Mis Aventuras At A Close

Well I have made it back to the States and have been here for 4 days. I feel rather displaced and don't really know what to do about it. It is a different feeling, and I have never felt it before so that stresses me out a little. I guess it is just the change of everything and the culture is completely different. I have been living in a really chill, rich cultured, family oriented environment and loved it. I realized that is the type of culture I really loved with the kisses on the cheek greetings and the relaxed environment. I feel everything here is loud and rushed. People are jerks and families are not as close. I missed my family so much so that is really what keeps me happy. I am looking forward to my new life in Central this fall with some really great people and a house that isn't for parties. I get to have my own room and just live with some adults. Not that stupid teenage stuff I have dealt with in the past.

Granted the adjustment sucks but I am really trying my best and each day gets better. I've also had my first legal beer tonight. I enjoyed a coors light with my Daddy, and can't wait to go to dinner and celebrate with my parents and sister for my 21st.

I learned so much during my months abroad, and will hold all the experiences and lessons with me into the future and next year. I am ready to embrace Natalie and I am finally completely comfortable with who I am and know myself. It took me 21 years, but that's alright. I've always been a little different, but love life being one big school adventure that is useful. I have my family and the people in my life whom genuinely love me for me, and I could not be happier knowing that. I started swimming again, and my heart and body is happy and the negative energy I felt since getting back and with my travels at times is leaving. It really is just me and my soul in this crazy world of life, but I can't wait to continue learning and accomplishing what I started. Thank you everyone once again for your support and love. I have enjoyed it, and might start a new blog for my 21st year. But this is a part of my past that will be with me forever, but I want this to be of my 20th year. Not the future also. I am going to succeed. Who is with me? Vamonos.

Guatemala Blog Numero 2

(Written 6, June 2011)

I absolutely love being on Vacation. I went with Marisol to get our nails done earlier this week, and it felt super nice to get that pampering. We then got coffee at the cafe and just relaxed. I went shopping for the first time in many months and got some new shirts for my birthday from my mother and father.

We went to Rio Dulce where Marisol's family has a bungelo and we stayed there for the weekend with some of her friends. It was extremely humid, but fabulous to be in a tropical area and just swim and hang out for 2 days. Her friends were so nice and we talked in Spanish and played cards. I actually got into a 3 hour long Eqyptian Rat Skew battle with Francisco but eventually won. Then we got back and hung out for a while and played spoons. I leave for the states tomorrow, and I can't believe it. Time went by so fast, but I am excited to see my family. I just hope my Spanish doesn't deteriorate. But I won't let that happen. Good night everyone!

Guatemala Blog Numero 1

(Written 30, May 2011).

Well, here I am finally back in Guatemala with my Guatemalan family after 4 years. I can not believe how much we all have grown up and are picking up from where we left off. However, now we are all talking in Spanish, and I feel a deeper connection with the people I love, and love having that connection and love at the end of my South American adventure. I even had the once in a Lifetime opportunity to celebrate my 21st birthday with this family and my friends. It was pretty low key, but everyone being with me today made it one of the best birthdays. We went out to breakfast and lunch at Taco Bell then went go carting and back to the pool house toe at dinner and cake with coffee. Then we sat in the hammocks and talked then I skyped with my family. Not the drunken 21 run that most people have, but it was really nice. I also cannot believe how nice it is to have a hot shower and just relax. Not having to work or volunteer but just enjoy my last 10 days south of Washington. We are going to Rio Dulce on Thursday until Sunday then I leave Monday to re-join my past life. I have a direct flight from Guatemala to LAX, so that should be nice. Hoping culture shock won’t be too extreme, but I do really miss Argentina. It’s alright, I’ll be back but right now, I’m excited to work and see my family and close friends again, and just be me where I am in life and finish what I started. 

Peru Blog Numero 7

Well I finished up my time in Peru with going on the jungle trek to Machu Picchu with 17 people from Ireland who were all graduated and class mates. They were really nice, and I loved hanging with them. I blended quite well, and even picked up on the accent a little. It was a strenuous hike across mountains, giant rock hills of death, rushing rivers, and incan steps. It was so much fun and amazing to see the abandoned city of the Incans. I was overwhelmed with how big it was and just sat and stared in awe. My camera broke on day 2 of the trek, so I have no photos, but hopefully I get some from the others in my group. But I was there.

