Might not be the best photo of the four of us... Especially because Nico is hiding behind me on the hammock. But I just wanted to say how much I love my siblings here in Tarija. When I applied for exchange I hoped I would get a 'good' family... I was not given a 'good' family... I was given the BEST family any exchange student could ever ask for.

Over these past 5 months they have not only become my host family, but they are part of my real family now and I of theirs. Nico moved to Canada 2 weeks after I arrived in Tarija, but he was a huge help in those first few weeks translating, introducing me to his friends and making me feel like I belonged. We still speak often over face time and I am so proud and happy for him as he is thoroughly enjoying his exchange year in Canada. Coky became one of my closest friends from the moment I arrived in Tarija. Being basically clueless in Spanish for the first month or so relaxed immediately because Coky acted as a teacher and translator for me. He also has become someone I confide in and I will miss our talks with him and his wonderful girlfriend Julietta (another close friend of mine). Ariana and I could probably tell you pretty much anything about each other... and I am not just talking favorite food's and animals... Words cannot even begin to describe how hard it will be not getting to see her everyday. She is an incredible girl and I cannot wait to see the incredible woman she will become as well.

Don't get me wrong we have had our up's and down's, but that is just a part of being in a family. The truth is, no matter what happens family is ALWAYS there for you, they will ALWAYS love you and they will ALWAYS have a special place in your heart and life. This photo was taken during my first week in Tarija... Nico, Ari, Coky and I were chilling outside. I was playing guitar and we were talking. I remember looking up from my guitar to see my mom snapping photos of us...

 Tomorrow is Friday January 20 2016. I will moving to a new host family in a different neighborhood in Tarija. It has been a difficult thing to imagine living with another family, and packing this week really hit me hard. But despite me living in another house (which will be a new and wonderful experience) it does not mean I will no longer see or spend time with my dear Aguirre family. I am sure I will still go to the Saturday market with my mom and Ari, and hopefully at least three days a week I will run after the gym to my old house and have tea or dinner with my family.

I just wanted to express my thankfulness and love to my beautiful first family in my exchange year. I know our lives will be intertwined forever and that there will hopefully be many visits in the years to come.

I was very surprised yesterday when I was reading 'Ultra Revista' (Tarija's Magazine/News Paper) from December when I saw myself in the section under my school (La Salle's) Prom Photo's. What a wonderful memory that I can have forever from a beautiful night with my some closest friends here in Tarija. 

Just a little throw back to those beautiful December nights in Sucre Bolivia with my equally as beautiful cousins Roberta and Rebeca. Standing up on Grandma and Grandpa Corral's upstairs porch, at 10 o-clock pm, having little impromptu photo shoots. The peacefulness and beauty of a quiet Sucre evening is simply breathtaking, definitely one of my most favorite memories from this whole year so far.

Over the past few days my mom and I have been spending lots of time in the kitchen preparing our most delicious and favorite pastries, beverages and meals. Sopa de Mani, Berry Smoothies and my Grandma Doerksen's incredible Apple Pie recipe. I love my mom so much and every moment we spend together I thank my lucky stars for having her as my first host mom here in Tarija Bolivia.

Ari and I have been spending lots of quality sister time lately and one of our newest adventures was to the Roller Skating Park two nights ago. We rented two pairs of roller blades and skated our hearts out for about an hour. It is a great community park and there are many talented and learning citizens all thrown together doing something fun. We had a great time minus Ari bailing in front of me and me tripping over her in the middle of the skating lane... However, I didn't realize just how much I had missed it until I was roller blading again... I think we will make it a weekly activity.

Welcome to my favorite place for Milanesa de Pollo and Hamburgers in all of Bolivia. Que Tiempos Aquellos, with Senor (Mr) Santos at the grill. My family comes here on a basis of two times a week... A Milanesa de Pollo consists of french bread, tomato slices, lettuce, breaded chicken breast, mayonnaise, ketchup, and an egg with a side of perfectly cooked, home cut french fries. Santos little restaurant is beside one of my favorite parks in Tarija, about block from my house. Yesterday night was my last time for a while visiting Santos because I am moving to a new host family on Friday and they don't know about Santos. But he made me an incredible Milanesa last night for my last one in a while.

