The trip to Argentina is closing in. My family and friends are probably tired of listening to me tell people what I am doing this summer with an excited tone in my voice. I do not know a lot about what will happen when I am in Argentina, but I do know that I am ready.
The preparation process has gone smoothly although I have been rushed. I got out of school on Saturday (June 16th) and left camping from Tuesday until Sunday (June 19th-24th). I was unsure if I would be able to get everything together in just a Monday before I leave on Tuesday (June 26th). Luckily, I am an easy going person and I do not need much. I have clothes and hygiene products. I made sure to get a personal present for my home stay family. I do not know how they will receive it, but I’m sure anything is better than nothing. With my experience, I have learned kind intention and a smile can go a long way no matter what country you are in. This is a nice feature to acknowledge because I know I will have to resort to smiling and motioning sometime while in Argentina when words are not enough. I feel confident in my abilities and am excited for this opportunity. We have a great group going down together. I know that we will sometime need to resort to speaking English now and then, but regardless of our level in Spanish now, I look forward to seeing growth in all of our abilities. Cain
I am a little worried about customs. I have not left the country for a couple of years. I also brought my host family gifts that I hope the customs people do not confiscate. Other than these little butterflies of excitement and curiosity, I am ready to be in Argentina. Cain
Sounds like you packed light. You’ll be glad! Students usually discover that they need much less than they packed. And you’re right, smiling and motioning with hands is a universal system of communication. Michele
Cain, I will be smiling and motioning A LOT while in Argentina! I, too, hope it will go far in aiding my communication with others. Have a great time and make the most of every moment! I’ll see you all in about 3 weeks =) ~Jessie