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.