Buenos aires weekend with Liva and Antoine

Liva is one of my good friends from Denmark so I decided to go give her a visit before saying goodbye. 

Antoine (one of my favourite frenchies) also lives in Pacheco (like and hour away from buenos aires but we still call it buenos aires) so we met up with him and headed out to the centre of Bs.As. 

This was some underground art at the train station and I thought that grandpa DJing was hilarious. 

Everytime I go to buenos aires I feel more and more like tourist, I don't know if it's because we always have to buy one of the tourist things to keep as a memory or just the fact that there is so much to see and you are always asking for help when taking transporting. 

Ok the picture is dark so we aren't really noticeable but Liva and I are standing under this horse monument for a good reason. To be honest I don't remember why that guy is important but one thing we found is that there are so many "guy riding a horse" monuments/statues in Bs.As. We found at least five. Like why are they all riding horses?

We also met up with a Rosmary, a rotary exchange student from another district that we met on the north trip. It was kind of an interesting situation because we didn't just run into her by fluke. Antoine invited her without telling us. Which is fine the more the merrier but Liva doesn't get along very well with Rosmary. Liva really impressed me and stay very polite and friendly during the day despite the past turmoil between the two. 

So I have completely fallen in love with the capital. It is such a beautiful city! It has the old Europeian architecture, the bright city lights at night that remind me of New York (even though I've never been), the hustle and bustle, places to go  things to see and also it's relaxed side. It might not be the easiest city to get around or to live in for the long term but I wouldn't mind going back and spending a couple years there. So of course we had to take pictures with the big BA just to prove we were there. 

We continued walking around and found this really cute old style classic but fancy Cafe. I'm not sure if I described the style right but basically loving old cafe's is like loving old cars. We were the only young people in there, which was kind of surprising and not at the same time. I thought maybe more young adults would have that kind of taste but maybe they were all at Starbucks. 

Nights in BA are famous for being the best and most fun but we had to go back since we still had an hour train ride to Pacheco.  

We met some random stranger on our train ride back home. They asked us where we were from and we found out that they were from Salta. Apparently there is a bunches of them down here to study.

Day 2 

We were a bit late getting out of the house and we ended up waiting forever for the bus. Luckily we met a mother (you can see a little bit of her face in the background) with her little daughter that she named Jasmine (after the Disney princess) who were going the same way as us. She told us that if the bus we were waiting for didn't come that there was a loop hole in the system and we could still get to where we were going. 

So we trusted the lady and got on the bus she told us and then took a train from there to go meet up with Antoine again. Antoine wasn't so happy with us because he had been waiting in the train station for us for an hour.. Oops.

We had planed on taking a yellow bus tour this day but it was too expensive on a exchange student salary. So we tried to see as much as we could, on foot. 

One of the things I love about BA is that there are weird little things and lots of colour everywhere. Just found some over grown tulips! 

Everytime I go to BA I go to this park and to this market and see what new things they have. It's a wonderful place to spend the afternoon with friend. There are outdoor comedy shows, lots of food being sold, you can watching people dance tango and really good people watching! 

This is the metal flower and I hear that it actually closes at night and opens in the morning but I didn't see because we had to move onto the next stop. 

We went to the Japanese garden which I would only recommend going to when all the flowers are in bloom because without that you don't get as much of the vibe. 

That is supposed to be tea house but you aren't allowed to go in and the tea is costly.

We saw a couple more things along the way and took some really nice walks through the park.

Later we went to Antoine's house which is also Liva's first host family to have dinner and play some pool. 

I do realize this picture is totally not even close to how it should be but it just looked better this way. 

Olavarria weekend

This past weekend was medio quilombo (a bit disastrous) but lots of fun.

It all started Thursday. Leti and I went to the terminal to buy a ticket to Olavarria. 

(My friend Anna and I were planning to go visit two of our exchange friends (really nice girls from the United States) in Tandill, but things got complicated and we ended up going to Olavarria to meet up with some of our German friends then the girls from Tandill were  supposed to come visit us there.) 

So of course with my luck and lack of timing there were no buses direct to Olavarria. After a few calls I decided to go to buenos aires meet up with Anna there than we would go to Olavarria together. So I bought my ticket to buenos aires. 

If you know me you know I love to eat and I'm basically always hungry and Leti just happens to be the exact same way. 

We walked into the centre and got to the cafe at around 7:30 pm (btw it gets dark here so soon now! I really can't believe it!)   We were really pushing it because we needed to be at my dad's vet shop for 8 o'clock. We didn't know what to order, I remember really wanting French fries but I knew they would take a little longer. So we decided on dessert. Always a good choice! 

