Brrrrrrap brap brrrap!
This blog feels very deserted and under maintained! The past two weeks I have been slightly busy, and further more, I do not have any battery power left on my camera… and now need to wait until I can find someone to charge my batteries for me until we have more pictures! Noooo!
So what's been happening?
Last weekend, 17th-20th, I was jetted off to Mendoza- which is on the west side of Argentina right next to the Argentinean-Chilean border. From Buenos Aires it took us about 14 hours to get there, travelling in bus. (Long distance bus, with food, a few films and chair/bed's provided.) However they're still not always the nicest experience in the world.
6 tips for travelling on long-distance buses:
Take with you some snacks and drink- you don't always know if there will be any stops, or when they will be, or when or if certain meals will be provided.
Avoid, avoid at all costs drinking too much. You do not want to use the toilet.
In the dire case of needing to use the toilet, be equipped with tissues and antibacterial handwash. (Also take face wipes to freshen up with, for after that long travelling you feel rather disgusting.)
It's best, if possible, to travel at night. This means you can try and pass most of the time sleeping- or 'sleeping' in my case, so every hour probably waking up for some reason or other, usually finding myself hungry.
Take plenty of warm clothes to hand- it can get very cold at night. (Even though on the way back I couldn't sleep as they put the heating on SO high, right under my feet, and my feet felt as if they were to burst into flames at any given moment!)
If at all possible move yourself to get two seats to yourself so you can sleep slightly more comfortably. Or, if you're very lucky, get yourself to the front of the bus-usually reserved for the drivers- as there's way more room.
In Mendoza there was an International Youth Leaders Conference that weekend. And myself and another girl from the Church- the delightful Florencia (who speaks amazingly perfect English)- had been sent on behalf of 'Jesus Warriors' to man their stall - selling merchandise and giving more information about Jesus Warriors - and to promote our Summer Camp --->
www.summercamp2010.net (Ooo! Just casually slip that in there! Haha :) )
We worked from 9 in the morning until 11 at night, having the time of our lives. Then went home to our Pastor's Aunt's house, arriving at midnight, had a superfluous/superb-ly massive but incredibly delicious tea, then attempting to sleep on a very full stomach for about 4 hours, waking up and returning to the conference (after home made cake for breakfast). She cooked like a dream!
A small video of what it was like is to follow!
When we returned on the Monday the Church in the afternoon was putting on an event for 'The day of Spring' and 'The day of Students' where all the students (12-17 ish) had the day off classes, and everyone came to the an area in the city called 'Palermo' also known as the lungs or the forest of the city. The event was named 'Primavera Cero' ('Zero Spring'), promoting zero drugs, zero alcohol, zero casual sex etc; promoting, encouraging and enabling a new youth generation to rise up in Argentina who will effect change for good. We had a stage in the Park, and throughout the day, from 12-7, different music, theatre, art and dancing acts were put on, also a small talk. There were so many people there. I have no idea how many in our section at the highest point, but there were certainly a lot! Maybe around 10,000 ? Here's a photo from the stage! (Sadly I had no battery by this point!) There was governmental television footage of the event too- as, from what I heard, at the event the government put on there was no-one there, but at ours it was jam packed full, so they came to ours to film and take photos. How amazing is that!
It was such a full on weekend, and I was completely shattered by the end (actually basically the whole Monday I was like a zombie as I couldn't sleep the night before.) But I had such a good time.
This week was spent recovering from the weekend and continuing working at the office. Then this weekend the Church had it's first ever International Women's Conference (Fri-Sat). I didn't go but all the girls from the home did (and basically every woman in the Church!) I was due to go to Kat and Niko's, however Friday morning I was told an English girl was coming to stay with the Pastor's for the weekend (she's going to do her Ywam DTS starting on Monday, but it's customary for foreigners to stay with a family for the weekend.) As everyone was to be busy Fri eve and Sat night I decided to stay and hang around with her. So, we had a very cool weekend. I did my first bit of 'sight seeing' (most of it I'd seen before, or at least heard about before, but it was good to have a weekend off, speaking English, and being in the centre of the city.) And I finally now have some art equipment! EXCITING STUFF!!!! Also I was acting a bit as a guide and interpreter, as she doesn't speak Spanish yet.
This is too long a blog. So I will stop now. If you have reached here I am actually impressed, quite seriously actually.
I love you all, really love you all a lot. Keep being the amazing people you are! :D :D :D
Nos vemos! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
