| Spanish ExchangeHonolulu, Hawaii --> Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California --> Miami, Florida Miami, Florida --> Santiago, Chile Santiago, Chile --> Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza, Argentina --> San Juan, Argentina October 18, 2006 - November 8, 2006
October 18 - October 20 All of the 2 teachers & the 10 students that were going on the Spanish Exchange met at my subway. We ate dinner and the teachers gave us final instructions. The people that got the scholarship were Peter Nozaki & Jenna Strapple; they split it $400 each.
All of us then went into our cars and headed for Honolulu International Airport --> Los Angeles International Airport at 10:25PM (10/18/2006).
  
  
 
When we arrived at LAX, it was around 5:00AM (10/19/2006) and our flight to Miami International Airport was at 1:10PM (10/19/2006).
We went to the Admirals Club and we got to sleep, use the internet, eat, and watch television and just chill out there.
We boarded the plane for LAX --> Miami International at 1:10PM (10/19/2006). When we arrived at Miami International Airport, we brushed our teeth and ate Pizza Hut, then boarded Miami International Airport --> Santiago, Chile 10:35PM (10/19/2006).
We arrived in Chile and then boarded Santiago, Chile --> Mendoza, Argentina 9:55AM (10/20/2006).
We arrived in Mendoza, got our luggage and Juan Pablo (who works at the Los Andes School) was waiting for us outside.
Also, when we were putting our luggage into the van, the van was too small for us so we had to sit with it inside and pile some on top.
We drove for 2 hours to San Juan, Argentina. But we finally arrived, as soon as we got there, we took our luggage's off the van and went with our host families to our individual homes.
My family's name was Echegaray. There was a girl my age and her name was Mariana, her sister was 15 years old and she was Romania, and there was a little boy who was only 4 years old and his name was Facundo.
The parents were very nice and welcoming. After my classmates and I all split, my family took me to their family gathering. My host family's grandfather had just passed away two weeks before my arrival. The family was still in the process of their mourning. Then I went to my host family's home and unpacked. I gave them the gift basket from Hawaii and I never saw it around the house ever since.
"for thinking differently..." October 21 So far, I’ve realized that all they drink are 'gaseosas,' which are just sodas, like coke-a-cola, sprite, crush, talca and all carbonated drinks. I had stale bread and big chunk of cheese for breakfast. My host, Mariana, introduced me to all her friends and she has friends everywhere. The community that I live in is called Chimbas and it is an area where the government is putting all of their homeless people in that area so that they don't take up a lot of space. My host family was not as rich as my friends and they couldn't afford the same stuff I was used to back in Hawaii. I helped Mariana clean the house, wash the dishes, dry the laundry and do all types or errands her mom sent us on. My friends were all having fun and I had to do chores. That night, Mariana, Romania, their aunt Marcela and I went to the International Dance Theatre to watch Marianna's cousin perform.
We ate a Super Poncho for dinner and it is a very long hot dog. Then we took a cab home and slept.
 October 22 In the morning, I helped Mariana clean the house, wash the dishes, dry the laundry and all that stuff again, and I was getting really frustrated because I didn’t want to spend all my weekends in Argentina doing chores. Not that I am being lazy, but it’s because I flew over 10,000 miles to learn about the culture; not to be someone's maid. I called Señorita and she sent a cab to pick me up from my host family's house to her house. Señorita stayed with a lady named Sauri Allub who was the director of the whole exchange program. Her house was so huge. I ate lunch with Señorita and Sauri. I told her everything I did so far and she was telling me how much fun everybody else has been having. I felt super sad, but the first thing that came to mind was God. He put me in this situation at this time because He wants me to learn something and He has a greater reason than my laziness taking over. Señorita gave me an option whether to switch homes or not. The new host family also had lost their grandfather couple days ago. They would also be in the process of their mourning. My current host family would cry and in their home, there were a lot of people going in and out because of the mourning and I was getting really confused. The biggest problem that I had with the family I was staying with was that they had four cats and I’m not deathly allergic to cats but I'm somewhat allergic and I have to constantly take allergy pills. Señorita wanted me to feel better about this trip so she called Ciotti and they decided to meet at the mall. She also called Cheri and Brian because they haven’t seen each other for two days. After we went shopping, it was too late to catch a cab home so I slept over Señorita’s house. October 23 The first day of class was very interesting.
We went upstairs and that’s the first time that all 12 of us saw each other ever since we arrived in San Juan and we split within 5 minutes.
Our teachers were Juan Pablo, Pablo and Claudia.
Claudia's Class:
Juan Pablo's Class:
Pablo took us on all these field trips. We toured around the 25 de Mayo plaza and it has a really good shopping area. It’s like an Ala Moana but no limits.
We went home for lunch and siesta and then the cab picked us up to go back to school. We performed the Hawaiian Hula for the Green Hills School of English students.
  
