I've said this for the last 4 blog posts, but I am truly sorry for the delay of this blog. I know you guys might be a little disoriented about the details of my trip, so allow me to bombard you with numbers in order to fix that.
1. 12 days ago my beautiful niece Nora Danielle Edmondson was born. She's adorable and I want to meet her now.
2. 73 days ago I arrived in Argentina
3. 67 days until I leave Argentina (over halfway—WOW)
4. 68 days until I meet my niece for the first time.
5. 36 days until the World Cup starts. THIRTY SIX DAYS!!
6. 52 days until Cade Thompson gets here (52 days too many, if you ask me)
7. 56 days until Daniel Munger gets here.
8. 63 days until Daniel Munger misses his flight home so that he can stay in Argentina to fish for an indefinite amount of time.
Like I said, I know it's a bombardment of numbers, but those are just some of the things I've always got on my mind while I'm here in Argentina.
As you guys will notice after looking at number 3, I'm over halfway done with my trip to Argentina. I can't believe it. I've finally stopped looking at everything through the eyes of someone who's just arrived, but this luxury comes with a challenge.
I've been here for more than two months, but have I truly made the most out of my trip?
This is the question that has been eating at me lately. It's one thing to get through and experience 5 months in Argentina, but it's another thing to fully utilize my time here. It may sound like something that's pretty simple to do, but it's more complicated than I thought. To help you guys understand what I'm facing, let me remind you of two goals that I had before I came to Argentina.
1. I wanted to learn the people of Argentina—not as a tourist, but as a friend.
2. I wanted to see some of the really stinkin awesome landscapes that Argentina has.
Seems simple!! Travel and make friends… Duh
No.
Wrong.
So very wrong.
Why?? I'll tell you why. I want to travel, but my friends here that travel aren't from Argentina. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but to me it is. I'm in Argentina for 5 months.. If I left from Argentina and had spent the majority of my time with people from my own country, I would never be able to be ok with that.
So how exactly to I combat this problem?
I still have no idea, but I'll tell you what I've currently got going on down here. I'm proud to introduce the first list and formal grouping of every friend group I have down here.
THE FOREIGNERS
Who they are: These are the other exchange students that go to the same university as me. This group is definitely the most convenient group for me to be around; there's less communication problems, they're going through the same thing I am, and they want to travel just as much as me. When we're together at school, there's no doubt that everyone around knows we're foreign… and weird… and super super foreign.
Disadvantages: First of all, they're not from Argentina. Secondly, there's always the temptation to speak English. Lastly, the attention that we draw in public is more than unnerving. I honestly think people can tell we're not from here by the way we smell. It's eerie.
Why I like them: These guys want to take advantage of their time in Argentina just as much as I do and they're always wanting to do something fun. It's also fun to see others make the same mistakes that I make when speaking Spanish, but I think the most enjoyable thing about this group is that we all have a good laugh after we learn some new slang that's only used in Argentina or in Córdoba… Posta
Add-ons: In this group I'm going to include our tutors.. NOT because they're foreign, but they're just extremely accustomed to foreigners and they are really good at understanding how things are different here than in our country. They're also extremely extremely fun to be around and have become very efficient in using a series of hand signals and noises to communicate things to people who can't speak well. It's AWESOME. Kudos to these guys. Argentina wouldn't be the same without them.
THE DESIGNERS
Who they are: These are the students that are in my graphic design class here (don't ask me why I'm in this class.. at this point I don't even think I know). The majority of these students are around 18 years old and are in their first year of college, so I'm anciently old in this class. I showed them a picture of my niece and one of them asked if it was my daughter. I'm still going to assume that my Spanish was off that day and I misunderstood what was actually said.
Disadvantages: I'm a grandpa that still has the drawing skills that I used to draw on the wall when I was 2 (I honestly think I was at it better back then).
Why I like them: This group is SUUUUUPER friendly and they help me understand a whole lot about the people of Argentina. It's extremely entertaining to see them learn things about how college works and they make my class very very fun. I'm in a chat group with them on WhatsApp and it never disappoints me. It may as well be a dictionary of jargon. Two thumbs up to this group.
