Jeepers. It's definitely been a while since I blogged. I suppose that's a sign that I have basically adjusted to my life here--in the sense that I don't see daily activities as bloggable, blog-meriting, or blog-demanding. Just awesome to know for myself and whoever happens to ask. BUT, the opportunities I've been blessed to encounter are well worth sharing.
Monday, I worked in the office, continuing my translating and revising tasks. Little J was sick, so we again missed out on English lesson time.
Tuesday, I worked as well. Fun lunchtime conversations with the coworkers about the psychology behind characters in books, and the differences in reading into them/associating yourself with them and in just observing. Or something of that nature. After work, I went shopping with a colleague, M, and she and I found a marvelous summer dress for me, as well as some really fantastic ice cream. Mmmm.
Wednesday, again, began with work. Then I headed out towards the area of the church for the weekly visit to the villas for the music class. I'm going to miss that. How often is it that one has an in with some of the most dangerous places in Argentina, and that one can be a blessing there? Lovely. We really had to practice, for the performance of two worship songs at the Anniversary fiesta of La Mision (yesterday) was coming up.
Thursday, work came first. How rare to have Thanksgiving not be a major national holiday in one's current place of residence. But, I did have a very diverting, fascinating experience that day at work: I got to attend a sort of kick-off meeting for one of the Globant "Corporate Social Responsibility" department's programs, which consists of Globant representatives visiting high schools in some of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in Buenos Aires (the villas) to offer to tech- or math-passionate students the opportunity for English, technology, software, and other related classes. After graduating the program, the students can either pursue further studies at the university, or are offered a position in Globant. What fascinates me currently is the new career of CSR, and how it pretty much neatly ties up all my possible career trails with a neat little bow. Like a mix of advocating, office job, bilingualness, educating, and making improvement through change. We shall see if I continue to think this way as time passes!
Also Thursday, I went out for Thanksgiving dinner to an American restaurant with the Zs and a few more fellow US friends here. It was delicious; not the same as at home in Philly, though. Then, I went towards the church to spend the night at Vero's house. We talked, had an English lesson, and she made my sides split with laughter. I enjoy her very, very much.
Friday I woke up with the kids and V, and watched the younger boy while V took the elder to school. Fun to have some quality time with a Hotwheels puzzle and a 4-year-old who has a glorious way of speaking. :) Then I went to work, and savored it. Then there was a jazz concert at the church, and so I went, and brought a colleague who I had recently discovered was one of the students from the program discussed above. After that, a group of us went to get something to eat, and we chilled, laughed, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves...the entire night. :) We returned to V's house, and laughed more, continued to have fun and took advantage of the great friendships. I faded a bit and slept a few hours, but, hey, I am from the States--where people actually sleep.
Saturday was LAZY, and grand. I spent the day with Vero and the kids, I watching them while she slept a bit, and then all of us going to spend some time in the park. We played soccer (teams Colombia and Paraguay...I, Paraguay, lost), played alphabet games, and played some tic-tac-toe with sticks and leaves and stones for the playing board. Then we all had magnificent naptime, back at home. After that, there was an asado dinner (like a mega-awesome barbeque) at the church, and it was scrumptious and the chat was wholesome and thought-provoking.
Sunday, the service for church was in the evening, so I finally had the opportunity to go to the Feria de Mataderos. It's an outdoor market, brimming with cultural activities--singing, food, dance, artisan crafts and things. I went with A, especially because it happens to be really near to a baaaad villa. Then we returned to the church, he went to work helping for the Anniversary party, I went to hang out with V and boys, and then pretty soon I had to return to the church for practicing with the Sonidos de Esperanza kids.
How fun it was to be with them and help them sing their songs. I'll never forget that time.
Then I helped with the children during the sermon, and later enjoyed the food, drink, and always-inevitable (with-Colombians-around) dancing that comes with fiestas! Later we went for ice cream, and J (a Colombian friend; met her a few weeks ago) and I went back to V's house, and spent the night on her balcony. Lovely night!
And, here I am, late Monday night...okay, more honestly Tuesday morning, blogging. Today was a holiday, so nobody worked. V, J, the boys, Ari and I spent the day bumming around, enjoying fruit salad, lively conversation, the park, popcorn, and various other things. All in all, a great weekend.
This is the beginning of nostalgia.
I only have two more weeks plus a day here in Buenos Aires. Needless to say, the time will fly. That's why I had to make a list; I won't let any moment go to waste, even if not-wasting manifests itself in a rather outwardly-looking wasteful way. Take Saturday, for example.
