Sunday at Nasa

Today we went to the Houston Space Centre with Colwyn's family. We set off at 9am and arrived at NASA around 10. We took the 45 Freeway most of the way, passing by downtown Houston on the way. I took a couple of photos out of the car window as we drove by. The Space Centre was fantastic, especially going into the control centre. It was amazing to think that all of those space missions were controlled from that room and we were there!! They have pennants on the walls for each mission, and also 3 on the opposite wall for the ones that ended with a bang (if you know what I mean). We watched a link with the International Space Centre, as one of the crew did her exercise on an exercise bike. We also got to see the training area for the astronauts and all the mock-up space capsules, robotic arms, etc etc. It was great.
For dinner Meg and Dave cooked the famous Standing Rib Roast with accoutrements which was delicious.

Saturday here and Sunday there

Oh my gosh!!!! Have just realised that Lynn is moving to Oz and we won't catch up for at least a year!! That feels very strange and sad too. Will write some more soon but our ride to Colwyn's has just arrived. Hey Lynn, can you send me an email, so I can reply directly. Thanks.

Friday in the Woodlands

Don't quite know where the days are going but suddenly it's Friday and I realise I haven't been on the computer for a couple of days, so here goes.
Today David dropped us off at the Mall to do shopping. We started about 10.30 and were picked up at 3pm. The mall is pretty big and we have only scratched the surface of the shops to look at.
Hannah and I shopped and John and Tim did likewise, meeting up at lunchtime to eat, then off shopping again. Hannah ordered a medium coke with her lunch and we were so amazed at the size of it, we took a photo!! The saying 'everything is bigger in Texas' is true!! We bought a t-shirt at one stall, and the girl was from Chicago - even she thought the meals were big!
Tonight Christie and the chn came over for dinner and during the evening, Colwyn arrived in a fire engine, along with a truck load of guys. After a quick photo, he was off again, doing what fire men do!

Thursday
Today we went to Incredible Pizza with Christie and the chn and Michelle and Jason and baby Josh. After lunch - pizza! - the kids hit the amusement arcades armed with $25 cards. On many of the games, you can win tickets which can be redeemed for prizes. Tim and Hannah did so well on one game, a small crowd came to watch - especially when they checked in the tickets. Danielle, Tim and Hannah combined their tickets and had nearly 2000! After much deliberation, Tim got two dart guns, Hannah chose a lion, and Danielle chose a rat!!
We then went to see the hospital where Michelle works as a theatre nurse and met some of the people she works with. They obviously really enjoy working with Michelle, and you can tell she is well liked. The kids thought the hospital looked just like the set of Grey's Anatomy. They watch that programme here too!
Last night the whole gang of us descended on Lyndon and Sally for dinner. They had prepared brisket, chicken and polish sausage on the webber, then we had pecan pie, apple pie, boysenberry pie and icecream for dinner. It was the first pecan pie John had had in a very long time so he was a happy chappy.

Christmas is a goin' and Viv is stuffed!!!

Today John and I walked down to the local supermarket - Randalls - to get some milk. It is about 15 mins walk. We really enjoyed wandering round checking out all the different products available, and also the different sizes of things - mostly bigger!!!
We bought a few extra bits and pieces and walked home again. By the time we had cooked breakfast it was 12.30 so we called it lunch.
Tonight Grampy cooked steak and patties on the bbq for dinner, then after a game of Scattergories, everyone went home. Now I am updating this, John and his dad are checking out some DVDs, Tim is taking photos with his new camera and Hannah has just come up to find a chocolate bar - all is well with the world. Now I have to check out what Meg is doing and see if I can convince her to sit down.
Oh yes, there are lots of squirrels here, we can sit at the breakfast table and watch them scampering up and down the trees outside.

Christmas Day

I was first up Christmas Day, and made tea for Megan and Dave as we had to get the turkey in the oven by 9. We spent the morning organising lunch, and the kids opened their stocking pressies and a couple of things from us.
Lyn, Sally, Michelle and Jason came for lunch - turkey, potato, beans, carrots, peas, brocoli, cauli, gravy, and Christie and Colwyn arrived about 4.
We opened presents then and sat round chatting till tea time which was cold meat- turkey and ham and salad.
We watched some of the DVD's John had made just before leaving NZ - one of the Wku Xmas parade and one of our Christmas in NZ on Sunday 16th Dec.
All-in-all a lovely day, but not quite the same as home - no singing, and only 14 people!!

Christmas Eve

We were up early today to go with Christie (sister-in-law, married to Colwyn, John's youngest brother) to the mall to get some last minute pressies.
We found a park very easily much to everyone's surprise, it being xmas eve and all, and did our shopping. We all saw shops that we would like to explore another day when we have more time.
By the time we got home it was lunchtime, then Lyn and Sally took us over to their place for an hour or so. We came home, in time to get ready to go out for dinner at a Chinese restaurant. THe food was delicious and done buffet style which worked really well. After dinner, Hannah and I went with Lyn, Sally, Michelle and Jason to their methodist church for Christmas Eve. It was remarkedly similar to a Catholic or Anglican service, but we have way more carols. We came home round 9pm and I started to wrap pressies, finishing just after midnight.

John's Family Info:

David and Megan Lee

Sons:
John, married to me
Robert, married to Nicole, lives in Tunis
Lyndon, married to Sally, daughter Michelle, married to Jason with 1 year old son Joshua
Colwyn, married to Christie, 15 yr old son David, 13 yr old daughter Danielle

And so to Texas

John ordered a town car to take us to the airport on the Sunday morning - lovely leather seats and heaps of leg room. When we arrived we were amazed to see the lineup of people outside the terminal waiting to have their bags checked by security. We finally found were we were supposed to be and checked in without too much hassle. To board the plane, we had to stand in line according to our ticket numbers - ours were C 4-7, and wait until all the A's and B's had gone on board, only then could we go, to find that there were no seats at all together. It is a free-for-all, first in best seats.
When we arrived in Houston 3 1/2 hours later, Colwyn, Lyndon and Sally were there to meet us. We picked up our luggage only to find that Hannah's bag was nowhere to be seen. After waiting for another hour, we left, and crossed our fingers that the airline would find it. It did turn up the next day so we were very relieved. Hannah had to wear my PJ's so she was very pleased to have her own gear back.
All the rest of the family were here at Meg and Dave's for dinner so we got to meet the newbies straight off.
It was great to see everyone and they are all as we had imagined.
Meg has just made me a cup of tea so I'm off - till next time, I will catch up on the news, I promise.
ps thanks for the comments!!

