Random thoughts

A "palo borracho" in bloom with clouds threatening rain in the background.

Random thoughts:

• I have been tutoring a neighborhood boy in English and in return he's been teaching me soccer (read: playing soccer one-on-one with me in a nearby town square and only scoring when he kicks with his left foot so there's some challenge to it). His great-aunt, whom he lives with, once gave me some plums from her back yard. The other day when I dropped him off she gave me tomatoes stuffed with a cold rice and tuna mixture, and on the side a chicken and potato salad. Very sweet.
  

• Speaking of food, I have now tried both intestine and kidney. I might have been imagining it, but to me the kidney tasted a bit like what I think the end product would taste like.
  

• Several provinces in Argentina are still experiencing a severe drought, some sources saying the worst in 50 years, with an estimated $15 billion in losses this year. Argentine has historically been the third-largest soybean exporter in addition to other important exports. Meanwhile, there are calls for disaster relief aid for the victims of flooding and mudslides in the northern province of Salta last week.

Putting in my two cents in a discussion on re-investing earnings during the manicure training in Baradero. The two girls on either side of me who are waiting to be "models" that day look unimpressed with what I have to say.

Melanie and Barbara, the estheticians who came to train in Baradero, awarding Daniela with her certificate. Daniela told me that day that she plans on earning money doing manicures and also plans to go back to finish high school!

Barb and Melanie in a rose garden in Buenos Aires. We took a few days to see the sights after their hard work in Baradero.

And yes, I accompanied them on their Buenos Aires tours. Some days I sleep on floors and battle bugs and high-90s temps with no ventilation, other days I do this. As Paul wrote to the Philippians some 2000 years ago, "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. " Tee-hee!

Salta, la linda!

On this, my third trip to the province of Salta, I finally saw the beautiful capital city. Our local trainer Sulma had to take care of some paperwork in the capital and I accompanied her on the overnight (2 am to 6:30 am) bus trip. No sleep on this bus since it goes through the countryside and people can wait for the bus along the road, not just in towns. This means that the driver will be speeding along and suddenly spy someone on the road and brake quickly to pick them up.

Here is Sulma waiting with other rural teachers to get her paperwork done. While she was busy there I chatted with some of her friends from a neighboring village and they would like to set up a training for September!

Here we are standing in front of the cathedral:

I met Sulma's cousin Esther and we went out for barbecue with her and Sulma's brother (who hosted us at his apartment) and his girlfriend. Here is Esther picking up some intestine to eat. Yum! Just behind the intestine on the platter you can see kidney, which I tried for the first time that night.


We had picked a place with dancing -- here's the dramatic singer and the Argentine zamba dancers:
Here are Marcela, Moises, Esther and Sulma:
Sulma's parents, who were in town visiting their son:
Here I am on a hill overlooking the city:

Salta

Thirty-some hours after leaving home I arrived in Apolinario Saravia in the province of Salta. On the way I had a nice layover in the town of Guemes, also in Salta. Here was my view from the Guemes bus station.

I was there to work with Sulma, a grade-school teacher who is one of our trainers in the nearby village of Burela. Her sister and brother-in-law, our other local trainers, had to move indefinitely to another province due to family issues, so we were meeting to work on creating a new local team of trainers and plan their next steps.

It was in the high-90s and humid most days, so we worked in their outdoor eating area a few times. Here is Sulma serving mates:

We walked to Burela, which must be about 5 kilometers away since it took us close to an hour. On the way we saw some kids playing soccer in the shallow river, a great way to stay cool!

Here I am crossing the river:

In my latest newsletter you'll see other pictures of the Burela library, built as a (super-sized) seed project by the community last year. They were able to get a donation of five computers which enabled them to take advantage of a provincial training program in basic computer skills for adults. In addition, since the village nurse is one of the library's caretakers an interesting side business has developed -- donated medicines are sold at the library under her watch (with prescription only and with the donors consent).

One day a storm started with gusting wind and hail, reminding me of Arizona. Here's the view of Sulma's street from her living room window. The tree out front is a ficus.

Visa Perks

Some days I can't believe what I have to do to work here. I have been unable to get a religious visa in Argentina for several reasons. After spending a lot of money and time on the process I am resigned for now to leaving the country every 90 days, the requirement for the tourist visa I am here under. I frequently have trips out of the country for work reasons, so have only had to deliberately "pop out" twice. There is a ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia, Uruguay which is very convenient, allowing me to go over and back the same day. I made the trip last winter (July) and a few weeks ago got to enjoy it in the summer.

Since there are a lot of tourists at this time of year, not only was the ferry full but there was a show! You can see the two dancers in the middle leading the crowd.
The trees were flowering...
Colonia is really a beautiful town and has a very well-preserved historic section. In the first picture you see the Rio de la Plata in the background:

Manicures and Missions?

Some days my job is very unexpected. This week I received a professional manicure as part of my daily tasks! Melanie and Barbara, two licensed Canadian estheticians came to teach manicure skills to women from our target neighborhoods in Baradero with the hopes that they will use them to supplement their family income. I am acting as interpreter and cultural guide. Since the women needed to practice on each other first, I served as a model with the initial teaching. Very fun!

Today we are adding in a lesson on beauty, the kingdom of God, and self-esteem. Tomorrow we will facilitate brainstorming about how to apply these new skills next week (no time to get rusty) and will explain some basic principles of micro-enterprises.

Above are Melanie, Barbara, Horacio and Silvia eating a traditional Argentine barbecue outside, another perk of being here!

Melanie observing her students at work.

Barbara working with Cristina and Silvia.

Marisa, one of our trainers, works with her niece Alejandrina.