didn't want to talk because I am not a native Spanish speaker. However, with the encouragement of my teammates, I almost immediately took that back. I was given the opportunity to represent ultimate frisbee, female athletes, the United States, and Wartburg College all at once! It was a good choice to wear my Orange Corps shirt (Wartburg College Service Trips) T-shirt that day! Plus, it was an opportunity to really test my ability to speak Spanish. After one of the ultimate hosts finished talking about the tournament, the microphone was immediately handed to me - it was a little obvious that I wasn't from Argentina, so of course they wanted to hear my story! I talked about where I was from and how I got involved with the team. It wasn't a ton, but I felt proud of myself and was glad that I accidentally left a day earlier! After other people spoke about themselves and the game of ultimate, we played ultimate on the set and danced with a couple of the hosts! It was so different than what I am used to watching, so for me it created a unique experience for me. I had footage of the show, but the quality is so bad and it is impossible to hear, that you just have to take my word that we were on TV. 

The tournament started the following day. It was supposed to start at 11:00, but through a combination of some teams arriving late and latino time (in which people generally show up late), we started at 1:00. We adopted two couples who played with us for the weekend who were part of the home team but couldn't play with them because there were already too many people on that team. As we played a team from Buenos Aires, I started chatting with people on the field. Even though we were on different teams, we complimented one another on good plays and asked about where the other was from and such. Win or lose, there is (usually) a friendly environment. Between teams, we share everything: water, food, sports equipment (like cleats - thank goodness!), knowledge about ultimate, etc. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are from as long as you have a good spirit! For me, this is reflected more in the atmosphere of Argentina. For example, people here in Argentina will gather simple to drink mate together. They share the mate, will share snacks that they bring as well - all to have a good time and great conversation! Back to frisbee, something unique about this tournament was the spirit award. After each game that the home team played, they would award a player a spirit award for being a good sport and maintaining a great attitude throughout the game by giving them a small prize. Oddly enough, I won one of these awards (they handed out two in our game - one for the men and one for the women). One of my co-captains at Wartburg, Kyle, was shocked, saying that I usually don't get along very well with the other team. However, I was able to maintain my cool this time! Also, after every game, each team rates the other on their attitude and at the end, the team with the best attitude, or "spirit," was awarded a free entry fee for the following year (we didn't win). I really found this to be a neat concept, because it requires that teams maintain the relaxed, fun environment of ultimate. Plus, it encourages teams to keep on coming the next year.

The final game for 3rd place versus Uruguay

In addition to an atmosphere of sharing and caring, the tournament really brought the team closer together and created trust. Of course, I do not really know what the dynamics of the team were before the tournament, but I feel like all my other teams I have been on, we were the misfits. We were a mix of nationalities (US, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina), genders, ages (ranging from 18-51), and experience (more than half of the team had never been to a tournament before). Therefore, we had a lot to share with one another. There were a few key moments for me that really defined the team for me. First, sleep. The very first night, I was told I had the worst spot in the entire room because I was in between Luciano, 21 and Facu, 18. I didn't really know them at all. However, as I was trying to sleep, Luciano was poking me, joking telling me how he was scared and Facu was taking pictures of everyone with my phone. I was uncomfortable because these strangers were busy messing with me! However, those moments soon became the foundation for many jokes throughout the weekend. Also, in the mornings, it takes a lot of effort to get everyone up. People constantly ask for five minutes more and ignore the cries of fellow teammates. Eloy, one of the captains, decided that the best way to get everyone up would be to take his whistle out and blow it as loud as he could and jump on the beds of people around the room. Everything was so comfortable, as if I was spending time with my sister, Stephanie. Second, there was a time when I was just frustrated with myself and some of the rules of ultimate are different in Argentina than the United States and I didn't know and I missed my team that I just started to cry. Immediately, I was surrounded by teammates hugging me, calming me down, and just talking to me. Rather than feeling alone by being an outcast (a girl from the United States), I felt included. Finally, we were all there at the tournament with the same goals - to win and have fun. Therefore, we gave all we had to accomplish them.