  
  
I felt really sick after the hula and light-headed so I told Señorita that I was feeling nauseated and everything.
She called the ambulance and they were asking me all these questions that I didn't understand so she had to translate for me. The ambulance doctor said I had a stomachache acid virus or something like that and so the ambulance gave me a shot because they said my stomachache is fighting the a virus on its own and its causing me to be nauseated and stuff. I had to take three different types of medicine, one for my stomachache acid, the other to flush out my system and one more to replenish the minerals back in my system. The doctor said that the shot was suppose to give me diarrhea so I can flush out my system and I had to drink Gatorade to replenish my system and then that night, I decided to go out with my classmates because I didn’t want to be a party pooper after my little ‘ambulance party’ and then I felt super sick when I was waiting for the food so I was sent home with a cab and then I arrived at my home stay family and I wasn’t allowed to eat anything with sugar, oil and nothing too culture shocking for my stomachache (according to the doctor). So I went to sleep right after I got out of the cab. And I realized that the home stay mother kept feeling my forehead every 5 seconds and then she said I had a fever of 39 degrees celcius (which is about 102.2 degrees in farenheit) and so she called the ambulance again and then the ambulance said that its a fever so I had to take more medicine for the fever and they put cold water all over me and I didn’t know what was going on and I was very sad and confused. October 24 Today was supposed to be the first day we visit the orphanage and I couldn’t go because I was still sick. I just slept the whole morning and ate lunch, then slept again until I had to go to school. I got ready to go to school and I wasn’t 100% well but I wanted to go outside so I went to school and Sauri said that since I’m not having such a good time so far on this trip, she said I can skip school and get my hair done with Señorita. I cut my hair into more layers, highlighted and re-highlighted my old ones and cut my bangs. The total came out to $158 pesos which is almost $50 U.S. dollars. That was not a bad deal at allJ. I went back to meet up with my classmates but they were all waiting for the cab to go home and I went to eat dinner with Señorita and Ciotti and Pablo.
We went to Baro, where everybody ate yesterday but I couldn't because I was sick. My first plate of food in San Juan, Argentina was raviolis with spaghetti and white sauce. It was delicious!!! Then I caught the cab home and slept. October 25 We didn’t have any classes or orphanage today.
We went to the Dique.
It's a mountain called "tres marias" (the three marys) and we climbed it. They stored water over there just incase of a drought, if the water supply ran out and they stored water there for emergencies. Two hours going up and two hours coming back down, I am very out of shape.
We ate lunch on the top of the mountain and Brian & Peter’s hats flew off because the wind was so strong.
We got back into the car and we went back to the school. Juan Pablo called a cab for all of us and Peter, Leighton and Reece came to my host’s house. I took a shower and got ready because all of us were going to meet at the 25 de Mayo plaza to go shopping. Everybody wanted to go play pool but Peter & I wanted to use the internet so we found an internet café. I left because my time ended early and so I walked around and I went back for Peter but he left so I had to go looking for him and I couldn’t find him and I was lost. Finally I went to the froggies and Ciotti met us there. Marianna and Jenna’s host Maria came with us too. Marianna and I caught the bus home because we didn’t want to pay for cab. October 26 In the morning, the cab picked up Jenna & I and we went to the orphanage.
 