On the sugar packages there are always, sayings, jokes or quotes. This one says "Remember that for every Monday, there is a Friday". Whenever girls go to the cafe they always take a picture of their favourite and put it on snapchat. 

Friday! 

My first bus left at 7 am nice and early! 3 hours later I arrived in Buenos Aries at the Retiro. Ok so here is the thing. Retiro is kinda dangerous and even more for young girl especially if we are traveling alone. I've been here many times but I've always had someone there waiting to pick me up when I got off the bus. This time I didn't because my friend was in school and her parents were working in San Isidro. She told me that I had to take a train to San isidro and that her dad would pick me up there. Ok then, but wait a second where is the train station? I ask a girl on the bus and she said that I could take a train from Retiro. But I couldn't find any sort of trains so I went up and asked in information desk. They guy there told me I had to leave Retiro and walk to my right. So I leave and start walking to my right thinking this place is going to be easy to find. So I walk into this place and even texted a picture of it to my friend and her teacher told me it was te right place. I mean it says Retiro, maybe that's what the girl on the bus meant. So I walk in and I don't see San Isidro on the board at all but I ask for a ticket anyways and the man there told me I have to walk more. So I continue walking and finally find this old build

I walk in and I don't see San Isidro anywhere on the board but I ask for a ticket anyways and I'm in the wrong place. The man told me I had to keep walking so I did and finally found this old building and took a train. 

When I was getting my ticket I heard a young couple behind me speaking French. I asked them if they wanted help and I'm glad I did because it was obvious that they didn't know any Spanish, they must feel like I did when I first got here. 

On the train I say down with all the bags and my suitcase I was carrying and prayed that a girl would sit next to me when this older women from Venezuela came and sat next to me. She was really nice, I could tell she wasn't Argentinian because she had a different accent and spoke using other verb forms. We talked the whole train ride until she got off. It was nice because even though we speak two different spanishes and mine isn't perfect we could still easily understand each other and could have a long conversation. This was her third time in Argentina and she had 7 months left here until she could become a citizen. She came from Venezuela because of the economic crisis and left her family, home and everything behind. She had to close her restaurant (she cooks mediterranean food) and came to Argentina with her cousin. I felt so bad for her, I could tell she really missed home and wanted to be there. She didn't really want to live in Argentina but the problems back in Venezuela are too big right now for her to be there. 

Anyways after a 30 minute bus ride I was finally in San Isidro. My friends dad came and picked me up, durning the car ride to pick up my friend he told me his whole life's story. I learnt about how his parents wanted to go into economy but he wanted to be a lawyer and how everything came together in he end. 

We picked Anna up from school went home and the dad went back to work. We made cheesy noodles and ate leftover chocolate cake. (We are fatties and we don't care).

We gad some trouble getting Anna permission to go to Olavarria but finally at 10pm we were on our way! 

We arrived at Olavarria at 4 am. Where your friends David (Denmark), Jakob (Germany) and Johannes (Germany) picked us up. We walked from the bus station to David's house. I thought they were crazy! Walking home at 4 am! You are asking to be robbed and beaten! But I guess this town didn't have as many problems as mine because the boys said that they walk home all the time at night from night clubs or from one house the the other.

We ate something,talked a little, Johannes and Jakob went to their house and we went to bed. The boys had pushed 2 single bed together to make one kinda big bed for Anna and I to sleep on. It was kinda in the attic so it was cold and we were glad we could snuggle and keep each other warm. 

Saturday

We were invited to Martin's (France) house that was in another city. 

We ate lunch, took showers, got ready and left. Martin told us to take the bus at 2:45 that said his cities name on it. There was only one bus at the station at 2:45 and it had his city's name on it so we took that one. 

Unfortunately it was te wrong bus and we were lost. So we got off called Martin and started walking to the church. First we stopped to buy some chocolate at a gas station.

Eventually Martin came and picked us up at the church with his dad. They had a really tiny car so us 3 were squished in the back. 

Later Jakob, Jojo and Till (also Germany) met up with us. 

This isn't the best photo of us but it's the only one we have. 

We just hung out for a bit, talked, listened to music, played soccer with the little brother, drank tea and mate. Then we made pizza and after dinner went back to our houses to get ready for the night. 

Now I have no idea how this happened but we invited some of the boy's friends over and made previa until 4 am. It was a little late to go out but we did anyways and the club closed at 6 am. 