Universal Studios

And on the 3rd day.....
We hit Universal Studios. Thank goodness Tim was heaps better when he woke on Saturday morning so we all trooped off past the Hollywood sign, the Laker's arena, over the highest of 7 overpasses on a freeway, and past the biggest conference centre in the universe - or so the bus driver said.
Universal Studios, for those who haven't been is set on the side of a hill and there are 4 very long, steep escalators between the two sites. There is even a dedicated radio station to listen to as you descend/ascend!!! John had a massive turkey leg for lunch, actually he only managed about 1/2 of it, and once again we were stunned with the size of meals here. We did the Horror House (kept my eyes on the ground and arm around Hannah) 3D Terminator (which was my favourite of the day) 4D Shrek, Jurassic Park (84 foot drop - only Tim and Hannah brave enough) and The Revenge of the Mummy - in the dark (again, only Tim and Hannah brave enough). There were other rides too but these ones stood out. We left the park at 4pm and decided that we'd had a great day but Universal Studios doesn't compare with the overall magic of Disneyland.

On Friday arvo we did go across to California Disney which is just across from Disneyland. Tim and I rode a couple of the kids rides, which were quite cool, then met up with Hannah and John and we all decided to go on a space ride which looked innocuous until you were suspended high up in the air and swung round. I must say, I have spent a lot of time with my eyes shut!!, much to my family's amusement.

More Disney

We went back to Disneyland in the evening amidst light rain. some of the rides were closed because of this but we managed to catch a few. We saw the evening Mickey show on the island and were standing in the perfect place for the fireworks which ended with 'snow' bubbles being sprayed all over us. It looked beautiful and certainly magical.

Friday morning saw us back at the park, checking out more rides. We decided that the scariest one was Snow White's Scary Adventures - actual name of the ride. The scariest part was the witch on the control box, boy was she grumpy!!
Tim developed a headache during the day and by the evening was quite unwell. We got back to the hotel late afternoon and put him to bed.
Hannah and I went next door to the restaurant for dinner, then Hannah went over again with John to keep him company while he had his dinner. All in all it was a quiet night.

Disneyland

I dragged everyone reluctantly out of bed this morning for breakfast here at the hotel- it was most delicious and lots of choices. Hannah made her own waffle - her first ever! We got to the park earlyish 8.15, and had a great day, with the crowds not really building up until around 11am. We all went on some of the rides, but Hannah and Tim tackled the more 'interesting' ones. We have come back to the hotel for the latter part of the afternoon and will go back to the park after an early tea. I have put on some washing Yay! can't do without my washing and clean clothes fixation!!! Hannah and Tim are about to go for a swim before tea so I'll sign off now. Hope all is going well at home.
Cheers
Viv

Hotel California

Well, we made it - all 4 of us safely here in LA.
After a very busy Wednesday in NZ at Wku Pry Prize Giving, then home to pack, it is now Wednesday afternoon again and Hannah and I are in the business room at the apartments checking emails and blogs.
Our plane - Air NZ was an hour leaving Auckland as it was in for maintenance (they said)anyway, we saw Tim and John's plane taxi down the runway while we were still boarding. On landing in LA, the computers were having a melt-down so everything was slow at this end too.
We finally made it through all the formalities and proceeded off in search of John and Tim who had landed at a different gate. After a quick march of about a km, we found them, worked out the best way to get to the hotel, and caught a private shuttle bus.
We dumped our bags and rang a taxi to take us to the nearest shopping centre for lunch. For dinner this evening, the hotel has a free hamburger, hotdog, chips, drinks deal going from 5.30=7.30 so that takes care of another meal.
Tomorrow we will tackle Disneyland!!
I've just read this and it show definite signs of lack of sleep, sorry about that, will try again tomorrow night!
Cheers
Viv

Home again, home again, jiggedy jig!

Saturday morning at my own computer and I think my brain is working sufficiently well enough to write a final blog.

Mariella and I caught a train into town on last Saturday morning and walked the streets of Buenos Aires taking in the sights. We went into the big cathedral to discover a service in progress. We tourists wandered round taking in the amazing ornate gilt decorations and stained glass everywhere. A group of guards in full uniform opened some iron gates to reveal the tomb of San Martin, who is seen as the saviour of Argentina, as he led the army to several victories that eventually saw the liberation of the country. There are many monuments in the city to San Martin. We walked the famous 9th Avenue, wandered down many, many streets to see the multitude of famous buildings and sites of downtown Buenos Aires. Around 5.30 we took a bus home, showered and got ready to go back into town to see a tango show. It started at 10pm in a small theatre in the center of town. There were 3 musicians, one on a grand piano, one on a double bass and of course the accordian player. I have discovered that the accordian is alive and well and living in Argentina. They are smaller than most accordians we see here, square in shape and with buttons on both ends, not keys. The accordian player had studied tango music and was a tango artist as much as the dancers were. There were 3 couples in the show who performed singularly, in pairs and all 3 together. There was also a singer who performed several songs. The show started rather slowly but built up into an incredible performance. Mariella and I had seats right near the front so had a fantastic view. We had discussed going on to a bar after the show but decided that we had both had enough and caught a taxi home.

On Sunday, we had a late start to the day, then caught a train out to El Tigre which is a tourist market destination on the river. We wandered through the stalls before stopping for lunch at an outdoor cafe by the river. There was a duo playing jazz, a sax and a guitar, the sun was shining, the boats were going up and down the river, which all made for a wonderful relaxing afternoon.

On Monday, Mariella had to go back to work so I went into town with her on the train and subte (subway). I had breakfast at a wonderful old bar just down the road from her office, before setting out for a day's sightseeing. I met up with Lorena's dad at 11.30 and we set off in his taxi to La Boca. We had only gone for a couple of blocks when the taxi in front of us crashed into a car and we had to stop in a hurry. When we could get going again, Airel's taxi felt as though the brake was locked on. We stopped and he checked round the car but couldn't see anything obviously wrong. We had travelled another few blocks when I noticed clouds of smoke in the side rear view mirror!! We were on a very busy road but just had to pull over and stop. The smoke was pouring out from behind the back wheel.

Eventually Ariel called up another taxi for me and I went back into the center of town as he had to wait 3 hours for a tow truck. I ended up window shopping down Florida, which is a pedestrian mall which runs for about a kilometre. I saw a couple tango dancers in the mall and several musicians of various types.

On Tuesday I caught the bus to the cemetary which is world famous for it's design. The whole place is above ground, and below, with thousands of ornate memorials and tombs and cats!! Eva Peron is intombed here plus all the famous politians, writers, poets, etc. It is an amazing place, and well worth a visit. I then walked back into town, which was further than it looked on the map. I eventually found the AFS office and had a debrief with the manager there, who offered to organise a taxi to the airport for me later that night. From there I caught a bus to La Boca, which is the colourful district where tango is king! The buildings are all painted in multi colours, which stems from the old days where the people used to ask for any left over paint from the ships that called into the docks there. These days the tradition is kept up and the whole area is a tourist destination with cafes, bars, tango in the streets and tourist shops a plenty. I made my way back to town and we caught a lift back home with Airel who had had his taxi fixed. I had a hour or so to shower and finish packing before my taxi arrived.

