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Penguin Sightings
Yesterday we went in search of penguinos. We left at 7 am and drove 3 hours north to Camarones. The bus stopped at the beach. There were so many stones that you sank with each step. It was quite an adventure to get to the water. It was so beautiful - the water was deep blue, the moss intense green, the rocks so black. I could have stayed there for hours. There were 3 stray dog who accompanied us and not a penguin in sight. We kept walking and I was about to give up when I heard Jane shout, "penguinos, penguinos!" We got there to see them on the rocks. As we got closer they went into the water. How cool to get to see them, even if from a distance.
We were called back to the bus to learn that that was not our final destination, they just wanted us to see the beach.
Back on the bus for another 20 minutes or so to a nature preserve owned by a French company. There we saw sheep. One took a liking to Marion and walked right next to her. I think it was because she had on a cotton sweater, bless her heart. We also saw guanacas (llamas), armadillos, ostriches, and horses.
Beth has become our main interpreter. She does an excellent job except when she tries to teach people to say, "howdy, ya'll." She was interpreting for our guide. As we approached the penguins we were told to stay calm and not to touch them.
We walked down the hill and there were penguins everywhere. As I walked across the bridge one was right in front of me so I literally got to march with a penguin. Found out that if they had their feathers they were on dry land, once the feathers were gone they went to the water. Needless to say, it was very cool and a little freaky to be so close to them. The guide wanted us to go up the hill to see what Beth thought was a wolf (lobo) turns out it was sea lions. The words in Spanish are similar.
We went back to Camarones for a fantastic lunch. They are famous for their white salmon fishing tournaments, so Betsy, Beth and I split salmon with mucho garlic and paella. It was during this lunch when we were told that our previous evening's dinner was not chicken but rabbit. Yes kids, we ate the Easter bunny.
That evening we went back to the church and did a few chores while we were waiting for dinner. Betsy and I have dubbed our trip "Extreme Makeover, the Mission Edition." We are transforming the sanctuary with paint, varnish and new lighting. It turns out the yellow/orange on the altar walls is not that intense after all. I do wonder how it will look with different liturgical colors. The varnish that was choosen has a orange hue as well. The north wall has blue and orange glass blocks that form a cross. I guess they like orange. Sure enough as I was flipping channels this morning I came across "Trading Spaces" dubbed in Spanish.
Luciano (our personal chef) is the nephew of Melena, one of the congregants. The meal was ravioli with a pesto or a red sauce with tuna. We had flan with dolce de leche which is a thick carmel with a hint of fudge flavor. Many pounds have been gained on this trip.
This morning Sandy and Jane told us that they were watching the National Geographic Channel last night and the show was featuring Camarones.
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Saturday, wrapping up
Today was a major work day. We each had our assignments and finishing them is the only option. (For the Extreme Makeover tv fans, imagine Ty yelling into the bullhorn, "we have 5 minutes people.")
Sandy and Beth took Ana and Elsa shopping. Sandy has gotten to drive twice this week. Not a simple task. What one learns quickly in Argentina is that cars have the right away, pedestrians are always in open season. Back in Buenos Aires, Christy Bysted, her husband Gary and I were almost run over by a bus. It did not even attempt to stop.
Now Comodoro is smaller but just as intense. It hasn't helped that each of our bus drivers (Nelly, her daughter Andrea, her husband Victor, and her brother) has taken a different route so there was little chance to really know where we were going.
It was also interesting when Beth as her navigator started giving her directions in Arabic. Oops! That's what happens when one is multi-lingual. Then Ana and Elsa were there to help Beth which developed into an indistinguishable chorus of "left, right, or straight." They had a fruitful day of buying 2 cribs beds, high chairs, an electric mixer and other needed items. It was a rare pleasure for Ana to get the things she really wanted not having to accept the cheapest item. Not to worry a budget was well known.
Gordy and Gustavo went to the Home Depot for last minute items. For those of you who were here last year, the church now has a sidewalk. With the sidewalk came 6 holes to plant trees. There is a government program where you receive free trees. Can you believe that we asked and got them within a day? The men bought potting soil and Jane, Betsy, Solange (Pastor Gustavo's wife), Marion, Anne and myself all took a crack at digging. The soil is clay based and took great effort to dig. We were using one shovel and 2 trowels. Ana found more shovels. Several people in the neighborhood commented on how beautiful it was looking.
We have noticed that people on the street do not look you in the eye or greet you. When you meet them they are very friendly and gracious. It a different experience than other places we have traveled. Judging by the television shows they have . . . Gilmore Girls, Smallville, Frasier, Seinfeld, Bonzana, Grey's Anatomy, House, American Idol etc. . . they are very familiar with our culture. It's an interesting dynamic.
I should tell you about the people. Ana reminds me a Heidi Esposito. A huge heart and with a gift with children. Each year she has the kids make a gift for their parents (approximately 50% of the parents in the daycare are single moms). When the kids move on to school they have a graduation from daycare. She has created blue and pink graduation hats and a diploma for each kid.
Her son Nicolas (Nico) was baptized last summer. She gave us a candle and card she made to recognize the day. We also got something created to honor his first communion.
Nico has captured my heart. He always greets us with a kiss. His CD collection consists of the Disney soundtrack to"High School Musical" and a CD of German folk songs. He taught Anne a German folk dance. He and his friend Jose would wait for just the right part of the song and they should gallop the length of the new addition and back. He now has a 3rd CD courtesy of Beth (Bethlehem's band CD from VBS.)
Speaking of VBS they loved the blankets made by our Bethlehem kids. I saw two of them today in the play pens, they look so sweet.
Marcella came to the church because of the daycare and has become a member. Her daughter Rosio (age 7) is now in private school. She is learning English and sang the National Anthem for us. Marcella is also learning English and is practicing with us. Rosio also makes sure to greet us with a kiss on the cheek. One night she came over and placed her face on my cheek and stared so lovingly.
Public school is not well funded and so the kids are only in school 4 hours each day. The grades are divided into mornings and afternoons. The school uniforms look like doctor's lab coats. I have to try and get a photo.
This is getting long so I will wrap it up. Tonight we are going to a World Prayer service at the Reform church. Then we are taking members of the congregation out for dinner.
Tomorrow is the dedication service. We have lunch then off to the airport. I wonder how long our flight will be delayed to Buenos Aires. It's supposed to leave at 3:30.
Ciao
Lynnea
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