I´ll miss you argentina...

I think this will be the last blog for this internship. Today will probably be my last day with internet. I loved every minute and I´ll be glad to be home. Good thing I kept a journal and took lots of pictures. If you have a few hours we can sit down and I will show you them.. haha.

I´ll miss most of all my new friends ... here are some photos of some of them.

Milanesa

Many have heard me talk about milanesa. It is a popular food dish here in Argentina. It is a thin piece of meat (beef or chicken) that is bathed in an egg micture then coated with bread crumbs. It can be cooked in the oven or fried on the stove. (I prefer the oven). Today as I was getting ready to put my milanesa in the oven Clary brought it to my attention that the milanesa looked like the shape of South America!! IT DOES!!! It even has tierra del fuego at the bottom (part of argentina). Use your imagination!

Concert and Dinner

We have had one of my mission companions visiting these past few days (Vanina). She was my last comp in the mission and she is from Buenos Aires. We went to a concert the other night in a really nice concert hall. The kids that were seated on the balcony above us picked me out as a target to throw wads of paper at. For the first half hour I had bombs dropped on JUST ME made out of the program paper. So I looked at one of the guys we were with and I said, lets get them! So we went up stairs and saw them through the curtains and told the usher about it. It was actually really fun and harmless to get them in trouble and they lauged about it too. (They were 10 years old). Anyways they stopped throwing paper at me finally! The concert was good, and it was fun to see it with Clary who actually knows music! She taught me how to play part of twinkle twinkle little star now on the violin!! Last night I made Tartas (kinda like kish) with my friend from Buenos Aires and we invited over other friends for dinner. It was so FUN!!! I love this group of young single adults! Vanina (my comp from Buenos Aires) is still here and it has been so fun to be able to talk about the mission over and over again with her!!

9 de julio

Argentina Independence Day- and of course we made a cake! We make cakes for every occasion now! We went to the bus station to say good bye to one of the sister missionaires that I taught in the MTC and then we went on a bus ride that was about 40 minutes long to the outskirts of santa fe to a city called Rincon. I loved it! we were with about 40 other young single adults and we ate really salty chicken, listened to a bishop and his wife speak, sang the national anthem, played soccer on the river beach, and ate the cake we made. All very good activities. It was so fun to spend all day with the young single adults!! We love them... and are getting sad to leave them!

I sleep walk... uh oh

So apparently I sleep walk. The other night I woke up while I was trying to get out of the window. While I was opening it Clary woke up and asked me what I was doing. My reply was ¨I´m trying to get out¨ It was then I woke up and I said,¨I´m hilucinating¨. Talk about weird night. I had dreamt that I needed to get out of a door (not a window) and their was a curtain in front of it. In the dream we were locked in somewhere. Ok- so now I know i´m not safe to live with because I try to get out through the windows. I´ll never get married! HAHA!

leaky wall and hot drinks

This was one of my ideas to our leaky main water switch. Our shower wasn´t working so hot- so someone came to fix it and ended up creating another problem. So I cut into some water bottles and made a little gizmo to make sure our floor doesn´t flood, like it has! In the shower there is a bucket saving the water that drips, so i do save water- I promise!

Also, I´ve taken a liking to non-caffinated hot drinks... which is very Argentine. These are all of the different types of ways to stay warm. Mate, Mate cocido (in packets), mint tea, chamamille tea, malta, and hot chocolate. I will be bringing some home with me! I did, however, read over the word of wisdom again to plan out a healthier way to live- and I came across Hot drinks as not being a good thing... so I need to cut back on all of that.

Rosario-Flag Monument

We took a day trip to Rosario- where the monument to the Argentine Flag is. We had amazing service on the bus- they even gave us extra sandwhiches. We loved it! Once in Rosario we asked around how to get to the monument. We had no previous thought out plans, and it was a super adventure! We´ve decided that we are crazy, we just jump on buses and travel the country (but always check in with our manager of course). We spent the day meeting nice ladies in book shops and little breakfast restaurants. We seem to make friends where ever we go! I love meeting people! We also went to a museum that happened to be displaying Mexicos revolution and tons of pictures of Pancho Villa. Interesting that we learned about Mexico while in Argentina. While at the monument we walked around and went took an elevator to the type to look out over the city. This is where belgrano made the flag for Argentina. We took good pictures and slept on the 2 hour bus ride home. (Come to find out july 1st is canada day, so their flag was flying high along with the Argentine Flag).