Last day of work is tomorrow, and that won't be fun to say goodbye. It's truly been a wonderful experience. But we'll see what tomorrow brings later--now, off to sleep!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Bonus Blog: The Nightmare
For some reason--either (in hindsight) forgotten or never explained--I am kneeling on the sidewalk in a sketchy region of the city at night. The street I am on is no main thoroughfare, therefore is ill-lit. I am on my knees, rooting through my backpack.
Approaching me are two boys under the age of thirteen--hair buzzed short, the face of one clearly distinguishable but, even in waking, unfamiliar. They come nearer as I'm now no longer rifling through the backpack, just watching them and doing nothing.
When they are standing in front of me--all this time full only of silence--I make eye contact with the one, and give a little smile. He does not return the smile.
Swiftly reaching into a pocket, he withdraws a knife. My strangely realistic adrenaline rush gets my heart pumping. I am vividly experiencing this, as if awake. I keep eye contact, but make no move to surrender my backpack. After a few moments he sees I am not surrendering, just searching his eyes as he is searching mine.
Silently, deftly lunging towards my right upper arm, he plunges the knife in, to its handle. I cannot, in the dream, exactly feel the pain; what I experience is a strange swimming of the sight, deep and sharp inhalation, and the awareness of pain that I would feel were this real life.
I pull the knife from my arm, as the boys stand still there, not having made a move for my backpack yet. With a second's thought, I throw the knife back in their direction, instantly regretting it.
Too late.
The knife hits the boy's head, on his pate, near the back. It doesn't plunge in deeply, but sticks. Never before have I heard such an unholy, unearthly scream. He throws his head back and twists it around as though the joints in his neck are jelly. His eyes are flaming with rage, and rolling around as involuntarily and frighteningly slowly as his head. I am instantly put to mind of the Devil himself, and am struck with a rather real fear. Still, I don't move.
I wake up.
Approaching me are two boys under the age of thirteen--hair buzzed short, the face of one clearly distinguishable but, even in waking, unfamiliar. They come nearer as I'm now no longer rifling through the backpack, just watching them and doing nothing.
When they are standing in front of me--all this time full only of silence--I make eye contact with the one, and give a little smile. He does not return the smile.
Swiftly reaching into a pocket, he withdraws a knife. My strangely realistic adrenaline rush gets my heart pumping. I am vividly experiencing this, as if awake. I keep eye contact, but make no move to surrender my backpack. After a few moments he sees I am not surrendering, just searching his eyes as he is searching mine.
Silently, deftly lunging towards my right upper arm, he plunges the knife in, to its handle. I cannot, in the dream, exactly feel the pain; what I experience is a strange swimming of the sight, deep and sharp inhalation, and the awareness of pain that I would feel were this real life.
I pull the knife from my arm, as the boys stand still there, not having made a move for my backpack yet. With a second's thought, I throw the knife back in their direction, instantly regretting it.
Too late.
The knife hits the boy's head, on his pate, near the back. It doesn't plunge in deeply, but sticks. Never before have I heard such an unholy, unearthly scream. He throws his head back and twists it around as though the joints in his neck are jelly. His eyes are flaming with rage, and rolling around as involuntarily and frighteningly slowly as his head. I am instantly put to mind of the Devil himself, and am struck with a rather real fear. Still, I don't move.
I wake up.
Sensory Summary: Day 69
Sight:
Light purple Jacaranda tree flowers strewn over the ground everywhere, lending a soft, beautiful, fairyland-like feel to the city. The occasional stunningly architectured building that proudly shows its age. The interior of the houses of many new friends--particular favorite view is from the dinnertable all together. School children on their way home from classes, still in their uniforms. The now-familiar Kioscos on every corner. Street signs. The Obelisco. The open doors of La Misión. The sidewalk bricks, even the broken ones that keep themselves well disguised and could either trip or soak your feet depending on recent weather patterns. The office building, and the view of the estuary/river from my desk. Faces of friends. Powerpoint slides of worship songs in Spanish--rather, the light of said powerpoint's projector as it shines into your eyes as you are up front singing with the worship team. Little green dots next to friends' names that signify I currently have the opportunity to virtually speak to them. The smiles of your friends when they realize your Spanish proficiency is finally letting you understand the (hilarious/occasionally naughty) double-meanings in their sentences or your very own. The little bit of red nail polish that remains on my toes from before I left, because I am too cheap to buy polish remover for one time, and can't bring myself to take [this remnant of home] off when I am at the house of any friend undoubtedly willing to spare a bit. The faces of my family over an especially impressive video chat tonight.
Smell:
Flower stands every other block (walking extra slowly to catch a whiff every time I pass one). Marijuana's decidedly peppery tone, along with some sickeningly sweet odors--in a word, nauseating. The laundry detergent they use at my laundromat (where they know my name now). The smell of hot, people-filled air in the subway. Globant's 9th floor office's excellent choice of air freshener. Bakeries. Empanadas. Pizza. Coffee.
