Amistad, Amor, y Argentina

Another city in the South of Argentina, Villa Maria--another wonderful group of people to receive us.  Unfortunately we were only here for a day and a half.  The group toured a cheese factory, which is one of the industries which has brought jobs and resources to Villa Maria.

In the afternoon, we experienced more traditional Argentinian life--present and past.  Villa Maria is very much a farming town (looks a lot like Iowa driving through--Anyone who knows Haywood Bank's "I-80 song" it's like that except it's 'cows, cows, cows, Villa Ma-ri-a...) We drove out into the country...down a long dirt road...to a place called "La Isolina--Club de Campo"  (Even if you can't read Spanish...Isolina...yeah it was off the beaten path to say the least).

Campo is a farm, this hidden place was just a treasure! Beautiful land, verdent, trees, flowers, farm-ish things and horses.  We were treated to an authentic Carne Asada lunch...um...YUM.  Then the Cabelleros came with the horses.  We were able to ride the horses!  I love horseback riding!  Unfortunately, I had a fall earlier in the morning; riding a horse was not my best choice; however, I thought...well...by bruise is going to be there whether I ride the horse or not and how many times will I ride a horse in Argentina??!!  Even though I love horseback riding, I said to the Caberllero, "NO SOLA!" (Not by myself).  The others and the Caberlleros got a kick out of me so he kept letting go and my horse would freak out and then I would yell, "POR FAVOR! NO SOLA!" it was quite entertaining (for my team mates).

Finally, a group of traditional Argentine dancers came and danced for us.  It was very simple dancing movements, but nonetheless beautiful in it's simplicity.  There is constant eye contact with the dancers.  There is a part of the dance where the woman turns in a circle and the man does a cross between a tap-dance, Irish line dance, and very Latin American hip movement solo.  I liked this...I'm guessing it has something to do with the Gouchos attracting the woman, but for me it seemed more relational; almost a celebration for the woman, expressed through the feet (oh...and hips...in Gouchos ha ha)

I have experienced the culture here to be very love-centered--for family, for friendship, community, etc.  The Argentines are not afraid to express this aspect of their culture either.  For example, when you great someone or are greeted, you kiss the person on 1 cheek ("NOT 2 cheeks like the Spaniards"--which we are reminded often).  It doesn't matter if you just saw the person or if you met for 5 minutes in the street...you greet with a kiss.  There is a closeness and energy about the culture and love/respect/friendship.  It's like a "You only live once" motto with a "and you only live with these friends and family once" twist.  This was true with the (ahem...my) interpretation of the traditional dance...the eye contact, the male solo, the end of the dance always ended with an abrupt, yet graceful pose with the arms intertwined.  We also shared Mate together; a very traditional beverage (it's like a soupy tea) that is passed in a gourd-like mug with a special straw.  It is passed between people to share.  There was something very comforting about the warmth and taste of the Mate...very much again reflective of the culture I have experienced.

I love how the arts can express a culture; especially dance--no words are necessary.  I've been thinking about how my culture, as I understand/experience it, would be represented in a movement.  Polka?  Country Line Dancing?  Hip Hop?  Square Dancing?  Modern? None of those seem to fit, at least for me.  What would tell the story of the energy and values which are expressed in our North American culture...that doesn't use words; that extends beyond language barriers.  No say...una pregunta por la otro dia...


(Still having a hard time with photos...I'll at some point update with more pictures and video, but for now the collages will have to do)

Villa María and Marcos Juárez

We just arrived in Marcos Juares, a town of about 30,000.  Again, this town is considered, by Argentines, a small town.  I will have to ask but now I wonder if there are no tiny towns but the custom here is to gather in bigger centers.

Here we are closer to Rosario than Cordoba so we are sort of their mid west.  And just as in many Midwestern towns,  people are very friendly and helpful.

My host family picked me up and we spent an hour getting to know each other.   I am struck by how proud they are of the Rotary clubs in the area.

Now I am ready for a siesta so will log off and promise to write more.

Amigos, Familia, y communidad

We took a bus to our second stop: Rio Cuarto-- about 150 miles away from Cordoba, in the souther part of the province.  The people in Cordoba told us that we were going to the "small towns" in the south.  Guessing the size of Rio Cuarto, I'd say it's similar to Madison, WI, but with more buildings. (not so much a "small town"!)  We were again greeted warmly by our new families.  We quickly discovered that the English is limited--great!  More immersion = better language skills!

My Familia de Rio Cuarto were just magnificent!  Hospitable, kind, and really made me feel welcome and a part of their home.  Marcelo, mi "Papa" is a general surgeon, specializing in GI.  Carla, mi "Madre" is a divorce/family lawyer.  They have three kids: Juan Ignacio (I didn't meet him; he's away studying medicine), Coti who is 17, and Sofia who is 14.  Very sweet and intelligent girls.  It was good for us because they are learning English and I Spanish so we helped each other out.

I also have a picture of Hector Mario--a good friend of Marcelo (also a doctor).  He was with us a lot too.  I feel like he was the "great uncle" (actually more like a way too young Grandpa).

I also spent some time with Sofia (as all 17 year-olds...Coti is in a lot of activities, hangs with friends; she was not home often in those two days) and invited her to go shopping "in the center" (en el Centro) with Molly and me.  She seemed delighted to go with us.  We went to an Artisan fair and then to the center.  Between Sofi's English and my Spanish...we did quite well buying things.  :-)


We had the opportunity to visit a new social services project in Rio Cuarto: Casa de Amistad.  This project targets children, in the surrounding neighborhood, who are affected by malnutrition.   The area Rotary Club is very involved with this project.  Mothers and their children under 5 come to the center and receive services of: prevention education, nutritional meals, fine motor and speech therapies, etc.  They also have a volunteer Physician and Dentist who assist.  They are really doing amazing work!  The center has only been open a year and they have 16 families participating in the program.  They want to spread prevention strategies to eradicate the malnutrition issues for the future.