We finished the tournament 4-2 for third place in the tournament with our only two losses being to the top two teams in the tournament. I was very impressed for a team who had never been to a tournament before. The best part of the tournament was finding new friends (who can help me with my Spanish and teach me about various cultures) and finding my place in a team again which I missed way too much. When I went to scrimmage the other day, almost the entire team was there, sharing stories, giving one another a hard time, and just having fun! That's the spirit of ultimate and I have learned that the spirit of ultimate is worldwide! Watch out Wartburg B-52's, I hope you'll be ready for me when I get back!

Click the following link and check out a different TV clip with some action from the tournament to see what the tournament was like! Torneo Raza Ultimate 2012

English in Argentina

Leading a game at English Talk!

 Hello everyone! Sorry that it's been a while since I've written a blog post. I've been busy and I've spent some time out of town as well. As I was waiting for my inspiration to hit me for my next blog post, it finally dawned on me that I should write about something that has been really important to me during my time here in Argentina: English Talk. Don't be confused; I am speaking in English down here. However, it's only when I participate in the originally Christian-based English-conversation group, English Talk (ET). This group gives the opportunity to people who want to learn English to come and learn and practice what they know. I found out about this organization from my friend Kelsey who studied down here three years ago and absolutely loved ET. Therefore, when I arrived, I had an open mind.




The first day I went to English Talk, I walked into this building called Luz Urbana and saw a group of people talking among one another, drinking coffee, and eating criollos. Immediately I was introduced to various Argentinians so that I didn't feel like an outsider or alone. After having the opportunity to talk to some new faces, I was introduced in front of the entire group (as we do to the newcomers ever week), and then the group came together and we played a game. The point of the game every week is to try and embarrass people in some way so that we learn to all become comfortable with one another. I remember during the first game, we needed a partner and I was nervous because I didn't know anybody. Suddenly, the tall guy next to me leans over and says, "You're welcome." That's how I met my friend, Tom. He's originally from Great Britain who's lived in Argentina for the past 11 years. To spare you all the details, we ended up playing two games that involved running, dancing, and counting. I had SO MUCH FUN. Playing games with a group reminded me of doing activities with service trip groups which I missed. Finally, after the games we divided up into chat groups. There are three different groups for people learning English to go to depending on their level: Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. How do people know what group they're supposed to go in?

Hiking at Capilla del Monte with ET Friends

 Well, if someone does not understand anything that the announcer for the day is saying, they go to the beginning group. If someone understands more or less what the announcer is trying to say, they go to intermediate. Finally, if someone understands everything that the announcer is saying, they are part of the advanced group. Since it was my first day at ET, I decided to go to the advanced group. There were so many advanced learners that we split up into two groups. In my chat group that day, I met for the very first time Joaquin and Franco, now two of my closer friends here in Argentina. For thirty minutes, we talked about the idea of summer in small groups. Of course, not all the grammar is perfect, but people have the confidence to talk and share their ideas without being embarrassed which is great! To close the night, two girls who were in CC-CS last semester and had been a part of English Talk for their 6 months here sang a song because it was their last ET. It was amazing to see them show how they had been a part of something and it made me wonder if I would end up being one of them, showing my love for this program and having people there to support me. Who knows? I may be just like them when I leave!

Where I am now

Now I participate in ET almost every week. As a native English speaker, I have many options. I can stay in the advanced group and mediate conversation (which I do most of the time), or I can teach the beginning class or join the intermediate group. My main job is to be the person for people to go to when they have a problem with English or are stuck. There are other English speakers who come every week to do this too.

Additionally, I have found great friends who I spend lots of time with and will help me with my Spanish. I always look forward to Tuesday nights in order to spend time with everyone. In addition to regular ET, there are other activities that ET does. Every two week there is "Happy Hour" at which a group of us get together, drink mate (o terere) and talk for a couple of hours. It's so relaxed and it's always great to get to know everyone. Additionally, there is ET Espiritual every two weeks. During these gatherings, an English speaker will give a small message about a certain theme, will share a scripture, and then afterwards, the group talks about questions the speaker provided. I actually spoke last month at ET Espiritual and focused on the theme of service! I loved having the opportunity to share my experiences with people. Now, a piece of me is with them.

