February 3rd - 15th 2014... (I KNOW it is Laate, But Better LATE than NEVER Right?)

Monday 3rd February 2014

Well since my last "entry/post" 

1. I have been into the City 3 times. 
2. I have been bought an Argentine Sim for my phone. 
3. Got What's App acctually working on my phone!
4. Had a few swims.
5. Tried Argentine BBQ 2 times,
6. & Bought a new pair of high heels

Other things I have done include:

• Buy a new belly ring & make up
• Purchased a Bus card so I can start travelling by bus.
• Also I have met quite a few Other exchange students "intercambios" 

And they are really nice and entertaining :)

Tuesday 4th February 2014

Alta Gracia trip :)

Today we -*Myself and the other Exchangies on the Alta Gracia Trip*- visited two museums in Alta Gracia. The first was this museum of this famous guy called "Che" (&Che is a Slang word here in Argentina - it means "you") the second was "al museo de Manuel de Falla" He was a composer that kept German and Italian music/Opera from influcing Spanish music/Opera. We then travelled by foot to Gerardo's (pronounced like "Her-gardo" I know Weird Spanish/Castellano language!) for lunch, relaxation and swimming. We as a group of played "riddles" -(well that's what I'm going to call it) on the way there. We gave each other riddles to figure. That lasted a whole two hours. Once we all arrived at Gerardo's house we had Sandwiches for lunch and empanadas as well. Then myself, Tyler-the inbound from Aus' and this guy called Emanuel all jumped into the pool we spent like 2 and a half maybe 3 hours in there! Even though

it was a cloudy day!

Wednesday 5th February 2014

Today we looked through the church downtown in Alta Gracia, it was one of the first buildings in Alta Gracia-*From Now on I am just going to refer to it as "A.G"* Then we walked to this guys place to have lunch and a news crew came and interviewed some of us- Not me though- *Thank Goodness* In the afternoon we ventured out to this place that had a statue of Mary - Jesus's mother - & it had been moved for restoration, and then what was left behind was a siliohette of the statue. Miracle! 

Afterwards we walked to a rotarian's house that was near the church. There we ate nice bread for afternoon tea, then drank this sweet version of "Mate" but without the leaves.

Later we travelled back to our host families in A.G, Then we all gathered up again at 10pm for the Rotary Reunion/Meeting & had dinner there. 

Thursday 6th February 2014

To we journeyed out to two different German styled villages - they were beautiful. The first one reminded me of home because of the plant life it had. In the first village we ha lunch at "La Roc-k" Cafe. I tried this dish called  "Goulash", which was like a potato based pasta with little bits of beef and gravy. It was delicious and filling! OH and I also tried Suarkraut, Which is cabbage soaked in vinegar for a week or longer. After lunch we ventured on foot around the village. There was a river & waterfall, I took some photos and dipped my feet in - it was freezing! Later on at about 4:30 pm in the second German village -(Was the Argentine version of "Oktober Fest" was held) we got coffee with food - scrumptious food! I didn't get home until around 9:30 pm! 

Friday 7th February 2014

Today all of us "intercambios" bussed out to this camping ground that has this really nice river (Rio) & we spent the whole day there. It was great as it was soo HOT today!! Anyway we arrived at around 1:30pm had lunch- Empanadas and Pizza. But I didn't have Pizza. Afterwards the girls except for me wandered down to the river to sunbathe and swim. I ended up keeping score for a ball game that the guys were playing. Then we all went to the river. I was then persuaded to jump off a rock into the river - I did! & did it 3 times after, througout the day.

Saturday 8th February 2014

Today I travelled to a man-made lake with Pia- My host mum from A.G. and her family, to spend the there -(instead of having another 'pool day') I had a go on the biscuit a couple of times and fell off it and got a mean as tan/burnt!

That night we made our way to a "Boliche" -Nightclub and stayed there til about 5:30 in the morning!

Sunday 9th February 2014

Had a BBQ lunch at this sports club called - "Club Los Andes" Got given a T-shirt from the A.G Rotary Club. Later on- had free time. I spent it with a few of the other Exchangies  and then we went to see a movie with some others - The LEGO Movie in SPANISH! It was Okay...

Monday 10th February 2014

The day of departure from Alta Gracia. I felt a little sad that the great time was over. but you know what they say "All good things must come to an end" But I reminded myself that I would see them-(all the exchange students & some more) at the orientation coming up in March & the Rosario Trip.

Friday 14th February 2014

Valentine's Day - Ugh!!! It was just another day to me. However I did get up to something

I visited 2 art museums they were... Interesting but not really my thing. After that I had lunch at Mc Donalds- & may I add - Mc Donald's Here is way better than in N.Z! Then I got picked up and we drove to this place where you can look out over the City and there's was a zoo type thing there too. But I didn't go through it, After that we- (Agus, Susana and I) all went and got icecream then we travelled back home. 

So yeah my Valentine's Day 2014 was ok. Oh and I Skyped Home in the Evening. 