Touch:
Caresses from friends, greeting kisses and embraces, prayer hugs. Babies in my arms. Strong Argentine/Southern Hemisphere sun on my gleaming white skin. The feel of my backpack worn across my front, which means I'm in the subway being wise, headed someplace marvelous. The awful, ancient keyboard of the chunky little Argentine cell phone that helps me share wonderful experiences with friends. My comfy bed. Taking my shoes off at the end of a long day on my feet. Sitting in a swivel chair at work, or the hammock chair for lunch hour. The hands of little children of the villa in mine. My fingers on the guitar strings, adding music to my singing.
Sound:
Always buses or garbage trucks somewhere. A child complaining or wailing. Dogs. Sirens. Punchi punchi music; translated essentially as clubbing-worthy music with a beat (punchi punchi = onomatopoeia). Motorcycles. Arguments. The sound the broken sidewalk bricks make. The (now memorized) rotation of commercials in the subway stations as I await trains--I can identify the product without seeing the TVs now. Sermons all in Spanish that I fully understand. Laughter. The sound my skates make when I use them right, the way F taught me. The sound the apartment ground floor door makes when I close it at the end of a good night with friends. The ringtone of a colleague's cell phone that reminds me of Maddi (Hey Soul Sister).
Taste:
Dulce de leche. Alfajor ice creams. Alfajors. Milanesa de pollo. Fruit salad. Coffee. Fruit juice and smoothies. Fresh bread, the baguette variety of which has the price of $1 for a family-size quantity. Empanadas. Sandwiches. Tartas (quiches, more or less). Birthday cakes. Yerba mate.
Light purple Jacaranda tree flowers strewn over the ground everywhere, lending a soft, beautiful, fairyland-like feel to the city. The occasional stunningly architectured building that proudly shows its age. The interior of the houses of many new friends--particular favorite view is from the dinnertable all together. School children on their way home from classes, still in their uniforms. The now-familiar Kioscos on every corner. Street signs. The Obelisco. The open doors of La Misión. The sidewalk bricks, even the broken ones that keep themselves well disguised and could either trip or soak your feet depending on recent weather patterns. The office building, and the view of the estuary/river from my desk. Faces of friends. Powerpoint slides of worship songs in Spanish--rather, the light of said powerpoint's projector as it shines into your eyes as you are up front singing with the worship team. Little green dots next to friends' names that signify I currently have the opportunity to virtually speak to them. The smiles of your friends when they realize your Spanish proficiency is finally letting you understand the (hilarious/occasionally naughty) double-meanings in their sentences or your very own. The little bit of red nail polish that remains on my toes from before I left, because I am too cheap to buy polish remover for one time, and can't bring myself to take [this remnant of home] off when I am at the house of any friend undoubtedly willing to spare a bit. The faces of my family over an especially impressive video chat tonight.
Smell:
Flower stands every other block (walking extra slowly to catch a whiff every time I pass one). Marijuana's decidedly peppery tone, along with some sickeningly sweet odors--in a word, nauseating. The laundry detergent they use at my laundromat (where they know my name now). The smell of hot, people-filled air in the subway. Globant's 9th floor office's excellent choice of air freshener. Bakeries. Empanadas. Pizza. Coffee.
Touch:
Caresses from friends, greeting kisses and embraces, prayer hugs. Babies in my arms. Strong Argentine/Southern Hemisphere sun on my gleaming white skin. The feel of my backpack worn across my front, which means I'm in the subway being wise, headed someplace marvelous. The awful, ancient keyboard of the chunky little Argentine cell phone that helps me share wonderful experiences with friends. My comfy bed. Taking my shoes off at the end of a long day on my feet. Sitting in a swivel chair at work, or the hammock chair for lunch hour. The hands of little children of the villa in mine. My fingers on the guitar strings, adding music to my singing.
Sound:
Always buses or garbage trucks somewhere. A child complaining or wailing. Dogs. Sirens. Punchi punchi music; translated essentially as clubbing-worthy music with a beat (punchi punchi = onomatopoeia). Motorcycles. Arguments. The sound the broken sidewalk bricks make. The (now memorized) rotation of commercials in the subway stations as I await trains--I can identify the product without seeing the TVs now. Sermons all in Spanish that I fully understand. Laughter. The sound my skates make when I use them right, the way F taught me. The sound the apartment ground floor door makes when I close it at the end of a good night with friends. The ringtone of a colleague's cell phone that reminds me of Maddi (Hey Soul Sister).
Taste:
Dulce de leche. Alfajor ice creams. Alfajors. Milanesa de pollo. Fruit salad. Coffee. Fruit juice and smoothies. Fresh bread, the baguette variety of which has the price of $1 for a family-size quantity. Empanadas. Sandwiches. Tartas (quiches, more or less). Birthday cakes. Yerba mate.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Photos!
