Spring Break: Part I

Spring Break Argentina 2008, a brief run-down:

• Day 1 (nighttime, Buenos Aires): 12 hour bus ride to Mendoza, Argentine wine Mecca, via Full Cama (bed) bus...interesting traveling experience.  Turns out they're actually pretty comfortable, as the chair fully reclines into a horizontal position.
• Day 2-3: Mendoza, Argentina--Wine tour on BIKES (!) one day, white-water (more brown-water than anything) rafting in the mountains...landscape reminiscent of California
• Day 3/4: Bus ride to Catamarca...NEVER go there...nothing to see or do...crack-house hotel...only had to be there one day
• Day 4/5: Bus ride again to Salta, way up in the northwest portion of the country...very nice hotel there for our 3 or 4 day stay
• Day 5: Day-O-Fun--Trek out into the countryside for our excursion with EXTREME ADVENTURES aka Jetskiing and Bungee Jumping...kinda sketchy but fun in the end
• Day 6: Hangin out, me feeling sick, great fun
• Day 7: ATVing in the mountains!  Lots of fun
• Return flight (finally a plane!) to BA

Pictures below are of Mendoza

Home Sweet Home!

Well folks, it sure has been a while, but fret no more, I have returned to the RED, WHITE, and BLUE!  I must apologize for not posting for, oh...the last few WEEKS, but I have been so busy with making the final video for our program, studying for finals (haha), and enjoying the last savory days of Argentina living!  It was sad to leave, but at the same time I was very excited to come home, so that made it easy to deal with.  I am so thankful for my experience down there, and will surely never forget all the friendships and memories that were made.  But when it all comes down to it, I'm a U.S. boy by birth, and will always call this beloved country home, and for that I am so thankful.

Pictures are coming!

A little sketch...but hey!, you only live once right?!

During one of our days of spring break while we were in Salta, a really cool area in northeastern Argentina, we went way back into the countryside for this "Day-O-Fun" that one of the girls in our group researched online before we left on vacation, a place that offered a range of cool-sounding EXTREME activities such as jet-skiing, rappelling, zip-lining, and last but not least, BUNGEE JUMPING!  This company's website made everything look legit, but when we got there we were quickly shown the error of our thinking.

The zip-line was, I kid you not, like a rock climbers rope that was tied from this bridge to a tree about 50 yards away, super lame; rappelling to these folks translates into "being let down vertically on a rope from a bridge into the lake 40 yards below...a real joke if I've ever seen one, and the bungee jumping...

The bungee jumping platform was on a bridge over this really cool lake, the only thing was that I could have jumped from the platform to the lake and have been fine, kinda like the top platform of an Olympic platform, that's how high we're talking.  I said to myself, "Self, this wouldn't even be that cool.  The fall is only gonna be a second, not worth the time."  I quickly decided against that.  But then my friend Bill decided to do it just because, so we all watched as he signed his life away and jumped, literally getting his hair wet in the water, but safe nonetheless, at which point I said to myself, "Self, you can only say you've been bungee jumping in South America once, and if the cord snaps it won't be bad at all, just a really high dive, SO LET'S NUT UP AND DO IT!"  

Needless to say, I did it, spent a whopping 67 pesos on it  (glad to see they value my life at $20 U.S. dollars, give or take), and actually had a lot of fun.  Then we did jet skiing which was really fun, and actually had a good day there.  It was so pretty and such a nice day.  I'll throw up more pics as they come in.  Remember folks, I don't have a camera as mine broke, so I must rely upon other people.  

Iguazu

Here's the pictures from the GINORMOUS waterfall in the north-east of Argentina called Iguazu, which in a native Indian language means "big waters."  This place was a happening spot for tourists from all over the world, and I dare go out on a limb and say we were the youngest ones at the park that day.  We had that Wednesday (24th of March) off because it was a holiday in the country, so we decided that this place was a must-see, and therefore got on a plane at 7 in the morning, went to the falls all day, had a sweet jungle and boat tour, checked into a hostel where I was put into a room with a bunch of RANDOM dudes, but thankfully I didn't have to be in there besides to sleep, and the next morning we got back on the plane and headed back to BA.  We got back in time for the "asado" (bbq), that we have every Thursday in the backyard of the casas, and in time for class too!!! (whooopieeee!)  It was a cool thing to see, and I'm glad I was able to do it. 

P.S.  I was rocking the Rasta headband all day...that's why my hair looks SO cool!

Updates

It's been a while, I don't have a camera, school is getting more and more busy as the semester is ALMOST over (crazy how fast this has gone by), and therefore my little blog has suffered the consequences...SORRY!

A few updates:

• Just got back from the northern part of Argentina, on the border of Brazil, where we went to see the Iguazu waterfalls...it was AMAZING and a blast.  Friends took pictures so I'll try and get those from them.
• Today I leave for our spring break!!  Going to Mendoza and Salta, two areas in the north-west region of the country...it's supposed to be amazing and I can't wait!
• I head home on the 29th of April!  Crazy
• I may or may not contract yellow fever from being in the rainforest...we shall see
• I still haven't put up pictures from when my Ma and Weezie were here...sorry, I'll try to soon
• As I'm sure you know from my posts, meat is god here in Argentina, and last week the President made herself a victim of great hatred from the lower classes and the people who live in the country when she put a high tax on meat.  There was lots of protesting, people blocking the streets banging pots and pans, a fight in the main plaza of the city, and I even took part in the noise-making
• Went to a play the other night...everything was in Spanish...I couldn't understand much of it...
• I love this country but I can't wait to go home on the same hand
• I'll be sure to post after/during spring break!

Love you all!

The EASTER BUNNY

Video to come...

Casa La Casita

I'm in a class this semester called "The International Experience," which is short for "we really do nothing and take fieldtrips throughout the city," and it's awesome.  Two weeks ago, the week before my Mom and Louise came down, on Thursday (which is the day we have this class on), our group traveled up to the city of Tigre, outside of the city yet still in the province of Buenos Aires, to a humble little place called "Casa La Casita."  Casa la Casita is a before-school/after-school house where kids in the area can come before and after school to do their work and hang out, and the whole building and everything is bought and sponsored by Pepperdine.  Every Thursday (not part of my class), there is a group of students in our program who go and help out/play with the kids at La Casita for something we call "Service Learning" that is a voluntary part of the overseas experience.  Needless to say, our fieldtrip that Thursday was to this special place, where we assisted the kids with Easter crafts, face painting (and other girly stuff), and had an Easter Egg hunt, followed by a game of soccer.  

You're probably wondering why I'm telling you this dry and boring story, but here comes my rationale.  I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF DRESSING UP AS THE EASTER BUNNY!  It was pretty hilarious, the kids loved it, and I got my a** whooped.  What I mean by that is: I had candy; kids love candy; kids can be crazy; they just so happened to be crazy for candy and I was the man with the candy; a heavy pursuit ensued; a dozen kids jumped me whilst I attempted to flee in a bunny costume; I was taken down to the ground; kicked; jumped on; ears stolen; suit muddied; face paint smeared; body dripping with sweat inside the costume; extremely fun and memorable day.  I have a video of this part, don't you worry, and will try to get it up soon.

As for now, all I have are these pictures that the kids took with my camera, cause they all loved taking our camera's and showing how good at photography they are (if you can't catch the sarcasm that's unfortunate cause I'm laying it on pretty thick).  Anyway, here's an odd assortment of pics, taken by them, the charming young children of Tigre, Argentina.  Enjoy, and the video will be up soon.

P.S.  Yes, that boy is trying to flip off the camera while simultaneously taking the picture of himself.  Darling young boy.