I was very interested in their work and their project.  Funding, of course, is the main road block for them.  They depend upon the Rotary Club and other donations to sustain the project.  I was particularly impressed at the commitment to educating the parents.  I was able to talk with some of the women about if there are any discussions about effects of malnutrition and learning too.

On 4/26 Marcelo invited me to come observe a surgery with him at the clinic that Hector Mario started and runs.  The clinic provides care for people who may be in more need.  Although Argentina has medical/health care access for all; there is still somewhat of a "classist" system.

The surgery...was... AMAZING.  The patient was getting a laproscopic "Gall Bladder-ectomy" (All my technical terminology of course).  I thought I'd be in the gallery watching...oh no.  There is no gallery.  I was there...RIGHT THERE...I mean like next to the anesthesiologist looking over the curtain and the monitor.  RIGHT THERE.  I was mesmerized...seeing the body from the inside...the liver, the stomach.  Watching these tiny instruments carefully maneuver; careful and precise.  This may sound a little weird, but I was moved at the healing aspect and it seemed like a different form of art.   I have much more descriptive words, but I will spare those who are not head-over-heals with GI anatomy.

The operating room and Casa de Amistad were really the first things I have observed that would be consistent with my "stereotype" of a "third-world" country.  The OR was sparse and very simple; a bit dated almost.  And yet...Doctors and nurses still scrub in, still ensure a sterile environment, still are active participants in the patient's healing.

The Casa de Amistad and OR experiences provided me with more opportunities to reflect on "Stuff"...literally "stuff"...how much do we need?  What can be shared among the whole?  To whom are we in service?  Yeah...those "light" questions that one ponders about while negotiating 2 languages and early mornings and late nights.

I'm not advocating we get rid of technically and medically advanced resources; however, my "Papi" had the same desired outcome with what seemed to me as "less".  As I carry around my several bags...one with about 6 different cords for electronics, etc...I am reminded of this...what stuff do I need?  What can be shared among the whole?  What is the desired outcome and can I do with what is necessary and not always what is wanted/

I really adored this family, city, people we met...todo! Everything!  I didn't want to leave them!  We joked that we (the GSE team) were going to protest in the morning that we left: "Sin salir Rio Cuarto!  Sin salir Rio Cuarto!"

La primaria familia de Córdoba

Meet my Córdoba host family

We arrived through customs in Córdoba in somewhat of a flurry.  All of our Rotarian host families were there to greet us warmly.  My host mom (Madre de Cordoba is what I called her), Ana, was there with her best friend, Media.

Ana and her husband, Carlos live in a suburb of Córdoba.  I'd say similar to Wauwatosa, right on the border.  They have a boxer, Fidél and 3 cats.  I just met Tobi...he'd come in the window at night and cuddle next to me!  They also have 2 daughters, but they live near the university.

Ana and Carlos do not speak any English. I was thrilled because immersion is the only was to go when learning a language.  They were very patient with me and would correct my grammar when I completed my thought.  This was so helpful!  It allowed me to access the words I did know and then make new associations with better grammar. I decided I now speak: "Spgerlish". When I don't know a word or that awkward pause when you can't remember a word you used 5 sec ago...the German slips in.  I barely notice, but Ana would look at me and say, "that's not a Spanish word"

Ana is very proud of her garden; it is beautiful! She has lemon, lime and orange tress.  I saw a pomegranate tree and said, "Oh!  I didn't know these grow on trees!" She looked at me like I was nuts and said, "where do your pomegranates come from?"  "El supermercado!" We both had a good laugh.

I'm very chatty in the morning with them...my brain has recharged and the Spanish flows better.  Our days our packed, lots of listening and translating, and late nights!  Ana likes to talk, A LOT.  When I'd get home at 12 or 1...I could barely remember English let alone Spanish.  She didn't mind at all...she would talk and answer her own questions.

It was a great 1st family experience!  I know we all had very different ones.

Tranquila en la tarde con Amigos

Wow!  Fewer than 24 hours in Argentina and we've been busy!  Today we had wonderful hosts...at the main university, a federal justice, several wonderful Rotarian guides...even a bus tour of Córdoba!  We had a couple hours of free time just the four of us and 2 hosts...we wanted some down time--outdoor cafe, some refreshments, and nice conversation!  Molly and I remarked that this was really the first time we've talked casually as a team, outside of our formal meetings and preparation time.  It was nice.  The weather has been perfect...great for sitting outside.  I thnk this is the recharge we needed for tonight---our first presentation night!

Más luego....con fotos!

So we have made it to  Dallas and love the warm air that greeted us.  More to come.  Now we are repacking so we have the right items at hand for the flight to Santiago.  I am practicing using this blog and finding the program a bit touchy.  It doesn't know if I'm writing in English or Spanish.

If only it could speak Espaniol for me!

WHAT IS ROTARY GSE?

Many people have asked - - Many people have wondered!

Here is your answer: The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

In a typical four-week tour, applicants participate in five full days of vocational visits, 15 to 20 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the district conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours and three to four hours per day of free time with host families.

For each team member, the Foundation provides the most economical round-trip airline ticket between the home and host countries. Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.

Click here for more information!

Cinco días...

It's almost here...our departure date! I've been packing, packing and packing.
I have a friend who really, really, wants to come...think anyone would notice?  (I think she's asking the same thing)    La escritura siguiente será de Argentina!  Buen viaje!