After reviewing the long list of things that needed to be done in Cordoba, we realized there was no way we'd manage it all in one day. So lucky me was able to stay home! We'll go later in the week for the marathon shopping but today the hubby took care of the downtown things. And because he couldn't look at the map and navigate the streets simultaneously he was able to see a lot more of the city than planned, and "happened" on some pretty cool places :-) Serendipitous!
I was able to slog through (most of) four months worth of receipts and get them semi-organized. You have no idea how much I hate this part but it just couldn't be put off any longer. Ugh. I kept hoping we'd be able to unpack and set up our office (including the files) but that isn't happening any time soon so it was necessary to do the best I can with what I have. There's still more to be done and I think I'll cry if it takes more than another full day.
Needing to do something other than paperwork by the end of the day, I gave the kitchen a good cleaning while waiting for the hubby to get home. And since it was a beautiful sunny day, of course I had to do laundry :-) I managed to squeeze out two loads even though I was all caught up on Monday.
The best part of the day was talking several times with the daughter. It's just so much fun to be able to chat for long stretches about anything and everything...the paper due in one class and the debate she's preparing for in another, all the things she's making in pottery and her plans for winter break...
One thing I haven't had time for is catching up on blogs. So guess I'd better get busy :-)
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
A Day of Shopping
Most women swoon at the thought of a day of shopping. Not me. I'm not a fan of the shopping unless I'm in the mood. Which occurs 2.3 times per year, usually around the time of the white sales. Not sure if those exist here so that statistic may decrease.
But just 'cause I don't enjoy it much doesn't mean I don't have to do it. The hubby is great and does a lot of the day-to-day grocery runs but we both have to tackle the once-on-month trips to Cordoba.
Today the list is especially long since we also have to (1) go to the main post office downtown (someone sent a package which automatically requires us visiting the provincial post office to deal with the customs issue), (2) visit a store that handles Apples because my Macbook has some problems we want to address before the one-year warranty is up, (3) stop at the Regístro Civil to check on our D.N.I.s, (4) check out the one and only Christian bookstore in the province and (5) go to the bus station to drop off a package [this is apparently the mode of sending packages here, rather than through the postal service]. These are all in addition to the actual stock-up-for-the-month shopping extravaganza at several stores.
And we can't leave until almost noon since my regularly scheduled Spanish class is a PRIORITY people.
Should be an interesting day.
Our map is old. We are easily confused. The places we need to go are all over the city. I do know that every time we've ever tried to go to the bus station on our own it has been a nightmare because of the one-way streets.
In Uganda we used to drive into the capital, park in a secure parking lot, then hire a taxi to drive us around town to all the places we needed to go. That sounds very appealing but taxis were much cheaper there. So we'll be doing all the driving and navigating ourselves.
You may not hear from me for a few days if we get lost.
I'm packing extra chocolate in my purse.
But just 'cause I don't enjoy it much doesn't mean I don't have to do it. The hubby is great and does a lot of the day-to-day grocery runs but we both have to tackle the once-on-month trips to Cordoba.
Today the list is especially long since we also have to (1) go to the main post office downtown (someone sent a package which automatically requires us visiting the provincial post office to deal with the customs issue), (2) visit a store that handles Apples because my Macbook has some problems we want to address before the one-year warranty is up, (3) stop at the Regístro Civil to check on our D.N.I.s, (4) check out the one and only Christian bookstore in the province and (5) go to the bus station to drop off a package [this is apparently the mode of sending packages here, rather than through the postal service]. These are all in addition to the actual stock-up-for-the-month shopping extravaganza at several stores.
And we can't leave until almost noon since my regularly scheduled Spanish class is a PRIORITY people.
Should be an interesting day.
Our map is old. We are easily confused. The places we need to go are all over the city. I do know that every time we've ever tried to go to the bus station on our own it has been a nightmare because of the one-way streets.
In Uganda we used to drive into the capital, park in a secure parking lot, then hire a taxi to drive us around town to all the places we needed to go. That sounds very appealing but taxis were much cheaper there. So we'll be doing all the driving and navigating ourselves.
You may not hear from me for a few days if we get lost.
I'm packing extra chocolate in my purse.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Un Piropo Anyone?
So I learned that here in Argentina they have a specific word for the things men to say to women they pass in the street. I'm not talking just catcalls here, but much nicer kinds of things. Like "How advanced technology has become when flowers can walk!" or "What has happened in heaven that such angels have fallen to earth?" While not many welcome wolf whistles and rude comments, what woman doesn't appreciate compliments?
One man was famous in Cordoba for standing on a busy street corner and complimenting every woman who walked by. Dressed in a top hat and tails, flowers tucked into his lapel, he was quite elegant. His real name was Fernando Albiero Bertapelle but everyone called him Jardín Florido. Although he died in 1963, his name lives on in folklore (and on Wikipedia).