Then on returning back to Cusco, I headed to Pisaq in the sacred valley of the incans, 30 minutes away. I went to work with an incan family on their farm, and I loved it. It was refreshign to be in a place that didn't just want my money, but wanted to teach me things and work with me. They treated me like a daughter, and I even learned some Qechua the native language. Elke came to join me and we hurded a llama and alpaca and picked beans and corn. It was extrememly cold at night, but the hut we were sleeping in was warm and the days were really hot. I loved being so in the middle of nowhere just being.

Then once again in Cusco I couch surfed with a girl named ViVi and her family, and I had a great time. They even took me out and made me dinner. I slept in a bed and showered, and it felt nice to begin my vacation that way. Now I am writing from the El Salvador airport waiting to go to Guatemala. I know this is short and sweet, but there is too much to expand on. When I get back, I'll tell you about some of my journal entries and everything. But Guatemala here we come.

Peru Blog Numero 6

Por fin in Cusco, and I had no idea where I was going. I had heard the hype of it all and how beautiful it was, and that is true. It is a beautiful city with a lot to do. But what you may not have heard, it is one of the poorest and most dangerous cities in Peru and South America. Don't worry I'm safe, and not stupid, but the reality is, this isn't a city of "oh look at us we have Machu Picchu and tourists and everything is happy, as it is portrade in Plaza de Armas. There is a McDonalds and beautiful gardens and police, so it appears safe and keeps the toursits coming. Which in reality is good for the economy, but that is not the real Peru.

I am in love with the volunteer project I am working with, and the children are wonderful and so sweet. These kids come from working class families of abusive, drunkeness. The families don't have money because usually the father spends all the money he makes on women and alcohol. While the majority of families have satellite television and cable, most don't have a fridge to keep their food in. The influence of western culture is so prominent that they feel to be happy that is what they need. A bigger better television, and don't really know what priorities are. That is where we come in. Los voluntarios de amor at the Yanapay school spend 4 hours a day with these children after school to love on them, and teach them how to live better in simple circumstances which in the long run is cleanliness and education. Most of the children can not read or write, and I am one of the tutors so everyday I work with 4 students 30 minutes each and help with reading and writing and math. We play games and use flash cards. Sometimes I just read to the little kids, but they are learning and getting something they probably don't back home. Then we have a circle of expression and they talk about events in the world and how they are feeling about the classes. Then there is 5 minutes of craziness. My favorite. I taught them the penguin song yesterday and they were so cute dancing to it. Then we go to our family groups (mine is the older kids 11-13, the dinosaurs) and talk about the theme of the week. This week is Christianity and we are doing the parable of the Prodigal Son. We are doing a skit thing today (Friday) and it should be pretty good. We have props and they are excited. Then the children have milk time and then go back home around 7.

It is a great program, and everything is like a story book. Lots of bright colors and fairies and stuffed animals, etc. I am in love with the children and leaving always sucks, but I know I've made a difference and can't wait to see where the program goes from here. 

Peru Blog Numero 5

In my last week at the orphanage, and I'm actually sort of sad. I had a very good day today and am really going to miss the babies I realized. Geraldine was absolutely adorable and my little buddy all day. She just loved being with me, and we played and walked around all day. I read her Green Eggs and Ham in Spanish, and she loved looking at the photos. It made me feel good when we were getting the babies ready for bed and she just wanted me to hold her and we were having a mini conversation. She is so social and will talk to me in baby talk and when I ask her something she responds with ya or other agreeing sounds. She does this thing like a little gasp when she sees something she likes or just when I do it too. She is so smart and just a funny baby. I would adopt her if I could and if a couple from Switzerland weren't wanting her. But it's alright, I have enjoyed having her be my little buddy during my time here. 

I also one day came across a green power-ranger action figure, while spending time with some of the older young kids and sang the power theme song, well just the "Go Go power rangers." And the kids absolutely loved it and now they want me to sing it a dozen times each day I'm there. It is also really cute how when I leave they try to block the door from me leaving, and love giving me hugs and kisses. It's moments like that I realize this is what volunteering is about. Just being yourself and loving on the kids. It doesn't matter who stands in your way or tries to bring you down, it's all you and making a difference. 

