Estancia Trip

April 25- Casa Holden

Wow life has been busy so sorry that I haven't written on this forever. We are getting down to the final days and so I have been super busy studying for finals, getting the last few assignments done and just trying to enjoy my last few days here in BA. But an update of last weekend...

Every semester Pepperdine does a Spiritual Retreat and so this semester I decided to go. And it was a fantastic trip. I for sure wanted to go to an estancia ( a ranch) before I left and so this was the perfect time to go... especially because Pepperdine was paying for it. Anyways, we didn't have class on Friday because of the retreat and so we got up early and met at the Casa at 9. I had gone out the night before for the last day of dancing at this club that we go to and so I was super tired but we got there, got a tour, hung out for like an hour before lunch, ate a delicious lunch of milanesa and then had the rest of the afternoon to do nothing so I slept and it was great. Everyone was really tired and so pretty much everyone slept. but then later that night before dinner we had a little meeting and one of the girls talked for a little while and then the coordinaters broke us up into our small groups. We all got journals that had a word written at the top and so we were supposed to reflect and write about that word and how our thought or perceptions etc had changed. So we did that for the first 5 words, then ate dinner and then met with our groups to talk. We were going to play some games and just hangout as a group that night but everyone was still really tired so after ending the groups at like 1 people just went to bed.

Day 2- One of the reasons the trip was so nice was because we just had time to relax and hang out. We weren't doing anything until like 7 that night so we all slept in and relaxed till lunch. then after lunch a few of us went and kicked my soccer ball around for a while and had fun playing a pick up game. because it was hot, we all jumped into this freezing cold, gross pool after which probably wasnt the best idea but oh well. it was for sure fun. then kelsey, amy and i went horseback riding for 30 min just around the ranch. my horse was super short and fat and so it was really fun to ride around on it. then after horseback riding we had more time to relax so i read while we all watched Daniel jump up and down and freaking out about the Spurs game. but then there was a meeting, dinner, and then small group time. and my small group was definitely tight. we deviated from the book and just talked about anything and everything. all the other groups finished really early and went to play games but we decided to just keep talking the entire night. i think we all talked for about 6 hours.

Day 3- Another relaxing day, because we didnt go to bed until like 3 we all slept till like noon. We had nothing to do that day besides listen to a speaker for a little and then eat an asado lunch where zach, amy, kelsey and i played cards the entire time. i for sure got addicted to playing cards while i was here. but anyways, then we headed home and i dont remember exactly what i did but i think i did homework the rest of the night.

the past week has been the only week that i have felt that i have really gone to school too. i had papers, and assignments and orals in spanish and then had to begin to study for finals. on thurs, i had 3. ugh. but then last night i went out to a bar and hung out with my host brother Eric. but then i had a spanish final at 9 this morning but it was an easy final. it was 3 pages long and all multiple choice which was great. i then went home and slept for a little and now i am back at the casa hanging out and getting a few things done before we head out and get dinner and spend the last few days in BA. So sad. I cant believe it is already time to leave.