Sunday 15th February 2014

This morning the whole family and I travelled 2 hours out of Córdoba, to a place called Totoral. We came here to visit Susana't mother-so the kid's Grandma. Also we had to Collect Mariano as he had been staying there a few days already. When we arrived at the house at around 11:30am I had a quick meet and greet with everyone, then ha d a drink of tea and at about 10 to 1 I wandered around Totoral with one of Susana's niece's. I took some photos and she took one for me as well. We then walked back to that house and had a delicious lunch.

From The Beginning...

Tuesday 21st Jan 2014

The date of my departure! I was AMPED AS man. Buut also nervous and sad too. Leaving behind Family and all. and well going into "Uncharted territory" for me.

11 hours and 30 minutes on the plane - felt like 16 hours!!! but anyways on Arrival in Chile at about 11:15 am I got off the plane with all the other exchangies and we entered the Airport and even though we were EXHAUSTED we ambled to the place to collect our baggage and then after all the necessary routine checks and what not that you have to do in an airport... we travelled by bus to Hotel Funador. :)  Here are pics of the view from it but these were taken on the 22nd of Jan

Wednesday 22nd Jan 2014
Was the Second day in Chile. All the South American bound students and myself travelled to Val Pariso by bus. it was an hour and a half journey. I saw a Lot of stray dogs along the way and Rubbish everywhere in the streets - that took a bit of getting used to! oh and SLUMS! Which suprised me! 

View from the bus. On the way to Val Pariso

At the Beach in Val Pariso

We also headed to Vina Del Mar and the Beach there. Had lunch at a restaurant that specialized in seafood I ordered beef and was NOT Happy with it! After lunch we ventured to a few flea markets - at one of them I bought a hat that says "Chile" and a pin for my blazer. Also I purchased two post cards to serve as memiors that I have been to Chile and Vina Del Mar.

Also on this day (I forgot to mention) in the moring we visited a parliament building and had a tour of it. It was interesting. One of the rooms we entered to look at there was something going on- a new law or something getting approved; so that was interesting. I took a few photos while we were on the tour. Here is A picture of inside the parliament building.

Where the 5 most important parliament members sit. e.g President & Vice President

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My Lunch, that I was not happy with the beef.

Thursday 23rd Jan 2014
Had a barbeque at Chilean Host club memebers house. Took them aages to get the food ready! #SouthAmericans It was a very "Chill" and laid back day. I met two other exchange students- 1 from the United States- He was from Arkensaw. And the other one was from South Africa- but I don't know what part. I spent a few hours in the pool there because it was soo hot.
In the evening once we rolled back into the hotel I met two 2 girls from Chile that are friends with a rebound exchangie Ana-from Brazil.  The girls names were Feña and Pascale. 

Chillin by the pool in Chile. This is one of the
Only photos I have from the BBQ Day.

Friday 24th Jan 2014 

Today was the Last day in Chile. We toured the city of Santiago by bus. We stopped at an indoor market place, and also went to this high hill that was used to protect Chile in the War times. 

Luke - (the other NZD-ER heading to Arg' with me) and I flew out to Argentina in the afternoon, the flight was good, I got a window seat!. Was Awesome to see the mountains and views, from the plane. When we got to Córdoba Airport it took Luke aages to find his bags! & also for us to get thru Customs. However once we finally got thru, we met with our counsellors and Host families and a Rotex member called Agus Avendaño.
Then about 20 or so minutes later I was on my ways to my new "home". Once I got there I started un-packing my things.
Later on that night I attended a birthday party of a friend of my Host sister-(Agustína's).  After a few hours we then ventured to a "Boliche" - Nightclub or 'Disco' as I have learned they call them here. & Agus and I didn't get back home until around 5:30 am!! My Spanish is Sloowy getting better.

Saturday 25th Jan 2014
I woke up at 1:45 pm today! Cripes-NZ & Aussie Slang ppl. #NOTgoingOutTHATlateAgain!!! I had lunch with the family then helped Agustína make -well decorate some cupcakes she and her mum had made for their friends baby's 1st birthday. Later on in the day Dad and I learnt that on WeChat you can now voice call. we talked for about 25 minutes.<- In the afternoon.
Tim (my Bro' back home) called me in the evening using the same thing. 
What I also got up to earlier that day I went around the corner with my Host brother Mariano, on his bike, I stood on the pegs on the way to the 'Kiosco' but on the way back I didn't I held on to the fizzy drink and walked instead. (NOTE to Self ->I REALLY Need to find Other words to use instead of always using 'Went' it's soo boring and childish)

Lunch being cooked

Lunch "Empanadas" Cooked :)

Sunday 26th Jan 2014
In the morning I went thru the "Questionaire" with Susana- Agustína's mum. (With help from her Of course)
I thought that it went quite well. A friend of Mariano's came around later that morning, and after the introductions to each other; Agus, Susana and I set out to the shopping mall so I buy myself a few things that I needed. 
When we got back I was suprised to see Francisco -(Now a 'Rebound' as he had been in New Zealand Last year) showing up out of what seemed like nowhere - Nah I think Agustina had planned it liked that- to suprise me. Buut I don't Know for sure. 
so anyways we all had lunch which was chicken schitzel, wedges along with tomato. After that we all (us kids that is) we spent a couple hours in the pool - playing water polo. That was great fun. Francisco skedaddled on home at 7:10 pm.