Exchange to Argentina
Posted by Bill Molesworth
John Lister expressed his thanks to Terri, Yvonne and Ron for their help on selecting the next exchange student.
He next introduced Marissa Leadbetter, our recently returned student who had been in Argentina where she had, apparently, learned to dress in an unusual fashion, but John felt there was a reason that would become apparent.
He next introduced Marissa Leadbetter, our recently returned student who had been in Argentina where she had, apparently, learned to dress in an unusual fashion, but John felt there was a reason that would become apparent.
Marissa explained that the outfit was a costume she had worn to graduation, which was a big event in Argentina and which required a special costume, a big party and lots of pictures.
She said the year had been an amazing experience and that she had been struck by what a beautiful country Argentina was. Argentina is recovering from a serious series of economic setbacks and recessions. It is comprised of 26 Provinces and Territories, including the Falklands or, as they are known in Argentina, the Malvinas.
Marissa had a lot of pictures of host families and friends and lots of people going out to parties. She even learned to fly while with one host family.
She was there for Christmas - the children are sent off to watch fireworks while the presents are brought out and when they come back they are opened at midnight. Then every one goes off to a disco to celebrate.
The disco seems to be a central focus of life in Argentina - at the drop of a hat they determine it's time to celebrate and off they all go, in large groups divided by sex. You can't, apparently, just hang out with a boy - everybody assumes you're committed - so the guys and girls all travel in packs.
Her best friends were other exchange students because they had more of a shared experience.
She had pictures of the club they belonged to, the church, several streetscapes lined with the omnipresent orange trees, and her last host house. There's a lot of emphasis on security there so many of the houses are surrounded by walls. She was very taken with the food there - she said she'd gained 15 lbs, which curtailed her appearances in a bikini - and talked about the beef bbq's in fire pits. Argentina beef is especially good, she says. She mentioned salads and then rhapsodized about desserts. She tried to make a cheesecake but it ended up looking more like scrambled eggs.
Winter in the part of Argentina she was in only got down to about 5 degrees, but that was quite a contrast to the 40 of the summer and the houses are not insulated or provided with proper heaters so they felt the cold.
She was able to go on two trips, one as far south as Tierra del Fuego where they went skiing, whale watching, trekking on a glacier and making the acquantance of penquins who, though cute, stink. The other took her north to the border with Brazil which is defined by the Big Water Falls (it sounds better in Spanish) where there's a Maid of the Mist type boat that takes you right under the falls and the air is so filled with moisture that you can hardly breath. They had some parties on the way.
On the way back they came through a desert, and the Petroglyph and Valley of the Moon National Parks, then on to Buenos Aires with its great urban life and several parties.
Marissa thanked the Club for the experience saying she had learned so much more than just a language and a familiarity with another culture - that it was an emotional experience she will never forget.
Past President Jim thanked Marissa for sharing her 'Year of Parties' with us stay at homes and then went on to talk about the Scotia Bank losing money in Argentina. There seemed to be an overtone of bitterness there, but he remained gracious and dignified.
She said the year had been an amazing experience and that she had been struck by what a beautiful country Argentina was. Argentina is recovering from a serious series of economic setbacks and recessions. It is comprised of 26 Provinces and Territories, including the Falklands or, as they are known in Argentina, the Malvinas.
Marissa had a lot of pictures of host families and friends and lots of people going out to parties. She even learned to fly while with one host family.
She was there for Christmas - the children are sent off to watch fireworks while the presents are brought out and when they come back they are opened at midnight. Then every one goes off to a disco to celebrate.
The disco seems to be a central focus of life in Argentina - at the drop of a hat they determine it's time to celebrate and off they all go, in large groups divided by sex. You can't, apparently, just hang out with a boy - everybody assumes you're committed - so the guys and girls all travel in packs.
Her best friends were other exchange students because they had more of a shared experience.
She had pictures of the club they belonged to, the church, several streetscapes lined with the omnipresent orange trees, and her last host house. There's a lot of emphasis on security there so many of the houses are surrounded by walls. She was very taken with the food there - she said she'd gained 15 lbs, which curtailed her appearances in a bikini - and talked about the beef bbq's in fire pits. Argentina beef is especially good, she says. She mentioned salads and then rhapsodized about desserts. She tried to make a cheesecake but it ended up looking more like scrambled eggs.
Winter in the part of Argentina she was in only got down to about 5 degrees, but that was quite a contrast to the 40 of the summer and the houses are not insulated or provided with proper heaters so they felt the cold.
She was able to go on two trips, one as far south as Tierra del Fuego where they went skiing, whale watching, trekking on a glacier and making the acquantance of penquins who, though cute, stink. The other took her north to the border with Brazil which is defined by the Big Water Falls (it sounds better in Spanish) where there's a Maid of the Mist type boat that takes you right under the falls and the air is so filled with moisture that you can hardly breath. They had some parties on the way.
On the way back they came through a desert, and the Petroglyph and Valley of the Moon National Parks, then on to Buenos Aires with its great urban life and several parties.
Marissa thanked the Club for the experience saying she had learned so much more than just a language and a familiarity with another culture - that it was an emotional experience she will never forget.
Past President Jim thanked Marissa for sharing her 'Year of Parties' with us stay at homes and then went on to talk about the Scotia Bank losing money in Argentina. There seemed to be an overtone of bitterness there, but he remained gracious and dignified.