!Hola! ?Que tal?

Buenas noches amigos,

This is Courtney! So I feel kind of awkward posting on Tina's blog because I do have one of my own, but Tina insists on us sharing. Lol, which I don't mind of course!

Today was the second day of classes, and boy am I intimidated. There is so much writing, which is probably the thing I stink at the most, and lots of reading, which isn't too bad. The professors are all pretty nice, but I am going by my middle name, Elizabeth because I am finding it is easier for spanish-speakers to say. Hopefully that won't get too confusing.

Aside from the classes and as far as transition goes, I think I'm doing pretty well. (Knock on wood.) I really like being here. There is so much to see. It's all so different and I'm trying to be as flexible as possible so that culture shock doesn't hit me too hard. Tina and I were just talking about what we wanted for dinner, and we both realized that we missed Sonic. How sad is that? Not even a week, and we are already missing the food back home. I know it sounds cliche, but you really don't know how much something means until its gone. How convenient it is to run down to a fast food place where everyone speaks english and the menus all make sense! We did find a hamburger stand, but the meat tastes more like breakfast sausage than ground beef. But hey! that is what studying abroad is all about! Finding out your habits and learning to adapt to new ways of living. And if lack of american food is the only thing that rubs me wrong then that is fantastic!

The people here are very different too. Tina's dad, I hope you aren't reading this, but there are so many beautiful people. I told Tina that even the house painting guys are handsome! But no worries padres, we are going to come home, and we probably won't marry a Uruguayan. We are here to learn, not to search for soulmates right?

Well I guess that's all I will post for now. I hope you are all doing well and that the Lord keeps you safe for us. Last night I couldn't fall asleep because I kept worrying something bad would happen to someone back home, and I wouldn't be able to be there. So be safe guys--you don't know how much we love you.

Ciao!

Courtney

Just smile and say "Si"

Okay, I don't know if it's just me or if I'm really that bad, but for some reason I keep finding myself stuck in a situation where a Uruguayan is trying to communicate with me and alas...all I can do is smile and say "si" over and over again. What's up with that? At home, for the most part I can make out what another person is saying...but here the words are crazy different! Sigh. That has happened more times than I can count, but it's not too bad. Uruguayans are really friendly and patient people. I have sooo much to learn.

I still can't believe I'm really here. I'm in South America. It's such a whole other big world. When you're in Uruguay, you feel it.

Just a quick wrap up, I haven't even been here a week and it feels like I have been here for months. I think it's because we are doing so much and are really busy. At least we have been. It should slow down soon. We have been doing lot of different things, but most of it consists of learning where everything is located. Easy things are really hard here, like withdrawing money from an ATM and going out to eat. The menus look so foreign, haha, which they are, but I have never seen spanish words like this before. Then ordering is another story. This isn't where you get your parents to tell the waiter what you want. You have to do it yourself...most of the time. We went to the ciudad vieja yesterday and I was trying to tell the waiter I wanted my steak cooked well done. Wow. Note to self: Cocino mucho does not mean "well done."

Well, we have gotten lost more times than I can count, living next to a beach is really amazing, there is no such thing as Mexican food here, and a car almost ran over me yesterday. Seriously.

Today was Church. Quite intimidating if I do say so myself, but really enjoyable. After church, we ate and then all of us had to get up and say our names, where we were from, how many siblings we had, and what we were studying...all in spanish! I don't think we did half bad.
It was a little disheartening though at some points. The people there all thought I knew spanish because I was "latina." Sad day. They also kept making jokes and laughing at me....and I'm still not sure why. I just laughed right along with them.
One man kept asking me about my family and where they came from. I think he just kept associating me with Mexico. He laughed at me so much. LOL. I mean, he didn't laugh at me, he was a cute old man. I just really need to learn spanish.

Well, this was a long post, but I promise they won't all be that bad. I really wasn't even planning on keeping a blog. This is for you Dad.

So They Leave

It is nearly 7:30 in the morning in Abilene, TX. My sister and a few friends are about to depart for Montevideo, Uruguay in an hour and a half. Two hours. I'm really nervous for them. But excited as well. I'm excited about all they'll get to experience (okay, maybe even a little jealous).

Because they NEED to keep in contact, I've created this blog for Tina (and Courtney if she wants to share), so that the rest of us back home can keep up with their adventures. You guys better post!!

Also, I'm going to miss you guys a ton. Have fun. Be safe. Look the right way before crossing the street. Study daily. Submerse yourselves in the culture. Speak as much Spanish as you can. Drink lots of mate for me. And bring me some back. And buy me a great souveneir. Maybe some jewelry... Take lots of pictures. Meet as many people as you can. Go to every festival/fair/parade/whatever cultural event is taking place. Laugh loud. Smile freely. Dance crazy. And always give thanks to God.

Lots of love, girls. From all of us back home.