HI Melinda!
Thanks so much for including us in this. What is a kiasco? Bravo on taking the initiative. I think that is a learned skill, so now you have great practice for the next time something dumb like that happens.
Steve and I had a blast in LA with Madelyn and the Grunaus at Disneyland. The children's smiles of delight were so sweet!
I sure miss you. When you get home, if you want a place to come, would you consider here again?? Hey, did you bring your flute there?
XOXOXOXOX Aunt Peggy
an addition i asked a student once what she did for new years day. she said that it was so hot that she couldnĀ“t go footing. I said "whaaaa? Whats footing?" And she said, you know "hacer footing"...to go on a walk. I told her footing wasnt a verb...but footsie was...and that was something completely different
the real money Hi Melinda, Lee and Renny used to get upset with me when I tried to use the word "cash" or "money" when they or other basketball players scored or did something good. Somehow my use of cash and money was fake to them. They sure let me know. Not that they got the real stuff after, as you did.
Wasn't it fun to tell him that you didn't think he'd give you the fake one? That's a Quaker kind of thing, too, "speaking truth to power," and believing the best of people, "speaking from that of God in you to that of God in him." I've been teaching that skill as a nonviolent conflict resolution and social change-making skill. It's amazing how you can bring out the best in people!
Something similar happened two days ago at the line to get into Legoland with little Renny and Micah, Sarah and Greg. I'd gotten 4 coupons for $5 off the admission price of $57. As we neared the clerk selling tickets we noticed that one coupon was god for up to 6 people so I suggested that we offer our extra three coupons to others in line. The guy in front of us had a better deal with $10 off and tried to get us in on his coupon, but the clerk wouldn't take it because we wanted to use 2 different credit cards. The mother and daughter behind us then offerred to try to get us in on their $17 per person coupon and it worked. We saved over $150 US, just by trying to give away coupons.
Peggy and Steve are flying in now to join the Grunaus for more LA fun. Fun telling all of them about our great times in Argentina with you!
Love, tia Madelyn MacKay
Smart Melinda Good for you, Melinda! That must have taken much courage to go to both of those places. Will you ever go back to them or is this the end of your relationship and business transactions with them? You have been so brave on numerous occations and I'm proud of you! You seem to learn from each experience so that pretty soon noone will try to take advantage of this cute American girl. It may teach them a thing or two about trying to cheat foreigners. I remember where the one right across the street from your place is. It is so good to be able to think of you in these places.
What is the weather like? Is it getting any chillier or are you getting more unwanted rain?
verification Melinda, sure is fun after visiting you last week to reread all your blogs and now know what you're talking about soooo much better. What a great place and culture! Hope others can visit or maybe we can all migrate! I'm still mixing Castellano words with english back here in Calif. Won't have any trouble finishing all the dulce de leche I brought back so will have to special order. Enjoying my new leather handmade purse and shoes, too. Been drinking the quick and easy mate cocido (tea bags) rather than the gourd, but getting ready to initiate the ritual here. Been doing the kissing. Thanks for your great hospitality and messages!
Mate I always wondered what mate was. They wrote about it in Motorcycle Diaries, although I think I'd heard the term before. Can you bring me back some mate? You'll have to lie in customs though - no produce. Maybe since it's dried...
Good luck on your test! Hi Sweet Melinda! Your first major test can be scary--or it would be for me when it is not in my mother tongue. What subject is it and what are your other subjects? Good luck, but I know you will do just fine.You bring background and experience which they may be eager to hear.
Your trips around sound fascinating! And I'm glad tohear you are learning to tango. That should be so much fun! Do you ever get homesick? Just know that your mom, Aunt Peggy and I will be glad to bring a part of your former life down to visit whenever you say.
Today I attended an all-day, all-women seminar with 1300 others. I attended 4 sessions which now sound a bit shallow: Being optimistic, Heart and Mind of woman, Mind-Body-Medicine, and Laughter-elixir for
the Spirit. .I'm not sure they were worth a whole day, esp. since I had to miss church. Your blog entries are so interesting! You are such a good writer! Keep up the good work, and remember how much I love you! Grandma Joye
From Jacky Hehe. You make me chuckle at my computer screen. I miss you, cutie! I realized how much when I framed that picture of us from Tennessee on Aunt Peggy's chair. With the teddy bear. When we were in our mid-teens. Remember? REMEMBER?
Good luck! (Especially with the Argentinean gentlemen.)
great to hear from you Wow, Melinda, it's great to hear from you and that you're getting city and country life, Argentinian and USian. I'd love to hear you speaking Espanol all the time and see your neighbourhood. Have you felt yourself going through stages of culture shock? Keep sending us your messages!
The clouds tonight are shiny wavy arms back lit by the moon. Hope they reach hugs to you.
