Hands Down

THE BEST YOUTUBE VIDEO I'VE EVER SEEN.

EVER.

Thanks Momma

To all the Moms out there, 

Happy Mother’s Day!

First of all, to my Mom, thank you for loving me for the past 26ish years.  Thank you for coming to visit us in Argentina.  Thank you for loving my hubby so much, like your own son.  Thank you for teaching me to be a strong, independent, compassionate person.  Thank you for the faith and hope you have always instilled in me.  Thank you for putting up with me when I was 14.  And 15.  And 16… Thank you always for being the best mom ever.  I LOVE YOU!!!

Another very Happy Mother's Day to Hubster's mom, Betty.  You have raised the most fantastic son and taught him to be a wonderful man.  He is the best gift I could ever receive and for that (and so much more!), Happy Mother's Day.  I love you. 

An extra special Happy first Mother’s Day to Liz!  J  Little AveryBee is SO lucky to have such a warm, loving, fun, fantastic Mom like you.

To Lyla, Amanda, Jackie, Emily and any other Moms who might be out there reading my little blog, THANK YOU!!!

Final Bus Trip

We’re heading back to BsAs.  Full of Manolo food and lots of family love.  And bittersweet emotions.  This trip has been such a wonderful experience.  I’m always baffled at how quickly time passes, especially on an adventure like the one we’ve had. 

 

I’m going to miss so much about Argentina and our time here.  But I’m also looking forward to getting back to a semi-consistent schedule and lots of exciting changes (new apartment, starting school, Diego graduating…).  C’est la vie, si?  Eso es vida, oui?  

Math - Idioma sin Palabras

Lucia (or Lu for short), Silvana’s daughter, is a smarty.  She’s nearly 11, in 5^th grade and is a math W-I-Z.  Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever met a kid who picked up math and really understood it so quickly.  Her brain just works that way.  Well, when we first arrived, Lu really wanted to learn algebra.  So, with my elementary Spanish vocabulary – especially when it comes to math terms – I sat down with her.  We discussed how the variable is a place holder and how to balance equations.  Then came negative numbers.  Then came multi-step algebra equations. 

 

48 + 3a = 73

 

Easier than cake.

 

127 – 4a = -13 – 6a

 

HA.

 

I could go on.  This may seem like nothing for some of you 25 year old PhD holders, but for most of us, we didn't really learn (geez, let alone understand) algebra until we were in like 8th, or 9th grade at least.  And the coolest part is (dorky teacher moment in 3…2…1…), she gets it.  Better than any kid I’ve ever worked with – teaching, tutoring, whatever – she can explain the WHYs of manipulating equations.  Most adults I know can’t do that.  It’s impressive.

 

In fact, she’s going to be in the regional (and then hopefully national!) Math Olympics.  Woot!

 

So, all this to say that there are some smaaaaarties in this family, but also that it was fantastic to be able to help Lu do something she loves (learning math) while I was able to do something I love (teaching) too.  And, of course, all the while learning a few new vocabulary words.  Lu was very patient with me.  J

Sin Agua

I love water.  Rivers, lakes, oceans, whatever.  And – beside Iguazu – it’s been awhile since I’ve been able to enjoy some time by the water.  Monday morning, Hubster and I left Buenos Aires for our last mini-trip, to Mar del Plata. 

 

We always stay in Tios’ apartment which overlooks the ocean.  It’s fantastic.  It’s close to all the good restaurants, beaches, and family.  However, this time, we’re without water.  So close to so much water, and yet we can’t shower or wash dishes.  Hmm…

 

Something happened with the water system in Mar del Plata and a huge part of the city has been without water for days.  Lots of schools are closed, many restaurants aren’t opening and it’s generally a bit of a pain.  But life goes on.  We have water to drink and brush teeth.  And now that I’m married, I don’t really need to shower and smell all pretty do I?  Who am I trying to impress?  J 

 

Actually, I did get some help washing my hair from my beloved.  It was HILARIOUS.  First of all, I think all guys should go to cosmetology (right?) school to learn how to wash a lady’s hair.  What a treat that would be…if only I could also have that oh-so-convenient hair washing sink in my house too.  Since we were at Tios’ and not a salon, the tub and toilet seat had to suffice.  Needless (I think) to say, it was not the most comfortable hair washing experience, but I am the proud wife of a husband that is adept at using minuscule amounts of available water to wash my massive amounts of hair.  Well, not SO massive, but definitely SO dirty. 

What a treat a real shower is going to be…

CONGRATS!!!

Just wanted to say a HUGE congrats to this guy:

Cause he's (not Diego, Justin people!) getting HITCHED!!!!

CONGRATS TO YOU AND JEN!! XO 

Nuestra Familia

I am beyond blessed to have been born into such a great family.  Momma, Brub, DOU...you all know who you are.  I love the family that God gave me more than 25 years ago.  And I love the one that He has given me more recently.  