The Museum in Rafaela- Book of Mormon Times

All I have to say is - the Book of Mormon is true! We went to a museum in Rafaela and there were three parts to it. The first part were old kids games, second part was the history of Rafaela (our hotel is part of that history- OLD), and the third part is on the Candelaria people. What caught my attention to this exibit was the date the civilization lived- check this out 0-700 ad. There were a lot of pots, arrow heads and other things that they found. Another cool thing is these people lived in ancient times where now is where I served my mission-jujuy, tucuman and salta. I couldn´t believe what I was seeing! Most of the placs on the wall with descriptions just kept saying that the name of these people are unknown- but they have been given the name of Candelaria. The Book of Mormon totally talks about these people! HELLO!!!

Rafaela

We went to teach the workshop in Rafaela wednesday. We didn´t ever get a list of people who would be attending, but we went anyways. After the worst 2 and half hour ride of our live on a broken nasty bus we got the church building a half hour before the workshop was supposed to start and no one was there. We waited and right when we should have been starting the workshop, a member showed up with his daughter in law. We were so happy they came. Four people ended up showing up- funny thing was they were all from the same family. So we decided to not stay in rafaela any longer than needed, so we taught the workshop in two days instead of three and we taught the second day in their house. They didn´t know it was four hours so hadn´t made arrangements, so we decided it would be easier the next day to just go to their house. We went to a hotel that was not nice at all. It had three beds in one room and didn´t give us towels, so we left quickly in search of another hotel. We found another one, but still wasn´t that great-oh well. We went to dinner that first day at a restaurant and I ate too much. I hadn´t felt well - because I have a crazy runny nose right now... so we went back to the hotel and watched TV. The next day we went to a museum and walked around the town. I bought a book that is famous here in Argentina ¨Martin Fierro¨and it is in english and spanish. We went to the Acosta house and taught the second day of the workshop. It was amazing!!! We loved teaching them. There are two in the family who aren´t members of the church and that was neat to spend time with them. They took a big board and let us use it as chalk board. We left right after the work shop and went back to Santa Fe... we don´t want to travel anymore we have decided.

Happy 4th of July

Today is INDEPENDENCE DAY! Oh how we love the United States. Clary and I are wearing patriotic clothes in remembrance of our USA! We sang all the patriotic songs in teh hymn book and she played her violin along with it. We made some movies but youll have to see those later. Also Clary made a cake with bananas in it and later we will finsih it off by cutting it in half and putting dulce de leche in the middle of it and some yummy cream frosting made

out of cream and powdered sugar. We are hoping to buy a firework candel and take the cake to our favorite families house to celebrate. There is also a youth dance we were invited to chaperone, I think, so we may go there too. A special thanks to Martina McBrides ¨Independence day¨song, it is the only patriotic song i have on my computer so I sang it three times at the top of my lungs!! Thank you country music!!!

Why we are in twos...

This is a list of reasons why the church always makes sure we are in twos when we are on the Lords errand (mission, internships or marriage).
1. Someone to make sure the water heater stays on while the other is in the shower. This is done by sitting in the kitchen and monitoring the gas flow into the water heater- and if it turns off, the kitchen sink must be turned on to help the hot water.
2. When walking down the street one must always help the other by making sure the bus or any other passing object doesn't smash into the other.
3. When entering the house one opens the door while the other watches the street to make sure no one trys to mug us.
4. While waiting for the bus to come, one hangs on to all the luggage while the other ones goes to the bathroom.
5. When walking on the side walk one must always be looking at the floor to make sure dog poop isn't stepped in while the other watches out for the buses and other moving objects mentioned in number 2.
6. One always has someone else who will listen about all of their recent health issues and actually be able to be sympathetic because the other also has the same problems.
7. When teaching the workshop one can rely on the other to watch the time so the other doesn't talk to long.
-Heavenly Father was a genius when he decided that two is the perfect number for missions, internships and marriage!

