December 2013 – 1 year in Argentina

Summer in December is in full stride here. Temperatures are regularly topping 90 degrees. We hear the afternoon tormentas that break the heat every few days will increase after the first of the year. These storms are an impressive demonstration of nature’s fury with howling winds, lightening and thunder. The rain that follows the wind can only be described as a deluge, transforming the streets into canals.

A big part of our verbal argument to the kids when making the move south was that we would find a house with a pool. We lucked out and were able to deliver on this promise, and it’s paying huge dividends right now. It’s doubtful we will ever live in a house with a pool again, so it’s been a great experience so far for the kids. Along with providing hours of physical entertainment to the kids when they otherwise would probably be driving each other nuts, the kids are rapidly becoming awesome swimmers. Molly in particular has made giant strides in just a month. The swimming lessons included at her preschool have obviously made an impact for her.

Ben’s 1st grade class had an overnight camping trip at the school on Thursday night so we thought this would be a great experience for him to recount in his own words. Karma goes to the parents (not us) who sacrificed their night to give the kids this experience.

“We played volleyball, karate and I got an orange belt cause I already know karate. Then we ate hamburgers, I ate at least 5. I sat with my friend Ignacio. We roasted marshmallows and I burnt mine. I showed my friends how to burn theirs. We made s’mores and I had 5. Afterwards an Indian came, which was a fake one, cause they don’t exist. We made hats and put our handprints on them. We slept in the class on the floor. My friend Santi brought a mattress for me. I tried to sleep but so many girls and boys were talking. My favorite part was doing karate. We got to punch wood that was really thin. ”

-Ben

It was awesome seeing Ben completely comfortable in all the chaos of 30 kids totally amped for a sleepover. This was one night after the police strike in Cordoba that resulted in looting and a city-wide lockdown, so tensions were still a little high. We were not sure if he would be scared overnight, but all was well. I picked him up the next morning and he was asleep on the couch an hour later. To prepare and recover, the school was kind enough to cancel school for Ben’s whole class Thursday and Friday. 2 more weeks of school for the boys before summer break!

-Rob