weeks eight and nine

I spent a lot of the free time of my 8th week here with two teammates, Lucas and Tobias. They both live within two blocks of my house. Lucas would pick me up and we would head over to Tobias' house to play Winning Eleven Soccer on PC, drink mate, or talk about unexplainable events that we had experienced. I thought it was pretty cool that on my first day I could hardly say "yes I want to go to the stadium," and just two months later I was able to explain the time I saw a hand waving at me from behind the fireplace in my cottage. Tobias told a story about how a spirit called his friends and him "putos" through a ouiji board. Lucas told a story about how he was in his house, watching a game with his friend, and the lights cut out and they both saw a figure run across the room. It was nice being able to hold a conversation that specific.

After Winning Eleven or whatever we happened to do, we would hit the gym. The first day we worked really hard and I felt sore for two days after, but the other days were much easier. There was no soccer practice in week 8, because we had a week off. Lucas told me that Tobias is a master chef. One day he made us all pizza, and I saw that Lucas was right. I got sick the day after we had mate in Tobias' house, because the water was from the tap. My body still wasn't accustomed to the water here, so I was curled up in the fetal position under my covers the following day.

Tobias' older brother invited me to play in an 11v11 game with him and his friends, some local university students, on saturday of week 8. I was happy to accept that invitation. Tobias and Lucas came by my house before the game and we all walked over to the field. The first time I got the ball I intercepted a pass and beat the last defender, looked up and ripped one side netting. Lucas said "bien!" I proceeded to score two more goals in the game, marking my first hattrick in Argentina. I was wearing my Germany jersey, so they all thought I was German. They called me Alemania. My team won 4-2, and after the game I heard the other players saying "Alemania era buenissimo." (Germany was very good) I felt great.

We all walked home together and I told my family how it went. I went over to Valentina's house that night, and we ordered some ice cream. A delivery guy brought it to us and we ate it. Ice cream is so much better here! I think it's the cream that they use. Anyways, I went home that night and went to sleep.

Sunday of week 8 was Mother's day here. My mom's mom and my mom's sister and her husband and kids came over. We ate asado, which is like slow-cooked steak. It was great. Later that evening I went to Valentina's house again for and hour or two. On the way home I bought some flowers from a street vendor and gave them to my mom.

Week 9 was tough, probably the hardest week I've had here so far. I felt the most homesick that I have felt so far. I miss my brothers, I miss my parents, I miss my friends, I miss my pillow, I miss being able to understand people all the time. Sometimes when I feel down I think about how I am only 2 months down and 9 months to go, and I get very scared. I know I can do this, it's just impossible not to have some rough patches. Talking to my parents or brothers back home helps, but what seems to help me the most is talking to the other exchange students that I became friends with in the two orientation camps. It's amazing how deeply we can all connect with eachother. It is such a unique situation to be in, being on exchange, and sometimes the only people who can really understand are the people who are in the same boat.

On monday I had soccer training. We ran for 4 kilometers, did push-ups, sit-ups, etc. and then ran 4 more kilometers. After the first 4 kilometers, the coach passed a water jug around, but I couldn't drink it. I was absolutely exhausted when we finally finished running.

Tuesday was just a really bad day. That's all I want to say about it. Wednesday I had soccer practice but the field was such a wreck that the ball kept popping up on me, and on top of that we were in the dark again. In the scrimmage at the end I did some cool stuff, so I knew my teammates knew I was skilled. On thursday I had practice again. This time we were on a new field, if you can call a big dusty dirt strip a field, with a little more light. After this practice Luiz told me that my papers still weren't ready, and that I would only be watching this weekend's game. Dammit. But he also told me that he thinks I have very good technical ability and I am very quick to accelerate, so he wants me to be his "enganche." Enganche is the #10 position, like where Messi, Kaka, and Ozil play, oh and of course DIEGO MARADONA. My mind was racing on my way home from practice. "Wow a new position... but I have always been a forward... I can't believe he wants me to be his #10, that's so cool... I wonder if I can do it..."

I talked to my Force coach and he told me I could definitely do it. So that was that, he would know that the best. At first I wasn't sure what to think of the idea but now I am very excited about it. To come to Argentina to play the same position as Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona is just awesome. My coach told me after saturday's game that the girl in the club lost my papers. (Seriously Argentina is so unorganized) Well, great. I'm going to bring my information with me to practice tonight, though, and this saturday I will make my debut for Club For-Ever!