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.