Update on this last weekend. Me and Elke went to the centro and just hung out and then went to Cusco Coffee, which is essentially Starbucks, but better. :) And on Thursday she and I made a gratuitous amount of popcorn the natural way with 1/2 kilo of un-popped kernals. It was funny because they were jumping everywhere, and we were calling each batch different species and have just started to refer to things of different types by species. We all in the house do that. It's pretty great. There is also a restaurant called Tacos y Tequilas, and it is my favorite place to go for food. I'm going there my last night here. At least I'm hoping. 

I have also learned to make cool south american bracelets and can't wait to bring them back and maybe sell them like a hippy at the Puyallup Farmers Market or something this summer. I love how much I'm learning, and 25 more days until Guatemala!

Peru Blog Numero 4

I am in my 4th week of being here in Peru. I am so proud of myself, for sticking to it and learning and growing. It only took me 2 weeks to get acclimated to my surroundings, and I can go anywhere and know where I am. I went to the school on last Wednesday to help out on my day off. It was the last class before Easter, and we had an Easter egg scavenger hunt and the children figured out clues in English. Sometimes I had to translate, but the kids were adorable and had fun. Li another volunteer from the program dressed in this huge bunny suit and was the "Easter Bunny." The kids loved it so much and almost tore him apart because of the joy. We gave them candy, and it was neat seeing them have fun because with the poor area they live, they don't get many treats or people in bunny suits. Teaching english is really hard, but I admire how well the other volunteers do. Especially Li and Jess with the small kids.

I had a nice weekend working at the orphanage, because I had a light bulb moment, and just realized how to do everything right, and now I'm not as nervous, and can tackle my last 2 weeks. The children are adorable, and even though they are teething and crying more now, I still don't mind as much being there taking care of them. And changing dipers is second nature for me now. Especially cloth ones. I am just so happy taking care of the babies. They all have distinct characteristics and personalities. My favorites are Geraldine and Orlando. Geraldine is so smart and laughs all the time. She also will have these moments of just sitting and being pensive. She'll stare into space and obviously be thinking about something. She also just laughs whenever she falls down while trying walk. Orlando is 3 months old, and has the most amazing head of hair. So much of it, and it is often styled in fo-hawk. He spit ups a lot, but is so squishy, and I just love holding him and giving him his bottle. Usually that is the most fun part. Feeding the babies. Geraldine is the best eater. What I love about Orlando is he'll cry when something is wrong. Not just because he gets attention.

I have the rest of my plans for my time in Peru basically planned out, so that is encouraging to see, but also a bit sad since I have my plane ticket home. What an odd thought to not know about my life in the states and to be going back there. I have signed up to do the Machu Picchu jungle trek for 4 days and 3 nights. I get to mountain bike, hike through a jungle and up to Machu Picchu. So jazzed for that adventure, and that begins the 15th of May. I'll post what it's like at the end of that week probably. 

Peru Blog Numero 3

Well I survived the most epic week of my life. It was a continuous movement of working with the babies at the orphanage and my volunteer friends leaving. I worked both days this weekend in the morning on Saturday for 5 hours and on Sunday afternoon for 5 hours by myself. Yep I watched 4 babies two days in a row sola. It was the most stressful hard weekend I've had I believe. Especially with the tias always yelling at me for not doing everything perfect even though the children are safe. I literally am scared to do anything because I don't want to be yelled at. They are very stern and care about the well-being of the children, but sometimes are a little over board. I wouldn't mind doing something different or being told to do it a specific way, but with kind words. They literally just yell at me and say I'm wrong then go on and on about why it's bad. All they have to say is Natalie please do this instead because that is what we are working for. I'd be fine. A gentle word turns away wrath, but sometimes I have to be snippy to let them know I was doing what they asked just had to change it a little for my well being. It's excellent character building and I thought I had worked with the hardest people ever in my past, but nope. These ladies are even harder so I am definitely going to use them in a story or play some day, and keep getting stronger.

