Turning 18 Means a Really Bad Haircut

As you should know by now, turning 15 for girls here is a really big deal. But as some might ask, what about the boys? Don´t they get some big party as well? And that is where I would step in and explain that yes, they do have a party but unfortunetly it is not as...nice as what the girls get. For a guy in Argentina, turning 18 is a really big deal. They usually have a party with their whole family and friends and stay up all night getting really drunk. Only the next morning they almost always wake up with their hair shaved off or cut in random places. Generally you can blame their friends. :) It is a tradition that the guys have to shave off their hair when they turn 18 and normally us as party guests get the honor of chopping it off. I have been to two different birthdays where I got to wack at a guy´s hair with scissors and let me tell you, it was the worst looking hair ever!

The next morning most of them (if they are smart and don´t want to look stupid) go to the haircutters and have them shave it all off! It is always quite funny when I see someone with a shaved head because I automatically know that he must have turned 18 recently. Nobody likes short hair here so you can pretty much bet your money that that is why they shaved it. :) Anyways, just thought you might like to hear a little bit about something I learned recently. Enjoy the snow and cold weather! Today it got up to 98 degrees! Yay! Summer break just started and I am already boiling to death! :)

Once a Nerd, Always a Nerd

Yay! Summer break has finally arrived and now I can rub it all in your faces! You would not believe how hard it was back in July when I was stuck in school and everyone was off at camp and sunbathing. But now my time for revenge has finally come! Last Friday I officially finished school and until I get back in February, it is all summer, swimming, and late nights! The only thing left to finish in terms of school is the end of the year Mass, Assembly, and collecting all my notes and letters for my school back in the U.S. Last night we had our last Mass that I had to go to which was actually really nice. The best part though was when they announced the "Best Classmate" award for each grade. I had already known that my classmates had chosen me (that was why I had to go to the Mass afterall) but it was still really fun when I got to walk up infront of everyone and recieve my diploma award. Afterwards my family and friends and teachers congradulated me and hugged me and over all just made me blush a lot. This award is really just a silly tradition but for me it means so much more. You have no idea how hard I have worked to make friends here. Every day at school I had to struggle with the language and my fear of talking to people I didn´t know. It sucked some times but in the end it payed off. I also got so lucky! You would not believe how many exchange students only get along with one or two of their classmates and I get along with every single one!! I litterally have started introducing some of the other exchange students to my friends because everyone is so jealous that I have such an incredible class. Anyways, it was really sweet that they chose to honor me with the "Best Classmate".

But as the saying goes "Once a nerd, always a Nerd". As you might have guessed (or might not have because it is so freaking unbelievable!), there is one more award that my school gives out. The principal told me last night at Mass that at the end of the year Assembly I will also be awarded with the "Highest Grade Average" in my class. Yeah, let that sink in for a bit. I, Jenica, have recieved the highest grades out of a group of twenty four students, in a foreign language, and in many subjects that I have NEVER even studied before! And I hate to even say this but I didn´t even study that much.... :) So my reputation continues to stay in tact as a full out nerd, but atleast this time I am also a very popular nerd. :)