The park in Palermo--a glimpse of the skaters: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/68eb5d3d-0e48-4e3c-9675-ce497456fc52/c6205fbea29e3240298097debd51c835
Lunch in the ballpit that's 30 feet from my desk at work: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/682cfcde-619e-4cbd-97b2-e9bf49b7c9b2/04db627d7191cb92fc9e3f01464fe057 :)
The poor, lumpy, fail empanada I made: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/839107fd-34ac-4acb-90e9-14ee4631d8dc/2c0ead8856c63559ebe368b8e8e6eb72
The successful, handsome empanada I made: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/a886c324-ab96-45f0-8d32-07d4a223a038/becebe99f3507d6471a7f8f6c48950e8
Small group/party for Mr. Z. last Friday night: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/f824ffc3-5e21-4e16-9f22-99c9201cfb40/787c37bf4bf22b4e5e6ed016b70e015e
Fun with a lollipop wrapper decoration in the subway: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/a3a57da8-6cb6-4f2e-bedc-32a5d09207a5/f3683be94b102db9f8ce0e2ad6ea53f7
The beautiful Jacaranda trees, and their purple splendor, and I: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/9b3da38a-b55f-48db-a481-b079f95b4a9f/268e65020230cc7aed4f2abae3ff5270
My office building: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/dc958b68-d48d-4b1f-a119-da1e567a0002/8f8a7161daa7344704d726c781c7bfb2
The stunning Galeria Pacifica (museum-converted-to-mall) at night: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/8f99dc89-7cc2-4d4e-82e8-bc65b5ed4ae9/9ab0015959f12d3489f303e1a1931973
Amen. :)--https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/720a6d12-7453-4cf7-9c16-c47a4bf37e98/11fca2cfae634ce32053fce7331592f7
Lunch in the ballpit that's 30 feet from my desk at work: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/682cfcde-619e-4cbd-97b2-e9bf49b7c9b2/04db627d7191cb92fc9e3f01464fe057 :)
The poor, lumpy, fail empanada I made: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/839107fd-34ac-4acb-90e9-14ee4631d8dc/2c0ead8856c63559ebe368b8e8e6eb72
The successful, handsome empanada I made: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/a886c324-ab96-45f0-8d32-07d4a223a038/becebe99f3507d6471a7f8f6c48950e8
Small group/party for Mr. Z. last Friday night: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/f824ffc3-5e21-4e16-9f22-99c9201cfb40/787c37bf4bf22b4e5e6ed016b70e015e
Fun with a lollipop wrapper decoration in the subway: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/a3a57da8-6cb6-4f2e-bedc-32a5d09207a5/f3683be94b102db9f8ce0e2ad6ea53f7
The beautiful Jacaranda trees, and their purple splendor, and I: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/9b3da38a-b55f-48db-a481-b079f95b4a9f/268e65020230cc7aed4f2abae3ff5270
My office building: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/dc958b68-d48d-4b1f-a119-da1e567a0002/8f8a7161daa7344704d726c781c7bfb2
The stunning Galeria Pacifica (museum-converted-to-mall) at night: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/8f99dc89-7cc2-4d4e-82e8-bc65b5ed4ae9/9ab0015959f12d3489f303e1a1931973
Amen. :)--https://www.evernote.com/shard/s125/sh/720a6d12-7453-4cf7-9c16-c47a4bf37e98/11fca2cfae634ce32053fce7331592f7
Cook the gnocchi first; or, Humility: Day 64
WORK: I continue to enjoy the company of my workmates, and the adventures we have together. Last week--on Thursday--we went to a town outside of the city to a beautiful golf club for a meeting to plan their moves in 2012, as Globant Communications. It was a lovely day, and all five of us from the BsAs office squeezed into W's car and got lost for an hour or so, eventually ending up in the parking lot of the golf club. The bread and jam, coffee, and fresh OJ for breakfast were very welcome. So was the opportunity to see exactly how communications for a corporation must work, and all that the umbrella of "communications" covers: the year-end party, fundraisers, raising awareness for causes. Cool to hear the propositions of each member there. Then a yummy lunch--veggie crepes with cheese for myself and two other veggie-heads, and ojo de bife (a certain cut of beef) for the others. Then we walked around on the golf course until they yelled at us, and we took some photos with an old man's golf clubs he lent us. Globant golfs. Hahaaaa. :) Since then, work as usual. Awesome, that is. I'm hoping to have their powerpoints revised and ready for approved use by the time I finish at Globant way too soon.