Our friend Till is a break dancer and inside the club we met his dance teacher's son who of course is also a dancer. So when the right song came on they both started dancing together and it was pretty cool. It's really hard to go out dancing in a big group because you all get seperated so we made pairs and as long as we were with one person it was ok. Anna and I were stuck together like glue and at the end of the night we met back up with Jakob, Till and Martin. Jakob told us that David and Johannes were already back at David's house so we started walking back home. Halfway through our walk I hear Jakob yell at Till in German that the taxi leaves in 5 minutes and they take off running. I look over and Anna and we knew that there was no way we were running wearing high heels. It was kinda funny because Martin also started running with the German boys but couldn't keep up but he was still way ahead of us. Anna was so mad! We didn't know how to get back to the house and they left 2 young girls alone in the streets at 6 am. But I knew we were close and I'm sure I had seen Martin turn the corner so we turned the same way and found the boys. Jakob, till, Johannes went home. Martin slept over with David and Anna and I went to bed. 

Sunday

We set an alarm for 12:30 the next morning/afternoon. We ended up sleeping through the alarm until 2 pm when lunch was already on the table. We ate, talked with the family, watched a movie and in the evening went to the centre because there was a concert thing happening. 

It was really nice! Te music was awesome! Plus we ended up seeing 2 girls we met on the north trip. Lisa from Germany and Rapha from Canada! Yup another Canadian! I will really have to go visit her in Quebec! 

Of course Anna and I got hungry and since I never got French fries Thursday I really wanted French fries. We walked through this really cute night market but it wasn't food, it was art and clothes and handmade things. So we bought Pringles (the first Pringles I have seen in Argentina) and Toddy cookies (the best cookies Argentina has). Sadly still no French fries. 

As we were walking through this night market at the end a bunch of black birds flew over us and honestly at first I thought they were bats. We didn't get pooped on thankfully but what I didn't realize was that Till was walking a bit behind us and he got poop in his mouth the poor guy. 

The cookies were really good but there wasn't one Pringle that was a full chip, they were really really broken. 

Later after soaking up more music we went to Johanne's house. He has the cutest cat in the world! It's gun steal gray and tiny with cute green eves. Adorable! 

Everyone ate Asado (you know the famous Argentinian meat) but the mom made me some amazing cannellonis. Later we went back to David's house and watched a movie. David's house is the perfect movie pace because the floor is raised a little and it's basically a huge sofa with pillows and blankets. 

The movie ended at 2 am, the boys went home, Anna went to bed and I started packing. At 3 am when I had everything ready to go so I could get ready as quickly and as easily as possible in the morning I went to bed. 

Monday 

At 7am we got up, got dressed, grabbed our things, bought some pasteries for breakfast on the bus and went to the station. We bought our tickets to buenos aires (another 5 hours). Said our goodbye's and Jakob, Anna and I were off. (Jakob had gone Thursday to visit) 

We saw the sunrise from the bus, it was really red and beautiful. We talked a little and fell asleep in really uncomfy positions then woke up again for more laughs and a snack break.

An older women came and talked to us. She said "I'm sorry to bug you guys but I heard you speaking English and I just couldn't believe it! It's not often you hear people speaking English around here!" Her voice seemed really familiar almost as if it was the voice of my grandma back  in Canada. I asked her where she was from "I live in Canada!" she replied. I was super surprised, she didn't really sound that Canadian, she kinda had a Russian accent. Turns out she is from Argentina but has lived in Toronto for the past 26 years and came back to visit for a little while. 

When we got to buenos aires I bought a ticket that left in 20 minutes for San Nicolas so I quickly said goodbye to my friends and I started my 3 hour voyage back home. 

A nice little weekend

I can't believe I can't put videos in my blog! If I could you would be able to laugh ally more along with me. Basically I have this awesome video of my host dad doing the moon walk and then some other spunky moves when we had a sushi night. It was hilarious! My host dad made the sushi himself and even made vegetarian sushi for Clem and I. 

(Sorry it's supposed to say my but my Spanish keyboard autocorrected it and also honestly who knew I would be eating sushi in Argentina! Another thing that I didn't like before but like now!)

I haven't been out in a really long time! I guess plans just kept getting cancelled but I got to go out with two amazing friends the other night and it was super fun. 

This one is Leti and she has been one of my best friends since the start! I'm sure I've talked to you about her before! But now we are spending a lot more time together now that we live so close. 

Vicky is a fairly new friend. She goes to Taekwondo with Leti so I met her through her. But she is super sweet and really open! 

We ended up meeting up with some other friends too! Clem my best friend (the Frenchie), Agustin and Cande! 

Leti stayed most of the weekend so we had to buy some treats... Even though we only went to the store to buy some alfajores they were expensive so we came back with this instead hahaha. 

This is my host mom Pearla kissing the bed wetting dog Venecia. She is wearing underwear that we put a sanatary pad in because as my host mom says "she's in love" and leaves blood everywhere. They are planning on breeding her so this Thursday she will go meet her boyfriend. 

