BEGINNING & ENDING beginning NOV 09

Wow its been FOREVER since I last blogged (I think Oct. 23), but for some reason all the sudden my time here is flying by. :( It was before Halloween since my last blog. Now Thanksgiving is over, and here comes Christmas. So many things are changing.

I think I may start going backwards in time sharing all my big experiences in the NEXT BLOGS. But for now, here are some random thoughts, status' on Facebook and emails from friends back home:

~Im enjoying my time here....learning more about myself, another culture, & relationships than anything else...spanish kicks my butt. But it also makes me very interested to maybe study it later in college.I'm also learning even from the difficult situations or disappointments ... a very difficult character building experience.

~ " I'm finding joy even when there is disappointing news, and learning to have patience and calmly discuss the outcome of the previous conversation."

~ I wanted to go see Iguazu Falls (Cataratas del Iguazu) and I had planned to go with some AFS students, but of course there were hidden costs. I’m thankful to even be here and very happy to say I have traveled to the South of Argentina with my family, experiencing some of the best sights of the Andes Mountains here! And now, I was invited by a friend & classmate to go to Cordoba with her...can't wait! :D

~My status on facebook one day in early November: lovin my reminicing time here... and also, writing blogs about my experiences here, working on a scholarship, reading my spanish/english bible (SOO cool. haha), and trying to edit my only 100 pics from the past month (out of 800 that were lost when my camera was stolen)... im realizing after some of the rough bumps in my experience here, I love what I'm learning every minute!!! :)

~ (an email from a Hailey):

kayla, i miss you! i have ms.harmon for english and there are all the usual honors english kids in there. it was the end of 1st nine weeks and we had a food day. i was talking to hannah and alyssa when they said something that reminded me of you. i realized that this was the first english class i havent had with you all 4 yrs of high school. I hope youre having fun and cant wait till youre coming home. Youre going to hate coming home from argentina because we’’re going to seem soo boring, I bet. Haha. So, where are you applying to college, have you sent in your applications yet?l 4 years of highschool! its crazy. i hope you're having fun and i can't wait till you come home. you're gonna hate argentina because we're going to seem so boring i bet. :) where are you applying to college? have you already sent in your applications?

(a response to her email):

hailey, aww. it was really good hearing from you! thanks for letting me know somebody was thinkin of me while ive been gone already for many months! :) ahha. so, glad you have english with everyone BUT me. :( ahah. cute that you remembered that we've always had it together though! true true. who do you know HASN'T taken english this semester...so they may have it with me next semester? mmmmh. food day, huh? sounds great, but not as good as the food here! :P i love it here, i mean im learning so much and making really good friends here at school. the people here are UNBELIEVABLE, well maybe not that great, but always soo friendly ...you dont even know. first off, they always greet and say goodbye to EVERYONE with a kiss ;) good for the cute guys. ahha. and they know so much about english movies, songs, and lanuage (they know way more english than I know spanish, but its okay. aahha. I'm trying to learn. Gosh its HARD)..like for example the song: Hot N Cold by katy Perry. every boy and girl knows that song and TONS of USA hits play on the radio here.its soo cool, but i wish some of their music played on our radio. ill have to show you some songs when i get home. maybe one day when i get back and am not exhausted, we can hang out. for now...YOUTUBE: Daddy Yankee. hes HUGE here...like Akon or better (for us). I'm going to his concert in December!
Anyways,soo true that im gonna hate coming home from argentina, but this is just one chapter in my life... in january i have to move on to the next chapter...the end of high school and then college! :D
I mean ,I DO miss not being in all the snr stuff, but i have a semester when i get home and ive had the BEST SNR YEAR EVER already! Better than what i dreamed. Ya its gonna be sad when we all go away to college next aug. wow, its soon. less than one year! its weird to think we all go FAR away cuz here, they go to college but live at home and stay friends with childhood friends until they get serious with someone and move in togehter or get married. Its different, not bad not good, just different. Thats what im learning about at lot here…my eyes are being opened and im falling in love with another culture other than my own. its really cool :)
Awww, but i did miss Halloween :(

Thats all until the next blog... :D

~Kayla Stover~

Really settling in and Now I only have 3 months! :0

1st-Us girls in a boliche! :) 2nd- Our family on a weekend trip...so pretty! 3rd- My classmates (friends) and I.