CHURCH: What a privilege it is to sing with the worship team! I did it again this Sunday, and it continues to be an honor that even though I flub the lyrics or melody at times, even though I am human and fail in ways that blotch the cleanliness of my conduct or behavior, I am given the mercy and grace of staying on as a part of the team. I am extremely grateful for that.
This Sunday, I also received the blessing of prayer from F, an older woman who is truly a bulwark of the church and has a truly incredible gift for prayer and hugs. Sometimes God just knows exactly when to bless you with people like that.
Just kidding. He always knows.
FOOD: Right now I am very much enjoying a morning mate, and I am addicted. I might have to set up an importation system of my own for certain things from here--alfajores, yerba mate, fruit, veggies, empanadas, friends... :) I did make empanadas (kind of like mini calzones, but not cheesy--meat and red peppers) with A last week, and that was a really cool experience. I'm hoping I will be able to bring the basic idea back with me, although the struggle will be finding the equivalent of the pastry part that holds it all together. I think I'll have to ask how to make it myself. What else...mmm fruit salad never gets old. Nor does dulce de leche. I cannot believe I am still the same relative size as when I got here. It's a feat of nature. :) On the other hand, all food here is real, without any artificial ingredients, so that might have a lot to do with it. Plus the meat is all what we would call organic. When I get back, I will probably refuse to eat any meat out of disgust for the American system, now that I've seen it done right here. (Now is not the time for a rant, Anna...) Anywho...plus I walk everywhere, and that helps keep off the pounds. Thumbs up!
SPEAKING SPANISH: I am understanding even the little blips of conversation to be heard as you pass by a customer at one of the flower stands, or a couple discussing something at an outside table at a cafe. I love it. Now there's no conscious pause of thought before lunging into sentences in Spanish. I respond in whatever language comes my way. THAT I will miss intensely when I get home. I guess it just means I will have to have regular Skype dates with my Spanish-speaking friends. :)
SOCIAL LIFE: It's quasi-ridiculous how quickly the week fills up and escapes me. But I am persevering and trying to spend equal time working and hanging out with friends. I love the possibilities of going shopping with colleagues--so I want to follow through on that and make it happen. Maybe today. I love the possibility of going out into the province to Campana or other places where friends are living. We'll see what comes.
Thanks for patience with the slow-forthcoming blog posts, and for the prayers and thoughts which I am fully aware surround me wherever I go.
CHURCH: What a privilege it is to sing with the worship team! I did it again this Sunday, and it continues to be an honor that even though I flub the lyrics or melody at times, even though I am human and fail in ways that blotch the cleanliness of my conduct or behavior, I am given the mercy and grace of staying on as a part of the team. I am extremely grateful for that.
This Sunday, I also received the blessing of prayer from F, an older woman who is truly a bulwark of the church and has a truly incredible gift for prayer and hugs. Sometimes God just knows exactly when to bless you with people like that.
Just kidding. He always knows.
FOOD: Right now I am very much enjoying a morning mate, and I am addicted. I might have to set up an importation system of my own for certain things from here--alfajores, yerba mate, fruit, veggies, empanadas, friends... :) I did make empanadas (kind of like mini calzones, but not cheesy--meat and red peppers) with A last week, and that was a really cool experience. I'm hoping I will be able to bring the basic idea back with me, although the struggle will be finding the equivalent of the pastry part that holds it all together. I think I'll have to ask how to make it myself. What else...mmm fruit salad never gets old. Nor does dulce de leche. I cannot believe I am still the same relative size as when I got here. It's a feat of nature. :) On the other hand, all food here is real, without any artificial ingredients, so that might have a lot to do with it. Plus the meat is all what we would call organic. When I get back, I will probably refuse to eat any meat out of disgust for the American system, now that I've seen it done right here. (Now is not the time for a rant, Anna...) Anywho...plus I walk everywhere, and that helps keep off the pounds. Thumbs up!
SPEAKING SPANISH: I am understanding even the little blips of conversation to be heard as you pass by a customer at one of the flower stands, or a couple discussing something at an outside table at a cafe. I love it. Now there's no conscious pause of thought before lunging into sentences in Spanish. I respond in whatever language comes my way. THAT I will miss intensely when I get home. I guess it just means I will have to have regular Skype dates with my Spanish-speaking friends. :)
SOCIAL LIFE: It's quasi-ridiculous how quickly the week fills up and escapes me. But I am persevering and trying to spend equal time working and hanging out with friends. I love the possibilities of going shopping with colleagues--so I want to follow through on that and make it happen. Maybe today. I love the possibility of going out into the province to Campana or other places where friends are living. We'll see what comes.
Thanks for patience with the slow-forthcoming blog posts, and for the prayers and thoughts which I am fully aware surround me wherever I go.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Life as usual--busy: Day 57
I feel like a new strategy is in order.
