The coach journey to Mars De Plata was extremely long. We had set off at 8am and it was 2pm before the coach even stopped for lunch. We were all seriously annoyed at the early start, cramped coach, and lack of food so towards the end of the journey the upper deck was like a riot. We started having "rumbles" to deal with the boredom, where teams of 6 people from the year below at the front of the coach would have to try and get past us year aboves at the back of the coach and touch the back wall for a cash reward. Now there was serious money involved but the younger lads didnt stand a chance, so the task became one on one, and suddenly became very expensive. Anyway, a couple of coach seats broke, and the teachers were even more annoyed, so they didn't stop for food until 3, and cancelled our go karting the next day in favour of a city tour.

We ate at McDonalds, which was another thing for us to moan about (£2k to come and eat macca D's??) and then back on the coach for our boat trip. We went down to the port and had some time to spare so we went for a walk around when someone noticed a huge dog next to a fishing boat further down the port. It was massive, then when we got there we realised it was a huge sea lion!! I'd never seen one so close! And because he was a friendly one we all got to feed him fish and have our photos taken with him which was brilliant! We got on our boat and set off, hopefully to see some whales. We didn't see any and i got sea sick, went downstairs to find someone from the year below had put their ipod on and they were all dancing with eachother, the ship had become like a floating gaybar which the Argentinian tuck shop lady found hilarious. She could hardly speak when i tried to get some Rocklets off her. When the boat got back to port it was back on the coach and a 5 minute journey to our new hosts, Trinity College.

Trinity was a tiny school, and it turned out half of the hosts, mine included, didn't actually go to the school but just played for the rugby club. I was paired with a guy called Taddy, he was tall and obviously popular so it was no surprise he was the first team fly half. He didn't speak much english, he never did it at school because he went to a German College. He had spent a year in Berlin and was a fluent German speaker but i spoke none so we were kind of stuck. He had two younger brothers, one 16 and one 8, and two younger sisters, one 11 and one 3. His family was really nice, and they lived in a small house about 10 minutes drive from the school. From trinity we went back with Taddy's friend, Benjamin who lived nearby and was also hosting. He was an absolute monster, built like a square so they all called him Mosa which was Whale in Spanish. We spent the night there on Pro Evo and eating pizza, familiarising ourselves to eachother and all the Argentinian hosts as they all came round.

Next day the coach took us to an area a bit like a national trust site. There we were met by some instructors and we trekked up a hill and got these really good views over the plain of land, it could have been England, really reminded me of home, a flat version of the Lake District or something. Then we split into groups and did some rockclimbing on a real rockface, which i have done a few times with scouts, meaning i was by far one of the best, which was a nice change as I am by no means the best rugby player. After the rockclimbing the coach took us back into town and we had some time to kill so sat on a bench eating lunch when a load of Argentinian girls came over to us. What followed can only be described as awkward. They started trying to talk to us but didn't speak english, and we didnt know spanish so both groups would kind of stand facing eachother waiting until one of us would quietly say "Queso" (Cheese) and the girls would all burst into laughter. There was the usual small talk (Where you from? Staying? How Long? Girlfriends?) and then when they started asking names people started saying "Bumhole" and other things they wouldn't understand so in the end we just left. Back to the hosts, and a night at the scrum half's house with all my team mates.

Next day we got a city tour of Mars De Plata which went down with the Apple Factory as a complete waste of time. Its not much of a touristy town, there is a beach but its very cold, because of the port one side of town smells of fish, and it is block after block of high apartment buildings so the tour was ultimately a chance for sleep. We then went to the playing fields, got in an hours training and an hours rest then into the games, which we both lost although both teams did well really. So far not won in Argentina! After the game followed the usual food and presentation and then we all went home. The coach journey back was great, even though both teams lost we sang our hearts out and it was brilliant. That night we all went to the park whilst the Argentinians trained we had a game of touch in the dark which was cool, and then back to my host Taddy's for another BBQ which was so filling. I went straight to sleep as soon as everyone left.

Next day we got a guided tour around the school, spoke to some reception children, sang them an English song (school rugby chant) and then in the afternoon we went into the town. At night it was our last so all 50 of us and hosts went out for a meal, then to an Irish pub, and then a poolbar which was cool. Me and Taddy got a lift home of one of his mates and it was a good night. We were up early 5AM the next day, i left my presents and said my goodbyes.
I was sad because i could tell Taddy was alright but because of the language barrier we hadn't really bonded as much as we would have done and now i regret not getting any contact details. I could tell how much having me at his had helped his English though so I dont feel that bad about it!

A days travelling to Buenos Aires, then Iguazu for the world famous Iguazu falls!