Frisbee Fun with Franco and other ET Friends
Photo courtesy of Joaquin Bazan

Last month, I was officially invited to be part of the English Talk organization group. Now I actually have responsibilities! Of course, I absolutely love it. I get to share my ideas on how to improve English Talk, spread the word about the program, try and recruit, and lead activities! I have been the game master for the night (which is perfect for me and I love it!), been the announcer of activities, and even helped plan a theme for ET! I have even gotten a group together to go hiking for a day and play frisbee for an afternoon! It's great! It's a wonderful feeling to have a community to identify with.

The Big Picture

 

Drinking mate at ET Happy Hour!
Photo courtesy of Joaquin Bazan

I really like the concept on ET. For starters, it shows the motivation that people have to learn another language and keep up with it! I really like their determination. I am also a little jealous though. They have a place to come to where they can practice with fellow learners. Why isn't there a place like this for me near Waverly? I know that people are embarrassed by making mistakes and don't have the confidence to practice - it's not like there aren't people who speak Spanish in the United States! I honestly just think that people don't have the desire to learn another language or realize how important learning another language can be. I feel the empowerment of learning a different language because I have so many more opportunities to communicate with other people across the world! Of course, there will be some challenges and difficulties in communication still, but I feel like the world will open up more and more if I continue to study the language.

I really need to make sure that when I return back to the United States that I continue to practice! Of course, I have my wonderful friends at ET who I can continue to talk to (shout out!). They always feel free to correct me whenever I am wrong or teach me phrases that are less formal. What's that next step though? We can only wait and see!

Etapas de la Vida

The other day in my class, Realidades Culturales (Cultural Realities), we talked about the various stages that students will experience while studying abroad for six months. Sometimes students are happy, sometimes they are sad. However, there is a general pattern of how students feel based on research. The article we read was an excerpt from a book, Maximizing Study Abroad by R. Michael Paige, in the chapter called "Adjustments."

In the beginning of the chapter, Paige talks about how there are three different types of adjustments - physical, social, and internal. Physical adjustments for me in Argentina have been the differences in transportation (waiting in line for a bus, taking a taxi, or walking), the food (eating almost every meal with bread or pasta), schools (2 hour long classes MINIMUM), or in general just living in a city. These adjustments involve changes in both routine, and what I am normally used to seeing/using. Then there are the social adjustments. These people are usually more judgmental about - the cultural differences between beliefs and ways of living life. For instance, in Argentina, I have learned that people are always waiting in line - waiting for their meat/produce to be weighed, waiting for the bus, waiting for the bank, waiting for lunch. It's tiring! At times, I think about what I could be doing instead of waiting in line. However, when I talked with my host mom, Cris, she says that that is how life is here. EVERYONE has to wait. Of course, there are various ways to raise a family/interact within a family as I talked in a previous blog post. At first, it was definitely overwhelming trying to adjust to the social differences because I was not familiar with the customs and I was so used to living life in a certain way back at home or at Wartburg. Finally, there is the internal adjustment. This is more personal, in how I adapt and find a happy-medium with my own identity between the United States and Argentina. For me, I think it's the adjustment where I choose what is really important to me and what I would be fine changing..

As I mentioned earlier, students go through numerous phases while they are studying abroad - it's like an emotional rollercoaster. Of course, in addition to solely sharing what the stages are, I'll fill you in where I am and where I expect to be in this ride through life:

1. Cultural Euphora: As you may guess from the title, during stage one, students usually feel really excited to be in a new place and think that everything about their new country is "awesome." It's exciting to be living a new life and learning something new! Since everything appears to be so interesting and fun, it may be hard for students to really understand what life is really like because they are blinded by their focus on what is new. Personally, I am not sure how much I was really in this phase. When I came to Argentina, almost immediately I wanted to be back at Wartburg. I thought the city was ugly, loud, and dirty! For once, I wouldn't have minded being in a small town surrounded by corn fields.After during a May Term in 2011 in Costa Rica, I was aware of some of the new perspectives and ways of living that I would be experiencing. Therefore, I was just not won over by the spell of Argentina's charm right away.