My plane from Buenos Aires touched down in Auckland at 5.15 on Thursday morning, around 1/2 an hour late. Not so, according to the air hostess on the intercom, 'we have landed on time'. I think it was Argentinean time, as all their flights are invariably late! Other than that it was an uneventful flight which is a good thing when you are talking about air travel. The only down side to the flight was a personal one for me, the meal was pasta!! I had a dreadful feeling it was, when the tray was put onto my table as I could smell it. I had eaten so much pasta while in Iguazu, that I just cannot face anymore at present.

John, Hannah and Tim were there to meet me and we arrived home before the sun was up. I stayed awake all day, trying to get accustomed to NZ time. A couple of times the house swayed and dipped, but mostly I coped.
Now it is Saturday and I am enjoying the company of my family. They coped very well in my absence and I can see that some new habits will have to be continued! eg John folded the washing this morning!
I had many amazing experiences in Argentina, I met some wonderful people and saw many things I wish could be different. To live in a community for a month allows you to really see how life is, and you really appreciate how fortunate we are here in New Zealand.

Thanks for being part of my journey, I have enjoyed relaying my adventures.
Chau
Viv

Ultimo dia en la escuela

Hola

Today was my last day at San Lucas and Sagrada Familia schools. This afternoon I have one more class at the Normal School and that's it. The past month has gone by very slowly at times but now it seems no time at all since I was in NZ

I wrote a speech to give today and it was well received by both students and teachers. At the end of lessons at San Lucas, the owner of the school put on nibbles and drinks (no not alcohol) actually coke - they drink heaps of it here, and I gave my speech again for the teachers.
Tonight I am meeting a couple of the teachers from school at the restaurant behind the supermarket for coffee and cake. The owner of the school will be there too and she wants to know all about education in NZ. Thankfully she speaks English so I will be able to give her a fair idea. Explaining principles and theories in a foreign language is somewhat taxing if not nearly impossible for someone with my level of Spanish.

2 days later:
Am now in Buenos Aires. The computer crashed while I was typing and I have not had another chance to write until now.
I arrived here last night at 5.15, only about 2 hours late, which is par for the course when it comes to flights in Argentina I´m told. There was no one at the airport to meet me and I waited for about 40 mins until a taxi driver with an AFS sign came into the arrivals hall. He had been waiting outside apparently. I was not going to go wandering around as I had no idea who was meeting me. When we arrived at the AFS office in the city, Margaret, the other teacher from NZ was there so we were able to catch up briefly before she left to catch the plane home. Another taxi brought me out here to Mariela´s place. Mariela is a friend of Lorena who is my night class Spanish teacher at home. Today we are off exploring the city and tonight hopefully dinner and a tango show. Tomorrow is more tourist type stuff of course. It is a beautiful day here, cold but not a cloud in the sky.
Mariela´s apartment is to the north of the city so we will catch a train into the central station and take it from there. At last I get to see BA in person! Am very excited!!
Hasta luego
Viv

Hace Frio!!!

Having a cold snap here in Argentina. Elsewhere (besides Iguazu) there is snow too. Here it is just really cold. This morning at 6.30 when I was walking to school (do you feel bad for me yet?) it was around 2 degrees.


At night I have been putting on layers of clothes and I go to bed looking like the Mitchelin Man. Makes you realise how lucky you are at home.



Not a lot to report today, just a couple of observations.

Students at Secondary Schools here in Iguazu study around 12 different sujbects, not 6 as in NZ. Mind you they do not go into such detail here.



The teachers fill out way more data on each pupil. Monica has to report on 8 different aspects for each one of her pupils. (In three schools, that brings her total to around 300 students X 8 )



Students here eat lollies, chew gum and drink coke etc in class.



The tuck shops in the schools sell heaps of lollies, biscuits, drinks etc, but haven't seen a piece of fruit or salad anywhere.



I look like a carbohydrate!!! Have had very little meat, no vegetables to speak of and little fruit. Can't wait to eat some healthy food.



Wonder if I'll remember how to drive. Remind me, Hannah and Tim, to get into the van in the mornings!



There seems to be a protest (often violent) about something, every single day, especially in Buenos Aires. The news is always full of protests, accidents on the roads, and the rich and famous.



They love talk/gossip shows here, the juicer the better.



There seems to be an obsession with female bottoms! You can even buy false bottoms to wear under your jeans.



One very famous, well known 60 year old ex actress, dancer etc (with a 27 year old novio)has just opened a dance studio with every style of dance from ballet to strip tease. (They teach pole dancing too Susannah!)



Dancing with the Stars is a programme here too. The costumes involve way less material than the NZ version!



Well, that ends my last Tuesday blog here in Iguazu.



Hasta luego

Viv

Monday morning feeling fine

A beautiful day here again after a foggy start. You see these things if you have walked a couple of kms to school and are in class by 7am!
The school I was at this morning is going through a critical time and there is a meeting of all the teachers tonight to hear about the school´s and their own future. Last year the administrator siphoned off most of the fees into his own pocket and now the situation at the school is really drastic. Monica and others will know tonight if they still have a job next year or if the school has to close. It is a very stressful time and all at the school are showing the signs. Here´s hoping for a good outcome tonight or it is going to be a rough few days until Friday (for me) and beyond for those involved. Jobs are not easy to come by here and so I´m not sure what the staff will do if the school closes.
I came home around midday as the washer woman was coming to do the laundry. I have been looking after my own clothes but as we had been away all weekend, my pile of washing was reasonably large. Louisa comes once a week and for 5 pesos handwashes everything you leave out for her. I had to be at home to pay her as Monica works until 2pm on a Monday.
Most people are very clean here. The shop keepers wash and scrub the footpath outside their shops every day and many house owners do the same with the footpath outside their house.
On the other hand, males (only ones I have actually seen) continually spit on the ground, no worries at all, and heaps of people just throw their rubbish on the ground. Quite opposite actions.
I think this week will be rather quiet leading up to my departure on Friday, just as well after a hectic weekend.
Will try and send off a couple more blogs before then.
Hasta luego
Viv

World Famous In Iguazu

Hola!

Well, it's been a very busy 3 days, and this is the first opportunity I've had to get to a computer.

On Friday, 25th May, it was a public holiday here and the whole town gathered for a parade to celebrate the national holiday (see other blog)

I was part of the parade too, representing AFS. I was picked up from home at 9.45am and we went down to the main street to get into formation for the parade. I was part of the San Lucas school and got to march right behind their banner.

It took 2 hours to get everyone ready, I guess that's not too bad considering there are 30'000 people living here and every school and organisation was represented. Think Xmas/ANZAC parade type of thing with bands and all the political figures etc etc. Well, I was very proud, had my name mentioned over the loud speakers and all. Think I did a good job for New Zealand. Not many people here in Iguazu know anything about us, but they do now!