He developed piropos into an art form, and others have followed in his footsteps. My co-worker remembers just a few years ago after she learned to drive and was slowly making her way through heavy traffic in the center of downtown Carlos Paz. Her window was rolled down and as she waited at a corner for the light to change, she was startled when an elderly, dapper gentleman in a suit stepped to the side of her van and said, "I knew that God sent angels to earth, but I did not know that they drove!" Made her day! :-)
It was such a kick to do my homework yesterday -- translating the Wikipedia entry on Fernando Bertapelle -- and then talk with my Spanish teacher this morning about well-known characters from places I've lived. I'm not sure if he's still alive, but there was a mentally impaired man in Jonesville who absolutely LOVED going to all the ballgames at the high school and cheering for "his" team. And he sometimes traveled with them to away games, serving as an unofficial mascot. Didn't matter to him whether they won or not, he just enjoyed the excitement of the game and was convinced that "his" team was the best no matter what. His unbridled enthusiasm endeared him to all.
Totally switching subjects...we set up our Christmas tree last evening. I used to have five plastic bins of Christmas decorations but gave away most of it before we came. So it didn't take long to unpack my one lonely bin and take a few more things from another box. It's looking a little sparse at this point but I'm trying to think of things I can get locally to make it more festive. I plan to post pictures on December 15th as part of BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes.
The month-long Christmas music extravaganza has also begun. Currently I'm listening to Manheim Steamroller's Fresh Aire Christmas.
While decorating last night we listened to The Nutcracker Ballet. I finished the tree, sat down and just cried. I do pretty well most of the time but sometimes I miss my kids so much it's overwhelming. So I stop and cry, and then get back up and get busy again. I know there are many families -- and I think particularly of those in the military -- who are missing their loved ones this year, too. You do what you gotta do. And thank the Lord for internet and the ability to stay in touch despite the distance.
One man was famous in Cordoba for standing on a busy street corner and complimenting every woman who walked by. Dressed in a top hat and tails, flowers tucked into his lapel, he was quite elegant. His real name was Fernando Albiero Bertapelle but everyone called him Jardín Florido. Although he died in 1963, his name lives on in folklore (and on Wikipedia).
He developed piropos into an art form, and others have followed in his footsteps. My co-worker remembers just a few years ago after she learned to drive and was slowly making her way through heavy traffic in the center of downtown Carlos Paz. Her window was rolled down and as she waited at a corner for the light to change, she was startled when an elderly, dapper gentleman in a suit stepped to the side of her van and said, "I knew that God sent angels to earth, but I did not know that they drove!" Made her day! :-)
It was such a kick to do my homework yesterday -- translating the Wikipedia entry on Fernando Bertapelle -- and then talk with my Spanish teacher this morning about well-known characters from places I've lived. I'm not sure if he's still alive, but there was a mentally impaired man in Jonesville who absolutely LOVED going to all the ballgames at the high school and cheering for "his" team. And he sometimes traveled with them to away games, serving as an unofficial mascot. Didn't matter to him whether they won or not, he just enjoyed the excitement of the game and was convinced that "his" team was the best no matter what. His unbridled enthusiasm endeared him to all.
Totally switching subjects...we set up our Christmas tree last evening. I used to have five plastic bins of Christmas decorations but gave away most of it before we came. So it didn't take long to unpack my one lonely bin and take a few more things from another box. It's looking a little sparse at this point but I'm trying to think of things I can get locally to make it more festive. I plan to post pictures on December 15th as part of BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes.
The month-long Christmas music extravaganza has also begun. Currently I'm listening to Manheim Steamroller's Fresh Aire Christmas.
While decorating last night we listened to The Nutcracker Ballet. I finished the tree, sat down and just cried. I do pretty well most of the time but sometimes I miss my kids so much it's overwhelming. So I stop and cry, and then get back up and get busy again. I know there are many families -- and I think particularly of those in the military -- who are missing their loved ones this year, too. You do what you gotta do. And thank the Lord for internet and the ability to stay in touch despite the distance.
Monday, December 1, 2008
We're Home Sweet Home
...and after all the traveling we've done this past week, I'm thankful to be sitting on something other than a car seat! We literally spent over 30 hours in the Fiat altogether. Ugh.
I'm not going into long rambling details about our week. Okay, get up off the floor and quit laughing. I can write succinctly you know! I just choose not to most of the time.
We had limited internet access and I sometimes went WHOLE DAYS without being able to check my e-mail or blog. That is my new definition of suffering.
A can of cranberry sauce somehow made its way into someone's suitcase from the U.S. and onto the table at the Thanksgiving dinner we enjoyed with a large group of missionaries. Don't know who or how, but I was just praising Jesus for that little bit of home. I was more excited about it than the chocolate pecan pie (which almost made me weep for joy).
The hubby slept through ten minutes of fireworks that were set off practically under our window on Saturday night but suddenly woke up a short time later when the slight rustling of plastic occurred in the bathroom. He was up and in there like a shot, discovering a toad had invaded our space. How that toad ever got in is a mystery I may not want to figure out. Just glad the hubby DID wake up and was able to escort Mr. Toad back outside to his natural habitat.