Then we went home for lunch and siesta and then the cab picked us up to go back to school. At school Claudia took us to visit a museum of some famous artist (i wasn't really paying any attention because it was boring & educational).
After the museum, all of us went to get some ice-cream. It tastes so good, but yet so fattening. 
We went back to the school and Jenna, Cheri, Brian and I went with Brian's host Matias, who took us to dinner at the most famous pizza restaurants in the area.
After pizza, we went to get dessert. Cheri & I got a "submarino," which is like hot chocolate.. but better!
After dessert, Matias dropped all of us at our host houses. I couldn't find mine so I felt really bad cuz we drove around the block like, 20 times. October 27 We went to the orphanage as usual in the morning. We went home for lunch and siesta and then the cab picked us up to go back to school. At school we cooked two types of desserts.
We went to the supermarket to buy all the materials.
Then we went back to school to cook all of it.
  
 
After school, all of us went shopping at the plaza. Shannon, Señorita and I went to buy a lot of stuff for the orphanage. We went to eat dinner at this restaurant and I ordered a pineapple pizza and it was so disgusting. I was going to throw up and the price was so expensive. I went home very hungry. October 28 I went shopping at Libertad shopping mall. I spent majority of my money there because I had to buy a lot of presents for everyone when I go back home. I went home and packed all my stuff that I bought so I wouldn’t have to carry them with me to the barbeque (asado) at Peter’s host’s house. Peter's host family wanted to host a barbeque party at their house with all ten of us and our host families.
  
   October 29 I went to Libertad in the morning with Jenna because she wanted to go shopping. We went back to Jenna’s host family’s house and then Cheri called us. Jenna, Cheri and their hosts and I went to the International Food festival which was very boring and expensive.
Then my host family called Claudia and asked if I was going to sleep over Jenna's house again but Claudia misunderstood and told Jenna's host that my host family did not want me to stay at their house anymore. It was a big misunderstood drama. I went home that night. October 30 I went to the orphanage and instead of going home for lunch; I went to Libertad with Cheri, Brian and Jenna. I bought three tops from Ver. The shopping is really awesome because everything is so cheap and nice. After shopping, all four of us caught the cab to school and after school; Pablo took us to tour the cathedral, see the city from a really tall building (which had a super nice view from the top).
Then Pablo took us to the Bonafide café.
We drank this peach & orange smoothie and it was very good.
Most of us bought a lot of gifts there, candy and dulce de leche. I came home after that. October 31 We went to the orphanage as usual in the morning. We went home for lunch and siesta and then the cab forgot to pick me up for school so I had to look for a cab and there were people who were honking their cars and whistling at me. I just wanted to punch them all. I was getting really scared because I was walking and looking for the bus or the cab and I couldn’t find any. Finally, I walked for 20 minutes and I chased the bus. I caught the bus to the plaza and then caught the cab to school. My second time getting lost.
At school, we planned the Hawaiian Barbeque (asado).
After school, we went to visit ex-President Sarmiento's house/museum.
After the museum, we caught the city bus to Libertad.
We went to Libertad as a class to buy food for the Hawaiian Barbeque (asado) tomorrow.
  
  
  
