FIESTA DE EGRESADOS
School ended for me on the 2 of December. Normally I go home directly after school alone to my house but my friends had offer to help me with something and let me try on clothes for the party the next day. As I was walking out with one of my friends she started crying because this was the last day at the school. The last time all her classmates who have been together since they were little almost everyday of school would have class together. She now had to move to a new city and live on her own and was filled with emotions. It felt a little awkward because I've known these kids a few months and I was coming back to school in only a few months but seeing her upset and some of her other classmates reminded me of my own last day of school and my own graduation back home.
The next day was the Fiesta de Egresados, a party the kids in the last year of school put together. It is a mix of a prom and graduation. They have a date where they all receive their actually diplomas but this party is more like their graduation celebration. They have all their families and important people there for a dinner. Before the dinner they walk out in couples to a song they choose. The girls are handed a flower by their date and then they wait and watch the others go in. This reminds me of our grand march in high school but looks much more like a fashion show than our prom entrances. After they all enter they go and greet their family and friends and thank them and then sit at a big table in the front, similar to wedding set ups and eat with their classmates. The put together a nice meal with asado and wine. Proceeding the dinner they all gather in the center where they have special dances with their classmates and so forth. Eventually around midnight they cut the cake and many kids are let into the party only for the dancing part. The party goes till about 6 or 7 in the morning. Through out the party they have things like bubbles and confetti and various other events. Its a fun and sad time for all of them.
I was a guest of my classmates. I got the chance to sit and eat with them and participate in almost everything besides the entrance because I did not know whether I would be able to go until it was too late. Which I was perfectly happy with, I did however have to awkwardly walk in and sit down at the empty table while everyone was waiting for my classmates to enter in about 3 minuets after me.
JOURNEY TO THE SOUTH
The trip south is to know one of the most astral and inospita the world.You will have chance to see penguins, a glacier walk, sail among icebergs, crossing to Chile and see the famous Torres del Paine and more. It will travel around 5500 km (3400 mi).
Day 1: Departure from Buenos Aires, Route 3 Olavarria Coronel Pringles, Bahia Blanca, Trelew. Night bus.Day 2: Museum of Paleontology, Gaiman, Rawson, Union Beach. Overnight in Trelew.Day 3: Departure to El Calafate, on the way visit penguins in Camarones. Night bus.
Day 4: Arrive in El Calafate, visiting city. Overnight in Calafate.Day 5: Excursion to Lake Viedma with navigation and walk on the glacier Viedma. Overnight in Calafate.Day 6: Visit the Perito Moreno glacier in the morning. Asado at Rock Lake at noon with activities at the site. Overnight in Calafate.Day 7: Departure to Puerto Natales (Chile), crossing the border, visit Torres del Paine National Park. Overnight in Puerto Natales.Day 8: Visit to the city of Puerto Natales, exit to Puerto Madryn. Night bus.Day 9: Visit city of Puerto Madryn. Night in Puerto Madryn.Day 10: Departure in the afternoon back to Buenos Aires. Night bus.The return is on Route 3, Bahia Blanca, Route 51 to Olavarria, Route 226 to Mar del Plata, Route 11 to Pinamar and then to Buenos Aires
The trip was truly incredible. I have never seen mountains and glaciers and landscapes like this ever before in person. It was breathe taking and made you feel so small. I wish I was already back there. It was fairly warm just incredibly windy. Being someplace like that is incredible but sharing it with all the exchange students made it a blast too. I have some great exchange friends and it was so fun to get to see them and spend time together. Pictures speak a thousand words, but even the best pictures can't do Patagonia justice it is just so beautiful!
19 YEARS OLD
My birthday weekend was nothing extremely special. It was very laid back and relaxed which was nice. My one good exchange friend who did not go on the South Trip came from another city to visit me for the weekend. It made me birthday so much better with her there with me. She came Friday afternoon where we went around the city. Later that afternoon Peter the other exchange student came over and we all hung out and had dinner together. Later in the evening we skyped one of our other exchange friends together and just had a nice night. The next day Claire and I went with my parents and sister to Claromeco the nearby beach town for the day and returned back home that evening where my parents cooked an asado for my birthday dinner. My host mom made me a cake and we celebrated together. A little after midnight I went over to one of my friends house who shares the same birthday as me and Claire met some of my Argentinean friends. We did not go out to the boliches with my friends but came back home. The next day was my actual birthday day. I spent the day celebrating by going to a Rotary meeting for the last meeting of the year at the President's farm. We once again had asado and Santa Claus came bearing gifts for all the Rotarians, me and peter. Although it wouldn't seem like the most exciting birthday it was nice because once again I spent my day with Claire and Peter just relaxing. It was also nice to me on the farm because it reminds me of back home. Big yards and corn fields surrounding you. I spent the following day with Peter and Claire until she had to gone home. Peter even stayed over until dinner time. It was a very nice calm weekend. My family here really liked Claire, particularly my litttlest sister Araceli. Everyday she was constantly looking for Claire to plays games with her. She kept constantly asking me about her and still is. This morning she asked where Claire was after I have explained about 6 times that she is now in another city haha. Ara thought Claire was here as her toy I think.