When the parade was finished I walked home and Monica and I hopped aboard a Collectivo (bus) for Brazil Centro. We wandered round for a couple of hours, then came home. A friend of Monica's came over that evening for a while.

On Saturday morning we were out of bed by 3am to catch the bus to San Ignacio. It is a town 5 hours south of here where there a some majestic ruins of a town. It was really beautiful. We were there most of the day, before catching another bus, and finally arrived home after 9pm that night.

This morning it was out of bed early again, as Monica (from AFS) took Monica (my host) and I to Brazil to the waterfalls there. From Brazil you can see the whole of the Cataratas and it is really impressive. You don't get as close to the falls as most of them are in Argentina, but you do see them all in one view.

We then went to Monica's house for the famous 'asado'. Monica's husband was the cook of course, just like NZ, the men work the BBQ!

The food was lovely, like ribs in NZ but with more meat on the bone. We had pork, and beef. After the main meal, Monica's husband served me some cheese and a fruit similar to a melon that had been preserved in a sugar syrup. It was good, but a little sweet for me.

As if we had not done enough, we then went to Aripuka, which is a tourist place which has enormous tree trunks and furniture and a large house made of huge trunks. It was interesting and I have photos of course.
When I get home I will get John to post some of the more interesting photos on this site.

It is now after 7pm and I haven't been home since early morning so will finish this now.
Till next time
Hasta la vista
Viv

A sunny winter's day

Today, 24th May, San Lucas school celebrated with a ceremony at school in the courtyard.

Monica and I arrived at 7.30am to help set up the chairs etc. It was absolutely freezing and still is (1.30pm) out of the sun. The children arrived with parents about 8.30. Many students were dressed as negroes, spanish dignitaries, etc, it made for a very colourful sight. The most junior students of course stole the show! The ceremony started with the arrival of the flags of Argentina and Missiones and singing the National Anthem. Whoever wrote it was not thinking of the future when ordinary people would be singing it!! (enough said)

Then each grade performed an item to do with the journey to Independance for Argentina. More celebrations are held on about the 9th of June (or July, can't remember) and other celebrations are held then.

After the items, everyone had hot chocolate and chirizos (?) which was very welcome considering everyone was about frozen solid by then.

It seems to me that people here are more patriotic than we are in NZ. More like the States in fact, where each day starts with a ceremony raising the flag etc.



Yesterday I saw a most interesting truck. It was loaded with fresh pineapples, but had no bonnet, no driver's door, rust for Africa, and looked as though it came from the deep south in America many, many years ago. No one seems to think it strange for vehicles to be falling to bits and the police don't appear to worry about them. I guess they have more important things on their plate.



Yesterday it was big news that the staff and some students from a Uni in Buenos Aires were involved in dubious practices, in order for the students to gain better grades. The revealing photos were all over the news last night, and not only once. For all that it was seen to be a horror, it didn't stop the news channels from showing the photos over and over and over again.



Well folks, that's my lot for today. A day off school tomorrow for more celebrations and then off to San Ignacio on Saturday bright and early.

Catch you soon

Hasta pronto

Viv

What happens on the 25th May

May 25
Anniversary of the First Independent Government in Buenos Aires
Revolución de Mayo
On May 1810 a small revolution took place in Buenos Aires. This was the first step towards independence.



Friday is a public holiday here and the students of San Lucas have been practicing this week for a small fiesta held in the town square. They are putting on various skits and singing the national anthem etc. I have learnt a very old anonymous version of an african/tango type of song.
The director of the school asked me today if I would attend the ceremony on Friday morning with the two AFS students that are also at the school. What could I say? No thanks, I'm planning on a sleep in!

Today has been drier than the last few days but it's clouding over again now. Actually had to use the Lavandoria to get some clothes dry. You don't get to use the machines yourself, you just pass over the clothes to be washed/dried/ironed or whatever and pick them up later, after handing over the necessary pesos of course. I think it's a great system!! Or you could have a great husband who will do the washing and ironing for you. Not sure which way I prefer, actually I do know, the husband is good for so many other jobs too!!!!
On that note, I shall end today's blog, as nothing exciting has happened.
Have a great day, whatever day it is in NZ now.
Hasta la vista
Viv

El fin de semana

It is Monday morning, and I am at school, waiting for a language class to begin so thought I dash off a few lines.

On Saturday morning, Monica and I were waiting at the bus stop to go to the Falls, when we changed our plans, raced home, picked up passports and Reales, and caught a bus to Brazil to do a spot of shopping instead. We had the maddest Brazilian bus driver ever born I think. He had one speed, flat tack, didn´t slow down for corners, and acted as though he was the only one who should be on the road . He used the horn constantly and several times I thought the bus was going to flip over when we were going round a corner. One the way he turned off into the depot for his bus company and had a quick service on the bus, while we were all sitting there!! Monica and I wondered what on earth was going on. Never again, Argentinean Collectivos from now on!

Plus it was twice as expensive as a Collectivo (bus from Iguazu). There were a family of native Indians on the bus too. They didn´t have to get off the bus or show any papers at the border, I guess they don´t have papers to show. One girl had a baby, and she looked about 12!

We did the rounds of the shops, bought a few little bits and pieces, very mindful of my luggage weight going back to Buenos Aires. We had a very sedate ride home in a Collectivo from Argentina.

Later Monday afternoon:
Sunday morning saw us up bright and early and back at the bus stop, this time waiting for the bus to Las Cataratas. We arrived at the park at around 8.30am and checked out the main building where they have pictures, history and flora and fauna on display.
Then we started to walk, and walk, and walk, and walk some more, in fact all day until we left around 2.30pm. The way the park is set out with paths everywhere, including a miniture train is fantastic. What can I say about the falls; they are truely worthy of the name 'a natural wonder of the world'. If you ever get the chance to visit, it is well and truely an awesome sight. Makes Huka Falls look like a water pistol.. These falls just go on and on and you can get so close on the walkways. Because it has been raining so much here lately, we could't visit the island as there was no where for the boats to land, the beaches were all covered in metres of water. The day was rather overcast to begin with and deteriorated as the day progressed. We ended up being very wet and rather cold but exhilarated! At one point we went out onto a very wet, slippery platform to have a photo taken nearly under one of the main waterfalls. What fun!
Mind you, today I woke with a sore throat and the beginnings of a cold!
On our way back to the entrance we saw some monkeys and a large spider which Monica tells me was a baby! Big enough for me! I have photos! there were not many birds about and the tocans fly in and out at dawn and dusk along with most of the other wildlife. We checked out the Sheraton Hotel and that certainly would be the place to stay, as it overlooks the falls and you have a fantastic view 24\7.
We arrived home just as it started to rain and it hasn't stopped really. Today we had the most amazing thunder and lightening. All the lights at school kept going off much to the delight of the students. It is calm at the moment so I will make a dash for home.
Hasta luego
Viv

