DAY SIXTY SIX - OUT IN THE WOP WOPS - BACK IN A FEW DAYS!

HAPPY HALF MELTED WARM SOFT CHOCOLATE EGGS EASTER!

This was the beginning of an amazing Argentine Easter holiday for me, sitting out in the middle of nowhere, fire blazing (a Bushmans T.V).  Succulent meat being cooked on the Asado for us, whilst I sat sipping wine out of extraordinarily large wine glasses (which always makes it taste better hahaha, well I am sure it makes you feel 10x more posh and special). Not that I am really breaking from much of a hectic life - what... 4 hours teaching, some casual photoshop work and some Spanish lessons a week! lets just say it's not the hardest work I have ever done, but I am still technically on "holiday" and if I want to grow up and be Argentinian I need to know the language, learn the culture and devour the food. And don't get me wrong my "break" was thoroughly enjoyed all the same!

DAY SIXTY FIVE - STEP BY STEP, DAY BY DAY

and "oh just a little bit"

DAY SIXTY FOUR - IT'S LIKE CRACK

But it's the most Argentine thing you could do!

It didn't make my Top Ten Experiences because its more than an experience all on its own and its not my FAVOURITE thing to do but possibly the most bizarre yet strangely normal thing to do around these parts. It encompasses the Argentine ideology of Social Sharing - similar to the likes of the Asado process of cooking and serving certain cuts of meats one at a time and then passing amongst the group and also like consuming booze out of one large oversized plastic cup that is shared around your friends at a "Disco". 


In NZ we have had a childhood of over protective parents and even T.V adverts in the past scaring us away from sharing drinks to stop the spreading of meningococcal meningitis! But here people are sitting in parks, learning in lecture theaters, occupying desks at work, catching up with friends all whilst sharing a "Mate"with friends, family, students/lectures or work colleagues.

"LA YERBA MATE DESPIERTA A LOS DORMIDOS, CORRIGE A LOS HARAGANES Y HACE HERMANAS A LAS GENTES QUE NO SE CONOCEN."

"The Yerba Mate wakes the sleepers, corrects the lazy and makes people sisters (brothers) who do not know each other", and since this is such an integral part of Argentine customs, I am dedicating two blogs to this possibly socially addictive tea type drink containing not caffeine but Marteine, "Yerba Mate" - tomorrow I will explore the very important process or "ritual" (you could say) of preparing the Mate.
Pronounced "Mahtay" in Spanish but funnily enough in English "mate" is a slang word for friend.

"Another Mahtay mate?"

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DAY SIXTY FOUR -

DAY SIXTY THREE - KICKING IT POOLSIDE

Oh crap, shiver me timbers is that the dreaded "chill factor" hitting us finally! This is first night I am in bed without the fan on and I am going to sleep with more than just one sheet! Please tell me it is just a "cold front"Argentina?! and that the lovely shiny sun of yours will show its face again! crap crap crap shit shit shit! Bikinis to beanies! Ahhh damnit I am in denial - I guess even some parts of South America experience Autumn to right?! Days with out bombs, gnarly dives, weird acrobatic entrances into the pool and no more bronzed shirtless men and G-String bikini babes! See you next year S.A summer xoxo

"Splish splash I was taking a bath all about a Saturday night!"