Global Girl: Argentina

Hi! This is Charlotte, and I'm thrilled to introduce my new friend Camila! She's 13 and lives in Argentina with her family and two adorable cats. And you know what we have in common? Her parents used to live in France, just like me! Let's tango on down to South America and meet her.

Charlotte Ramsey: Hi Camila! If I ever visit Argentina, what are three places I should go see?

Camila: Click the pictures to see my favorite places! First you should visit Bariloche, in order to go skiing in the mountains and sightseeing. Then you should go to the beach at Carilo, and finally, you should see the glacier Perito Moreno in Calafate.

Charlotte: Wow, I wish I could jump right into that beach picture! Tell me one cool fact about Argentina.

Camila: Here, both Christmas and New Year's Eve are in the middle of the summer and that's when we have fireworks! Since Argentina is in the Southern Hemisphere, it's hot in December and snowy in July.

Charlotte: That's so cool. What do you and your friends do for fun?

Camila: We either go to the movies at the mall or to someone's house. In the summer, we get together at the swimming pool. My best friend's name is Marianela. We go to Tae Kwon Do classes together. I'm a white belt with a yellow tip. We also both like to sing.

Charlotte: What is your favorite type of music?

Camila: Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, Ashley Tisdale and the soundtrack for Casi Angeles.

Charlotte: What is Casi Angeles about?

Camila: It's an Argentine show production about some teenagers and kids who live in an orphanage and they have a band. And the house where they live has a sort of magic power, and a lot more things. I even went to the theater to see them last year.

Charlotte: Sounds like an awesome show. What is your favorite holiday?

Camila: My favorite holiday is Easter weekend because we don't have school on Thursday and Friday, and sometimes we go to the beach. On Good Friday, we can't eat meat, so we eat a tuna or spinach quiche. My family goes to church on Sunday and afterward, we eat Easter eggs and <i>Rosca de Pascua</i>, which is a cake with cream on top.

Charlotte: That cake looks yummalicious! Which of the BSG books is your all-time fave?

Camila: Charlotte in Paris, because when I was younger I learned French. My parents used to live in France, so I always wanted to visit it. Also, you're my favorite character, Charlotte, since I'm a lot like you! I love to write poetry.

Charlotte: Me too! Hey, I heard a rumor that one of your two cats is from France! Do you think he knows Orangina?

Camila: Maybe! Nuni is from France and Kitty is from Argentina. Nuni is all white and 17 years old. He came on the plane with my mom and dad when they moved back to Argentina after living in France for a few years. Kitty is five years old, half white, and half marmalade. Here are some pictures. Nuni is in the Barbie house where he usually takes a nap and Kitty is in my sister's toy stroller!

Charlotte: Hmm... maybe Nuni speaks French and Kitty speaks Spanish! Could you teach me some fun Spanish phrases that you use in Argentina?

Camila: Teenagers in Argentina use a lot of slang words like "A re," which means something like: "as if I would do that, LOL!" And here's a fun phrase to say: "Sos mi major amiga, que te diviertas en la fiesta!"

Charlotte: Okay, Isabel's been teaching me some Spanish, so let me try to translate: "you're my best friend, have fun at the party!"

Camila: That's right!

Charlotte: So are there any other Argentine traditions you'd like to share?

Camila: Everyone who comes to Argentina wants to see the tango shows! This picture of a couple dancing tango is from a show for tourists since we don't dance tango anymore -- it was popular with my great grandparents' generation.

Charlotte: Thanks for sharing so much about Argentina, Camila! And next time I see Orangina, I'll ask him if he ever met Nuni!