Day 30 •• June 25

     We just said our official goodbyes. I cried. Everyone here has become our family. I'm starting to dread Sunday coming as much as I'm waiting for it. I don't want to leave, yet I do. We presented for vespers tonight. Myself, Sarah, Reiss and Kevin performed a medley of How Great Is Our God / How Great Thou Art / Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). James and River (with help) acted out a skit they wrote about their experience here at ISAM. It was hilarious. They did a fantastic job! Then we were all called up and Carolina & Pastor Nelson prayed for us. That's when I started to cry. Afterwards, Uncle Andy instructed us stand outside in the church foyer and hug everyone goodbye. I love these people. When I went back into the sanctuary to get my guitar and phone, a short meeting with the master guides was happening. It was about the expedition that happens this weekend. I stayed for it, but unfortunately I'm not going. I'm still sick, and just recently my knee started to act up (again!) I didn't attend school this morning because I awoke feeling terrible, so the dean sent the doctor to my room. Thankfully, she said it seems to be just a long lasting virus. (I've been feeling sick basically this entire trip.) 

     Anyhow, after the meeting, we talked with Uncle Andy. Kevin has arranged for me to get a senior jacket! But also, tomorrow there is the Science Fair and then we're hearing into town for lunch. We've each invited a ISAM student to join us. The Riveras leave tomorrow evening for Buenos Aires and we'll join them on Sunday at UAP (an Adventist university somewhat close to Buenos Aires).

Day 29 •• June 24

      I considered skipping classes today, with the excuse that I'm sick ... I'm glad I didn't. Today was the day that the seniors got their Letterman jackets. (Something you have you understand is, is that here they try to make any occasion an excuse for a party.) For the past while, they've been planning how to present the jackets. So they came up the idea to have a video contest. Each class made a video showing the class spirit towards the Argentinian World Cup fútbol team. They played the videos in the gym today. Each one was nice ... but when 5th's started playing there was a unique ending. A girl walked over to the group in the video with a trash bag. The seniors then turned and started to open the bag. That's when the video stopped. Then one of the teachers walked down the aisle with a similar black trash bag. He threw it up onto the stage at the front of the gym. A few seconds later two senior boys ran up to the stage and started to tear at the bag. That was our cue. Us seniors swarmed the stage shouting and throwing confetti. The jackets we distributed (unfortunately only half came in) and chaos reigned. After everyone calmed down, the 2nd grade (freshman) was crowned the winners of the video content and cake was enjoyed by 2 & 5. (Us seniors get included by default. Sorry Nicko!) 

     After lunch, a group of us gathered at the Rivera's apartment. Tomorrow we're supposed to present something at Wednesday night vespers. Myself, Sarah, Reiss and Kevin decided on performing How Great Is Our God. So we practiced at the music building until it was time for my Spanish class. After class, it was PE which I skipped due to my right knee and foot bothering me. Afterwards, we 4 gathered at the music building again to practice until supper. Tonight I skipped vespers. I'm feeling blahhh. Kinda like I did the first week I was here.

Day 28 •• June 23

     As soon as breakfast was over, we gathered outside of the library, trying to keep out if the pouring rain. Myself, Sarah, River and James had decided to accompany Mr. Rivera to Posadas. After Arturo dropped us off at the same bus station we had arrived in 3 weeks earlier, we acquired our tickets and boarded a bus for the hour and a half ride to the capital of Misiones. There, we discovered that no ride had been arranged for us, so we took a taxi to the Posadas SDA academy. (The same school that visited ISAM a week or so before.) While Uncle Andy sat through some meeting, us students were being interrogated by the 3rd level class (sophomores). We left the school around noon, going in two cars to the mall-ish place next to the bus station. After losing connect with the other car, myself, Sarah and James found ourselves at the mall with our driver (the school's chaplain) with no idea were the others were. Unfortunately, the chaplain had forgotten his cell, so we wandered around the stores for a half hour before we were reunited at the food court. Duh. 

     Anyhow, after eating lunch, we checked out the different stores for a little while before heading back to the bus station to arrange our return trip to ISAM. Once that was concluded, we took another taxi to a cheap shopping center near the bridge that connects Argentina to Paraguay. After browsing through the stalls selling numerous cheap goods, we walked over to the Parana  river and took pictures near Border Control. Around the time we finished our picture / video taking, it was 5pm. So we took another taxi (that meant us 4 students crammed in the back seat) to the bus station. Thankful, we caught a bus just as it was leaving. 

     By time we arrived in Alem, it was past suppertime, so we ate supper at the restaurant across the street from the school. We've become regulars there. It's hard to believe we have exactly a week left! Well, as of typing this, we have 7 days, 11 hours and 17 minutes until we arrived back at Dulles. Yeah, we're just slightly excited to come home. But at the same time, I wish we had another few weeks.