WORK: Todo bien. I love the daily translation, or editing of English with a native speaker's eye, that I am given. I am slowly chewing my way through their "Sales Kit"--all the powerpoint presentations and word documents that are on hand to promote Globant or make a sale. I hadn't realized until I started translating stuff for them, but Globant has a really community-service minded approach to corporate business. They have a program to teach the youth (teens-early twenties) of vulnerable neighborhoods about technology and informatics, to give them better employment possibilities and nourish their expressed passion for the techno-world as noted in high school. Currently, the class of the pilot program is half employed by Globant for real, and half in university furthering their studies. Also, it participates in Random Hacks of Kindness--a movement to help with social problems of many varieties through the development of software and coding. On top of that...it's just a freaky cool place to work. :) I adore my lunch hours with colleagues. I like getting to know the office building and things like which microwave runs best, which coffee selection on the vending machine I like the most. I love having a work email, and having a meeting in the office in another city on Thursday. I love it.
CHURCH: La Misión just had a retreat this weekend, out in the province a little ways, in a town called Maximo Paz. What an amazing nook of God's creation! The landscape is laid out flat and open, with trees, tall grasses, and--at night--stars from end to end. So refreshing to spend time outside the city, where stars and grass and quiet are rarities. I hadn't realized how much I missed open spaces.
Anyhow, the reason I was blessed enough to go on this retreat was that I was asked to care for the kids of a couple families. SURE, I told them! It was a wonderful time. All of Saturday was spent with the 6 children, between 1 and 8 ish, and E (one of the youth girls who was my teammate in caretaking). We did facepaints, coloring books, runs to the playground, games on the bridges, played Octopus (like Sharks and Minnows, only I created an octopus dance for laughter enhancement), and generally gaining acceptance into the hearts of these precious children. I will never forget them.
It was also a huge joy to be a part of the community of the church at lunch and at night, when sessions were paused. We went for walks, had conversations, drank mate, played with the kids, and generally enjoyed one another. A lovely, blessed time for all.
Other than that, Sundays at La Misión continue to be most truly fulfilling and worshipful. This past week we sang "I Am Free" by the Newsboys (in Spanish), and I realized anew how true that really is. Free to run, dance, and live for Him. Pastor M gave a whopper awesome sermon about Psalm 23, emphasizing the fact that we shall never want for anything; that our Sheperd is always at our side; that our cup is overflowing. Beautiful truth.
FOOD: Yes. Let's go ahead and make it a category. Hey, it takes up a major portion of my day! Plus I genuinely love it.
Today I had the following: avocado, salad (lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, zucchini), a veggie empanada (basically their version of spanikopita), pasta with red peppers, and strawberry-banana fruit salad I made myself. MM MM MMMM. Fruit and veg. :) Must say, however, that I do have a request in for one of A's homemade asados. We are working to schedule that.
SPEAKING SPANISH: Enchants me. I love seeing improvement in the areas that were hard for me when I first got here. I spent the vast majority of my day communicating in all Spanish. The hard parts at the beginning (perhaps you remember a weekend post distressed at not understanding any conversation one Sunday) were group conversations. So hard to pick out without context or vocabulary. I am steadily improving! Spanish is a gorgeous language, and I am enthralled.
SOCIAL LIFE: The church is such a blessing! It provides more opportunities for spending time with people than anything else has. And they're fantastic people.
There's my Sundays group, with which I go skating. We went this weekend--although the group was diminished due to exhaustion from the retreat and such. We still had cookies and mate and roller bladed. There's M and Sonidos de Esperanza, where I get to spend time with niños and pervasively share the love God's given me. There's the Bible study, where I am learning to really take ownership of the dynamic relationship with God I have access to. There's V and her boys, with whom I hang out rather regularly, for some reason or another; I really get a kick out of them. Then there's my guitar teacher, C, with whom I practice/have lessons Friday afternoons at 7.
Apart from church friends, I find other ways to spend my time. Lunch hours with work mates, meeting random folks on the subway for a conversation (like the Canadian couple I met today, taking a 5-month "break from corporate life" after quitting their jobs, to explore Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina. Yeah. I wanna be them!).
There's the gym, the guitar, the devos, the Facebook... yes, I am not wanting for ways to fill time. And in there somewhere is just enough sleep to get by.
I am well-contented, learning much, and loving all around me.
