School in Bolivia

So, I had a small amount of time to write a post today, so I decided to write about school here in Bolivia because a lot of people ask about it.

Anyways, my first day of school was on Wednesday August 21st.
My first day I was super confused and nervous but being the exchange student I am in Bolivia, everyone was very welcoming, and a little creepy...

My school day starts at 8AM-12PM and then we have siesta, a nap/lunch (break from school). After siesta, we go back to school 2:30PM - 6PM. It's a really long day and I don't really do anything but I love school.
Going to school and getting to see all my friends and just talk is awesome. I'm not really used to having too many friends or people my age to talk to in the US, so its great here. I do have like 2 people from my school in the US that I can talk to, but here there are at least 8 people from school I'm comfortable talking to all the time.

Anyways, we dont do much in school, because that's just kind of how it is, but here is what we are supposed to be doing (what I kind of understood :P):

English (Spanish class for me and the other student in my school, Michael)
Philosophy, History, Geography, Civics
P.E.
Chemistry, Physics
Mathematics
Music
Computer Class

I'm sure there are more classes, but I dont pay that much attention... Well I try, but I really cant. I did have a full out conversation with my secondary principle yesterday, who does not know much English and yells at Michael and I if we speak in English, and I was pretty proud of myself. I did come here speaking more Spanish than the other students, thanks to my amazing teacher in the US (he knows who he is :) ) but I still have plenty of difficulty.

However, I did understand that if I get permission, tomorrow I'm going to a water park with my class, and I'm super excited. I love most of my classmates, so I like the extra time to spend with them (where I can talk to them and such) with out having to at least pretend I know what is going on. They don't do work ever either...

Don't get me wrong, we are not all lazy, but honestly the teachers dont give us much to do and the only classes I fully understand are P.E., Music, "Spanish", and Computer, but those are the only ones I pay full attention in anyways :P

Anyways, I'm out of time to write, but as always if you have more questions, feel free to comment or email Meghan.95.Dushko@gmail.com



P.S.  My photography page on facebook is www.facebook.com/MeghanRuthAnnaPhotography, you can find photos there or if you are friends with me, on my personal page. Below are a few photos from the first week or so.

Below is my favorite photo from this week, its not with my friends from school, but here it is
                   (Left to Right: No clue :P, Caro, Tati (?), Kayla, Ferdy, (?), Leo, Me, Thais )
                    (Kayla is another student from my district in NY. YEP D7170 :D and Leo and Thais came to our district last year. )

Also, if you haven't noticed, I forget names alot :P

Honestly...

Honestly, I need to say that I can never say when a post will be up. I cant give you a definite day. The life of an exchange student is a lot.

What they say is true; it is:

• Difficult 
• Insane
• Beautiful
• Amazing
• Ugly
• Terrible
• Enlightening
• Stressful
• Important
• Responsibility

And much more. I cant think of many descriptive words right now, but I think you get the idea. I have a lot on my mind and a lot to do. I often do better at posting when Im asked questions so if you want, post a comment or email Meghan.95.Dushko@gmail.com. Im always open to emails.

Remember, I am an EXCHANGE STUDENT, so there are SOME things you probably DONT want to know.

Adios!

La primera semana! (The first week)

Hola, and hello! (sorry if this post is  jumbled and hasty but I wanted to share something and this week has been a little crazy.

I know its a little late but here is my post on my first week.

Anyways, the reason my blog is so late, is because describing my first week is a train-wreck. Im great at talking but it's hard to describe at points.

Basically here's what I've done:

• I arrived on Tuesday August 20th at 8AM and then went out to breakfast with my family
• Been shopping at the markets, which can be quite big and crazy.. *** (detailed posts on markets and money)
• Retrieved my uniform on Tuesday
• Started school Wednesday August 21st at 8AM (School hours 8AM - 12PM, about 2:30PM - 6PM)
• Had a kind of introduction get together with cousins and counselors on Tuesday *** (detailed post will be about rotary meetings and family get togethers)
• School every day :P
• Eat a lot of food, when Im not very hungry ) ***
• Went to two parties with friends. One Friday, one Saturday.
• Sunday activities  ***
• School :P ***  X

I know theres not much here and not much to know but be sure to ask if you have any questions. I will do more detailed posts later on the posts with "***" next to them

Sorry about the post, but things are hard to explain and I am always too tired to write when I can think of something to say. 

Ciao.


P.S. If there is a "X" next to sentence with "***" It means there is a more detailed post about it up somewhere.