Fantastrico Fabuloso Friday

As you may have guessed already, I'm pleased that it is Friday.
Was at San Lucas bright and early [well early anyway] this morning, 10 to 7 to be precise, only to find that classes didn't start until 10 past 7 !!!! Monica had told me to be there at 7am. Must check things out for myself as this being early business is not on especially when I could have been in bed for at least another half an hour!
I was in a Spanish [think English] class with Year 13s. They are studying poetry which is tricky to understand at the best of times, let alone in Spanish. I could work out the poem but when it came to answering comprehension questions and making inferences, forget it. Anyway the class, all 5 of them, was distracted this morning as yesterday morning the father of one of the students was killed in a car accident and most of the students were away.
The next lesson, Year 12s, only had one workbook between 10 of them so I spent my time talking with an AFS student from Germany. He has been here for 3 months and although his conversation is better than mine, his written and listening is not as good so I felt a bit better.
Don't know why I thought I would be so much further ahead, guess I expected a cloud of spanish would decend and I would instantly gain full understanding. Ha!"!!
After a short break, as I was checking my emails at school, the director came into the information room and asked if I would take a music class as the music teacher was away. What could I say but ok. It was a class of 35 five year old monsters. They were climbing off the walls, tables, each other etc. I managed fine for about 30 mins and then we both [the class and I ] lost the will to live and all disintegrated into mayhem!! I finally managed to gain control just before it was time to leave. Many sighs of relief!! Then another teacher comes up to me and asks if I would take the Year 7 & 8 class!! I stood in front of another 25 students with absolutely nothing prepared and thought, ok what now? I asked [in my own way] what they had been doing in music and they showed me some written work that I think was about the history of the song they sing to the flag of Argentinn - I think!! So that was out of the question. I finally decided to do some rhythm work as music symbols are the same all over the world. We had a very productive half an hour when I realised that I was supposed to be at another school 5 mins previously. I raced down stairs, garbled something about being late to the director and took off.
Quite ruined my 'being early for everything' run.
The rest of the day has been calm and serene. Except for lunch.
Monica and I walked to the bank after school [12.30] and stopped at a cafe for lunch. I ordered a sandwich with ham, tomato, cheese and lettuce. At least I thought I did. When it arrived it was toasted!! Even the lettuce! Actually it wasn't too bad and at least it was edible.
Speaking of being confused, I was talking to the director of the Sagrada Familia Institute the other day and afterwards Monica told me that I was calling the school Sangrada. So instead of meaning Sacred Family I was callling it Bloody Family.!!! Ohwell, he still greets me with kisses and talks to me so he must have made allowances for me.
Maybe tomorrow we will go to the famous falls, It depends on the weather which is overcast today and what Monica wants to do. I will of course let you know!!
Stay tuned
Hasta luego
Viv

Thursday afternoon
Well, I did go out last night. There was a fine spell and I thought I'd risk it. I arrived at school at 10 to 6 and discovered that between my spanish and the other teacher's English, I was and hour and a half early!! ( I later checked my diary and I had written 6pm, AND Miriam was speaking English when we made the arrangements, so.....) Well anyway I took the blame, after all it is her country, and had to stick around for the next hour and a half while she took some children for English lessons. I couldn't go back home as it had decided to pour down again.
At 7.30 we went round the corner from school and into the supermarket.
Well, I was a little confused, after all, Miriam had invited me for coffee. I thought maybe she was going to buy a jar and take it back to school. But she did know where she was going, as in the back of the supermarket was a door into a very flash restaurant. We had lovely coffee (my first nice coffee here) and a piece of Ricotta cake. A strong Italian influence here in Argentina. We trundled back to school and I took a small class of adults for a chat about NZ and the differences between the cultures. They were really interesting to talk to as they all worked in the National Park here in Iguazu. One guy lived actually in the forest. He delighted in telling me all about the dangerous spiders and snakes etc that were to be found even in my street! Well, I said thanks for that! I really needed to know and now I'm on my way to the airport!! They had a good laugh. I was telling them how amazed I was at the number of dogs here in Argentina. Later I mentioned that in NZ there were 10 sheep for every person, and the guy who lives in the forest came back with / In Argentina for every person there are 10 dogs! I was impressed with his understanding and being ble to make a joke, and told him I was going to relay that to all in NZ.
Meanwhile outside the thunder and lightening was going hell for leather, so at 10.30 when it was time to go home, Miriam called a taxi thank goodness. Didn't want to trust my umbrella in all that lightening. (Was channeling Benjamin Franklin)
So, that was my evening, quite fun really.
A wet day today again, really hope it fines up for the weekend.
Till next time
Hasta la vista
Viv

Public School

Outside Public School

Boys Costume

Girl in Costume

Front of San Lucas from across of the road

San Lucas School and Yours Truly

One Wet Wednesday

Today at school one of the English language teachers was sick so I was it!
The first group were Form 1 and 2, just pretended I was back home. We did a 'Facts about NZ' talk of course. Went ok / lessons are an hour long. The next thing I knew, I was in a class of 6th and 7th formers so we had a conversation about them, with a few bits about me, what I have been doing here in Iguazu, mostly about them which was really quite interesting. Most are going to Uni, free here they tell me, and have grand ambitions from Lawyers to Doctors. Most of the boys didn't know what they were going to do / stay home was one suggestion.

It is a wet afternoon here with lots of thunder happening outside. Hope I get home in a fine spell. Temperature is not cold though, probably about 18 degrees.

Tonight I am supposed to meet one of the teachers for coffee at 6pm. And then helping her in her adult English class at 8:45. Won't be going out in thunder and lightening though.

I have sent a couple more photos home. The photos of the dancers were taken at The Sagrada Familia school last Sunday. The dancers were mostly from another school but some were local. The boys did this great show using wooden balls on the ends of rope and they swung them like pois then one of the older boys made a rhythm on hitting the balls on the ground as he swung them round. I wouldn't like to have one hit me in the head as they are going around at a fair rate of knots.(joke)
The boys also did a dance with machetes. Quite impressive. The machetes had great chunks out of the blades from being clashed together. All in all an impressive show. The girls didn't get to do anything that exciting, just danced and twirled their skirts.

There are a couple of photos of the public school, you can really see the red earth that is everywhere here, no such thing as brown soil in this province. This school is really under/resourced but the students are great.

Man is it raining!! The skys have opened! Won't be going anywhere soon.
Too bad I have run out of news.
Hasta la vista
Viv

Iguazu Falls

Taller than Niagara Falls, twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horsehoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River, Iguazú Falls are the result of a volcanic eruption which left yet another large crack in the earth. During the rainy season of November - March, the rate of flow of water going over the falls may reach 450,000 cubic feet (12,750 cubic m) per second.

Downstream from the falls where the Parana and Iguazu rivers meet, so do the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Each country has created a landmark in their national colors on a spot in each of their countries where you can see all three. (See me below!)