We were supposed to go bowling but everybody went shopping and we needed to prepare the food. I went home after Libertad. November 1 We went to the orphanage as usual in the morning. Cheri & I went to Libertad after the orphanage because we needed to get desserts for the Hawaiian Asado. Then we caught the cab to school. After school, we went to tango classes.
After tango classes, we went to our Hawaiian dinner at this sports club. The dinner was very fun. All the family members met and talked to each other.
reece's host family
juan pablo, senorita, facundo (xav's host)
matias (brian's host), marino (brian's host brother), and brian
chris's host family
ciotti & paula (ciotti's host sister)
cheri's host family
peter's host family
jenna's host family (leighton shouldn't be in there..)
leighton's host family (jenna shouldn't be in there..)
my host family
all the host siblings & us
We served teriyaki chicken, beef, hot dogs, macaroni salad, rice and pineapples. November 2 Today was the last day of our class to visit the orphanage. They gave us thanks and preformed their culture dance. We performed our hula. We gave their donations to the orphanage and said our goodbyes. A lot of the children were crying and it was emotionally draining. After the orphanage, we went to the Museum of Wine and we went wine tasting.
Then we caught a cab home so that we could pack and prepare for Barreal. I caught the cab to the bus terminal and everybody came one by one.
We got food and got ready to go on the five hour bus ride to Barreal. I slept majority of the bus ride and when we stopped for the bathroom, Cheri & I got off the bus and the bus left while we were in the bathroom, Cheri & I started freaking out. Señorita and Juan Pablo said that it was gone forever. But they played a joke on us and the bus came later to pick us back up. November 3 We arrived at Barreal around 1:00am. We ate dinner and went into our cabin and slept the rest of the time.
We woke up for breakfast and we ate breakfast. After breakfast, we toured around Barreal and went to the observatory.
After the observatory, we went to visit the waterfall.
We came back for lunch and dinner then went to watch the sunset.
It was fun just bonding with my classmates at the middle of nowhere. November 4 In the morning, we had to wake up early to climb some mountains and then we went back to the cabins to eat lunch.
We went back out to the dessert and we rode in sand cars.
We had to wait for the wind to start blowing so while we were waiting, we played tag and all kinds of games in the dessert. We took lots of pictures and had fun.
When the wind finally came back out, we were very happy. We went on the wind cars, sang songs, played games and bonded in the middle of the desert. After that, we went home and everybody crashed out because we were so tired. We were going to play a prank on the boys but we were too tired and we didn’t know what to do anyways. November 5 In the morning, we went horse-back riding over the pre-andes for four hours.
After, we went back to the cabin and ate lunch. Then we packed up for the five hour bus ride back to San Juan. We got back and my family was the last one to pick me and up and then I went to sleep. November 6 I was suppose to go shopping at 25 de Mayo plaza but I missed the bus because I fell in the irrigation canal. So I had to catch the later bus and I caught it going the wrong way. I found my way to Sarmiento's house because there were good tourist shops around there. I went shopping around plaza some more. I bought a nice pair of golden heels, key chains, yerba mate cups and lots of other neat stuff. Then I got lost and I was supposed to catch a cab with everybody to Libertad but I had to catch it myself because I lost them and there was a protest going on. I met them there and while I was waiting for them, I was in the internet café and these missionaries were talking to me. I ate lunch at Libertad then we all caught the cab to the school for evaluation. After evaluation, Cheri & Jenna & I went to get ice-cream, then we dropped Cheri off with the rest of the group and Jenna and I caught the bus home. When I got home, I did my final packing. November 7 – November 8 The day I am returning to Hawaii. I didn't do anything in the morning, just sleep and grab everything I need. We met everybody and their families at the school around 4pm. We said our final good-byes and took some pictures. My family & I were the only ones that were crying as we departed. All the memories and how the took me in as their own and everything just rushed by. We loaded up the van and we left for Mendoza.
my host family
jenna's host family
shannon's host family
ciotti's host family
cheri's host family
reece's host family
leighton's host family
chris's host family
xav's host family
brian's host family
At the airport, we had to check our luggage in @ Mendoza Airport and headed off for Santiago.
  
  
 
bye argentina
Santiago, Chile --> Miami, Florida.
hello miami, florida
When we arrived in Miami International Airport, we had to go through customs and all of us were hoping our wine wouldn’t be taken away. Then we went to the Admirals Club and we met Andy Irons and we took a picture with him.
We took a shower and ate at this pizza place, then caught the flight from Miami --> LAX. We waiting at the airport for couple minutes and we boarded back on for Honolulu!!
bye bye LAX
Yay!! Came home and slept!!
honolulu airport
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