Today I had a great moment of realization and a ha I know what I'm doing so suck that tia. One of the babies (Orlando) was crying and being fussy. I was working with some other children like I was told, but heard him being fussy so I went to check on him. Then one of the older orphan girls asked who was taking care of the babies, and I told her the Tia Daisy was because she was in the other room with the babies and said she didn't need my help. But the girl (Claudia) just passed orlando to me and I remembered from my day of soloness that it was time for his bottle so I made it for him and instantly started feeding him with it and he got chill and smiley. Then Daisy came in ready to glare and take control or yell at me and I was just sitting there with a happy feeding baby in my arms with this huge "what now" look and she closed the door. Needless to say he spit up on me 2 times, but it is alright. I was proud of myself, and that kept me going strong the last 2 hours.

I am really ready for my 3 days off and can't wait to just have me time to explore the city and eat at restaurants and read and buy groceries. I also made a delicious black bean chili and rice for dinner. Yay cooking skills coming into play. Well kind of. Bought my ticket to Guatemala. Can't wait to see everyone May 27th. 

Peru Blog Numero 2

Honestly, I don't know why I am still up. I have to be at the orphanage at 8am to help take care of the babies. Everyone went out tonight, and I'm exhausted so I didn't, but I'm up to the point I could have gone out. I had a really good day today though. I worked in the afternoon at the orphanage, and helped with the babies for a little bit, then spent the majority of the time helping the older children with their homework. I was helping Anna with her cursive, and after awhile she got tired of doing it, and refused to do it. So, to help her finish it I started doing it ridiculously terrible. All over the page and just being silly. Then she said, no like this "tia." And showed me how to do it correctly and therefore finished her homework. They call all the volunteers and ladies that live with them Tia which is aunt in spanish. I think it's cute, and at the end of the day when I was leaving they were giving me hugs and holding me tightly and not wanting me to leave. I love working with older children, and have officially decided I don't want a baby right now, and not for a long while, and I am going to stick to working with kids older than 5 whenever I can. I like the babies, but I just connect better with the bigger kids, and I am excited to work more afternoons.

Well to get to the orphanage, I take a small van-like bus that is usually filled with people. It is imposible to stand up without almost falling over on someone, but everyone is pretty chill about it. Just a normal part of life in Arequipa. Everyone takes the buses to get to work, the store, home, and school. Even elementary children ride it with me. I'm getting less stares, but it still is funny when the little ones stare at me like I'm a celeb or something. Just because I look very different then what they see, and the only times they see people like me is on the tele. I love just doing things that are apart of the culture in a city. It is getting easier for me to get comfortable in new settings. The best thing about the bus is that in order to get off you have to yell "baja" which means "down" in spanish, and that lets the conductor know to stop the bus. Then you scramble to get off while handing your coins to the conductor's aid.

I am feeling more comfortable and the other volunteers are still really cool and we all get along well. We have a volunteer dinner tomorrow night, and I am excited for that. We are having chili. I made some rice and black beans with lemon, pepper and salt for dinner tonight, and it was very delicious. Yay me for cooking something other than pasta. Anyway, I am going to bed now feeling tired. Got to be ready to help those babies tomorrow,and need my energy to change those poopey cloth dipers. 

Peru Blog Numero 1

Well after 1 long bus ride, 8 hours of sleep in 2 days, 3 subway rides, 4 sad see you laters, over paying a taxi, and 1 broken backpack strap later, I'm in Peru. Alive with all my minimal belongings and waiting to see what will happen. I extremely miss Argentina, and my family right now. It just hit me, but I think the lack of sleep and stress have increased my emoness, or something. I'm hoping after a very long sleep tonight and another nap tomorrow probably I'll feel much better and able to get my bearings of where I am. But on first thought, the volunteer house is nice enough, and the people are seeming to be nice. But there aren't many of us here now cause the other volunteers are at the beach for the weekend. The majority of the volunteers are from England though so that is interesting, but no one speaks Spanish really here at the volunteer house. I'm gonna try to push it a little I think so that I can still practice, but hey England. I'm the only person from the states so that's different too. I have an orientation and interview on Monday to discuss what I'll be doing specifically in this volunteer program, so I'll post later when I know. I actually have a closet, drawers and a shelf. It is nice to un pack my backpack, and organize my stuff in a more home like setting. But I am really ready to stop being a nomad. My friend Dani has been doing this for 2 years, and I admire him so much, and really miss him bunches. We WWOOFed together at the finca in Argentina, and laughed all the time, and I wish I could chat and laugh with him now. I'm battling loneliness a little, but am doing just fine. Just tired of being the newbie, and having to introduce myself and talk with everyone and make friends or at least people to hang with. I'm excited to go on some hikes here and just be in nature and explore.