Add-ons: The professor of this class is extremely nice as well. It's a woman in her mid 60s (I think) and she is very good about understanding that I'm not in my element AT ALL in that class. Nonetheless, every time she makes a reference to a book that was written in the United States she always is surprised that I haven't read it. I'm sorry Profe, but if it's a scary book written by someone other than Stephen King, I don't have a clue.
LOS DE ROSARIO
Who they are: This group is the group that I already knew before I came to Argentina because they spent some time studying at Maryville. I don't see them much because Rosario is a solid 6 hours from Córdoba.
Disadvantages: Six stinkin' hours…
Why I like them: These guys have been my friends for almost two years now and they might be the nicest people I've ever met. I'm super comfortable around them and we've already got a ton of memories together. They also took me to a soccer game in the Primera División here. They definitely know the way to my heart.
LOS FUTBOLEROS
Who they are: Ahhhh these guys. This group consists of the guys on my soccer team here. I don't even know where to start. The dynamic of this group is EXTREMELY distinct and it helps me get a good taste of the culture here in Argentina.
Disadvantages: I speak Spanish, but you don't even know the accent that I face when I speak with these guys. Allow me to elaborate on how to talk like them:
1. Mix Spanish words with the voice inflection of an Italian.
2. Remove the last syllable from every word.
3. Insert slang that is only understood and used by less than 40 people
Why I like them:
I learn a ton of words that are very very authentically from this area of the world and nowhere else. I also really enjoy soccer with these guys, and they show me a different side of Argentina than I see from the students in my design class. Their type of friendship is more like what I'm used to at home in the United States: lots of jokes, lots of sarcasm, and lots of laughter. Playing on this team and meeting these guys is one of the better decisions I've made here.
Add-ons: We have a manager/director of the program named Gon. For those of you that watched Viva la Bam and remember Don Vito:
Don Vito + Spanish = Gon
Could not be more true.
LOS MEXICANOS
Who they are: I'm almost just as confused as you are as to why this group exists on my blog about Argentina, but these are the exchange students from Mexico that study here with me. This group has contributed a lot to my experience here and they are ALWAYS having a good time. They've influenced me so much that I already have begun to draw up plans for a vacation to Mexico soon.
Disadvantages:
Why I like them: No disadvantages. These guys contribute to my Spanish a TON and it's awesome. Learning the slang from Mexico is definitely as entertaining as learning the slang from Argentina. Es muy chido. I'm already fairly positive that I'll be seeing a lot more of these guys after I return to the States. I also found out today that Alan, one of the guys from Mexico, will be moving in with me in a few weeks. YAAAAAA. Looks like I'll return home speaking a Spanish that's a combination of the Spanish from Mexico and Argentina.
Add-ons: I think I'm a Mexican at heart
I'm super glad that my friend situation has worked out like it has. I've got a little bit of everything going on right now and it's exactly what I wanted to happen. I wish everyone back home could see how things are here, but I'm SUPER excited that Cade and Dan are coming down. They're going to love Argentina.. it's a super friendly place.
I know that my title almost implies that I have friends in valleys, but I mean low places referring to in the south.. the southern hemisphere. If it doesn't make sense, Get over it*
*I know that pun wasn't good but for some reason it cracked me up.
Hasta luego,
Benjamín
So how exactly to I combat this problem?
I still have no idea, but I'll tell you what I've currently got going on down here. I'm proud to introduce the first list and formal grouping of every friend group I have down here.
THE FOREIGNERS
Who they are: These are the other exchange students that go to the same university as me. This group is definitely the most convenient group for me to be around; there's less communication problems, they're going through the same thing I am, and they want to travel just as much as me. When we're together at school, there's no doubt that everyone around knows we're foreign… and weird… and super super foreign.
Disadvantages: First of all, they're not from Argentina. Secondly, there's always the temptation to speak English. Lastly, the attention that we draw in public is more than unnerving. I honestly think people can tell we're not from here by the way we smell. It's eerie.
Why I like them: These guys want to take advantage of their time in Argentina just as much as I do and they're always wanting to do something fun. It's also fun to see others make the same mistakes that I make when speaking Spanish, but I think the most enjoyable thing about this group is that we all have a good laugh after we learn some new slang that's only used in Argentina or in Córdoba… Posta
Add-ons: In this group I'm going to include our tutors.. NOT because they're foreign, but they're just extremely accustomed to foreigners and they are really good at understanding how things are different here than in our country. They're also extremely extremely fun to be around and have become very efficient in using a series of hand signals and noises to communicate things to people who can't speak well. It's AWESOME. Kudos to these guys. Argentina wouldn't be the same without them.
