I’ve now been in Mendoza for about a week. It has been a week of extremely limited internet access and that on my host sister’s computer. Apparently only the brother in the family knows the security code for the internet here and he is off somewhere in the Middle East so it took a while to get a hold of it.
This is my room!
I am living with a host family in the southern part of the city very near the huge, Parque General San Martin and the study abroad program offices. I have a host mother, Carlina, who is a widow and a host sister, Maria Victoria, who just turned 21. They have been hosting international students for eight years straight. Both my host mom and sister are very kind and very patient with my Spanish. They are very helpful in helping me adjust to life here: buying a phone, finding the bus, warning me about dangerous parts of the city (Carlina is a bit paranoid). At the same time, they seem to know the drill a bit too well. My second name is Nicky, after the girl who was here last semester. J
 |
| An Acequia in the Park |
The city itself is beautiful. Mendoza is in the middle of a very arid area but, through a great feat of engineering in the colonial era, the acequias bring water from the mountains down into the city. All the streets are lined with big shady trees and there are several more parks within the city in addition to the mammoth man-made garden San Martin. Mendoza has more green-space than I have ever seen in a US city and it’s a desert. I can’t get over how awesome that is. The acequias are about 2 feet deep and open air. There are little bridges every couple of yards on the street but one does have to take care with the “gringo traps”.
 |
| Parque General San Martin |
The Micros (city buses) are perhaps my least favorite part of Mendoza. If I could get my hands on a bus schedule everything would be dandy but I just can’t seem to get one. I’m did a lot of getting lost this first week which is not my favorite thing but I do at least know my stop on two bus routes. Once classes start I’ll need to improve my relationship with the micros.
Adventures to come soon.
Chao Chicos!
Your room looks really nice!! I'm glad your host family is nice. I'm sure my mom would be a little more paranoid than usual if she was trying to explain to a foreign exchange student where she should or shouldn't go around Asheville, haha. I pray that you're feeling welcomed and are enjoying yourself despite whatever obstacles you may encounter! (I can still barely get around on the bus system on campus.. so don't feel bad, haha)!
ReplyDeleteMiss you! Praying for you! Can't wait to hear more!