The name of the falls comes from the Guaraní word for "great water." The first Spanish explorer to see the falls (did you see the film The Mission?) was Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541 but the vast power of the falls was not fully utilized until the construction of the huge Itaipu hydroelectric power plant built jointly by Paraguay and Brazil. Completed in 1991 the dam provides 12,600,000 KW of power satisfying almost 40% of Brazil and Argentine power needs. The dam one of the largest in the world is touted by both countries as a masterpiece of technology. (Did Dave do the estimate? - family joke)

Mate - Argentinian drink for Viv

Outside Monica's Flat

Me with Brazil in Background

Me With Paraguay in the background

Tres Fronteras (above)

Sign the San Lucan kids made for me

es lunes

Hola
A few interesting observations
1. There is no law about wearing helmets on motorbikes
2. There is no limit to the number of people you can get on a motorbike
3. You only have to wear a seatbelt if you are sitting in the front seat of the car
4. People here are shocked to find out that we have a large gathering with food, music, talking etc when someone dies. Here they go into seclusion and don't talk to or see anyone, they stay home, feel sad and cry a lot. This is totally opposite to NZ don't you think?
5. There are more dogs here in Iguazu than the whole of NZ (well it seems like it)


Today I took an English class, think 15/16 year olds. At the teacher's request, I had made up a list of questions pertaining to the discussion I had had with the class last Friday. After a shaky start where the teacher, Miriam, made the students clean up the classroom (it was a shambles) we had a good time. The thing they found most surprising about NZ was the funeral thing. I had talked about a Maori funeral
and everyone of the students made mention of it. I spent the first part of the morning in with 7 year olds who were having a language lesson. They write nearly everything from the blackboard, narry a photocopy in sight. Today they were learning about common nouns. The teaching here is much more teacher directed, especially in the junior classes. The seniors do more project work that is then presented to the class. The work is done at home. I have seen some impressive projects involving handmade puppets, charts, videos, brochures. I am bringing home some examples to show those teachers who are interested.
I finished work at 12.30 and went home to make lunch for Monica.. who works from 7 until 2pm on a Monday. It was a challenge to make something different to usual as there are very few ingredients and even fewer utensils. Anyway, I came up with a version of fish cakes involving some rice, eggs and sardines. Actually they were delicious and Monica loved them which was the important thing. She really dislikes cooking and only does it because she has to eat. Quite a change from my household!!
I will be really ready to get into my kitchen when I get home.
Not a lot else to report, saw my first Dengy Fever mosquito this afternoon. They have very distinctive white striped legs which are obvious to the naked eye, shows how big the are!!!! I was covered in repellant but decided to give outside study a miss and come down to the internet cafe instead. There is no cure for Dengy Fever and they have had some outbreaks here.
I think I may have finally, successfully sent home some photos, so if I have, John will put them on this blog. Fingers crossed.
That's it for now. Thanks for your emails, I appreciate it.
Hasta luego (that's 'see you later' Ali)
Viv

Mother's Day

Well, I actually forgot it was Mother's Day until I opened my email and found messages from my family.
Today Monica and I went to the Institute Sagrado Familia's 16th birthday celebrations. It started aroung 10.30 with a mass in the courtyard, then the students had all made food (or their mother's had) to sell to raise money. I had a tarta - a pie with ham and cheese, some small balls of cooked flour and cheese - sounds dry right, they sure were. They are typical of this region apparently. The las thing I tried was choripan - chorizo sausage in a bread roll, delicious. The chorizos were cooked over coals on an open grill. the guy just set fire to a whole bag of charcoal and waited until it had fallen through the grill, then put the chorizos on to cook. A couple of times the charcoal exploded sending hot coals up into the air but no one seemed to worry. Then a group of students performed some national dancing. It was wonderful, the guys especially looked fantastic in their costumes. I have photos and will eventually share them with you. We left to come home around 2pm. All in all a nice day.
BAck to school tomorrow and the usual routines.
Take care, be good, smile at someone you don't know!
Hasta luego
Viv

Bridge over the River Parana

Sounds like a good name for a movie don't you think. (darn can't find the question mark on this keyboard)
Today we went to Brazil and Paraguay, and I have the stamp in my passport to prove it, well it proves I was in Brazil anyway. Anyway the story,
We left home around 8 this morning and caught bus which took us acoss the bridge between Argentina and Brazil and had to get off at the border and have our documents sighted and stamped, back onto the bus, next stop down-town Brazil. Iguassu on that side of the river is much bigger than the Iguazu that I'm staying in. We got off the bus and straight away walked over the bridge to Paraguay. THere were'nt too many people about as it was quite early. I guess the bridge is about 3 quarters of a km long and I had two offers of drugs by the time we got to Paraguay. I should really begin by telling you of the preparations last night. We had already changed some pesos into U$A for Paraguay and Reales for Brazil. My wallet was too big (actually it's not at all) to take as it had to fit into my pants pocket without making a large bump that is noticable. No rings, earings, watches, necklaces, phones, cameras anything at all. I had to take my passport so I used the pouch you lent me Mark, it was great. We wandered the streets of Paraguay for several hours, by which time were crowded with people. There are hundreds of stalls with good stuff and heaps and heaps of rubbish. The streets are littered with rubbish too, people openly throw stuff onto the street. If I was going to sell anything, it would be plastic wrap and sellotape, absolutely everyone was using these items. On guy was carrying 5 very large cardboard boxes on his back, another couple had huge green plastic wrapped packages on their backs and one woman was carrying a large basket on her head. The other day here in Iguazu I saw a guy with 5 cartons of wine strapped to the back of his motorbike.
Monica and I made some good purchases, then walked back over the bridge, (more offers of drugs) to Brazil. We saw some men collecting contraband from the side of the river and running up the hill through the vegetation. We stopped at a dingy looking cafe for a drink of Guarana and a Brazilian empanada, which has nothing to do with waxing and everything to do with pastry and dry mince with a smattering of carrot. We then hit the streets again in Brazil this time. We were quite tired as it was really hot today, so after making a few purchases, we decided to call it quits and head home. We will go back another day and finish supporting the ecomomy in Brazil. On the way home we had to stop on the Argentinean side of the river Parana and have our passports\documents stamped again and our bags searched.
As soon as we arrived home I had a shower as we were in some very dirty smelly places
today.
It was a real shame that I couldn't take photos but it is just not safe to be seen with a camera.
Tonight we are going out with a friend of Monica's so that should be fun.
Thanks for all the emails, it's been great reading them.
Till next time
Hasta luego
Viv