Being here has meant a lot less time talking with (not that I was near) my family.  But a whole lot more time getting to know the "new" half of my family.  

Today was Abuela's 101st birthday!!! Yep!  101 people.  Before we went to her house in BsAs, we headed to Hubster's cousin's for his (and his wife's) birthday party.  Apparently the first 3 days in May are a popular time to have a birthday.  Javier and Pilar are AMAZING.  Seriously, I love these two and they have three of the most gorgeous girls in the whole world.  

We enjoyed loads of beef - that I ate after swearing off food 2 nights ago; cake; running around with 5 young, adorable girls; and chit chats with cousins/second cousins/aunts/random people who aren't in any way related to me or my husband.  After all of that, we went to Abuela Luisa's to wish her a very Happy Birthday!  It's always a little difficult when she is around more than 2 or 3 people as she gets a little confused...but really, she's 101!  She was all dressed up and lovely.  

Today, sitting at Abuela's table, surrounded by family, holding Abuela's hand, with Laura relaxing on my lap has to be one of my favorite memories from this trip.

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When I first met the Argentine contingent of Hubster's family 3 years ago - when I was first here in 2006 - I felt awkward, shy, and a bit out of place.  My family is pretty small.  There aren't tons of cousins or any young kids.  But that's pretty much the opposite of the new fam.  Here, everything is loud and boisterous and a little crazy (though that's really not different from my side of the family).  And I like it.  

I like that I'm welcomed and talked to (even with my bad Spanish).  I like that I now have 2 nieces and 2 nephews and about a billion other family members.  I like that Lu and Lau are so stinkin' cute and cuddly.  I like that we eat.  A bunch.  But more than anything, I like that this family is mine now, too.  

Oh, and I LOVE the my "old" family and my "new" family get along so well.  Momma loved Argentina and everyone here loved her.  Tios ask about when Scott (my DOU) and Brub are coming down for a visit.  

We're just one big, happy (slightly dysfunctional, sometimes very neurotic) family.  :)

So, here's what I spent the afternoon doing:

Why NO!, I don't need to go to the gym! I spent the afternoon weight-lifting...and man were they cute weights!  Gold's has competition.

I'm with Milagros (L, Javier & Pilar's daughter) and Laura (Sil's daughter/Dieg's goddaughter).  And of course that's Lucia in the background...we had a blast on the swingset!

And here's what we did this evening:

(L-R):  Tio Roberto, Guillermo (el esposo de Maria Claudia), Tio Goni, Maria Claudia, y yo.  We were looking at this really old photo album of the fam.  There were even pictures from Abuelo's (Luisa y Enrique) wedding about 80 years ago!  

So, in short, I'm thankful.  And I lub my family.  :)

p.s. THANK YOU for comments everyone.  Heather, you've especially been a rockstar.  And seeeeeester, of course.  :)  It feels great to know that although I'm not well-read, I make a few people smile.  X's & O's to you all!

No More Fooooood

It's Friday night.  10:18 pm.  I am never eating again.  Ugh.  I LOVE the food in this country but I'm pretty sure that I will literally explode if I put another bite of food in my mouth.

So, I'll just have to go out and have a glass (or 4) of wine.  Wish me luck!

The Last of Cordoba & Iguazu

The last night in Cordoba, the directors of the medical student exchange program took us all out to dinner.  Unfortunately, the tango show that we were expecting didn't happen...but a super tasty meal did!  See, I told you I'd talk about food in every post.

L to R: Dieg, Me, Kelly, Dan, Dr. Villafani, Mark, Dr. SomeoneIdon'tKnow

In Cordoba, I took one-on-one Spanish classes for 2 hours a day with Nora.  She's AWESOME!  (Hi Nora!  I hope you're doing well!)  

When we headed to Iguazu Park, the boys (below: Dan O., Hubster, Byron) had to be a little silly.  FYI, for those of you who don't know, Dan is a friend of ours from W&M.  He was traveling with Julia, also a W&M grad (have I told you all this yet??).  Julia worked with Byron.  Byron's girlfriend is Hanna.  

And that's how we became the (Brady) Iguazu Bunch!

Notice those REALLLLLYYYY hot socks on my man.  I win! ;)

One of the waterfalls.  Amazing.  And this is the dry season.

Here we are waiting for the boat to the island.  Byron really does fit right in!

Monos!!!  Hubster, Julia and I returned Monday morning to check out the falls again and do one of the longer hikes we didn't get to on Sunday.  And we found the REAL Vicente family in Argentina. 

Here's Julia at La Garganta del Diablo.  Really, the most amazing thing ever.  E-V-E-R.  (Sorry I like caps lock so much.  Just imagine how I'd say it in real life.)