El Diario Del Avion

8/19/2013 at 6:43PM
Dear readers,
This post may seem a bit weird. Different format and all, but I decided that if I wanted to write when there is no internet it is easier to write as a letter because it is going to be read in the future, not in the now. Currently I am on the plane to Miami, where I will change planes and go to Bolivia. I like this second flight I am on alot, because it is much better than the 9 person plane I rode to Boston, which made me feel like I needed  to vomit. I was freaking out when I first departed in Albany too though, and the anxiousness probably to contributed to the fact that I felt like I was going to die, but afterwards it was kind of like the feeling you get after a rollercoaster, like wow that was bumpy and I thought I was going to get sick, but now I want to do it again. I feel like now that I've got my first plane ride ever done, and it was on a nine passenger plane, Im never going to fear planes again, hopefully.
Anyways, you probably wont see this post until Im in Bolivia, but Im going to be in Bolivia in approximately 13 hours give or take. I was super scared and anxious and everything last night and this morning and now that Im on the second plane there, Im calm. I find it kind of weird, but Im completely calm. Maybe its the reason that I know there is no turning back now, or because I dont feel like Im going to vomit on this plane yet, but I still have about two more hours, so don't worry,  there is time for me to ruin the flight of the guy next to me. Just kidding, I really don't want to do that. Plus, it would be very unpleasant for me as well.
As I'm sitting here, all I can think about is being there. I feel like the plane ride to your country (especially if it's your first time) has to be one of the hardest parts of leaving your family. Because your thinking about the one you just left and the one you are about to meet, but you cant talk to them or anything, you just have to wait. (Lies, I talked to my family on facebook for like 10 minutes using the wifi, but still.) Anyways, you also have to deal with the shaking, and the ear popping, and the annoying girls behind you who wont shut up. Plus the imminent danger of your computer, ipod, whatever, running out of battery and reading all your magazines, etc. and having nothing to do. Im afraid of the 9 hour flight ahead now, but I think that one has some outlets :D Ive only used like 10% of my battery anyways....
Whatever, can't think of anything else to say right now, but if you have any more questions to ask about the flight or specific questions about nausea, electronics, stupid people, etc., be sure to comment!
Ill make sure to post at leasst once a week while Im in Bolivia if I have the time, so keep tuned for more posts. There will definitely be a first week post, and a first month post, but not sure how well I am going to stick to my blogging duty after that. Anyways, enjoy!

11:48PM 8/19/2013

I think that my last flight, is the best one so far. Partially because it means Im "this close" to Santa Cruz, plus for a little bit we had a really good free wifi connection.

The only annoying thing was we may arrive a bit late cause we hit some turbulence due to a small rain cloud or something like that and he had to go slower than normal so he said we will arrive like 10-15 minutes late.

I have no idea whhy I am writing right now.

A tip to future exchangers or those going this year who havent flown yet, heres how it goes:

⦁ If you are on a 9 passenger plane, it sucks.

⦁ Even if you dont get car sick you may get plane sick, partially because of the nerves, if you can, bring motion sickness medication, unless you layover is more than 2 - 2.5 hrs, you may not have time to find any. *I brought some but couldnt find it

⦁ If you have 3 flights, the first one is exciting, because its the beginning of your journey, (plus i had never flown before, nor had my friend Kayla). The second one seems super long, no matter how short it is. Hopefully your airplane has free wifi, it helps. My second plane did not, and after I finished my reading material, I was super bored. Currently, I am on my third plane, and if its long, its actually good. You have time to rest up before you get to your destination, because now I am exhausted, plus the flight attendants on the longer ones tend to be nicer and more helpful in my opinion. Plus, I got a free pillow for the flight and two blankets, I really hope this means good sleeping. Also my neck has been bothering me, so that made me really happy.

Anyways, Im going to eat and then go to sleep, but I wanted to do one last travel post.

4:37PM 8/20/13

Im in Bolivia now, but I'm not going to post about my day yet. You should see a post by Sunday about my first day/first week and the things I love/ things I dont. Adios!

Quick Blurb!

A couple of people asked me why I stopped doing bilingual posts so I figured I'd address it.

I stopped doing bilingual posts because......

• I didn't have the time to go through and write it all back out in Spanish, but I felt it should be done with my knowledge, not Google Translate or Spanish Dict.

•  Therefore, I want to wait until I know at least a little more Spanish first

• My friends said the format may be a little annoying and that if I'm going to post in Spanish too, that I should open a separate blog.

Despite all this, I do plan to start posting in both Spanish and English again; however, I plan on waiting until I have been in Bolivia for at least a month, but probably at the beginning of October I should be writing in Spanish again.

Toodaloo, and read on! ;)

Is this real life?

Have you ever seen those videos after people leave the dentists and have a lot of novocaine?

Well I kind of feel out if it like they do and am asking the same questions, like "Is this real life?"

I leave the US for Bolivia in about 9 days, and everything has come together. Over the past two months or so, I have felt everything building up and have tried to make myself fully recognize what I am about to jump into.

My feelings are over the place. Im excited, but nervous at the same time. Im ready, but scared. Happy, but said. You get my drift, in short............................................

So many in fact, that I couldn't choose just one GIF.

Anyways I'm thinking about all the great things and all the great people in Bolivia, but Im scared to leave my family behind here. I know in the long run it will be worth it and I'm still super excited, so there is no way I think I will come back, but I just needed to rant about life before I go.

Not super reflective.... I know, but at least I tried ;P