Hindsight, the people of Peru are darker skinned, so I obviously will stick out. That is different to the way I blended a little better in Chile and Argentina, but hey I belong here and will embrace my gringaness and go with it. :) yay sunscreen. but I am about .5 shades darker so that's a plus! Love you guys. miss you.

Argentina Blog Numbero 7

Well the life of a WWOOFer is great. I love the other volunteers and what we get to do is so rewarding. I haven´t ever really gotten a change to work in a setting like a farm or working so hard with like minded chill fun people that at the end of the day we are exhausted, but drink tea and chat in spanish then go to bed by 11pm. I love it. I also love the freedom of not having to bathe, shave or even brush my hair. Everyone is smelly, sticky from apple juice, and covered in dirt. All our clothes are stained, and we continue to wear the same thing every day. I just love that atmosphere, and making juice is wonderful. We do it for about 5 hours in the morning switching between all the jobs and machines, then again in the afternoon for about 6 hours. I am in love with it. I never knew it was so much work to mass produce juice, but we make over 1,500 bottles of juice each day and it is all natural. Literally pressed fresh apple guts. You would think by now we would be sick of apple juice, but it never gets old, and at the end of the day the foamy stuff we drink at dinner. I am still so happy with the place I am, but I am sad to say my adventure in Argentina is coming to a close. By this time next week I will be in Peru to begin my next adventure helping children in an orphanage, and doing more growing as a person. Also I have been going by Nata here in Argentina for about 3 months, and really love my name being that. So I´m gonna keep that up even in the states. A new identity for a new me and I am still going to take Washington by storm. I am so jazzed for Guatemala to see my friends there. I great end to a wonderful year.

Life Again.

Well I´ve successfully completed 7 months and a couple days of being away from the USA. But to be honest, I´m terrified to go back home. I am so scared to go back to a place I feel I don´t belong. I know it sounds drastic and I´m only 20 years old, but with every fiber of my being, I know I don´t belong there. Since I know that, my heart and spirit is a little sick. I am excited to see my family and hang with some of my good friends, but in reality, I feel I´m not going back for me. I´m going back for them. I love Argentina, and really feel a connection here, and that I belong here. I´ve gone 20 years of my life feeling like I didn´t belong anywhere, and now I finally realize that is not true. I belong in Argentina. I know I still have many places to visit and maybe that will change, but the states are not for me. I don´t know what will happen this year at school, but I am really battling with the fact I feel I´m not going for me. I am tired of doing stuff for other people´s sake, and just to please them. I love the people in my life that love me for who I am, and will always love me. But I know there are people I am acuainted with that if I changed or did something ¨wrong¨they wouldn´t like me anymore. In fact, I´ve come accross those relationships and don´t want to deal with the shit that people put me through because I´m not perfect. Get over yourselves, and take me for what I am and who I was meant to be. I´m done with the drama of people in their white bread worlds, and when I do come back to the states to finish what I started so that I can move to a new life, I am taking it by storm and with my family and dear friends by my side, and my excellent self, nothing is every gonna bring me down. So suck that haters.