2. Cultural Confrontation: During this stage, reality kicks in. Students realize they're not at home and may be missing what they know. This is where I am now. For instance, I miss being able to walk five minutes to Vogel library to study in a calm, quiet, and comfortable setting instead of staying at my home where either my computer, my phone, or my host siblings were distracting me. I miss playing frisbee, being close to my friends, and even eating in the Mensa. However, that's not my life for now. I AM HERE. Usually, there is a rock-bottom point during this stage too where people may act... irrational to say the least. I reached that point yesterday. Yesterday was supposed to be the day that I would finally receive my student visa. I had filled out all of my forms, paid what I needed to pay, and brought everything that I needed. When (finally) my name was called up, I went up to the desk and after a few short minutes, I was told that my passport number on my antcedentes penales was invalid. I had noticed this before I came and forgot to mention something, so when he told me that I would have to go back to another building to get it corrected, I could hardly get myself together. As I was leaving and people were asking me what was going on, I started to cry. Normal Kjerstin would have just gone to the other building (and would probably be grumpy, but would do it anyway). Stage two Kjerstin finally had enough. I was frustrated to a point where I just couldn't hold it inside anymore. I had to let it go. Later, after going to the other building and being told that I would have to start the entire visa process over again, I was furious and sick for Wartburg. I wanted normality and was tired of how difficult everything was. I spent the rest of the day calming myself down and connecting with some of my friends to remind me why I am here and that everything will be alright when I return. This is a phase. It will pass. Yesterday was that moment that I had been aware would come; the moment of my freak out.

3. Cultural Adjustment: Stage three is coming! I keep telling myself because I know that it's true. During this stage I finally feel capable of making my way here in Argentina. I will be able to speak well enough, know enough of the customs, and will be comfortable with the life that I am living. I know that since I finally have a routine with classes and activities that this stage should not be too far away.

4. Cultural Adaptation: This is the phase which personally seems way too far away and slightly impossible to reach. This is when I will have complete confidence in my capabilities AND I will have successfully integrated some of the Argentine values into my lifestyle. Why don't I think that I can get here? First of all, I feel like learning a language is very difficult and takes time. With people who understand that I am an exchange student, it is easier. However, when I am the only person NOT from Argentina in a group, sometimes it can be overwhelming. For instance, like when I am in linear algebra and my professor is explaining a theory and I have absolutely no idea what she's saying. Or the times where I am hanging out with my friends and they are all deep in a conversation and I so busy trying to comprehend what is going on that I forget to participate in the conversation. Can I really get to a point where all of this will change? I am 1/3 of the way done with my program. We will see as time goes by how I will change. And of course, I will keep you updated through it all.

Life. It's been full of surprises. There have been ups and downs and there are bound to be many more. However, being able to create my life here is what I am looking for. So if crying every once and a while is what it takes to get there, bring it on!

English Talk Happy Hour
AKA: Drinking mate and chatting with Argentinians in English

First day of school! First day of school!

Try to imagine the title of this blog in your best Nemo voice (from the movie Finding Nemo). School has almost always been something that I looked forward to. I like to learn, what can I say? Of course, my learning experience is definitely going to be different in another country! This semester, I am participating in the Semi-Integrated Program here at CC-CS. What that means is that I have three classes in PECLA (the part of UNC that is specifically directed towards international students) and take one class at the UNC with other Argentine students. Here is a list of the classes I am taking: Intensive Conversation II, Advanced Grammar, Socioeconomic Problems, and Algebra (UNC). I have been in classes for two weeks already, and already I have noticed many differences between my education here and at Wartburg plus differences between classes at PECLA and UNC:

My friend, Hanora, studying in Parque de las Tejas
Photo Courtesy of Liza Gashi

1. Classes NEVER start on time. All of the faculty say that if a class starts at 9:00 in the morning, be there by 9:00. Usually though, the professor hasn't arrive by the time class should start or the classroom may not even be open. It's kind of strange for me because I still come to class early because I don't want to miss anything. I just end up wasting fifteen minutes or more of my time just sitting and waiting for everyone else to get to class. In the United States in general, we focus so much on time that it's part of me that is so hard to change!

