Hasta Luego Estados Unidos!

Hello Bloggers!

So I am finally getting to write in my blog because I am leaving in FOUR DAYS for Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am filled with so many emotions right now--On one hand I am so excited and thrilled for the opportunity to be studying in a different country for four months, but on the other I am as nervous as I was right before going to college. I have emailed the woman who I will be living with this semester and I think that we are going to get along great. She has two daughters who both live in the United States, one of whom is currently living in Atlanta!!! I asked her if she wanted me to bring her anything from the States and all she asked for was a Banana muffin from Starbucks! What at hoot!!

I do not have any roommates, which I know will be difficult, but I'm sure will help me learn Spanish quicker. I have mapped out where I am living on Google Maps and it looks like I am only a 10 minutes bus ride (or 25 minute walk) from the IES center where I will be taking classes. I am very happy about this because I know sometimes people can live up to 45 minutes away and I was nervous about my commute. I am extremely lucky because I have 9 friends from Wofford who are going to be there with me... 4 boys (Jack Hinson, Punky Dasilva, Ryan McNair, Jim Allen Shuman) and 5 other girls (Daniella Fatti, Jackie Dudas, Megan Young, Abigail James)... everybody is so fun and I know we are going to have a blast. Ryan and Abigail actually live on my street! Jack, Punky, Dani and Jackie are all about a 10 minute walk from my house too!

I am so excited about going to Buenos Aires. When I initially planned on going abroad I wanted to go to Argentina because A.) I knew people who were going, B.) I actually knew a little Spanish, and C.) My brother Charlie did a NOLS program in Patagonia and told me that South America was amazing. However, I had second thoughts because so many of my friends were going to Europe and I thought it would be cool to travel around and see them. So I applied and got into the IES Study Abroad Program in Vienna, Austria. However, in this economy things started piling up on my parents and I told them that I didn't want to burden them by the trip and dropped out. I was really disappointed, but deep down part of the reason why I offered to drop out was because I was afraid. I didn't tell anyone this, but I knew I was taking the easy way out. Two weeks after I dropped out of the program I was sitting in class and I realized that being afraid is NOT how I want to live my life. My sister gave me a journal last year and wrote some quotes inside. One of the quotes was, "Do everything your afraid of doing" and that really struck a chord with me. So right after that class, (I skipped my 10:30 class, oops!)I went straight to Amy Lancaster's office (our study abroad coordinator) and asked her about programs that might be cheaper. As it turned out, the Buenos Aires program, which was my original first choice, was MUCH cheaper. By the end of that day, after talking to my parents and the people in charge of the program, I was going to Argentina. I feel like because of this experience I am exactly where God wants me to be and i couldn't be happier. I am still afraid of course, but it just feels right.

In terms of packing I have a lot left to do--my Dad might kill me because I procrastinate sooo much. I cannot find my camera I got for Christmas and I might have a heart attack. I want soooo much to take pictures but it is nowhere to be found! I got an iTouch for abroad because i know it will help me with GPS and I downloaded a really cool Spanish-English translation application that I know will come in handy. Any of you iPhone people out there download "text plus" (its free) and I will be able to text you while I am abroad!

I know I am going to be super busy the next few days with packing, my brother is coming in town, and my family is moving into our house in the North Georgia mountains that we just built-- So the next time i will be posting I will be in South America! Wow!

Adios Amigos!