Introducing Annita

In my new house I have a 20 year old sister named Anita. It gets really confusing because sometimes the parents call her Anna or they call me Hannita, so we never know who they are calling. 

My sister and I are already really close, we talk about everything together, listen to music, paint our nails, go out at night and much more all together. Honestly I've been pretty lucky with my host sibilings in all 3 houses. 

My second host dad sent me a link the other day and the voice over is in Spanish but it's a video of my city ere and it might be nice for you guys to see. 

https://www.facebook.com/MunicipalidaddeSanNicolas/videos/1085632318159497/

Rotary weekends

So we've had two conferences lately. The focus was defiantly on the outbounds and Rotarians but it was still a log of fun. The rotex and inbounds stuck together and went on a day trip type thing later which was really nice! 

So of course with roarty you can never get away with not speaking in front of a big group of people. Now public speaking has always made me nervous and in English that is. I was literally shaking half way through my presentation counting the mistakes I was making in Spanish. I surprisingly didn't makes as many as I thought I would, but still I was kinda dying. I was also a little bit proud of myself because everyone laughed at one of my jokes so that made me think of ll maybe I'm not doing that bad. 

And now I'm even more proud of myself because I recently had to do a presentation just for my rotary club and I barely stumbled. Anyways here are the people that fit in the picture... There are many more behind the camera! 

The people in the picture below is called the squad. We are Danish, Norwegian, German and of course Candaian! Us four girls as super close. These girls are definitely some of my best friends in the entire world.

Look at Antoine in the background! He's our French boy. Everyone loves him and it was really fun teaching him how to skate. At the end he kind of got the hang of it. 

So here is all of us skating (rotex and inbounds). This was kinda weird... I was thinking wow I'm from Canada and I came to Argentina and I'm ice skating? What? On top of that we were ice skating in a mall in Buenos Aires capital.  The skating rink was super tiny comparators to a hockey rink but it was still fun. Everyone expected a lot out of me because of the Canadian stereotype and I'm not a bad skater but I did fall once and it was a little embrassing... 

We found a pretty walk in the mall and decided to take a picture. Yes I already know what you are thinking.. Why are we so bundled up? Because it's cold. Honestly I never expected Argentina to be so cold but now I find myself sleeping with the heater on and 3 blankets. It's not freezing but I've become so sensitive to the cold now, which is so weird. The first winter in Canada I'm sure I will die! 

This was us laughing together at the back with Jakob (Germany). This is actually a kind of important picture to me because it captures a moment I do t have an adjective to describe. I felt so at home it was mind blowing. I honestly asks the the others "hey guys, where are the inbounds?" Only to realize as I was asking my words that we are intact the inbound exchange students. My mind went crazy for a couple seconds wondering how I actually thought that we were the Argentians. 

Another day we all went to the mall (a different one) and the squad was back together doing what we do best.. Eating.

Alex and I decided to go outside to eat our McDonald's French fries and soon got followed by Anna and Liva. We were sitting in our shopping carts laughing away and decided it would be fun to have a race. So Anna starts pushing me and Liva starts pushing Alex. Off we go. Until we get in trouble by a security guard.. When this happened Alex and Liva took off so fast with there bags it was incredible and it left me and Anna there wondering what we were supposed to do with the mad guard and 2 shopping carts. 

Here we are in Buenos Aures again. We are wearing our Blazers for the grits time and they are a little fuller now. (Before I had like 12 pins) 

As exchange students we like to take pictures with everything and everyone so when the doorman at our hotel hat this fancy top hat we just had to take a picture with him. 

Legs up! This became a signature pose for us and I really don't know why but we love it. 

Here we are showing off our flags with pride. We are so happy to be on big international family! 

Here we are again! At another mall! This seems to be rotex's favourite place to take us. Even though we are all too broke to buy anything when a normal shirt is like 1000 pesos. 

But we did end up buying matching Argentina ball caps that made us look way too much like tourists! But that's ok it's a souvenir! 

Here we are goofing around trying on other hats. We spent so much time in this one store goofing around and looking at everything. Poor Antoine was waiting outside for us like a gentleman probably bored to death. 

Ok so Alex is the baby of the group and she finally finally turned 16! Now she's not the only one that is 15. So after the day in buenos aires (Saturday) I went home with her to celebrate her birthday which was on Monday. 

I got to meet her big lovely group of friends. On Sunday so when I went to school with her on Monday I would already know someone and then we would get together for cake Monday night. 

Here is us Sunday night making cake. 

And us in class the next day. The class was super sweet they brought various sweets and cakes and drinks to school for Alex and had balloons all around the class. Feliz cumple Amiga!

So Argentina is Argentina and you never know what you might find.. Like a pony just chilling outside a normal house on a normal street as if it's normal.