WORK: Todo bien. I love the daily translation, or editing of English with a native speaker's eye, that I am given. I am slowly chewing my way through their "Sales Kit"--all the powerpoint presentations and word documents that are on hand to promote Globant or make a sale. I hadn't realized until I started translating stuff for them, but Globant has a really community-service minded approach to corporate business. They have a program to teach the youth (teens-early twenties) of vulnerable neighborhoods about technology and informatics, to give them better employment possibilities and nourish their expressed passion for the techno-world as noted in high school. Currently, the class of the pilot program is half employed by Globant for real, and half in university furthering their studies. Also, it participates in Random Hacks of Kindness--a movement to help with social problems of many varieties through the development of software and coding. On top of that...it's just a freaky cool place to work. :) I adore my lunch hours with colleagues. I like getting to know the office building and things like which microwave runs best, which coffee selection on the vending machine I like the most. I love having a work email, and having a meeting in the office in another city on Thursday. I love it.
CHURCH: La Misión just had a retreat this weekend, out in the province a little ways, in a town called Maximo Paz. What an amazing nook of God's creation! The landscape is laid out flat and open, with trees, tall grasses, and--at night--stars from end to end. So refreshing to spend time outside the city, where stars and grass and quiet are rarities. I hadn't realized how much I missed open spaces.
Anyhow, the reason I was blessed enough to go on this retreat was that I was asked to care for the kids of a couple families. SURE, I told them! It was a wonderful time. All of Saturday was spent with the 6 children, between 1 and 8 ish, and E (one of the youth girls who was my teammate in caretaking). We did facepaints, coloring books, runs to the playground, games on the bridges, played Octopus (like Sharks and Minnows, only I created an octopus dance for laughter enhancement), and generally gaining acceptance into the hearts of these precious children. I will never forget them.
It was also a huge joy to be a part of the community of the church at lunch and at night, when sessions were paused. We went for walks, had conversations, drank mate, played with the kids, and generally enjoyed one another. A lovely, blessed time for all.
Other than that, Sundays at La Misión continue to be most truly fulfilling and worshipful. This past week we sang "I Am Free" by the Newsboys (in Spanish), and I realized anew how true that really is. Free to run, dance, and live for Him. Pastor M gave a whopper awesome sermon about Psalm 23, emphasizing the fact that we shall never want for anything; that our Sheperd is always at our side; that our cup is overflowing. Beautiful truth.
FOOD: Yes. Let's go ahead and make it a category. Hey, it takes up a major portion of my day! Plus I genuinely love it.
Today I had the following: avocado, salad (lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, zucchini), a veggie empanada (basically their version of spanikopita), pasta with red peppers, and strawberry-banana fruit salad I made myself. MM MM MMMM. Fruit and veg. :) Must say, however, that I do have a request in for one of A's homemade asados. We are working to schedule that.
SPEAKING SPANISH: Enchants me. I love seeing improvement in the areas that were hard for me when I first got here. I spent the vast majority of my day communicating in all Spanish. The hard parts at the beginning (perhaps you remember a weekend post distressed at not understanding any conversation one Sunday) were group conversations. So hard to pick out without context or vocabulary. I am steadily improving! Spanish is a gorgeous language, and I am enthralled.
SOCIAL LIFE: The church is such a blessing! It provides more opportunities for spending time with people than anything else has. And they're fantastic people.
There's my Sundays group, with which I go skating. We went this weekend--although the group was diminished due to exhaustion from the retreat and such. We still had cookies and mate and roller bladed. There's M and Sonidos de Esperanza, where I get to spend time with niños and pervasively share the love God's given me. There's the Bible study, where I am learning to really take ownership of the dynamic relationship with God I have access to. There's V and her boys, with whom I hang out rather regularly, for some reason or another; I really get a kick out of them. Then there's my guitar teacher, C, with whom I practice/have lessons Friday afternoons at 7.
Apart from church friends, I find other ways to spend my time. Lunch hours with work mates, meeting random folks on the subway for a conversation (like the Canadian couple I met today, taking a 5-month "break from corporate life" after quitting their jobs, to explore Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina. Yeah. I wanna be them!).
There's the gym, the guitar, the devos, the Facebook... yes, I am not wanting for ways to fill time. And in there somewhere is just enough sleep to get by.
I am well-contented, learning much, and loving all around me.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Busy, busy, busy: Day 51
Bests: dulce de leche, projects at work, having a fulllllll agenda, a laptop to take home, getting my boots repaired. :)
Worsts: the fact that the warmth of Spring brings HOT, SWEATY subte rides, exhaustion, missing out on Halloween candy and Thanksgiving.
_______________________
In the past few days, I have been working for the afternoons, and having various activities before and after.
Monday I took a slow morning to practice guitar and enjoy a mate or three before going to work. Work was basically a big party--due to fans of Halloween in the office. :) After work, I felt like trying out skating alone at the park in Palermo. This was fine, but not an experience I'll repeat. It's no fun alone when you're not really safe and you have a messenger style bag (side-hanging) throwing off balance.