This past weekend, my mom and dad had to make a rather quick trip to Sucre, Bolivia for my mom's best friend's dad's funeral. Ari and I were left home alone, with Coky (our 22 year old brother) and his girlfriend Juli. However they went out for most of the three days with their friends, so Ari and I fended for ourselves. We very responsibly took a taxi to the market and bought what we needed to make dinner and two lunches for ourselves. Above is our second lunch where Ari and I made Chicken strips/nuggets, noodles and a salad... which cannot be seen because we ate it first before I could take a picture. Ari and I also found ourselves buying a kilo of Ice Cream! Which was delicious and took us two days to finish... OK so not the healthiest choice... but it was a 36 degree week and we wanted sugar :) Ari and I also cleaned the house, did all the dishes and laundry, and had a sleepover/movie night for the whole weekend. I love my family so much!

 

Finally downloaded all of the pictures from one of the most incredible days of my life! On December 28 2016 I visited one of the worlds largest dinosaur parks! I went with my cousins Salvador, Roberta, and Stephanie, my sister Ari and we were accompanied by my Aunt Patti and my Uncle Sergio. Upon arriving at the Park my eyes bulged with excitement from the scenery... The giant rock face which can be seen as one is driving in, covered in 45 million year old dinosaur footprints is simply indescribable. After we payed we all ran to the museum with Dino teeth and a few fossils and boards explaining about the Dinosaurs which lived and roamed Sucre millions of years ago. But my second favorite part of our time at the Park was walking through the Dinosaur model park, listening to the dinosaur sounds and taking photos with the life size models. After that we ran to the trail head to grab hard helmets so we could go touch the footprints across the valley. It was a sketchy trek down the cliff side and because of the rain it made the journey even more difficult. However 20mins later we made it down to the middle section of the valley in one piece. The roadway which the 50 of us tourists where standing upon was a three inch mess of mud, everywhere you stepped you only would sink deeper. Because of this about 30 of the visitors including my whole family minus Stephanie began trekking back up the trail to get out of the rain and mud. Steph and I however somehow managed to make our way through the mud and pouring rain to the rock face and where able to touch some fossils. It was the experience of a lifetime getting out of their afterwards, and we were both drenched to the bone. But touching 45million year old footprints was an experience worth being cold and wet for. I bought a t-shirt, a ball cap and a poster and I will bring them home to show everyone in 6 months <3 Cannot believe I am already half way through my exchange! How time flies...

On January 2 2017 I was shocked to find out two more of my cousins would be staying with my family for six days! On January 3 I helped my mom prepare the beds and anxiously awaited Rebeca and Sergio's arrival. (Two more of my aunties and my older 33 year old cousin Mauricio came as well.) We had a jam packed week and a half of showing my cousins around Tarija, some of the events included visiting the Mega Center (Giant Mall), having a movie/pj party when our parents went out, and of course swimming in the huge pool at Hotel Los Parreles on my dad's birthday. We saw native parrots, ate a gourmet lunch and dessert, had a little impromptu photo shoot despite my sun burnt face and shared lots of laughs. I miss them already as they left only two days ago, but I am so excited for their next visit <3

Leaving Sucre was one of my hardest days so far in Bolivia. Saying goodby to all of my beautiful family that I had and have grown so close too in the past week and a half was super hard. I am actually quite sure I may have cried just as hard as when I left Canada. However upon arriving at the airport I knew it was going to be good going back home to Tarija as well. My mom and I made a quick stop in Para Ti Chocolates (For You Chocolates) to pick up some last minute chocolates, then we made our way through corrections and finally were lead out the door to our airplane, the photo in  the middle was Tarija while we were descending and preparing to land. Simply Breathtaking!

December 29 2016 I celebrated my 17th Birthday. For my birthday breakfast I ate a traditional Sucre breakfast of Empanadas with cheese, corn and grape tea. Then my mom and aunties surprised me by throwing me a tea party with both sides of my family. All of my cousins, uncles and aunts, grandparents, great aunt, mom and Ari were all there. It was incredible... My mom made me cupcakes, brownies and my grandma bought me a Mocha Cake.  I feel so blessed to have all the people in these people in my life and am so thankful for all of their love and support.

Christmas with my family was incredible... different but incredible. It was in some ways very much the same as Canada, I got to visit both sides of my family, open presents, eat delicious food and spend time with my cousins. Top to Bottom: 1) Christmas with the Aguirre Family: Coky, Mateo, Rafiela, 2) Me and Ariana. 3) Mateo and Me. Aguirre Christmas Tree and Presents. 4) Corral Family Christmas Dinner. 5 and 6) Corn and Beef Stew is a traditional Christmas Dinner here in Bolivia. So Delicious :)