December Happenings

So, just a few bits and bobs to update you on with my Argentine adventures!

As you’re probably aware, it’s now December, which I must confess, I’m constantly confused about. The ususal run-up to Christmas, for me, is always dark and cold with a lot of Christmas hubbub going on. Christmas cards, lights, decorations, Christmas shopping… Here, it seems to me to be the complete opposite. Most days it’s late twenties, early thirties and there’s not a sign of Christmas in sight! Okay, well that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but there doesnt (yet) seem to be so much hype. There are a few lights dotted around here and there and a coupla baubles in shop windows, but this is all. When I mentioned this to Noly the other day he responded with “well, we’re Argentinians. We’re late to everything”. Which is true! But we’re yet to see if everywhere does all get super Christmassy. I’m suspicious that it won’t. Not to the level that I’m used to but time will tell!

Interesting things that have happened to me recently!

On Thursday 5th December I went to help out at a school event at Ale’s school (one of my Camelot pals). When I arrived there was a hive of activity as kids bustled around, putting up posters to show all their work. In true teacher style, every step Ale took, a child would accost her and ask her a question. She would answer and then another kid would turn up. I swear it took us about 5 mins to cross the courtyard! After a while everyone was ready, and all the kids from the school sat outside, ready for the show. I had to introduce myself, say hello, how old I am and that I’m from England. The girls were then asked what they’d understood. It’s quite funny/weird when I go to these things as the fact that I’m English gives me celebrity like status which is just bizarre. The braver of the kids come up and talk to me and the others are overcome with shyness! Anyways, after introducing myself I was ushered to a seat at the front where I sat and watched as the students did a variety of dances and fashion shows. In a shocking twist, this led to me later being incredibly burnt as I hadn’t known I’d be sat outside for a good hour. Ahh, the joys of being British and burning easily…. After the show had finished I went inside (hurrah!) and listened to the students in Ale’s class explain their work to me. I actually really enjoyed it! It was very sweet. The school also gave me a necklace to thank me for coming which was sweet!

After this had finished Ale & I went on the hunt for some food. Eventually we found a place to eat and Ale treated me to lunch.

The following day after Camelot, it was Cristian’s birthday, so round we went to their house for some pizza and cake. Twas a really nice evening! There were some visitors from Santa Fe (another province) who had been staying with the Matus’ family and twas nice bc I could make conversation a little with the lady who I hadn’t met before, although tbf she was quite a talker so that made it easier! She was asking me if I’d got used to Salta. I think after about 7 months I can say that I am used to it here and accustomed to things, though I think they’ll always be different for me as I’ve lived most of my life in England. I can’t even express how satisfying it is, seeing where I’ve come from and seeing where I am now!

The next day I got up slowly and we had breakfast together at the Matus’ house. Noly was due to be studying all day as (pobrecito) he had four exams over three days in the next week, so Monica and I hatched a plan to go to Libertad (lol, this literally translates to freedom, but “Libertad” is a shopping centre that’s a bit far out of town). This was a really nice day! We chatted all the way over in the car and then continued to do so as we shopped.* As we were having lunch we bumped into one of Noly’s cousins who sat down and chatted with us whilst we were eating. This was also really satisfying as I added into the conversation here and there and Monica was like “can you see? She can talk a lot now! And she understands everything!” (which isn’t quite true haha, but more or less!). This is definite progress because I remember last year or the year before being introduced with “she can’t speak Spanish at all!” which I understand and was quite disheartening but to be fair, I really couldn’t communicate and wasn’t throwing myself in with the Spanish as I am now. At the end of our shopping trip off we went to the cinema! Though, not as you’d expect, to watch a film, but instead to buy some popcorn and eat on the way home. Such a good idea. We were both quite tired after such a long time in Libertad (lol). In the eve had youth and was suddenly struck by such hunger. It was really weird, hadn’t really been hungry during the day so had consequently only eaten cereals for breakfast, a piece of toast with guacamole for lunch, popcorn and then at about 9pm my body suddenly caught up with this and started growling at me. As soon as youth was over Noly and I sped off to get a Chinese, which was truly glorious.

*This was also really weird for me from a December/Christmas point of view. It was the 7th December, prime Christmas shopping time, and the shopping centre was pretty much empty!! So bizarre. I feel like in England the Christmas madness begins in November. Sometimes even the end of October, where you can’t even exhale without bumping into somebody. Weird. Tbf, this could also be down to the economic state of the country as I imagine the shopping centres aren’t the cheapest shops to go to, but still…

Sunday was a good day too! At church the kids Bible school had decided to do a play (Noah and the ark) to celebrate the end of the year. Noly was first cast as a bird but then got upgraded to Noah. He always seems to unwittingly get a starring role! Last year at Easter he was Jesus 😂 the play was really good! All the kids were dressed in lil animal costumes and the leaders of the group’s all had a dance or a song or something!

Yesterday, 1oth December, myself, Ale & Vale (from Camelot) headed to a restaurant called La Casona. They had told me about this restaurant and that it’s very popular with tourists, has regional food and folklore (a type of music). When we arrived, at about 10, Vale mentioned to the waitress that it wasn’t very busy. The waitress was like “ah yes, but that’s because it’s still early, more people will come later”. With my British brain this amused me because 10pm is super late to eat! I’m well used to it by now but it made me smile, thinking about friends and family at home. We ordered some empanadas, guachalocro and later some pudding. I really enjoyed this evening! Whilst we were sitting, two guys from a nearby table got out their guitars and started singing folklore songs very heartily and passionately. It was really cool. Very different from England! They played intermittently for a while and would occasionally stop to eat their own food. In moments where they’d stopped you could sometimes hear some other people heartily singing from a different patio. When we got up to leave and walked through the rest of the restaurant there were two lots of different people belting out songs too. It’s really hard to convey what it was like! So I will put in a video below so you can have some kind of idea.