Argentina Blog Numero 6

When they said the apple doesn´t fall far from the tree they clearly had never picked up apples from the floor of an apple orchard with over 20 large trees. That being said, I have been spending the month of March working on an organic farm in Vista Flores, Mendoza, Argentina. La finca Pelegrino. The family I work with are all living in the same land in different homes, a mother and her 2 children and their spouces, her ex husband, and volunteers. The family sells the produce at a natural market on Saturdays in Mendoza which I helped out with yesterday. Definitely different then El Bolson, but still wonderful. People would come to talk to Anna the lady in charge whom knows so many things about your body and how to be healthy naturally. She is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met, and I love watching how much she loves her food and the people she helps and lives with. The other people in the market sold organic honey, and beauty products and other produce and wine. I loved talking to them all about their products and such. Also did you know that there is black honey and white honey? It just depends on what type of flower is pollonated. Interesting huh? Black honey is pretty good I must say. Not only just helping at the ferria,  I have been clearing apples from the floor of the apple orchard to get the prep ready for apple vinagar, and fresh apple juice without sugar. It is soo good. I am addicted and would love to make it when I get home. I am learning that you don´t need additives like salt, sugar or other junk to have delicious food. We have been eating a strick vegetarian and vegan diet here and its not that bad. We eat a lot of vegetables, and fruits and occasionaly whole wheat pasta. I really love nights we have pasta.The family is all vegan, but us volunteers get bread and eggs sometimes at meals which I really like. What my day looks like is this. We wake up at 7:30 am and meet up at 8 for breakfast. Then around 8:30 we do our first job of the day usually until 12ish. This job includes canning vegetables, cleaning the work shop we work in doing such, clearing apples from the ground or picking vegetables and fruits. Then we have lunch and get to rest until 4. I usually take a nap or read Harry Potter. but generally  we are all to tired to do anything really. Then at 4 the second job begins which includes, clearing more apples, picking apples, or making pasterizors for the jucie jars. Eventually in a week or so it will only be picking apples and making juice. So that will be the most interesting, but also the most stressful cause all the apples have to be picked. Luckely there are 11 volunteers from all over that are fun to work with. I am still very happy here, and love Argentina. I am still planning to come home, but leaving is getting harder and harder each time I think about it. I never thought I could fall in love with a place and culture and people as much as I have with Mendoza, Argentina, but I have, and will definitely come back.

I still can´t believe I´ve been gone for almost 7 months. Time has flown by, and I´ve changed so much and can´t wait to share my stories with you all when I get back. I´m going to continue living in the momen t and enjoying where I am at this moment.

Argentina Blog Numero 5

Well after a turn of events I made my way back to Valdivia after spending 2 nights in Neuquen to recharge. I am so happy to be here again with my friend Consuelo and her family. I'm so spoiled with a shower, free food and the opportunity to spend time with my dear friend. We went to a feria today and it was really neat. there were artesans from all around the world. Russia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Rapa Nui and of course Chile. I desiered to buy the chocolate, but alas didn't have money. It was alright though, we had fun anyway. I also enjoyed a manjarita which is a packet of manjar that all the chilean children have eaten, so I am now an offical chilean child. Haha We walked around outside, and at the Jugo Natural stand the girls were dancing and having a blast selling their juices. It was so neat to see and the stand was beautiful. Now, tomorrow I'm going to buy my bus ticket to Santiago, and take a night bus there then go to Vina del mar y Valpareso. I'm so jazzed too see the coast finally and then Mendoza! I can't wait. It's been a great time here, and I'm so blessed to have the people in my life that I do. Thank you all for touching my life. I wouldn't be where I am or the person I am today with out you. hearts.

Argentina Blog Numero 4

Well I have had a crazy last few weeks. First off, I was told I had to leave my farm/artesan house because the owner was going to let the teachers of this big bio construction event live there. So Lizzie and I had to find somewhere else to live almost instantly. So we went and found an availability in re-claimed Mapuche land to help out 4 generations of Mapuche women get the land looking nice again. We were joined by our friend Sarah, and we were camping out for about 3 days and helping build a fence and learn about the Mapuche ancient people culture. Then we were told we had to leave because the daughter Claudia had to leave to go look after her husband, so no one would be there to keep us safe or help us if necessary so we went to her aunts house camped out for about 4 days in her "yard." We were living in her house and cooking vegetables and even got to watch TV. haha then we decided to go to Bariloche Argentina where we are currently. We have been walking about the city and eating chocolate, and went on a wonderful hike today to a beautiful lake called Lake Munoz and did yoga in the forest, which I must say was wonderful. Yoga should be done outside in nature more often. It has just been random and it's weird not working, and just traveling. I'll be getting back to work at an orchard in March in Mendoza one of my favorite hippy towns in Argentina. I'm really excited for that to learn more about apple harvesting, and permacultura.

I'm doing really well, and enjoying my adventures and can not wait to update more about what is going on in my life. Not much really right now just traveling and enjoying the life of a vagabond. Don't worry I'm being safe too. hearts.

