Neo-Colonialism

Devil's Throat

3-29-10
After a very nice night of sleeping, I woke up and hung out most of the morning. I did some homework but pretty much just relaxed. I then went to get lunch. After lunch, I quickly grabbed my stuff and headed over to school with Chelsey and Joe. At school, I talked to some friends before history class started. In class, we talked about neocolonalism in Latin America. It was pretty interesting. I volunteered to help present one of the readings for next class on the Mexican Revolution.

In between classes, I talked to friends about stuff. In Spanish class, we talked about our weekends, as well as learned how certain adjectives change meanings depending on ser and estar. After class, my roommate and I walked home together. I chilled back at the residencia. I finished editing photos. I talked to Abbey and told her about my weekend. Eventually, I grabbed some dinner.

After dinner, I titled most of my photos and put tags on them. I am in the process of uploading them. There are over 350 of them so be patient please.

Weekend of Water, Buffets, and Fun Times

3-25-10
I made it for breakfast. Already a good day. I started to get my stuff together before heading to campus. After some struggle, I finally found the classroom (it has been in a different room every week). My teacher is completely scattered brain. A lot of us were confused about what was happening. I miss the US system. I headed home after class. I packed and hung out at the residencia. I then watched Boca Juniors vs. River game. Boca won 2-0. I then headed to school.

At school, I met up with friends and chatted before heading onto the bus. I sat with my friend Alana. We watched Up and the Ladykillers along with some bad 80's music. We chatted about random stuff before heading to bed.

3-26-10
I woke up right as breakfast was being passed out. We eventually got out and swapped buses to one that would take us around the area. We then headed to the Jesuit ruins. They were pretty cool. They reminded me of the missions in California but more destroyed. We walked around and took photos.

After, we headed to a house where we had so much delicious food. We hung by the pool, played games and pretty much relaxed. How this is study abroad, I have no idea. Some of us did a small excursion to a yerba factory where they make the yerba for mate. It was cool to learn how it is made. Then on the way back, some people went into a river while the rest watched. Then we chilled and drank ice tea which was amazing. Then we headed to the hotel. I slept part of the way and watched Sherlock Holmes for part of the rest of the way. We got to the hotel and checked into our respected rooms. I showered and shaved before going down for the buffet in our hotel. It was delicious. The rest of the evening, I relaxed before heading to bed.

3-27-10
While the 7 am wake up call was hell and a half, the day would prove worth it. I ate some breakfast before putting on much needed sunscreen and bug spray. We then boarded the bus to head to the falls. I was eager with anticipation. We walked to some of the waterfalls that were near the entrance. They were amazing. So much power and beauty. I loved it. Yet another reason why I came to South America. I am so glad that I have. This part of the world is so incredibly beautiful. Eventually, we took a train to the Devil's Throat. This is the big one here. It was so crazy incredible. I took as many pictures as I could before getting drenched. The sound and water everywhere. So crazy.

We eventually got lunch. After hanging out for a bit, we then moved down to another part where we could stand at the bottom of a waterfall. It was so incredible. SO WORTH COMING DOWN HERE. We then took a boat to the bases of some of the massive ones including Devil's throat. You are suppose to show "Mas Agua, Mas Agua" and boy did we ever. We got drenched and it felt like we were going to get hit by the waterfall. After, we headed home. I crashed on the bus ride back to the hotel.

At the hotel, a lot of us went swimming in the pool which was a lot of fun. After, I showered and changed. Then grabbed dinner at the restaurant in the hotel. After dinner, a lot of hung out and drank wine and watched War of the Worlds. Eventually, we headed to the hostel across the street and listened to live music. A little later, I headed to bed.

3-28-10
Another early morning. I grabbed my stuff together and put it in my bag. I then headed downstairs and ate breakfast. After, we boarded a bus type thing. After heading down a muddy road, we ended up in the jungle. There, we learned about some of the local indigenous cultures. It was really interesting. We learned about how they hunted and their customs. For example, if you killed an animal with a certain trap but it bleeds too much, it can not be eaten and you would no longer be allowed to be a hunter. We then heard a song by some of the local children. After I bought some items.

We headed to the hotel, where we grabbed lunch at a local resturant. It was fun. I ate pizza and had fun conversations. Then we headed to where Argentina's border (separated by rivers) meets Brazil and Paraguay. It was pretty cool to see. We then headed to the airport. There, we checked our bags and waited for our plane. We boarded with no problem. I listened to music, read and wrote for the ride. After, I grabbed my bags and rode in a cab with a few others home. On the way, our cab driver spent some serious time on the other side of the road. But I survived.

At home, I talked to people about the weekend. I unpacked and went out for some food with people. After, I came home, did some homework and edited my photos from the weekend (stand by for them to be uploaded). I got an email about shooting a wedding in North Carolina in September!!!!!!!! Need to figure out this possibility out. :)

Such a great weekend.

A nice day to relax

3-24-10
Due to the day off, I could sleep mucho and boy did I. After waking up, I read the rest of El Facundo. I am not sure how I feel about it. It was interesting but its not your typical book hence the uncertainty. I sat around and talked to some friends for a while. Then I went out and got some food. I was going to go downtown but I decided to just hang since it was going to be chaotic down there. I watched Whip It, which was a really funny movie and made me want to go to a Roller Derby sometime. Luckily there is a team in Greensboro.

