Monday, March 5, 2012

Much Needed Relaxation!

Hi friends!!


Again, it's been a few days since I've blogged last! But, now, time for me to process the past few days!


Late Friday night, Bot and I went to a cafe and just talked for a few hours, which, of course was great! And a much needed break! 


Saturday morning, I headed over to Bot's apartment around 10. Bot accidentally slept in late, so I got to enjoy the sunshine while I waited for her to pick me up at the subte stop! Around 12, Marta, Ariel (Bot's host parents--in their 80s) Bot, and I got in Ariel's van and started driving! I didn't know exactly where we were going, but almost 2 hours later, after a very sleepy car ride, we arrived in Gowland, a very rural town outside of BsAs. We were at some sort of retreat place, but there was not a soul on the property! After asking a few questions, Bot and I found out that this place was a retreat-type place and that the people who normally take care of it were on vacation, so Ariel was taking care of it. Lucky for us, there was a pool! So we spent the whole day swimming, tanning, and reading! And of course, walking around the property taking pictures! It was SO relaxing and I definitely needed it!

It was gorgeous, and green!
Bot came back to my house that night, and we just watched a movie in my room and then got some sleep!

Yesterday, we planned on going to a new church. Our friend, Sam, had looked up this church on a website and Bot and I had checked it out too. So we all planned on meeting up at church for the 12:30 service. Well, Bot and I strolled into church around 12:30 to meet Sam and Chelsea. We sat in some chairs while all the people around us were socializing! Three girls came over and greeted us with the traditional kiss on the cheek. We talked to them for a few minutes, then continued waiting. No one else was sitting down, we just figured it was like everything else is in Argentina, lax and late! But after about 15 minutes, the number of people socializing was getting less and less. Sam finally asked someone if service was going to start...at which point we found out that there was no 12:30 service! Well, we laughed about it and then got up and left! 

The four of us headed over to La Casa Rosada(The Pink House), which some people think is the equivalent of the White House. But it's actually not, it's just a government building where the President works but doesn't live! We got a free tour of the place, from our tour guide, Santiago! He did half the tour in Spanish and half in English (his English was horrendous, probably the way we sound when we talk in Spanish!)
Bot and I with some guards inside La Casa Rosada

Coat of Arms of Argentina

Sam, me, Chelsea and Bot after our tour!
After our tour, we headed to San Telmo, which is a barrio (neighborhood) where every Sunday, hundreds of vendors come and set up their tables along the road. We spent a lot of time checking out what the vendors had to offer! We grabbed lunch at an outdoor cafe, where we ordered pizzas and spent the time relaxing and talking! Later on in the day we stopped at Starbucks and Bot and I decided to head back to the church we went to the previous week, Chelsea decided to head home, and Sam decided to go back to the church we tried that morning for the 7pm service. Church went well, it was again, a very long service, but the pastor continued his sermon from last week on Resolving Conflict according to the Beatitudes. 

I came home to find a note from Rossana telling me she was out for dinner and that my dinner was in the kitchen. I took my tarta dinner into my room and began iChatting with Eric and his/our friend, Nate Funk, who is now in the Marines! Eric and I then chatted for another hour--always good to catch up on life with my baby brother! Afterwards I iChatted for awhile with my parents and finally headed to bed! 

Today, I start classes! I only have one class: TANGO! Thank God, my tango class will be accepted for CORE credits at Gordon. Unfortunately, it will not be accepted for Spanish credits! MAJOR prayers needed right now as I try to figure out my credits transferring back to Gordon!

Thanks for following me on my journey! Miss you all!


-C

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