Argentina Blog Numero 3

So yesterday we woke up around 10 and hung out for a couple hours in our little casita. Me and the 7 other volunteers whom I live with in a house built for 2. 1 girl named Sarah from Canada, 2 boys Benito y Batist and 1 girl Adeline from France, 1 boy from Germany Mich, and a boy Eli and his cousin Lizzie from WA DC. We all get along well, but definitely too many people living in the house. But it was Eli's birthday yesterday, and Juliet's a couple days earlier and Simon's in a couple days so we had a big party in Rio Azul. The place of bioconstruyendo where they are building a self sufficiant community. Really neat. We worked there and then in the evening were going to have a party/asado. The asado was going to be goat. Now, and interesting fact about getting meat in Argentina is you can go somewhere and buy the animal to kill it yourself. That is what we did. Simon, Eli and Juliet split the cost of the goat and we bought it and brought it to Rio Azul. Then after lunch we went into the woods and Simon with the help of Pastor killed the goat. I watched, and found it interesting that so much of the world eats meat, but doesn't see the process it goes through. Especially from a living animal to your plate. What we did before the goat was killed, was thank it. I did not feel sorry for it, I thanked it and God for providing the animal, and wished it's spirit into the woods of where we were. Now, having been thankful and not sorry it was comforting to see it killed. I wasn't sad. But the goat did cry out when it was dying, which was hard to listen to, but I was just thanking it, and praying for God to give it peace from the pain as it was feeling it. I never thought I'd actually see this happen in my life. It's so easy for me to just go to a store, buy some meat and cook it. But seeing the process was eye opening.
I'm still happy in Argentina, and will be going to a new farm in 2 weeks then to Mendoza, my favorite hippy town for March then off to Peru from April through the end of May. hearts.

Argentina Blog Numero 2

I've been here almost 1 month, and I can't believe how fast it's gone. It feels just yesterday I arrived and was greeted by a loving artesan family and started setting up my bed, and finding my way around the new and different city. I went to the grocery store and successfully got lost on the walk back, but asked for directions on my way back from a hotel, and it all worked out. I made it back. Now I know where everything is. I can find a taxi, get a drink, go to the feria (farmer's market) and even fix an old violin. Which to do so I went to find the store, went into the taxi place to ask for directions to a music store, adn the man working there made violins. So he fixed Pastor's old violin and I played it a little. Not a great sound, but decent. I have learned how to cut wood for windchimes, and assemble them and the cascadas. I don't know the name in english. My favorite thing I've done is paint mariposas (butterflies) and making a wall out of sand, dirt and milk. Smells terrrible but scalpling it more or less was fun. I am still very happy here, and the people are awesome. THere are a lot of people living in our volunteer house now, but I'm making due. Finding time by myself and writting and reading when I can. I made no bake cookies today, and everyone loved them. Maybe I should sell them at the market or something.

The way of life here is very chill. Everyone takes their time and it's not all about go, go, go. It's about quality time, and creating things with your hands. I feel so blessed to be in a place like this, and learn things like how to make an organic adobe house, and create windchimes, and construction. Something I have not much experience with. Now, we are hanging out with the volunteers from Rio Azul (the sight of bio construyendo) and the people of my casa. We are all going to go out tonight, and I'm excited to see the night life of Argentina a little bit. I haven't gotten to expirience it much. I am going to be moving on to a different farm next month hopefully, so we'll see where that puts me. HOpefully more in a farm doing farm work and organic farming and less construction. But I'm learning something interesting, and can successfully use a lighter now too! WOop that is an accomplishment. Also, my new favorite thing is liquados. Which is banana, ice, and milk blended together. So good, and I recomend anyone reading this trys it. hearts.