Day 27 •• June 22

     Yes, I know I've skipping quite a few days... but there's only a week left. I've done pretty well, right? But still, sorry! Friday was a chill out day. I slept in till lunch and then did nothing for the rest of the day. It was the beginning of a long weekend, so a bunch of students went home. Sabbath I woke feeling blahhh. So I skipped Sabbath School & Church to sleep. Also, I read most of Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom which I was borrowing from Carolina. What a great book. By lunch I was feeling better. We chilled for the rest of the afternoon. Today, I was able to sleep in till 11. I'm feeling better, but still kinda blah. After lunch we gathered at the the biblioteca to head to Termas de la Selva, a spa fed by a natural hot spring. The place was pretty great. There are three pools (hot, medium, warm). The medium temperature was nice for a while, but we ended up spending most of our time in the warm pool. (Also, we were treating it more as a pool than a spa.) The hot pool was too much for me, but by alternating between the medium pool and the cold shower, I felt quite alive. My congestion went away, thankful. We had a really nice time! 

     Unfortunately, the internet once again won't let me upload pictures to here, so check out my Instagram (www.instagram.com/autumnmott) for photos. 

    After supper, we gathered across the street at the restaurant to watch USA vs. POR ... and SVA provided us with the gift of an all-you-can-eat ice cream buffet. Heck yeah! Even though Portugal got that last goal (sigh), we still had a pretty nice time. Tomorrow, a few of us will join Uncle Andy as he goes to Posadas, the capital of Misiones, Argentina. That should be fun.

Day 24 •• June 19

     The dean turned the lights on in my room at 5:30am. We international students (and Carolina) ate breakfast at 6:15 and were at the library by 6:35. Then came the 4½ hour bus ride up to Iguazú Falls. We also picked up Nicole in L.N. Alem. (Which is the town near us.) We stopped a few times for bathroom breaks, and also to buy some food for lunch. When we arrived at the national park, it was close to noon. After getting our tickets from Arturo, we proceeded to the falls. A week ago, they had record flooding, so only a portion of the walkways were open. But it was still incredible, nevertheless! It's hard to explain how majestic the falls were. We walked around for a few hours ... we were supposed to view the falls for around 5 hours, but due to the lack of open trails, we only stayed for 3 hours. After buying souvenirs, we drove to a nearby town to buy supper. It was nice to have a day to just hang out with *English speaking* friends. That's probably the hardest thing at this point: not being able to fully communicate with our friends.

Day 23 •• June 18

     Sorry for skipping yesterday, but nothing really happened. It was just one of those days. So was today. Most of it, at least. Get up, eat breakfast, go to classes. Eat lunch, do whatever in the afternoon ... blah, blah, blah. However, today I was in the computer lab for 6 of my 8 classes. Yeah! Unfortunately, my computer was like the only one that had Facebook blocked. But I was able to work on my online Algebra class ... and add 90+ YouTube videos to my Watch Later playlist. No joke. I subscribe to a bunch of channels. However, YouTube doesn't load well here, so I have a ton to catch up on when I get home. After lunch, I hung out in the Rivera's apartment while Sofia slept. Watched part of a movie and read a little.

     At 3:45 she awoke, so I handed her off to Uncle Andy (who had just returned from teaching) and went to get ready. We were supposed to head into town at 4, but the bus didn't arrive till 4:45. (Typical Argentinian schedule.) In town, we bought some souvenirs, but mainly walked around with Nicole. When Arturo met us outside a shop, he informed us that we were going to be on TV. ¡¿Qué?! (I doubt I used the correct punctuation...) Anyhow, Nicole led us to the studio where we were introduced to the crew. It's a local show for youth called In Connect. First, Nicole was interviewed, then we students (and Julia) we brought in to be recorded. We were all asked some questions, then filmed seperately stating our names, ages, where we were from, etc... It was cool, except for the whole last-minuteness of it all.

     Afterwards, we students were dropped off at the restaurant across the street for supper. The Riveras were eating at Nicole's. We had a great time; each ordered a pizza, and we shared Sprint and Fanta. The wifi there is good, so we were all able to connect with home. It was nice to spend time as a group. We're all homesick at this point, but at the same time, we're disappointed that our time here is coming to its end.

Tomorrow we head to Iguazú Falls at 6:30am. I can't wait!

Day 21 •• June 16

    Waking up to Paulina's alarm has because normal, now. Her phone goes off at 6, the dean comes in a few minutes later... we all go back to sleep. Around 6:20, Pauline will get up and get dressed. When she leaves to brush her teeth, I get up. Usually, we're both leaving before Lucia gets out of bed. Most of the time, breakfast consists of cereal, and bread with jam. Every so often, we'll get a pastry. From breakfast we head straight to school. If you arrived on time, you'll stake your desk with your backpack, then head back out to the courtyard for flag raising. After the flags are raised (sometimes accompanied by the national anthem), we'll have prayer and a few announcements. Then classes start. Due to the light breakfast, by time 12:30 rolls around, everyone stampedes to the cafe. Lunch tends to be mediocre ... but still better than cafe food back in the states. To be clear, Argentinian food is not Mexican food. Yes, we'll have rice beans a few times, but on the whole it's just different from US food. What sorely is missed is hot sauce. While the food normally isn't bland, it definitely could use some Siracha. 

     As today was Monday, we exchange students had work in the afternoon. But after helping with Inglés class, Sarah and I hung out at the Rivera's apartment. I watched Sofia, and Sarah washed some clothes. I just chilled for the rest of the afternoon ... but after supper us American gathered and went across the road to the restaurant to watch USA vs. GHA. We had a great time. There was plenty of pizza, ice cream and coke to go around. And the US won... that's a plus.