2. There is not very much homework in comparison to the United States. I am not sure of the reason. Personally, I believe that because we are in class for a minimum of two hours (maximum of four), that extra time that might have been spent on homework in the US is being used for extra class time. Also, obviously, it is just a cultural difference that I am still not used to (but don't mind either!). Along with this thought process, I wonder why there is that difference between cultures. What does Argentina value in comparison to the United States in terms of education?

3. At UNC, the classes are so much larger than my classes at Wartburg. Since I am here in the winter, it is second semester in the school year in Argentina. My Algebra class is the recurso of the course (AKA what people take if they did not pass the course the first semester). During the first semester, there are around 500 people that take my course. This semester, there are about 50-60 people taking my class. For some people, it's not a lot, but for a girl whose biggest class at Wartburg has been around 35 (Lifetime Wellness lecture excluded), it is a little overwhelming. At a university that has 128,000 students though, one should expect to have larger classes.

Miss Liza studying in Parque de las Tejas
Photo Courtesy of Liza Gashi

4. At UNC (at least for my algebra class), we don't have books to buy. If I want to read about the subject material that we covered in class or need more explanation, there are books in the library that I can read (but I can't check them out). For the homework, instead of doing work from a book or getting a worksheet from the teacher, the professor has one copy of the homework for the next class and then everyone has to go during break to pay to copy the assignment.

5. The typical class is just full of lecture - nothing more. This is not always true in PECLA (because we as students are still trying to learn the language and learn from one another) but is definitely true of the professors at UNC (one teachers my socioeconomic problems class and the other one teaches algebra). Sometimes this can be true of the environment of some classes at Wartburg. However, two hours is a
long time to sit and listen.

 6. This isn't Wartburg. At times, I will miss my beloved college with our Outfly, multiple bands and choirs, great staff and faculty, delicious breakfast pizza and cookies, and amazing people, but that does not mean that going to school at PECLA/UNC is either better or worse. It's just different.

Random information about education in Argentina:

There are both public and private universities here. However, studying at UNC is more prestigious than studying at a private school. It is free to attend a public university though which gives more people the opportunity to obtain their education. Initially, after hearing both of the aforementioned statistics, I was not sure why anybody would decide to go to a private school. First, there are some extra majors at some universities that one cannot do at a public school. Also, like me, people actually like smaller classes and getting to know the faculty.

¿Cómo te llamás?

Once again, welcome to my life! In the past week in my classes, we have talked about defining the people of Argentina. Who are they? How do we define an Argentinian family? In addition to our ethnocentric perspectives, I have had the luxury of understanding how the people of Argentina perceive themselves and their culture through talking in my class, with friends, and reading articles. 

Hola, me llamo Kjerstin [Kiss on the cheek]. ¿Cómo andás? Mucho gusto. Hi, my name is Kjerstin. How are you? Nice to meet you. This is a typical way of introducing oneself for the first time. After that, you really have the chance to get to know someone.

(L to R: me, Felipe [Brazil], Liza, Bianca [Brazil])

 You can call me Kjerstin, Kajeerstin, Kajurstin, or KJ (in English or Spanish). When I introduce myself, my name PLUS the majority of my nicknames do not translate well into Spanish. However, using a nickname is very central to the culture here. By using a person's nickname means that you're friends or have a personal relationship with them. The only time you use someone's full name is when the person is in trouble or in business-like interactions. Therefore, I have been called KJ, Kjerst, Kjersti, and Cris. It's been interesting because I am very used to being called just Kjerstin. Only certain people are allowed to use my nickname. I need to really know who someone is and trust them before they can call me by my nickname. I do not correct anyone here because of the culture though, but I wonder if using my nickname is a sign of their trust. However, how well do I really know the people of Argentina?