Tips for the WWOOFer

1. Sunblock
2. Bandana: perfect for pirateness, can get wet and put on your head to cool off, use as towel (my fav usage since I lack one)
3. Sleeping bag and extra blanket
4. Good hiking boots or walking shoes
5. Work gloves
6. Water proof jacket with hood
7. Kaki pants/shorts
8. Dark t-shirts/long sleeves

Thoughts in Argentina

So on Monday I had my cash stolen from me totaling 300 US dollars. It was in my backpack not out in the open in a bandaid box. I assumed it would be fine, but when I returned to my room that evening my money and crackers oddly enough were missing. I was upset obviously and have no idea how it disapeared. Then I started thinking, well I have my passport and debit card, and my health and family. Then I continued pondering, it's just money right? God will provide whatever I need, and while this sucks, there are many worse things to have happen. I could lose a member of my family, or get seriously hurt. Here I am in another country with a savings account that has enough money to keep me going until I get home, and then I have the oportunity to work to get my missing money "back," and I feel I'm selfish. I remembered my friend Nichole, and how her brother Logan drowned last summer, and I know she would pay $300 or even $1,000 to have him back, and exchange getting money stolen to have him back. I have all my family and my little brother. How can you price a life, or even a trip. I never have thought of myself as a woe is me person but I had that moment, and there is not a reason. Nichole even keeps moving on in life, and is one of the strongest people I know. There isn't always a reason for bad things happening, but it is important to keep moving forward, and hopefully whoever took my money turns their life around.

Argentina Blog Numero 1

Well update and notice that my blog now has a new section about Argentina. My time in Valdivia was absolutely wonderful, and I really miss everyone. The highlights of my last week was going to the beach with Pablo and playing cards, Christmas with my host fam, New Years in La Union, and my last night at El Bunker with my awesome Chilean friends. I successfully sent 2 boxes to the US and ate some delicious ice cream that was chocolate and vanilla mixed at a side shop on the street in Valdivs. Last night I had this weird feeling and was unsure of where I had felt it before cause it was familiar. Then it hit me as the night before the first day of school, and I haven't felt that feeling for years. But with my awesome Spanish skills and the aid of Consuelo and a yummy chocolate cereal for breakfast I made it to El Bolson to where I am going to be WWOOFing and I am excited. I feel it will be so much fun. I lost my sleeping bag though somehow, so I'm frustrated about that but now I have to go buy a new one which sucks, but what can you do right? At least I still have my pasaporte so I can get to the other countries. I LOVE ARGENTINA and can not wait to see where my adventures lead me until I depart to Peru. I miss you guys. But here is a little info about where I'm staying in Argentina. I am staying in a mudish adobe house with another girl volunteer named Ericka. She is wonderful and from Portland. We are talking in Spanish, and enjoyed a salad and tea together for dinner. We are going to be going to bed soon cause we have a lot of work in the morning, but I'm excited to see where it leads. Really I'm just on God's good humor and it's wonderful being away. I don't have my camera chord anymore, so you have to wait till I get home to see them but I'll continue I promise. hearts.

New Years In La Union

Well the year 2011 has finally come. And where was I to celebrate the beginning of the 3rd decade of my life? That's right, I was in Chile. In La Union to be precise with my friend Pablo and his family. I had a lot of fun and it was probably one of the greatest New Years I have had for awhile. First of, this family is one of the sweetest and most welcoming family I have met abroad and in the states. I felt like another daughter and absolutely love them all. I loved hanging out with my friend Pablo and meeting his friends too. Great practice with my Spanish and new oportunites to meet cool people. We had a delicious dinner on New Years Eve as a family complete with strawberry wine and lamb. Which when cooked on the bbq is my lover. I am going to miss it when I go back to the states. We talked and laughed and put on masks to watch the celebration count down in Santiago on TV. It was so pretty watching the fireworks and everything. When the countdown ended 5 hours before western washington and we hugged and toasted to the new year with champagne and pineapple icecream in it. So good. Or en Espanol: Fue rico. Then we sat and Pablo and his oldest brother played the guitar and they sang. I didn't know much of the songs but the singing was so much fun, and everyone joined in to sing and it was just lovely. Spanish folk music is my other lover. (Pablo likes using this phrase.) We then went to his friend's house and met up with the other people and drank some more and talked. Then they sang for like 3 hours and we were up until 8 in the morning. Then I went to sleep and woke up and we had lunch and talked and relaxed all day. Then in the evening we watched a movie, but I went to bed before it was even 30 minutes in it. I taught the boys how to play cribbage, and they thought it was fun. I loved my time with the family, and can't wait to visit again.

Also an interesting fact about Chilean New Years is it is very superstitious. There is a custom Maria Pablo's sister did was she took her luggage and ran around the house. This symbolizes good travel for the new year. There are others, but I am failing to remember them. All in all very fun.