I'm settling in here, really learning a lot about myself, new relationships, myself & of course, Spanish! :) But now, i have to come back to reality and work a little on college stuff for when i get home :(
Right now, theres something called the Zonda wind..terrible for people with allergies or anybody! :0 I just put the house into a "lockdown" and closed every door and window, the shutters, and even the curtains (just to make sure)! haha
I plan to continue soaking in each and everything I learn from as I truly notice all the big differences in cultures about how families and friends interact.
The other day, Ago(a friend)'s mom, who is a teacher, asked me to come to English Institute she works in and speak about my experience here in Argentina compared to my life back home in the United States. I shared with them the culture shock I got when I first arrived. Now that I’m a little settled in, I only have a little more than 3 months left, and I just starting to really become part of the family, school, and culture here in Argentina. They English students interacted with me and asked everything about challenges for me, from the language to the school to the family.
I guess I will just have to write a little more next time, but today I'm trying to write a stupid essay for a University! :( ahah
nos vemos, chau!
Besos, Kayla

Learning a lot & loving it~Argentinians & Spanish

The first picture is of some classmates and I with our "new classmate" made out of a balloon and clothes they took up to give to the needy. haha The second picture is of my host sister and I with wine, one of the things, Mendoza is known for.

ARGENTINIANS & The SPANISH LANGUAGE!!!

Every day is something new, especially learning new words in spanish every day. i still cant speak very much at all in spanish, but i understand a LOT more, so it's cool to see my own growth, little by little. Now, i know learning a language, is not as easy as just being immersed in the culture/language and immediately being able to understand and speak it...its takes me having to get up each day and decide and tell myself "im going to try today and learn something, even if its only a few words". haha. Some days, my head just hurts some days after trying to understand so much,but im applying for schools while im over here, which is hard to do when my parents are halfways across the world, but it has to be done.

I am so truly thankful for those in my life right now (classmates, family, friends...) who make a difference in my life each and every day...teaching me Spanish, being there for me to talk to, and giving me such a good, non-biased outlook on another culture with new people! The Argentinian people are so hospitible, welcoming, friendly, down-to-earth, and just plain fun! :)

This was my first week back after going on a trip with my family to the south of Argentina to visit many well known cities and beautiful sights like~ the mountains, lakes, snow, the ocean and MUCH more all in one, great trip. I will have to devote just one blog to my trip next time!

Chau, Besos, Kayla

Branching out and Sharing my Experiences...

FUN, Fun, fun with my companeros! :)

Here are some pictures of me, my classmates, and their "senior" class flag at San Luis Gansaga School!

Today I woke up early to talk with my old Spanish 2 class and the teacher Mrs. Penley. I shared my experiences with her first Spanish 2 classes and then her Spanish 1 class. I used Skype, with a webcam, to talk to them about the culture shock I went through and all the different stages I am going through while learning to live in a different city, with a different family, in a different country, and in a whole new culture!
I spoke about the main differences between Argentina and the States, the similarities, and what do you like or dislike about them? First of all, there is a 6 o-clock tea time because without we would starve since dinner (cena) isn't until 10 PM! Also something that caught my attention was how even public movie stores had stolen (pirated) movies that hadn't even come out in theaters yet, in them. I explained everything about the differences in school, like the time, class change, how they can't pick their classes, the difficulty, the uniforms and much more. I also spoke about how here, all the students go to English Institutes after school to really learn conversational English (something I wish we had for Spanish in the States). I also talked about all the public transportation like Micros (busses).
The attitude here of many people is very warm or friendly, but yet they don't beat around the bush when they want to say something, even if it is blunt or mean. They are very nice and try to help you learn their language if you want to and don't judge you if you don't know it. Especially on the weekends, it is as if this city, this province, this country NEVER sleeps. Even little kids are up until 1 or 2AM at a bowling alley. And at 1 or 2AM there are still no teen or adult crowds, but definitely by 3AM or so, the place is usually jumping, whether it be a bowling alley, a restaurant, a boliche (night club), or a pub. Almost any place you can find relaxation and recreation, its usually open until about 6 or 7AM!
People ask me, would I recommend somebody else to go and visit? Or would I recommend them to at least travel out of the States? Why or Why not? Definitely! This is the best learning experience I have ever had. All at one time, I'm learning another culture, tolerance for other people, and the language. You have to adapt to the culture here and also learn enough to enrich your own way of life to take back with you to the United States! :D
As far as the food or the culture itself: There is bread at nearly every meal and lots of it!My favorite, asado (cooking meat (barbeque, pig, and cow) on the grill, and empanadas are very common here. The culture is very upbeat and lively most of the time, but they know when it is time to go home and eat almuerzo (14:00) and cena (22:00) with the family!
That's about all I can think of right now, so I'll be back soon! :)
Chau(bye), besos(kisses), Kayla Stover

Really grateful for such a great week!