Salta

Salta was where we stayed for most of our time. It is a gorgeous city in the middle of hills (much like provo- but the mountains are a lot closer together). I love salta!! This is where I lived for about 2 months of my mission. This is where the three generational family lives. Usually when I talk about the Galvan family that is how I refer to them. All 6 were baptized eventually. They invited us over for lunch one day. While we were in Salta we taught a three day workshop to 20 people. It was so fun!!! I love when there are big energetic groups. Some were missionaries I knew who were just starting the mission when I left and now they are leaving. Wow- time flies. We also taught about the perpetual education fund to two different institute groups. I love being with the young single adults my age! So fun! Clary got sick our last night and the doctor was called to the hotel. She is better with medicine to control her sinuses and lungs. One night we were invited by the mission president to go out to dinner. So fun! I loved being with his family who goes home next week to Mexico after 3 years living in Argentina. We were able to go up the gondola our last day and look over the city- it is beautiful! Our favorite place in all of Argentina by far!

Tucuman

Tucuman proved to be another adventure.

We stayed with my old ward mission leader and his family the Arechagas. This picture was taken our last night and the girl in the middle is one of the girls I taught- Maria Laura. She ate dinner with us that last night. Another common trend you may see in my pictures is the black scarf that was crocheted by my last companion in the mission. I seem to wear it - hmm... well everyday that it is cold. Luckily Maria Laura bought me another one so I can alternate now. I also got to visit with lots of others, including a girl I taught but wasn't around to see her baptism. Her name is Marcela and she also wants to go on a mission. We had such an exciting time visiting with Hermana Arechaga. She fed us lunch and many dinners. When we got off the bus and first got to her house she had home made pizzas just out of the oven waiting for us. We were fed great! (a little too great..haha).

Going back to Santiago (first and last area in the mission)

Saturday night we left Santa Fe at 8 pm and arrived in La Banda, Santiago del Estero at 5 am. Rought nights sleep, but we survived. I was so anxious to see familiar land, I couldn't stop looking out the window all night. Some small set backs along the way: 1. the cell phone we use was left on the bus- so no more direct communication with everyone. 2. Carola the girl whose house we went to didn't have credit on her phone for us to use. The bright side: I got to ride on a motorcycle for my first time in Argentina- while we went to the gas station to by a calling card- to call our boss in Cordoba to tell him the news and try to find the cell phone.

Good news: People I taught- Coco and Marta got sealed in the temple and go to church, Jorge Sosa recieved his mission call to Paraguay and is currently ward mission leader. Rene is the deacons quorum president and passes the sacrament. Rita- his sister was also at church.

Sunday I went to both sacrament meetings from my first and last area in the mission. The first ward I went to asked me to give the opening prayer and as a suprise announced I would be giving my testimony. It was so great to be back there and sharing my testimony! That same day we left and went to Tucuman- a two hour bus ride on a not so nice bus! Once again- we survivied!

Last day in Uruguay

The last day in uruguay we were in Salto. I spent the afternoon with Melina while Clary visited some of her friends. This is the bus we left the country on, and always travel with. Once we got on the bus we encountered a grumpy old lady who was sitting in my seat. I didn't mind, but I tried asking which seat she was supposed to be in, so I could go sit in it, and she got mad at me. Ooops. Well- now I know not to talk to older ladies with canes, because she lifted hers up and next time I might get swatted with it. Oh well. On the way back home to Santa fe we had a layover, if you will, in a bus stop and we met a nice guy who told us all about argentina and his wifes jewish ancestory. We shared the gospel with him, and he listened. Good times had by all!

Fray Bentos

I love this little town. It is four hours north of Montevideo and to the west- closer to Argentina. Monday we woke up and had a great breakfast with Nancy Curbelo. We left with Zulma and Raul in their car to visit some of Clarys friends, but no luck. No luck at the bank either. We went back to the Curbelos (where we were staying) and we had milenesa and mashed potatoes. There is always dessert in south america and I love that! We had home made cake! After lunch we walked around the city and visited all of Clarys friends. The town was really little feeling. We woke up that day to the roosters! It was nice to be out of the big city. At night we made "tortas fritas" in a big pan of boiling fat. It was so fun!! We had family home evening and Clary prepared the lesson. It was such a cool feeling being with this family that is so loving and giving to everyone. We ate the tortas fritas and drank malta (cebada is what they call it in uruguay). The missionaries showed up and one is from Fair Oaks. We went to the leather mans house to look at the neat things he sells and while we were there the little 4 year old son peed on my leg while he was sitting on my lap. Poor kid cried of embarassment and I just chuckled and didn't worry to much about it. They say if a kids pees on you it is good luck..haha. That was the end of another great uruguayan day. The next day I went on Sister Curbelos motorcycle with her and we went to the bank real quick. Then we went to the bus stop super early and while we were saying good bye to our friends, the bus pulled out, so we had to wave it down AGAIN..

