maestra

"all that I know,

is that I know nothing"

            -Helen Vilbert

blanca

i looked at myself today and thought
"what a wonderful tan you are getting, cayley"
but then was back to normal when the dirt washed off in the shower
triste

leons, tigres, y osos

I am here: http://maps.google.es/maps?q=la%20falda%20argentina%20map&rls=com.microsoft:es&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&rlz=1I7ADFA_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=es&tab=wl

I flew to Cordoba Saturday and found out I will be spending the next four weeks in La Falda, living with a woman named Helen in her home where she runs an English school for local children and adults.  I was relieved to discover she could speak English, orginally from Cape Town, South Africa.  Spent the weekend chatting, walking, and meeting lots of people in the town.  And of course sleeping- I think the jet lag is catching up on me. 
This area in Argentina is so beautiful, in a valley between Los Sierras de Cordoba.  Rolling hills, rivers.

I would say I have gone from "No hablo espanol", to "entiendo espanol"- I understand, un poco. 
I have developed such an appreciation for communication soley from not being able to do it very well for the past 10 days.  However I am trying to not be so hard on myself and believe that by completely saturating my brain and listening to the conversations around me, I will someday (hopefully soon) regurgitate.  I have also learned that communication involves much more than words.  Expressions, actions and body language have said so much more for me to understand, I have found my way though the art of miming.
Anyways I am usually quiet so things arent completely different.
As I was in great need, I began my first Spanish class this morning with another lady named Diana, and in the afternoon took a bus and arrived at Tatu Carreta, the park where I will be volunteering.

It is quite nice, lots of birds, llamas, monkeys, deer (oh my!) and a jaguar.  Neato!  But I think I will be staying out of that enclosure, gracias.  Had a wonderful afternoon full of shovelling goose poo, but fed most of the animals at the end of the day which I really enjoyed.  It reminds me a bit of my Flying Goose Farm days so hopefully it will be as peaceful, restorative, and labour intensive.

At 7pm I went to catch the same bus back and determined it was far too inconvenient, and it just might be possible to run the 8 km back to mi casa.  About 5 mins in and already realizing I perhaps made the wrong decision to leave the bus stop, Alejandro- the other worker at Tatu, pulls up and shouts "Estas loca!", apparently I should indeed not run home. 
Numero 17 on my things to do list: ride on a motorcycle- check.  (Earmuffs mom)  He was nice enough to give me a lift, save me the 3 pesos, and get me home safe and sound.  But lesson learned, tomorrow I will be taking the bus.
Besos

espectacular

After an early morning flight, I arrived at my hotel in Iguazu Wednesday and was a tad delighted to see how spa-esc it is.  Being at least 30 degrees I immediately went for a swim in the pool, bought a $5 bottle of wine, and had an hour massage that cost approximately $40. Buen dia.
I am quite impressed with how inexpensive things cost.  Although Im finding it difficult to utlize my math skills and divide everything by four, I think its all a pretty good deal.  For example, delicious authentico asado dinner last night, wine and dessert of course included, $25. Fantastico.
Oh and the desserts... I have grown a new love for dulce de leche.  It is in everything- cookies, cakes, pastries, coffee, gelato. Me encantalo
Yesterday was a full day exploring the Iguazu National Park.  It is one of the most specatular things I have seen.  The park is very well set up so you can have amazing view points of all of the falls (if you can squeeze past the out stretched arms feroiously snapping pictures) and at the end of the day I hiked down, hopped on a boat and got drenched by going right up to the Garganta del Diablo (devils throat).  Although being that close was difficult to do much more than put your head down and hold on,  it was like opening your eyes into in the shower facuet- cant do it.

Garganta del Diablo

mi guia (guide)

on a boat

no entiendo

bunk

Alan- my half english/irish, buenos tour guide

Cementario de Recoleta

Evita!

Almuerzo

polo with Fernando

Last night in Buenos Aires.

I am not a photographer.  However would like to be, and am determined to improve.  The great debate over whether or not to cart around an SLR with lenses wasnt hard to decide, so I am settling on my Olympius point and shooter gratefully donated to me by my aunt and uncle after my last made a Mexican cab drivers family very happy.  I usually stand firm on not experiencing moments through the camera lens, however I really want to share this experience so I am doing my best to snap here and there (and everywhere!)

I am also not patient.  Apparently they do not have turbo-dual-extra spectacular fast Internet connections in a hostel, so it has taken me almost an hour to upload these.  I will figure out how to make the pictures in a slideshow, instead of a really long post, another day.

Things have been great.  Buenos Aires isnt quite as intimidating as it was at first, but is still massive, busy, and loud!  The Argentine steak is almost as good as Albertan, and the men are as forward as I was warned.  However I have had no issues, I just use my usual defenses- avoid eye contact, walk briskly and pretend to not understand what is being said.  But in this case Im not really pretending.

"Would you be my wife?"  What? Dont you think you should get to know me better first?

Iguazu tomorrow.

Mucho amor

cayendo

-im not scared to jump

and im not scared to fall

if there was no where to land,

i wouldnt be scared at all-

dos semanas

I am certainly not a writer.  I have, up til now, avoided this entire blogosphere and have actively not participated in most social networking.  Perhaps due to lack of time, or lack of interest in sharing with 300 of my best friends.
I only keep facebook for the pictures.
However after deciding to spend 6 weeks in South America I googled, I caved, and now I blog.  To document this trip I intend to update pictures and stories along my way, and those that are closest to me and interested- can follow along with me.  I am also hoping this will cut back on my emailing time.

 I believe everyone has a desire to travel.  Some farther, longer or more often than others, but there's something about experiencing a different life that makes you much more conscious in your own. 
After resisting this desire for quite some time, I listened to the advice of a few good friends to just do it.  My commitments, responsibilities, and life will still be here when I return.
Why Argentina?  No particular reason.  I have always been attracted to the Latin American culture.  I want to immerse and force myself to become fluent in spanish.  It seems diverse and beautiful and delicious and amazing.  I eeny meenied to choose a volunteer program to participate in while there, and Argentina it was.
Itinerary at a glance:
Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Cordoba, Volunteering (blank, blank, blank), Cuzco, Machu Picchu (in Sud America, you must), Lima, home

A few thousand dollars, 7 vaccinations, and hours of planning (/thinking) later, I almost feel ready.