THE DESIGNERS
Who they are: These are the students that are in my graphic design class here (don't ask me why I'm in this class.. at this point I don't even think I know). The majority of these students are around 18 years old and are in their first year of college, so I'm anciently old in this class. I showed them a picture of my niece and one of them asked if it was my daughter. I'm still going to assume that my Spanish was off that day and I misunderstood what was actually said.
Disadvantages: I'm a grandpa that still has the drawing skills that I used to draw on the wall when I was 2 (I honestly think I was at it better back then).
Why I like them: This group is SUUUUUPER friendly and they help me understand a whole lot about the people of Argentina. It's extremely entertaining to see them learn things about how college works and they make my class very very fun. I'm in a chat group with them on WhatsApp and it never disappoints me. It may as well be a dictionary of jargon. Two thumbs up to this group.
Add-ons: The professor of this class is extremely nice as well. It's a woman in her mid 60s (I think) and she is very good about understanding that I'm not in my element AT ALL in that class. Nonetheless, every time she makes a reference to a book that was written in the United States she always is surprised that I haven't read it. I'm sorry Profe, but if it's a scary book written by someone other than Stephen King, I don't have a clue.
LOS DE ROSARIO
Who they are: This group is the group that I already knew before I came to Argentina because they spent some time studying at Maryville. I don't see them much because Rosario is a solid 6 hours from Córdoba.
Disadvantages: Six stinkin' hours…
Why I like them: These guys have been my friends for almost two years now and they might be the nicest people I've ever met. I'm super comfortable around them and we've already got a ton of memories together. They also took me to a soccer game in the Primera División here. They definitely know the way to my heart.
LOS FUTBOLEROS
Who they are: Ahhhh these guys. This group consists of the guys on my soccer team here. I don't even know where to start. The dynamic of this group is EXTREMELY distinct and it helps me get a good taste of the culture here in Argentina.
Disadvantages: I speak Spanish, but you don't even know the accent that I face when I speak with these guys. Allow me to elaborate on how to talk like them:
1. Mix Spanish words with the voice inflection of an Italian.
2. Remove the last syllable from every word.
3. Insert slang that is only understood and used by less than 40 people
Why I like them:
I learn a ton of words that are very very authentically from this area of the world and nowhere else. I also really enjoy soccer with these guys, and they show me a different side of Argentina than I see from the students in my design class. Their type of friendship is more like what I'm used to at home in the United States: lots of jokes, lots of sarcasm, and lots of laughter. Playing on this team and meeting these guys is one of the better decisions I've made here.
Add-ons: We have a manager/director of the program named Gon. For those of you that watched Viva la Bam and remember Don Vito:
Don Vito + Spanish = Gon
Could not be more true.
LOS MEXICANOS
Who they are: I'm almost just as confused as you are as to why this group exists on my blog about Argentina, but these are the exchange students from Mexico that study here with me. This group has contributed a lot to my experience here and they are ALWAYS having a good time. They've influenced me so much that I already have begun to draw up plans for a vacation to Mexico soon.
Disadvantages:
Why I like them: No disadvantages. These guys contribute to my Spanish a TON and it's awesome. Learning the slang from Mexico is definitely as entertaining as learning the slang from Argentina. Es muy chido. I'm already fairly positive that I'll be seeing a lot more of these guys after I return to the States. I also found out today that Alan, one of the guys from Mexico, will be moving in with me in a few weeks. YAAAAAA. Looks like I'll return home speaking a Spanish that's a combination of the Spanish from Mexico and Argentina.
Add-ons: I think I'm a Mexican at heart
I'm super glad that my friend situation has worked out like it has. I've got a little bit of everything going on right now and it's exactly what I wanted to happen. I wish everyone back home could see how things are here, but I'm SUPER excited that Cade and Dan are coming down. They're going to love Argentina.. it's a super friendly place.
I know that my title almost implies that I have friends in valleys, but I mean low places referring to in the south.. the southern hemisphere. If it doesn't make sense, Get over it*
*I know that pun wasn't good but for some reason it cracked me up.
Hasta luego,
Benjamín