Machu Pichu and Peru!

Peru was great! I had so much fun there, and it was good to be in a place with good food, and cool weather. It was a tiring trip--many hours on buses, trains and planes--but definitely worth it.
Machu Pichu was my favorite part of the trip. Cusco is really high in altitude, and It was hard to breath or do anything too active, so all of us had to take things a little bit slower than usual.
We took a 4 hour train ride from Cusco, and then a 25 minute bus ride up a switchback trail to get to to ruins. They really are amazing. I felt like i was in another world, or a different time. It's neat to be so close to something so old and historical. I took a lot of fun pictures, and even more great memories. Definitely a trip i won't forget soon.

Act Swiftly Awesome Pachedyrm!

Well, hello.
And Happy New Year!

All us ACA students are back here safe and sound at our University for yet another quarter of classes. So far, so good in that area. Actually, this week is already midterms for us. Thanks to multiple holidays, and ACA trips, this quarter is going to fly by, with almost half the amount of actual class work.

2 weeks into the year 2009, and not too much has changed.. besides my intake of soda, or lack there of ( my one new years res.). Days consist of going to classes, studying in the air conditioned library, tennis or swimming, reading, a movie or card game, and of course, using our spanish. Campus is very empty without all the normal UAP students, and the heat is at times unbearable, but I'm still having fun.

ACA leaves for Peru in less than a week. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm excited. This will be our 3rd ACA trip--only one more to go. crazy.


Espero que todo de ustedes tengan un ano marvilloso!

Chau for now

Feliz Navidad!

Gran felicidades para todos de mi familia y amigos!!
Espero que todos de ustedes tienen una gran dia con tu familia!

Feliz Navidad!!


mucho amor,
Shauna

Chile!

It's official that I am horrible at keeping up at my blog!
But, better late than never, i suppose.

I am currently on my Christmas break! We have 2 and a half weeks to do whatever we please.
So, right now I am with a group of 6 in northern Chile. We are having a great time so far.

But first, a quick catch-up.
About 2 weeks ago we went on our second ACA trip to Buenos Aires.
It was a lot of fun, and by the end of the 5 days most of us felt like we could navigate around the city
pretty well. We did a lot of shopping, toured different buildings and important monuments, and even found a Starbucks.
From BA a group of about 20 students decided we wanted to go to Uruguay for a long weekend.
So we hopped on a bus and headed to a town about an hour past Montevideo called Punta del Este.
It was amazing, to say the least.
We all spent 4 days laying out on the beach soaking in the sun. The hostel was awesome. We met people from all over the world: Austalia, New Zealand, Germany and Spain.
We finally headed back to la UAP, 10 days after leaving for Bs. As.
Then we started our second quarter of school--i can't believe it! 1st quarter flew by!-- and then less than a week later, we were free for Christmas break!

I'm traveling with a fun little group who all just happen to be from WW. Not really sure how that worked out, but it's kind of fun.
3 guys and 3 girls, and we all get along well, and no big problems yet :) We rode 24 hours to Chile, spent 2 days in Santiago and then after another 24 hour bus ride arrived here in Iquique. not sure how long we'll be here yet...
Anyway,
I am truly having the best year of my life down here. And an awesome vacation.

Feliz Accion de Gracias!

Today is a day to be thankful! And I have so much to be thankful for!
This year has been so exciting, I am so thankful for this opportunity to be down here in Argentina learning new things!
Even though there are bugs in the dorm, nasty food in the caf , and no air conditioning for the 100+ degree weather, I wouldn't trade it.

Today has been an interesting Thanksgiving, i must say. I had my two last finals today, so most of the day was spent studying and taking tests.
Tonight ACA put on a TG dinner for all of us, plus a small program where we could say what we were thankful for, or what God has done in our lives lately.
It was really nice. We all realized that, although we all associate TG with traditions and family, it's really about giving thanks for whatever place, or situation you are in, and for the people that you're with.

Anyway, the food wasn't what we're used to, but they somehow (i have no idea from where) rounded up some delicious pumpkin pies for dessert. It was a little bit of home, and made it extra special. :)


Happy Thanksgiving!!
I am thankful for YOU!

Interesting fact of the day.

In Argentina, if a store doesn't have the correct amount of change to give you back...
you get candy.

Which I suppose isn't too bad of a deal, if you like candy.

A quick update :)

Wow, it's been much too long since I've updated my blog!
I'd like to use the excuse that I've been slammed with homework, with no free time to spare,
but that would be a lie. Homework does take some time out of my day, that's for sure, but it's not like the typical work load I had back in the states.
When it comes right down to it, I'm becoming an Argentinean. Taking my slow time doing everything, forgetting what the word "stress" means, and topping it off with a long nap almost every afternoon.
This doesn't mean that I haven't been learning, though! Spanish is becoming very comfortable for me. I've gotten used to quickly translating everything I hear into English without even really thinking about it. Sometimes when I'm in class, I forget that the professor is even speaking Spanish. I'm getting a little better at speaking the language too--although I still have a long way to go.

Anyway, since I've last posted something on here I've had my first ACA trip!
We went to Misiones--a province 30 hours north of us-- to Iguazu Falls. If you've never heard of these falls before you should look up a picture right now. It was one of the most amazing things I've seen. All 80 of us ACA students spent 5 days on this trip, and had a great time. I have pictures posted on my picasa website, if you want to check it out :)

Back here at "home" we are getting ready for finals which are a little less than 2 weeks away! It's crazy how fast time is going by. Lately, weeks are spent going to classes, the gym, out to eat, movies and games, mate and terere, taking pictures and doing homework. And starting tonight, choir practice!

This last weekend was my friend Michelle's 21st birthday so we, along with a few other friends, went to Santa Fe-about 2 hours away- for Saturday and Sunday. It was a lot of fun. We found a great mall, and even a movie theater where we got to watch the new James Bond movie. It was nice having a quick getaway, that's for sure.

Well, it's almost summer here, so it is HOT. Thankfully us ACA students get a fan for our rooms. I've also found that most us girls change immediately into pj shorts and tank tops every time we go back to our rooms. And when even that isn't quite enough , we just lie on the tile floor. No wonder I have to do laundry all the time!

Well, keep me and my fellow classmates in your prayers!!

chau for now!!


shauna