Asado

Last Saturday, the University and the "buddies" put on an asado (barbecue) for all of the intercambio (exchange) students.  There are about 120 of us form all over the world.  As far as I know, there are people from the US, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Finland, Australia, and probably more.  Some of them are in my classes, but for the most part I have not met them.  We also sometimes could see them when we go out, but thus far that has not happen.  Most of the US students live with families, while most of the students from other countries room together in apartments near the coast.  Both options seem fun to me: families for the cultural and linguistic aspect, rooming internationally for a different kind of cultural experience and to make friends with people from all over the world.

The asado was super fun!  It lasted from noon until 7 that night and included hanging out, meeting people from all over the world, eating, talking, dancing, games like sack racing, a dance competition in which people from our group won, and finishing the day with some football!

Below are photos from the day, starting with a view of the nearby lagoon when we arrived and as we were leaving.

Making new friends - Iriati (left) is from the Basque region of Spain!

El cocinero, Fernando - a student ambassador from UAI
When they say a barbecue, they mean TONS of meat!

Monkeyin' around

Playing some sort of German drinking game with los Alemanes.

See the football goal waaay back there? That's where we played and got
all muddy. But it was worth it because it was so fun.

Sack racing.  And they're off!

Dance competition!(Spain left, Belgium center, and Minnesota)

Gettin' jiggy wid it (and they won!)