Getting Settled and a bit about my host-family

I have now officially been here for 2 weeks. Last week was hectic as it was our "shopping" period for classes. So, we got to try out classes we are interested in taking, and there were also orientations for each "facultad" or department that we will be taking classes in. The university system is much different here. I can't say I understand it completely yet either. What I do know so far about the public university, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, so far is that they don't purchase textbooks they make photocopies of everything so that it is cheaper. So every "facultad" has its own photocopying room where students work and you go in and pay to get the photocopies you need. Each facultad also has its own "comedor" or cafeteria and its own library as well. It seems as though I will be taking classes in the "Filosofia y Letras department" and the "Ciencias Politicas" department. I will also be taking a tango class through the private university. I'm very excited to learn tango! Will will be taking it with me as well. I will have to write about classes later on as I still have no had several of them.

My family is very busy much like my own. As I explained in my last post, my host-parents are both doctors. My host-father (Enrique) is an intestinal surgeon from what I have gathered. I didn't quite undersand his explanation of what type of surgeries he does though. My host-mother (Fanny) works for the government. The other day she explained to me that she goes around giving presentations about health and she also told me that sometimes she works in a "basurera". Apparently their are places here that used to be dumps, and now homeless people live there and obviously a lot of health issues come with this. I would very much like to go with her someday to help out. I am not sure exactly what she does there. My host-sister also goes sometimes to help out on saturdays but she told me she couldn't go this week since there is internal violence going on - or something like that. I am very interested in learning more about this! Sounds like its just up my ally with my global health interests.

My host-brother (Javier) is 21 years old and he is going to school for economics and he also has his chef's license/degree (I'm not sure how to call it). So he works for a restaurant at the nicest hotel here and he is on call so basically he goes in when they need him so he can still go to school as well. He also plays soccer and has a girlfriend (Fernanda) who is really sweet. She plays field hockey and coaches young girls in it as well. She said sometimes she goes and plays soccer with her friends and that I should come sometime. It is nice to have a chef in the house because 1) he makes amazing food and 2) he knows how to make some things that would normally have gluten without. For example he made me some cookies with oatmeal for our snack time when the family normally eats little cookies with jam or cheese. He is very busy though lately so he hasn't cooked for us much yet.

My host-sister (Marina o Mari) is 18 and she currently is not in school. Apparently she started a track and did not like it so she quit and she is going to start something new but doesn't know what she wants yet. She keeps fairly busy though and is very social. She takes a painting class twice a week, goes to the gym almost daily, takes an english class once a week and she takes guitar and singing lessons. She sings beautifully (as I mentioned before the night I got here she had her recital and I was able to hear her sing). She is very nice and has invited me out a few times. The past two fridays we have gone to a club with her and her friends. We meaning Will and I and another American girl, Megan, who lives with one of the boys in her group of friends. Ah man, the night like is WAY too late for me here. They do not leave to the club (here they call them boliches) until about 12:30 and they don't leave until about 5am. It is also a tradition for them to go from the club and eat these really cheap hotdogs in the center of town before going home. So the past two fridays we haven't gotten home until 7am. Then we end up sleeping until 2 in the afternoon! It is crazy. The boliches are all about 20km away so you have to take a taxi or drive although most young kids don't have cars. My family is a bit unusual as everyone in the family has a car. So Marina drives us to the club which is nice. A couple of her friends sometimes drive as well. I enjoy her group of friends. They are all very close knit but welcoming people.

Family dynamics here are much different. It is very common for kids to live with their parents until they are married (like in Europe). Almost without exception, kids always attend the university in their hometown so they live at home as well. Additionally, in my family and from what I have heard from the other Americans, kids do not have the same expectations living in their house as we do in America. They do not do chores, they do not generally help with dinner, they do not do laundry, make their beds etc. In my family we have a housekeeper who is here all day every week day who does all the laundry and cleaning and also makes us lunch every day. It is hard for me to get used to this. She is very nice and eats lunch with us - her name is Carmen. Sometimes I feel guilty because she does everything for us. My family doesn't do dishes during the week since she does them the next day when she comes. She always tells me to let her know if I need anything, and she enjoys telling me stories about the family or working at the house.

 My bus stop/trolly stop ^

My Room! ^

Well, I have more to write about cultural differences and our convenience in America, but I will have to save that for next time! Thanks for reading!