Our favorite little restaurant in Belgrano (the next town over from Santa Rosa de Calamuchita) has doubled its prices which made us very very sad. We've enjoyed this spot since 2003 when a friend introduced us to the joys of paying by the kilo for a buffet style banquet. Tio Rico's is a small place, room for maybe 20 inside and more outside, with one small hot bar and one small cold one. Not a huge selection, but everything is always delicious and fresh and they change things up frequently so you don't get bored. One of the sisters told the hubby they were hit hard during the farmer's strike that lasted months and months. So maybe they're just trying to recoup some of their losses.
The couple who have been caring for the property in Santa Rosa chose a beautiful yellow for the interior this time. Since yellow is my favorite color, you know I'm happy :-) About half the rooms have been painted and the rest will be done within a few weeks. It's looking very clean and fresh!
I was careful not to drink the water but still managed to get Montezuma's Revenge.
This has become a regular occurrence and we're not sure what's causing it. I've lost over 20 lbs. since we arrived in mid August. Is it the water (drinking only bottled now), the food (not eating any take out at all), adjusting to the diet here (trying to eat more fruits and vegetable to counteract all the beef and cooking more chicken when we're home)... It's a mystery but I'm hoping we figure it out soon. As much as I need to lose weight, this way is no fun.
The hubby reminded me that we didn't get stopped a single time on our trip. This was an answer to prayer because we hadn't received our final paperwork on the car before we left. So although we do have a paper saying it's in process, it could have been a problem had we been stopped. Police routinely set up road blocks and pull people over randomly to see what they might be able to find that you do not have in order. Even if you have everything exactly how it's supposed to be, they'll sometimes just make up something. I think they do it when they're bored and the coffers are low. Anyway, we're just thankful we didn't have to deal with it on this trip.
Guess I ended up rambling after all. Oh stop your snickering! This is the first chance I've had to leisurely blog in days. Let me just enjoy the experience.
I'm not going into long rambling details about our week. Okay, get up off the floor and quit laughing. I can write succinctly you know! I just choose not to most of the time.
We had limited internet access and I sometimes went WHOLE DAYS without being able to check my e-mail or blog. That is my new definition of suffering.
A can of cranberry sauce somehow made its way into someone's suitcase from the U.S. and onto the table at the Thanksgiving dinner we enjoyed with a large group of missionaries. Don't know who or how, but I was just praising Jesus for that little bit of home. I was more excited about it than the chocolate pecan pie (which almost made me weep for joy).
The hubby slept through ten minutes of fireworks that were set off practically under our window on Saturday night but suddenly woke up a short time later when the slight rustling of plastic occurred in the bathroom. He was up and in there like a shot, discovering a toad had invaded our space. How that toad ever got in is a mystery I may not want to figure out. Just glad the hubby DID wake up and was able to escort Mr. Toad back outside to his natural habitat.
Our favorite little restaurant in Belgrano (the next town over from Santa Rosa de Calamuchita) has doubled its prices which made us very very sad. We've enjoyed this spot since 2003 when a friend introduced us to the joys of paying by the kilo for a buffet style banquet. Tio Rico's is a small place, room for maybe 20 inside and more outside, with one small hot bar and one small cold one. Not a huge selection, but everything is always delicious and fresh and they change things up frequently so you don't get bored. One of the sisters told the hubby they were hit hard during the farmer's strike that lasted months and months. So maybe they're just trying to recoup some of their losses.
The couple who have been caring for the property in Santa Rosa chose a beautiful yellow for the interior this time. Since yellow is my favorite color, you know I'm happy :-) About half the rooms have been painted and the rest will be done within a few weeks. It's looking very clean and fresh!
I was careful not to drink the water but still managed to get Montezuma's Revenge.
This has become a regular occurrence and we're not sure what's causing it. I've lost over 20 lbs. since we arrived in mid August. Is it the water (drinking only bottled now), the food (not eating any take out at all), adjusting to the diet here (trying to eat more fruits and vegetable to counteract all the beef and cooking more chicken when we're home)... It's a mystery but I'm hoping we figure it out soon. As much as I need to lose weight, this way is no fun.
The hubby reminded me that we didn't get stopped a single time on our trip. This was an answer to prayer because we hadn't received our final paperwork on the car before we left. So although we do have a paper saying it's in process, it could have been a problem had we been stopped. Police routinely set up road blocks and pull people over randomly to see what they might be able to find that you do not have in order. Even if you have everything exactly how it's supposed to be, they'll sometimes just make up something. I think they do it when they're bored and the coffers are low. Anyway, we're just thankful we didn't have to deal with it on this trip.
Guess I ended up rambling after all. Oh stop your snickering! This is the first chance I've had to leisurely blog in days. Let me just enjoy the experience.
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