Unfortunately, it is a bit hard to log everything that has happened today, since most of the exchange group were separated today doing different activities. Most of the exchange group met up today at a field hockey game at Quilmes High School around 11:30 a.m. We ate lunch there and watched several teams play from QHS.
In the afternoon after all of the games were finished, most of the girls went to a quinceanera for a student outside of the exchange group. Alejo and I went to a party to watch the championship soccer game between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. The game ended around 7:30, and afterwards we went back to the house and slept.
-Matt
P.S. Students, remember that in addition to your one blog post for the trip, you are responsible for posting a short comment (a couple sentences) on each weekend post, beginning with this one. To do so, look for the “Leave a Comment” button at the bottom of each post; it will look like this:
Please let us know what you were up to Friday night and Saturday. Tomorrow, you will reply to Adrienne’s post about her Sunday with a couple sentences about your own. The reason for this is that, as Matt pointed out above, “it is a bit hard to log everything that happens to the group [on the weekend]” since you aren’t always together.
~Mr. Seeley
We teachers had a very nice, chill Saturday at our exchange partner’s house. We hung out as a family around the kitchen table and the fireplace catching up on all that has happened since we last saw each other and discussing political and economic issues in our two countries before watching the Real Madrid and the Club Atletico Madrid soccer match. In the mid-afternoon, we went on a drive (since it was drizzling) around Quilmes to familiarize Senora Diez with the city. The day was capped off with a wonderful gathering of various QHS teachers and administrators and their families in our new home for dinner.
Saturday we hung out all day. During the first half of the day we played video games. The second half of the day we watched the championship soccer game and then went to Fuerza Bruta which was really weird, but cool.
My exchange student and I went to a dance class where we learned Brazilian axe and later, the welcome party on Friday night. On Saturday, we went to the QHS field hockey game and to a small quinceañera party for one of her friends.
Juan and I also went to the field hockey game from 11 to 3 pm. Afterwards we went to a party at one of Juan’s friend’s house to watch the Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid soccer game. We left at 7 to go home. The family took me out to eat at a restaurant in their neighborhood where I had milanesia and mashed potatoes. Afterwards we went home and Juan and I watched some TV before we went to sleep.
After a lovely dinner on Friday night, we went to bed and slept into the late morning. We decided to have a nice relaxing day shopping at Dot Baires Shopping Center. There, I shopped for a new leather jacket and sweater. We had lunch at the food court before spending a completely reasonable amount of time in the arcade. By then, we were all tired and headed home for game night and pizza. I won the first game of the Argentine equivalent to Risk, and my host mum Andrea won the second. There was an equal amount of gloating from us both. Overall, a very enjoyable day.
This weekend was very fun. As Matt mentioned, alot of students went to the field hockey game. Afterwards, Adrienne, Kate, Emilia and Juana all came to Vickys house where Valentina and I are staying for a sleep over. We hung out and listened to music. Adrienne, Kate and I taught them some American dances. We had a late breakfast today and are going shopping. I enjoy the weekends with them because we get to expierence what their lives are like outside of school.
Liset and I went to the field hockey game at QHS with the others. After we went back to her house and ate lunch with her cousins, grandparents, brothers, etc. We also played a game called TEQ.
Hey Matt,
I really enjoyed hanging out at the field hockey game with you and the others! It was interesting to see how much the Argentinians are fanatics for the sport. Kate, Michelle, and I also had the opportunity to try a café called Blondies on Saturday and it was great! I had a cappuccino, Kate a Submarino, and Michelle some scrambled eggs. Later we went to Vickys house for a sleepover and had a great time there as well!
As Matt said, many of us went to the field hockey matches Saturday morning. We all watched them play and chatted with each other. We also ate fries and played with some of the younger kids. Afterwards, Popi and I went home and just hung out until 5. We attended the 15 birthday party of one of her friends. We danced, played games and ate a lot of food. Afterwards we returned home and made Milanesa sandwiches with potato chips and watched Finding Nemo on Netflix. It was a day filled with excitement and activities.
Gina and I went to the field hockey game as well. We tried playing field hockey with the other kids but I was really bad. Later, we went to Gina’s friend’s quinceñera. It was not as big as normal ones but it was very fun and there was a lot of food. When we came back home we had pizza and some of Gina’s other friends came over.
I spent my Saturday at the field hockey fields as well. It was wet and very cold but I still have a fun time cheering on the girls. Once Emilia was done we had lunch with Juana, Adrienne, and their friends. After, we went to Emilia’s house and played uno/packed for a sleepover at Vicky’s house. After the long drive to Vicky’s we relaxed, ate empanadas and pizza, and then went to bed.
I had a very busy Saturday. At 12 o’clock, Martin his father and I left for Buenos Aires. They are we went on the subway to Puerto Madero, to a library that was later converted into a theater, and to eat milanesa and ice cream. We also walked enough to burn off those calories and more. Then two of his friends who are unrelated to the exchange came over with their families and we stay up playing video games and watching a movie until the very reasonable hour of 1 a.m. Then, deciding that this wasn’t late enough, we proceeded to play video games for another three hours. All in all it was quite fun and led into another similarly fun Sunday.
This Saturday Ben and I went to a ranch in the countryside to experience a little bit of the typical Gaucho lifestyle. We rode horses at a leisurely pace through a quite long path, and got to see much of the surrounding area as were at the top of a hill in open land. The sheer size of the space was impressive, but thinking on the life of one who always does this impressed me more. After riding we ate a wonderful lunch of carne asado. After eating lunch we watched a demonstration of the excellent communication between the Gauchos and their horses. We had to leave after merienda because of our long drive back, but it was a day enjoyed by all.
I spent Saturday with Ross, Lucas, Tomás, and our families at a farm outside of Buenos Aires. We rode horses, ate great food, learned about an author who used to live there, and got a taste of Argentinian culture from the people at the farm from their music and a horse show.
Saturday morning I slept in and was awoken by the smell of something cooking. Rosana (Pancho’s mom) had prepared a large breakfast of American foods like eggs and bacon as well as some Argentinian breakfast foods like pastries and dulce de ledge on toast. We had a calm and relaxed morning until we headed to La Fuerza Bruta later that day. La Fuerza Bruta was an interesting experience to say the least, with acrobatic feats, music performances, and surreal artistic performances. After La Fuerza Bruta we went to the Hard Rock Cafe with the group that accompanied us to La Fuerza Bruta, this included Bauti, Augustín, Hernan, Chase, and Joe. We enjoyed ourselves at dinner, singing along with the various rock songs that played while we waited for our meals. Overall my experience at La Fuerza Bruta and hanging out with our new friends was fun and exciting.
Saturday was a chill day for me. We woke up and played video games for most of the day at Bautista’s house. We also ate asado that his dad cooked. After his house we went to Hernan’s house to watch Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid. After that we went to see a show called Fuerza Bruta and then we ate at Hard Rock Cafe.