What comes to mind when you think of Argentina? Before I left, I knew very little about Argentina. I knew that Manu Ginobili is from Argentina and that the people here love to eat meat (which was perfectly fine with me!). The cattle industry is fairly strong, hence the affluence of meat-eating, but there are also leather goods that are (more or less) cheaper here as well. Finally, I knew there were some great wines to be tasted down here in Argentina and that I am actually old enough to try them. Ultimately, everything that Argentina has had to offer me has been a surprise because I had very few expectations.

(L to R: Liza, me, Quique, Hilary, and Juan at lunch in Buenos Aires)

In May, I took a class at Wartburg West (in Denver) that focused on two main themes: immigrants and Hispanic families. With my sociology background, I was more familiar with the concept of the Hispanic (Latino) family. General characteristics are that they are patriarchal because of the influence of machismo (the attitude of male domination), the families are very close, and they respect traditions. When I came here, I expected to have a family where there was a man in the house that the family had to please and there would be a woman who would have to clean, cook, take care of the children, and perhaps work. Additionally, I expected that if there were older children in the family, that they would live in the house unless they were married. The other day in my class, realidades culturales (cultural realities), we were brainstorming characteristics of Argentinian families, words that were used were: patriarchal, respect, proximity, traditional, machismo, communication, passion, and parties. Take in mind, these are all ideas that people have gathered after spending more than a month with their families. Those characteristics define our view of the families of Argentina.

How do the general definitions of family created through my classes compare to my family here in Argentina? Here, come meet my family. First, I would like to introduce you to my host mother, Cristina (Cris). She is a single mother, twice-divorced, with five children. Three children of her children are from one marriage, three are from another. She works full-time as a criminal lawyer and pays people to watch her children and clean the house during the week. Her oldest son is Martín, 20, who does not live in the family's home. Instead, he lives with friends while he studies abogacía (law) at UNC (Universidad Naciónal de Córdoba). He comes over to the house on Wednesdays and Sundays for family dinners. Next, there is Belén (Belú),18, who lives at home most of the time and studies abogacía at UNC as well. She is very independent, strong-minded, and tries to not conform to the stereotypes of a typical Argentine woman. Following Belú is Ignacio (Igna), 16, who lives with his father and is finishing high school still. I know little about him but he, too, comes over twice a week for family dinners. Julía (Julí), 8, is such a jewel. She loves every animal and is so willing to try and teach me Spanish. She is very welcoming and loves to talk and to get to know people. She plays a lot with her younger brother, Gabriel (Gabí), 7, who has so much energy, loves to tell jokes, and always wants to play some sort of computer game. Gabí is very close to his brothers and always cries when he has to leave his papá after spending time with him every other weekend. I believe that my family is NOT the typical family in Argentina. I believe that through the example of Cris and her independence, that the women in the family are very strong and obviously have more influence in the house since there is no "man-of-the-house". The fact that Igna and Martín do not live in the house to me shows their independence and the modernization of the typical family. Of course, my observations are purely off of what I have learned in my classes and are definitely ethnocentric, but I like to learn about how families work in comparison to others and how everything compares to what I have learned in my sociology courses. 

To look at the other side of this issue, how do Argentinians define themselves? By tango, mate, meat, or boots? No. One word: FAMILY. Even though there may be families like mine that are starting to change, overall, the most important aspect of life is family. Each member is there to support one another emotionally and financially. Even my family takes time out of the busy week to be with one another and talk about everything and anything. Other descriptors for the Argentinian people that they use for one another are: passionate, communicative, intolerant, generous, and emotional. Therefore, when you think of Argentinians, don't imagine stereotypes of Mexicans (not going to lie, I feel like that's what we all think of with Latino cultures since we only really know a little bit about Mexico) or people who only watch soccer all the time. I have learned to take my perspectives of Argentinians as well as their descriptions of themselves to better understand the people I spend time with.