Fair weather Friday

Hola a todos
I really should have my name enscribed on the back of this chair as I keep it warm most days.
Yep, back at the computer doing my daily blog lest y'all there in NZ wonder what has been happening.
A reasonably quiet day today, up a little earlier, had a great sleep (hurrah) and off to school to teach music to two junior classes. The first class (third grade) is learning {A Pukeko In a Ponga TRee) the second class is younger so tried the Pukeko song then switched to If YOu're Happy which went down really well. After a quick trip down the road it was back to school to sit in on a couple of English classes. Actuallly sit in on doesn't quite describe it, more like take the lesson and give a talk on NZ, not that I minded at all, it was fun. THe students were 5th and 7th formers and were really interested. Now one of the teachers wants me to prepare some questions about my talk for the students on Monday.
If I'm to be honest, it was a relief to speak English. Doesn't happen often which is a good thing. Miriam (teacher of English) wanted to know when we were going out on the town? Yay! sounds like a really good idea to me. Hope that will happen soon.
All study and no play makes VIv a very dull girl!!
Tomorrow is the day we go to Brazil, when I asked the students today what I should buy they were full of many wonderful ideas but I will have to be careful as my bag already weighs 20 kgs and they will make me pay a fortune for excess baggage!
Last night Monica and I went to the Public school. THere were 36 17 year olds in the class. I bet they know more about the realities of life than I ever hope to. I have taken a couple of photos and when I can work out how to post them on the net you will see what I am talking about. They ask me questions in Spanish and I have to reply in kind as their English is limited to greetings. They were all really wanting to come to NZ until they found out the price of cigarettes!!! Most of them smoke and did not want to pay kiwi prices. Actually the food here is quite a bit cheaper than home, not always as good a quality but if you shop around you can get good stuff.
That's my day folks, hope you are well, drop me a line, I love to hear news from NZ
Cheers
Viv

One Fine Thursday in Iguazu

Just before I begin, this keyboard has a stiff 'a' key so be warned!
This morning I slept in (again) as I couldn't sleep last night (again). I had a brief siesta yeasterday, hard not to when you are sitting on your bed and the room is in darkness and all is quiet, and you can't read or anything, soooo, of course I wasn't really sleepy last night (and I'm talking midnight). MOnica of course was up and away before 7am. I had to go down town today and get some money for our trip this weekend. I was finally at the bank when it was open (8am - 1pm) and lo and behold a queue as far as the eye could see. Actually that's not too far these days.
Anyway I joined the endless queue and eventually after 40 mins got to speak to a teller. While I was waiting, I was glancing round and saw an automatic teller box, didn't think anything of it, when it opened and a policeman steps out, The changing of the guard apparently as another guy got in the box!! They were watching all that was happening with the tellers and customers. Quite creepy really, never know what they are looking at. Well, the teller tells me (that's what they do, tellers lol) that I can't with draw dollars at the bank, only pesos! After all that! Well I went outside to the real automatic teller machine and couldn't withdraw anything! Thought, OH no!! no more spending (actually haven't spent much) Well, Never one to give up, I went off looking for another bank. I remember Monica and I seeing one, one dark night last week. Well, I walked straight to it, yay, and this time was successful in withdrawing pesos. Actually I think I may have put in the wrong pin last time! Clutching pesos close I found a Cambio (money changer) and finally have some dollars. When I got home I realised that instead of getting $50 I only had $30. I was thinking NZ to USA$ and should have been thinking pesos!!!!!!
I collected my laptop and walked to San Lucas to ask the computer guy there if he could help me send some photos. Well, you'll never guess! The network was down at school so I couldn't do that either. I gave up then and went and found Monica and sat in on her class until 12.30.
Which brings us up to now, nearly, it's 3pm here. Monica is asleep, I did some Spanish outside for a while until the mossies and a persistant bee had me abandoning the study and escaping to the cafe.
This afternoon I will go with Monica to the public school and sit in on her lesson there.
Tonight is more study I guess.
Hope all is well in NZ, Oz and Britain, etc
Catch you all soon.
Viv

No wine

Just wanted to let you know that wine has not passed my lips since leaving NZ. Monica doesn[t drink wine and only drinks a Grancia on the weekend. A lemon alcoholic drink mixed with lemonade, quite pleasant. So....Stock up for my return!!
Hasta luego
Viv
ps no other news, wet here still, am going home to study (sigh)

A wet day in Iguazu

Just couldn´t get to sleep last night (sounds like a song) so stayed in bed this morning besides it was hosing down and I would have been absolutely drenched. The rain didn´t let up all day so I have been house bound (I used the word ´house´ lol)
I did some study, washed my hair, made lunch for Monica when she arrived home at 2.15. She had a siesta as per usual in the afternoons so I put a DVD on the laptop, hooked up the earphones (thankyou John) and watched half a movie before the battery ran out, so then I lifted the curtain, stuck my head next to the window and tried to learn some more vocab. I swear that I have an extra hole in my head as info just keeps falling out. Maybe its like that ad on TV where the files are full!!
Monica is marking work now so I´m here at the internet cafe.
Yesterday we went to Tres Fronteras 3 Frontiers. It was incredible to stand in Argentina and look over to Brazil and Paraguay and just absorb that fact. Amazing.
It was a very hot day again (unlike today where I am wearing a jumper for the first time) and we took a bus to the frontier. We walked back home (about 3 kms)in the sun! Wow was I thirsty, as we didn´t take any water. We stopped in at a milkbar type shop on the way home for a cold drink. The bus took us through several different neighbourhoods. What a difference in such a small area. From large quite flash looking houses to dirt and shacks and dogs lying around. Mind you the dogs are everywhere. There were a number of native indian children begging and selling plants that they had just pulled out from the gardens around the frontier.
Tomorrow I am going to try and post a couple of photos so that you can see that I am alive and well and healthy still.
Hope you are all enjoying life, remember to appreciate those around you and the good things we all enjoy in NZ
Hasta luego
Viv

A wet day in Iguazu

Just couldn´t get to sleep last night (sounds like a song) so stayed in bed this morning besides it was hosing down and I would have been absolutely drenched. The rain didn´t let up all day so I have been house bound (I used the word ´house´ lol)
I did some study, washed my hair, made lunch for Monica when she arrived home at 2.15. She had a siesta as per usual in the afternoons so I put a DVD on the laptop, hooked up the earphones (thankyou John) and watched half a movie before the battery ran out, so then I lifted the curtain, stuck my head next to the window and tried to learn some more vocab. I swear that I have an extra hole in my head as info just keeps falling out. Maybe its like that ad on TV where the files are full!!
Monica is marking work now so I´m here at the internet cafe.
Yesterday we went to Tres Fronteras 3 Frontiers. It was incredible to stand in Argentina and look over to Brazil and Paraguay and just absorb that fact. Amazing.
It was a very hot day again (unlike today where I am wearing a jumper for the first time) and we took a bus to the frontier. We walked back home (about 3 kms)in the sun! Wow was I thirsty, as we didn´t take any water. We stopped in at a milkbar type shop on the way home for a cold drink. The bus took us through several different neighbourhoods. What a difference in such a small area. From large quite flash looking houses to dirt and shacks and dogs lying around. Mind you the dogs are everywhere. There were a number of native indian children begging and selling plants that they had just pulled out from the gardens around the frontier.
Tomorrow I am going to try and post a couple of photos so that you can see that I am alive and well and healthy still.
Hope you are all enjoying life, remember to appreciate those around you and the good things we all enjoy in NZ
Hasta luego
Viv