First of al, this whole week at school was only made up of 3 days because we had Mon/Tues off. Even in those 3 "school"days, we didnt have to do much work and I learned a lot of spanish phrases. Then, on Friday we went to a Boliche (dance club) and danced all night till 5AM! :) The next morning we slept until 1PM and then Sat. night we went out for a burger and bowling at a place called Tork for 18 and older. We have off this week from school and then next week my family is taking a trip to the South of Argentina, first to a place called Bariloche, where it is much colder and very beautiful, as it is surrounded by the Andes Mountains that run along the border of Argentina and Chile. I am super stoked! But, this week I am trying to narrow down some colleges and start to look at applying for them and trying to find financial aid & scholarship information on each. Its ver difficult when your parents aren't around to ask any questions to. But, I'm taking each day as it comes.
Right NOW, im cheering on the Panthers as they go up against "America's Team" known as the Dallas Cowbows. I cant believe we even SOMETIMES get NFL American Football here in Argentina on ESPN! :) i love it! I just went and put on my Steve Smith Jersey! :P
I'm gonna go, so i can go cheer them on!
Chau... Besos, Kayla. Nos Vemos!
Bye.... kisses, Kayla. See you later!

i am living my ULTAMITE dream! :D

I truly enjoy having new experiences like this every day, but this is the ultamite dream! I have every chance to meet new people, experience a new culture and way of life, and learn a new language! I feel like God has given me this chance and I should use my time here to also share him and his love with new people, if the chance comes up.
I'm unsure of my plans or even my dreams for what I want after I leave here (Argentina), but I need some plan to keep me on my toes, busy and passionate about something new in my life. I love challenging myself to do new and sometimes the ultamite crazy things that always involve meeting and truly getting to know new people! currently I am trying to apply for colleges and I dont know what to study...maybe sociology or psychology or education..or maybe God can provide me with an answer of a career or major i want to study where i can put to use my gifts and talents and really be passionate about what i'm doing.
Lately, I've been very busy on the weekends and also during the week. My family (esp. my host sister) is always very upbeat and has many plans. I love it here. I really love my classmates and therefore enjoy school, and always love going out on the weekends with them and other friends here. As far as the family goes, they are a lot like my family (the Stovers) and homelife is like in the USA (and esp like my family was like before my parents split up)... very upbeat, outgoing, talkative, loud and fun! Dinner is always a big production, very long and very late, but great because we all talk a lot and catch up on how eachother's day has been going. (with the exception of me having a hard time speaking about any of that in spanish). ahhah. So, i really like it here and I'm learning a lot. I think a lot of it is because I have been trying to make time in my day for God (esp since I dont have my church family to help me stay on track) and he is truly blessing me and using my experiences to show himself in my life and the lives of those closest people around me.
I guess that's all for now, so I'll have to add another blog soon. This will hopefully be a great thing to look back on and read once im home :)

Chau!
~Kayla

Kind of Getting Used to Life in Argentina

Yesterday (Sunday afternoon and night) AND tonight I got to watch NFL Football Americano! :) I feel like I'm right at home hangin out with my dad and brother watchin these games and I relly enjoy that but it makes me miss home a little more. Watched MY TEAM~the Carolina Panthers get stomped and I had to keep my head up for them because they were represting me, my hometown, and my country. Too bad they kinda made us all look bad yesterday. haha. There's always next Sunday! Today we went back to school...such a bummer. Last week was short and super easy...only 3 days long! :) So after what seemed like a long day (even though it was only from 8AM-1PM), I came home, ate a lot (like always here in Argentina...they always keep feeding you more and more. haha), and relaxed, I took a looong nap..almost 3 hours. And right when I woke up, Paula finished studing for her exam tomorrow, so we decided to go downtown for a "6 o clock tea time" and hopped on a bus. We walked around looking at some shops while I tried to figure out how to see how much everything costs me, trying to convert Pesos to American dollars. I'm still not used to knowing how much I should spend on something here...guess its better not to spend anything at all anyway. haha. Then, we went to McDonalds for some papas fritas! :) yum yum. Not much more is going on other than me still trying to learn Spanish and repeat phrases I do know every chance I get. I really am enjoying my time here with: mi familia, amigos, y collegio nueva!!! Thats all for now, God Bless, Kayla Jane