Sunday in Uruguay (day 3)

Sunday we of course went to church and I went to primary with Tricia to get some ideas on how to help out the primary here. It was a lot of fun. We were in the nursery and there was one little girl. We didn't know her name for the first bit, because she barely spoke, but finally a girl in primary helped us out with the name. We sang lots of primary songs and I went over to the CTR class where there was just one little girl about 13 years old. We played a game and I enjoyed it all! After church we went home and made some milenesas. We scraped up what food we had and made an amazing meal! HAHA... Well I was just grateful for food! The adventurous part was hurrying to the bus station where we had two minutes before the bus left and we still had to buy the ticket...so as this greyhound looking bus was driving away it opened its door and we jumped on. We rode for four hours to Fray Bentos where we stayed at the house of a family. We each had a bed to sleep in and MANY blankets. You see- it was FREEZING!!! We were just fine though and had a hot shower and there was a wood burning in the fireplace. This was at the Curbelos house. (end of day 3)

Touring Montevideo-day 2

Saturday we (of course) slept in and then went on tour of the city...

We took a tour of the theatre
Artigas

A building- I forgot to ask what it was...Well three times now i've tried to post this blog and it keeps dying on me. So here it goes again..not as detailed as before. The theatre was amazing and there was a group practicing- with big drums and all. Part of the theatre tour was two girls running in on the tour doing a silly act- it was pretty funny and we were entertained. What was neat was the act told us about some of the history of the theatre. They were a little hard to understand.. I think I need more culture in my life to help my vocab. We went to a young womens activity making home made play dough and then to a young single adult sports night. It was a great day- and we of course went to bed late- talking like girls do! (end of day 2- saturday)

3 days in Montevideo (first day)

We were greeted at the bus terminal by Rachel and Tricia (the Montevideo interns for the same program as me) and their mananger and his daughter. There wasn't enough room in the car for all of us, and our new friend Rose, so Rachel and I took the bus. Montevideo is huge! Still not as big as Buenos aires, but it is big. When we got to where we would be staying for the next three days (the other interns apartment) we were stunned by how gorgeous their view, and apartment are. They live a block from the beach (the River Plata- which is what we crossed on the ferry- basically it looks like the ocean).

We put our things down in the house and went for some typical food- Chivitos (a steak sandwhich that has more greese on it than i want to think about right now). It was wonderful! After that we hit up the local bakery- took our goods with us to the beach and rested a bit before we went out to dinner. We went to dinner at a famous italian restaurant and it was amazing!!! My hand made ravioli type noodles were in the shapes of hearts! I loved it! There was some of my favorite music playing by Eros Rammazzoti (an italian who sings spanish) and I asked the waiter, and come to find out Eros had been to that restaraunt before!! WOW! We went back to apartment and rested some more, bought some groceries and visited with a friend of Clarys until the wee hours of the morning. (end of day 1- friday)

The adventure to Uruguay: Santa fe to Buenos Aires to Montevideo

Last friday we started our adventure to uruguay at 1 am. We got on a large bus and travelled in some discomfort from santa fe to buenos aires. We got to Buenos Aires at 7 am, waited a bit for a friend from the mission and then he went with us to our next stop- Buquebus (the name of the ferry). We got on the Ferry and for 3 hours we rode that thing. It was beautiful and spacious. Clary and I sprawled ourselves across 4 seats each so we could sleep. I drank some sprite (which was rediculously expensive ($1.50 US) and munched on the crackers I had with me - oh and a half a loaf of bread.

Their was a lounge singer on the boat- who sang pretty well, but luckily I could sleep through most of it. There were so many foreigners on the boat- we had fun staring at all the other blondes from Germany and trying to figure out where they were from. Now we know why everyone stares at us all the time- I guess we do stand out. Once we got to Colonia Uruguay we jumped on another large bus and for two hours we talked with our new friend Rose on the way to Montevideo. Rose is traveling through south america and mexico for a total of two months or so and she is from Chicago. She quickly became our friend and ended up hanging out with us all weekend.

My first sight of Uruguay! There she is!