After, I finished up my homework. I then watched Lost before having a Skype date with Abbey. Afterward, I think I finalized up my schedule for the Fall (though depending on some requirements, it is scheduled to change). I am planning on signing up for Colonial Latin American History, English Capstone, 2D Design and an Independent Study (for photography in which I would need to come up with a theme for 20 pictures). I am happy with this current schedule and also the possibilities that the changes might have to endure. I had some delicious empanadas for dinner. I then relaxed and talked to friends before bed.


Going to Iguazu manana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So excited.

Another Broken Camera.

3-23-10
Three days in a row of waking up for breakfast. So delicious so good. I then grabbed my stuff and headed to school. At school, my class was again packed but my teacher was there. It was so scatter brain of a class. It was kind of hard to follow. After class, I ate with my friends Cassi and Alana and one of the people who run our program. She helped me schedule an appointment with a gastrologist here.

After lunch, Cassi and I headed toward downtown to deal with her broken camera. After we finished that business, we headed back to Palermo/Belgrano area where I headed home and her to school. At home, I did some of my homework. I relaxed most of the afternoon besides doing some homework. We don't have school on Wednesday due to a day of memory for all those who died during the Dirty War. We are suppose to have make up day for this on Friday but I will be in Iguazu so I have to take the absence. Eventually, I had dinner and ate with friends. I relaxed and chatted with friends. We then went out to celebrate someone's birthday. It was a lot of fun.

New Roommate

3-22-10
I woke up in time for breakfast. An amazing feat. I ate the food and then with so much time to spare, I read and relaxed for a good while. Andrew and I got a new roommate for the week from Argentina. It seems strange that he is only here for a week but whatever. Eventually I grabbed lunch and ate with some people before heading to school.

At school, I talked to some friends about their weekend at the beach. I am kind of jealous I didn't end up going but I shall live. In history, we discussed some of the early parts of post independence Argentina. It was pretty interesting. In Spanish, we discussed how Americans are perceived as well as Europeans (due to us also having some French and Italian students). It was rather amusing. I walked and talked to people after class. Eventually headed home.

At home, I emailed some professors about classes for the fall and my credits here and making sure that they will carry over since I don't want to drop the major. I relaxed most of the evening since I had done my homework for tomorrow previously. Eventually I went to dinner. After food, I hung with friends. Then I talked to my friend Desiree, and I went over to her place to watch Babel. I forgot how incredibly depressing that movie is. Then I came back home where I wrote this before bed.

Maybe its due to all the healthcare stuff going, but I have these scabs on me that I have had for several weeks now and maybe they are not healing because I itch like the Dickens but I really am thinking I should have them checked out either here or back in Seattle. But priority numero uno, is getting a Gasto doctor here.

Health Care Bill Day

3-21-10.
I woke up and relaxed for a bit of the morning. I then started some homework. When I stepped outside of my room. I heard the sound of pouring rain. Good thing I didn't have any plans that weren't flexible. I went out to get some lunch and ate it in my room. I talked to Abbey for a bit. While I did, I had the rest of the tango photos uploaded. After lunch, I continued on my History readings. I then took a break and started "O Brother, Where Art Thou." I enjoyed it. It was funny and a lot different than the previous Coen Brothers' movie I saw.

After, I moved onto my Spanish homework. After that, I chilled and watched an episode of the HBO show "OZ." While gritty in every way, it is well made and interesting. I also kept an eye on the news headlines about the vote for the Health Care bill. The people who went to Iguazu this weekend came back so a bunch of us talked to them about it since we are going next weekend and am extremely anxious. I can't wait. It looks AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After, I wrote in my journal and listen to the peaceful sounds of Thievery Corporation. I then went to get dinner. When I came back food in hand, I saw that the Bill passed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited. I am now insured until for four more years or until I have my own plan. I am pumped for 2014 (though I do wish it was sooner) because it means insurance companies can't reject preexisting conditions. Yes while this bill isn't perfect, I see it as a launching pad. I wrote a bit in my journal before heading to bed.

"Vivimos en un mundo donde lo real y lo imaginario, lo cruel y lo sublime, se confunden"

3-20-10
I enjoyed a beautiful slumber and woke up after 9 or 10 hours of sleep. What could be better. After I stirred. I read and enjoyed working internet. Today is going to be a good day. I relaxed for a good portion of the morning and early afternoon. I talked to Abbey, my friend Desiree among others. I then headed out to grab some food. Then I saw an amazing show at the Cultural center here. http://laberintodemiradas.net/ (if you go to the link, click on exposiciones and then the one called Fricciones y Conflictos en IberoAmerica, that is the show I saw). When I see shows like this, the fire and drive inside of me burns. To see what is possible from one side of the lens to the other. I hope to reach a level where I can get photos like that and be shown on a similar level. It was a great show and I kept some literature on it as a way to remember. While James Nachtwey is my favorite photographer and the one I look up to most, I saw some photographers who motivate me as well. The quote above is by one of them. It says "we live in a world where the real and the imagination, the cruel and the sublime are confused." Is that not truth?

After, I walked around the city about and took some photos. Like I said, I was inspired. I then headed home. At home, I viewed another depiction of the cruelty of our world in the form of the movie Traffic. It was intense but good. After, Joe and I headed out for some chicken sandwiches. They were quite delicious. I went for a walk later. Then chilled the rest of the night.