Lots of Love
Cheers Wow, so you Spanish is becoming natural to you then? How exciting. I wish I were there for you to show me around your not so little neighborhood. Why would you need to know that paragliding is a word though? Either/neither is a problem though. Love you!
things Hi Melinda,
Great to hear from you. I suppose you are busy poring over your textbook before the exam next week! I got to talk with a couple from Argentina; they are from a city called St. ____?__ which is 3 hours away from BsAs. They were at our church for the hispanic day; we had a speaker from Santiago, a bunch of bilingual songs, and Pastor Cal had to translate for the speaker. Adrian, the guy from Argen., spoke Spanish to me--I just know he said something about something?!. I think I need to hone up my Spanish skills. Love you lots!
So good to hear from you! Hi, Melinda!
I loved reading your journal entry and knowing that you are enjoying your time in Argentina. I look forward to seeing your pictures! I imagine you are seeing mountains, lakes, etc.?? Love to you from all of us!
Mel, it is so nice to hear about what it is like down south. I am jealous of the cool weather because I have been suffering through tremendous heat for the past year. It never goes away! I am glad to hear you are going out a lot. Every college kid has to experience life while they can. I would be all over that jazz club, I wish there was one near me. Well, there isn't anything near me just red necks, haha. All that night life seems like a blast! I am glad that you aren't going to come home and talk to me about how great the widest boulivard is. I miss a night life. There isn't any kind of night life here in MS. I have been able to go to a few bars around. None are anything great. We had a winging on friday and that was a lot of fun. It was held at a place downtown and there were a lot of people there. It is nice to go to those because it is so inspiring and encouraging to see those people who just got their wings. I can't wait for that. By the way and winging is a party thrown for those pilots who just got their wings. A buddy of mine got stuck with being the duty driver. Yes the military is responsible about drinking. The duty driver is a guy who drives all the drunk people home when the night is finished. He didn't get home until 4:30 in the morining. Well, keep your head up and work hard but also play hard. Love ya
HI! HI honey!
Really, you are a wonderful writer! Thank you for setting this up, so we can hear of your days there. You must really be getting smooth in Spanish! Is it neat to think of the progress you've made so fast?
Hope you found a scarf to wear while it is so cool - never thought of Argentina oas anything but tropical - my mistake. Are things Ok at your home with the couple? Does the lady cook for you, or let you cook, like, cereal and stuff?
We're doing fine! Miss having you closer, but so glad you tried a hard thing. I'll pray for you and Jackie right now before bed time.
Love you so,Aunt Pegs
Yeah for Melinda in BsAs! Your blogs are so interesting! Thanks for including me! It sounds as if a foreign language is no big deal. YOu obviously were very well prepared. What courses are you taking down there? What do you think of the university in general? Is your host family practicing Catholic, and are there obvious protestant churches? It sounds as if their winter is quite moderate. Some of our poplar leaves are beginning to turn gold already and our nights are getting cold.
Tomorrow JIm and I are going to a baseball game even tho the Calgary Vipers are in the lowest of the pro-ball leagues. We still see some very good playing, esp. by the South American shortstop. He is small, fast and very accurate with his throws. Are they still playing soccer there or is the season over? I hope you get an opportunity to watch your 6-year old cousin Micah play before he gets too old and self consious. We can hardly wait to have your mom visit in 3 weeks! Much love to you, Melinda, Grandma
Flushes I just ran and checked the toilet.. it flushes clockwise here too! Maybe it's just different in Australia?
Your host family sounds sweet! It must be a big adjustment getting used to such a different enviornment and way of life. Hope youre enjoying!
education Hi Melinda,
Wow, I miss nice coffee and good cafes. I have to say I'm a little envious that you get to live in the Shoe District too. You know my size!
So what was your class about anyway? Aren't you there to learn, not talk to the other students?
Just kidding.
Having fun here and miss you.
Love,
Sarah
Your adventures It sounds like you are having an amazing time Melinda - I'm so happy for you. I love how I can really get a feel of what BsAs is like as it sounds perfectly fantastic! I will be checking up on you more now that I know about your travelblog. Live it up!
Mullets Yes, the girls here have mullets, but not all of them. It's surprisingly frequent, though.
I feel at home in Frankfurt now. When I travel, I always want to come "home" and I even miss it, which is surprising to me. I didn't think it would ever feel like that. The other day 5 different groups of people asked me for directions. I didn't think I blended in that well!
Cheers! We are absolutely delighted with your travelog ! You do a wonderful job, and I am tremendously impressed with your language skills.
You seem to have met some good Argentinian friends, and how wise it is of you to want to get to know the people.
It is also nice to know...and not too surprising..that you can get in and out of your "lost situation".
Keep it up...we are really proud of you.
My friend here who used to live in BA is also interested when I tell her about your experiences. She hopes you get up in the mountains as she says it is beautiful...also good trout fishing for your dad.
Love, grandma and grandpa
Peggy
non-member comment
HI Melinda! Thanks so much for including us in this. What is a kiasco? Bravo on taking the initiative. I think that is a learned skill, so now you have great practice for the next time something dumb like that happens. Steve and I had a blast in LA with Madelyn and the Grunaus at Disneyland. The children's smiles of delight were so sweet! I sure miss you. When you get home, if you want a place to come, would you consider here again?? Hey, did you bring your flute there? XOXOXOXOX Aunt Peggy