Tuesday I think I pulled a lazy day again. Went to work, where I translated (my favorite!), and then met up with a colleague's son for an English session. This little boy, J, is absolutely angelicly adorable, and he shares my zeal for language--at age 5! Woohoo! It'll be an absolute joy to work with him these next few weeks. After English with J, I went home and made dinner.
Today I awoke and thought I would chill out. Then I remembered I had to try to pick up a package this morning. So I prepared for the day quickly and headed out the door. Like basically everything else here, however, you take a number and wait in line for HOURS. I had to give my number to somebody else and leave, so as not to lose the day. I'll get it at some point. Who cares about a fifty-cent fee. My time here is so much more valuable than that. ;) At work, I proceeded to translate. Beautiful view. I left work a little early today so that I could rush home to drop stuff off (laptop, converse, tupperware from lunch) and pick up stuff (guitar books and pick), then rushed to M's house for Sonidos de Esperanza, then rushed to Bible study, then rushed to get a guitar lesson in today instead of Friday. I didn't eat any more than a teeny granola bar between 1:30 and 10:30. Now, I'm rather wiped. :)
The rest of the week looks to be a blast! Also, busy. But I bet I'll be able to blog on Sunday, letting you all know what's up. Chao!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dad, in response to your question.
I have had the tremendous blessing of a decidedly well-balanced sampling of Buenos Aires life. I have spent time in the city center, which is really a rare zone, distinct from all others in its vibe and attractions; in ritzy, posh Palermo; in Flores, a lovely, average, much less pretentious zone; in barrio Ramon Carrillo, where the extremely admirable families work hard to maintain ahead of poverty in an economy and area that doesn't really do anything to encourage improvement; and in trash-heaped, dog-infested, still-somehow-beautiful (hint: the people) villas.
Surprisingly for me, experiencing all of these--many times all within a day--does not cause social class/protocol/nuiance whiplash, nor does it cost me much to acclamate to the varying surroundings. It's like being in whichever place I happen to find myself at a given time allows me to get to know better and better the culture, people, food, buildings, parks, customs, and landscape that is Buenos Aires.
Therefore, I love it all.
Next question?
Worsts: the fact that the warmth of Spring brings HOT, SWEATY subte rides, exhaustion, missing out on Halloween candy and Thanksgiving.
_______________________
In the past few days, I have been working for the afternoons, and having various activities before and after.
Monday I took a slow morning to practice guitar and enjoy a mate or three before going to work. Work was basically a big party--due to fans of Halloween in the office. :) After work, I felt like trying out skating alone at the park in Palermo. This was fine, but not an experience I'll repeat. It's no fun alone when you're not really safe and you have a messenger style bag (side-hanging) throwing off balance.
Tuesday I think I pulled a lazy day again. Went to work, where I translated (my favorite!), and then met up with a colleague's son for an English session. This little boy, J, is absolutely angelicly adorable, and he shares my zeal for language--at age 5! Woohoo! It'll be an absolute joy to work with him these next few weeks. After English with J, I went home and made dinner.
Today I awoke and thought I would chill out. Then I remembered I had to try to pick up a package this morning. So I prepared for the day quickly and headed out the door. Like basically everything else here, however, you take a number and wait in line for HOURS. I had to give my number to somebody else and leave, so as not to lose the day. I'll get it at some point. Who cares about a fifty-cent fee. My time here is so much more valuable than that. ;) At work, I proceeded to translate. Beautiful view. I left work a little early today so that I could rush home to drop stuff off (laptop, converse, tupperware from lunch) and pick up stuff (guitar books and pick), then rushed to M's house for Sonidos de Esperanza, then rushed to Bible study, then rushed to get a guitar lesson in today instead of Friday. I didn't eat any more than a teeny granola bar between 1:30 and 10:30. Now, I'm rather wiped. :)
The rest of the week looks to be a blast! Also, busy. But I bet I'll be able to blog on Sunday, letting you all know what's up. Chao!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dad, in response to your question.
I have had the tremendous blessing of a decidedly well-balanced sampling of Buenos Aires life. I have spent time in the city center, which is really a rare zone, distinct from all others in its vibe and attractions; in ritzy, posh Palermo; in Flores, a lovely, average, much less pretentious zone; in barrio Ramon Carrillo, where the extremely admirable families work hard to maintain ahead of poverty in an economy and area that doesn't really do anything to encourage improvement; and in trash-heaped, dog-infested, still-somehow-beautiful (hint: the people) villas.
Surprisingly for me, experiencing all of these--many times all within a day--does not cause social class/protocol/nuiance whiplash, nor does it cost me much to acclamate to the varying surroundings. It's like being in whichever place I happen to find myself at a given time allows me to get to know better and better the culture, people, food, buildings, parks, customs, and landscape that is Buenos Aires.
Therefore, I love it all.
Next question?
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