Day 5

Hola amigos
Its Saturday night and Monica and I are at the Internet Cafe down the road a way. THere are heaps of people about, many cars and many more motorbikes. I am getting used to looking the right way as I cross the road, after a couple of Oops!! in the first few days. Amazing how long it takes to break a habit.
I have now visited all 3 schools where Monica teaches. 2 are private schools and one public. They are vastly different from each other and of course from NZ. the kids at home would be shocked at the lack of colour, grass, playground, etc.
The public school has nothing much at all but the students have soul!! There was a large hole kicked in the door, the ceiling was falling down (think Otaua Kay) and the walls were extemely dirty. The students grilled me about life in NZ, were shocked at the price of meat and cigarettes = only $1 here. They all want to see pictures of Hannah and Tim, especially the boys Hannah as they are all 14 to 16 years old.
We couldn't go to Brazil today as I couldn't get american dollars from the hole in the wall, I changed all my money at the airport to pesos. Will try again for next weekend. Life during the week starts early, at 7am for two days, and I mean in the classroom at 7am. Monica has a siesta everyday,but today I worked on the computer outside coz I wasn't sleepy. I coloured her hair for her today, saved her a trip to the hairdressers. made me feel that I was giving something back.
I eat and drink what she does so I'm getting used to Mate, I like the aniseed flavour best. She has given me a mate cup of my own to bring home so I hope customs will let me keep it as it is clay.
Last night we toured the shops but much is touristy here and quite expensive. Won't be buying much. In the clothes shops you can't look at the clothes yourself but have to ask the assistant to get things for you. And nothing is priced either.
All the clothes are winter here so not for me as it is still hot / 32 degrees today.
Had best stop now as Monica is waiting for me.
Hasta luego
Viv

Thursday cont

Hola todos (have pasted this from the email)
I'm being very brave, have come out this Thursday evening to the Telecom shop down the road just to send you news!! Monica, my host, is at work this evening so I thought I'd take the opportunity to send this off.
Iguazu is very interesting. The streets are broken and the footpaths a menace if you don't look where you are going. I am staying with Monica, a 30 year old Spanish teacher who teaches at 3 schools in the area. She walks everywhere as the schools are relatively close. Her flat is one of two behind the main house and consists of 1 room which is the bedroom, lounge, dining combined, a tiny bathroom and a small narrow kitchen. She has given up her bed for me and is sleeping on a foldaway bed that has to be put up when not is use as there is no room to leave it. As much as I insist, she will not let me take the foldaway bed. The food is very different also in that we don't have dinner, but eat a main meal during the day. We get up at 6am, Breakfast is the famous Dulce Leche, a sort of chocolate/caramel condensed milk affair, spread on crackers and a cup of tea. Then we drink Mate at school during the breaks,*starting at 7 or 7'30am and come home for lunch. After lunch is siesta until about 4pm. Afternoon tea is mate and a small sweet biscuit.
School starts again about 6pm for an hour or so. In the evening we have coffee and crackers with Dulce Leche.
Today was my first day at school and I was overwhelmed with language / fast, lots of people talking at once and on subjects I have not come across before with my limited Spanish. Quite daunting I can assure you. In the weekend we are going to Brazil and Paraguay shopping!!!!!! The clothes I have are not suitable *shame!
So, stay tuned,
Hasta luego
Viv

Saint Lucas School

Today is my first day at school and believe me it feels like it. Hard to know what´s going on, too many new names, don´t know where to go or what to do!!
I have been observing a Spanish class ( think English class in NZ) taught by my host Monika. They are studying biographies and so the language is not familiar to me.
I can pick up a word here and there but of course they are all speaking quickly - not quite what I´m used to.
Iguazu is a tourist town have to go now, next class is starting
Adios

Buenos Aires

hola a todos
I´m here in Buenos Aires domestic airport and have a flight to Iguazu at 10.30. It is 8:45 am and I have been dropped off here by an AFS person. She has gone so it´s just me now. I had a good flight from Auckland. Sat with Margaret Futado from Auckland. She told me heaps about not offending people - good grief! What a mine field. I did get some sleep here and there. Very quiet in BA yesterday, public holiday, sort of a Labour Day, a few demonstrations in the streets.
Went to a hotel, very basic but ok. Went out for coffee, then dropped Margaret off at the bus station - she went to Parana. I wasn´t allowed to speak English at the bus station as there are theives everywhere just waiting for tourists, couldn`t get my camera out either, even had to take off ALL of my jewellery!!! Jan (AFS German guy) and I went back to the hotel then out for an early dinner. I spent the rest of the evening watching tv and studying. This morning had breakfast before coming to the airport. The guy at the hotel reminded me of an Argentinean Jimmy Burr <(to those of you in the know) I was sitting at my table - downstairs, no windows, basement place next to the laundry! when the cleaner put her bucket of dirty water on the wall just above my table, I was expecting another shower. Most funny - behind the desk at checkin was a large sign NO SMOKING and the two guys behind the desk were both puffing away - every time I saw them!! Anyway back to breakfast - the Jimmy lookalike asked me if I was staying another night when he brought my breakie to the table (at least that´s what I thought he said) Actually, after many tries, he managed to make me understand that he wanted my room number to charge the breakfast to. The first of many mistakes I can tell.
Well folks, I´m off to Iguazu now, it`s hot and humid apparently, and the girl this morning tells me that my hair will be boofy!!! I´ll just have to keep away from the mirror.

Till next time
Hasta luego
Viv

17 Hours to lift off

Have just spent a lovely evening with my family, watching tv, hearing a debate speech and listening to Tim play his guitar. I didn't go near my half-packed suitcase - figure I can spend tomorrow morning racing round like a mad thing. I have a 'to do' list on the bench and, just like last night, will probably be planning more items for the list at 3am... I worked out tonight that my body clock will be at 3am ish when I land in Buenos Aires!! Not sure what the plan is when I land, just know that an Argentian AFS person is going to be there! I'm guessing I will be taken to the domestic airport for a flight up to Puerto Iguazu, which takes just under 2 hours. For those of you who have a map, check out my final destination - just look for the point where Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil meet - and that's it!
I'm not sure when I will be on line again, so thanks for all the good wishes tonight from family and friends.
Hasta pronto!

Sunday afternoon and I should be packing, and here I am on the computer trying to work out how to operate this site. This morning John and I went shopping for a couple of last minute things - dvd's to watch on the plane plus a couple of books to read. I won't have time to sleep! Tonight I am making a favourite meal for the family - one that won't be made again until I'm home. Other than that, 48 hours and counting! I still have to work tomorrow and take photos to load onto the computer.