When we lived in California there were very strict rules. No soda ever, ( I finally got to try at age ten ). No gum, no computer games, maybe some occasional Mind kraft, but that was it. There was no email so that was not a option. No video games either. I thought this was normal. Maybe every once in a while I asked for gum or ten min. of Friv. ( A video game website)  Maybe some of my friends got to do that stuff but mostly I was pretty sure what our parents did not let us do was normal.

That all changed when we got here though.

Of course when you are on vacation you eat more ice cream and candy ( Which we did, even though we were not not vacation). But we still had limits. I went to school on the first day with some carrots, seaweed, and crackers for snack. (Lunch was provided). When I took out the seaweed  I got a very strange look from a girl eating candy next to me and another girl with  three brownies. I was so embarrassed. Does no one else’s parents make them eat healthy? I wondered.

My mom is all into following Argentina customs, so I told her that if we were going to do those crummy customs like no dish washer, rack laundry drying, and not doing anything on weekends but visit museums. ( I especially hated that one). we should follow the fun ones like eating sugar all the time. You can probably guess the answer (no).

Sugar is not the only thing that is different though. This one has had a big impact on our family: slime. Before we came here I loved slime but I was not crazy for it, I never wanted to make it or anything. When we got here I noticed one thing: everyone has it. Some of my classmates, all of Maya’s. All the sudden I wanted to make it, Kuba wanted to make it, Maya wanted to make it. The problem with slime is that the ingredients are really hard to find when you have no idea were any stores are. We finally made it. My parents do not like fidget toys so they were not really on board with the idea of us taking it to school. They threw it away so now we want to make it again, it is a big circle.

My dad said that we could have sugar free gum now every once and a while so that rule was off. Now for the biggest topic, TV. Our parents are letting us watch Spanish movies whenever we want because they want us to learn Spanish and we had an occasional movie night but other than that no TV. I was trying to talk to a boy at school and I told him that I never get to play video games, or flop on the couch in front of the TV after school.( I read ).  I guess everyone does that stuff because he stared at me open – mouthed. Then he turned around and told his friend who gave me the same reaction. I was pretty shocked when the told me they get to watch every day.

With every day I began to see things that my family did not do, did not allow, or could do better of. I guess I sort of wish that my family was a little more normal, but with a crazy brother, a bubbly mom, and an embarrassing dad is that even possible? Maybe not. But a few changes would never hurt right? Maybe a video game every now and then. But I know that my family will never be normal, but maybe I can live with that.