bug spray is my new perfume

FAMILY + FRIENDS + MUSIC = BEST NEW YEARS EVER!

This New years was one of the best holidays that I have ever celebrated. I had no idea that the holiday was such a big event here in Argentina. I went with Carolina and Maria, Alicia's Kids, to their dad's ranch house in the country. This lil fiesta started around 10 PM...as you know dinner is WAY later here. I absolutely loved meeting all 25 members in their family. It is a big reunion where the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all come together to celebrate life and everything that they are thankful for. It is kind of like Thanksgiving in the US. Everyone sat down at a long table and ate together. One of the cousins spoke english looked at me when we got the food, and asked, "Do you recognize anything?" I told him...that would be a negative. He responded, "Don't worry about it, just eat it and don't ask what it is!" well...leeeegooo!

Dinner lasted about the usual, 2 hours, and then all of the kids got fireworks and set them off in the back yard. As I was holding the stick, shooting the fireworks, everyone in the family cheered and was loving each other's company, I was thinking to myself...this is what life is all about! At that moment, I was the happiest I have been on my adventure so far. It has been the coolest experience to be thrown into a family that is completely new and I have been so blessed that they have welcomed me with open arms...actually more because in Argentina everyone greets each other with a kiss on the check. I loved listening to all the stories that the grandmother told, to the experiences some of the cousins are having in college. This is a family that truly loves and cares for one another and you can tell they would do absolutely anything for each other.

When I was talking to one of the english speaking cousins, I got another history lesson. Somehow we began talking about the effects of 9/11 and he told me that it was the

biggest news in Argentina for weeks. He also said, that unfortunately, they have had many terrorist attacks, but it still has yet to be discovered who did them. Again, it has been great hearing different views about the US and the world because it is giving me a better perspective. The party finished off with Carolina and Cecilia dancing a choreographed dance to a Brazilian song. All the family cheered and followed along with the rhythm. Clearly I was out of the loop. But its the effort that counts, right?

Well that dance was only a warm up to what was to come. Carolina and Maria took me with some of their friends to a "disco." The discos are really popular here and local bands play while everyone sings along and dances to the music. At the disco, you would not have to worry if your wearing the right outfit, because leeme tell ya...there was just about everything! Now when it comes to singing the words and dancing, lets just say it was quite obvious I was a foreigner. As I tried to move my mouth like I knew the words and copy the moves of my friends, I still ended up being off beat and and a couple moves behind. However, this is nothing new for me! As the night progressed, I glanced at my watch and it was 4:30 AM...um hello...way past my

bedtime! But, it is typical for everyone to stay up all night and watch the sunrise in the morning! The sunrise was absolutely beautiful and worth waiting to see as it creeped up behind the mountains and the rays graced the beautiful city.

Today, I was back at Carolina and Maria's father's house and got the full tour. The house reminds me of a large Spanish ranch house because their dad has a full garden and lots of animals in the field behind his house. He showed me the garden where they grow all of their fresh vegetables and all the trees where all their fruit is produced. I have never tasted a peach so flavorful! Then we came to the area where he keeps all the animals. He has sheep, goats, chickens and bunnies. They shave the sheep every so often and they collect the eggs everyday. Only one of the goats is friendly and followed me around like a dog. The others did not want to be mi amigo. whatevs. Although, once I had the food in my hands all the goats came running.

One of the best things that I have adapted to in Argentina is the afternoon snack, which usually consists of candy, bread, fruit, and different types of fresh jam. I'm thinking I could get real used to this! And of course, how could I forget the mate! One of the things that I have had to change was my scent. I not longer where my normal perfume, but I have replaced it with bug repellent. After the first 2 days when I had 11 bites on my legs which turned really red and swelled, I realized somethins gotta change! Now, I literally coat myself with the bug repellent every morning.

Cool thangs:

1. Did you know that Argentineans are obsessed with salt? They put it on everything! Love it.

2. I have realized that we need to take life a little bit slower in the US. Here, there is a big empahsis put on spending time with your family at meals and talking about the day. So here's to the new year: Let's take our fast paced society down a notch and spend time with each other!

3. Today, Carolina and Maria's dad prayed at lunch in Spanish. How cool that God knows every language, understands them, and hears every single prayer. Blows my mind!

4. fun fact: Carolina and Maria's half sister, Cecilia is BEYOND obsessed with Justin Beiber! She knows where he lives, his hobbies, and every fact and detail you could think of. #84postershanginginherroom