Written by Laurie Holland
Well, here we are, folks...the end of my journery here in BsAs. I'd like to catch you up on my last week here among these superb people here in this city. Earlier this week, my group and I were taken on a boat down the river to see some not so nice areas. I really wasn't prepared for what I was about to see. I've never seen a river so absolutely polluted in all my life. It was a sad sight, an ugly sight, depressing, and the air was foul. While boating down this river, I saw more plastic bottles than I could count, plastic bags, aerosol cans....you name it, I saw it floating in the water. And the most discouraging sight were the many shacks built alongside the riverbank. Many living there are immigrants from Uruguay and Paraguay who've moved to Argentina in hopes of a better life. Shed-looking shanty homes with boards pieced together, clothes outside on the line drying in the sun, children waving to us from the bank....they should be in school. What a sad sight to see such absolute poverty. After a few hours of boating through polluted water, I felt dirty. I was anxious to take a shower. I was reminded of how blessed I am to have a warm shower, soap, and a towel. May God bless that community and raise those children up to do great things in this world.
Last night I attended a closing banquet in our Group Study Exhange's honor. We all had an opportunity to say a few words and give our good-byes. I was doing well when I shared my own words, but when members of the families that hosted me took the mic.....yep, tears started flowin'. It seemed my whole table was in tears. I didn't understand all that was said about me, as it was spoken in Castellano, but I think the main idea was clear...actions speak louder than words, and there are no cultural boundaries for the exchange of friendship. Throughout the past 4 weeks, there were many times in which I was not able to communicate everything to my host families. Without the exchange of many words, how is it that we were able to share so much together - that I was able to walk away with imprints of each family member upon my heart always. Their smiles and kind deeds will not be forgotten. I was greatly encouraged by the words of a young woman who inscribed in my notebook the following when I wasn't looking - You are a model of living that a lot of people would like to have, but they do not know how to find the way to balance this crazy world with a spiritual life. Don't let this world change you because you are great. Thank you, Belen, for sharing that with me. You are so very wonderful, mi hermana.
This morning my group had our request granted - a visit to the children's hospital. After only 4 hours of sleep...yep, went dancing last night at 2am and went to sleep at nearly 5am...I was a bit tired but so very glad for the opportunity to be blessed so much by the children. In the oncology ward waits many children with their parents, sometimes the whole day, to be seen by a doctor and get radiation and chemo treatment. There was a small area in the corner in which we set up shop to play with the kids and keep them entertained a bit in hopes of putting a smile on their face. Many children were a bit timid and shy to join us, and others simply lacked the stamina or desire. There were about 5 or 6 kids ages 6 to 10 or so that participated for the couple hours that we were there. One girl was wearing a hat, as it was obvious she lost hair due to chemo. A young boy wore a Make A Wish T-shirt. Another boy a bit shy and cute as ever. Another boy who took a special liking to Zakiya - he has the most beautiful eyes. A few others joined later. We started with a warm-up exercise to get the kids going. Those finger puppets came in handy, as the kids enjoyed playing with them. They were eager to know how to say each animal in English, as was I eager to learn from them how to say it in Spanish. Man, those kids were adorable. I had to take some pictures. That definitely sparked their interest, and pretty soon the kids were taking pictures of each other and of my group. They were intrigued by the opportunity to use a digital camera. We had a lot of fun. I was most blessed by their precious smiles. One young 4-year-old boy was carried over by his mother who told me her son wanted to hear me speak to him in English. His mother is an Argentine but teaches English, so her son has been learning a bit. She shared with me that her son sometimes asks about his little sister, as his mother recently gave birth to a little girl. Five days after birth, the young one died due to problems with fluid in the lungs. The mom shared that her son has a condition that the doctors are not certain of. Although it is not believed to be cancer, the boy is treated with chemotherapy. They live outside of the city, but they sometimes have to stay for a few weeks at a time in the city while this young boy gets medical treatment. She told me sometimes she waits all day at the clinic before her son is seen by a doctor. Do the problems you are facing today appear to be a bit less important than you thought this morning.....I consider mine to be minute in comparison, especially after hearing her share a bit with me, all while hugging her son with a warm smile on her face. I am so grateful for that wonderful experience today.
After lunch, I got a 3 hour siesta in. I was tired. After I woke up later this afternoon, I was tired. After I had coffee with my group, I was tired. After dinner tonight, I was tired. I'm about to get a good night rest tonight. I will wake up, pack up my things, and be off to the airport to head back to the states. Upon my arrival, I will be living in a different city, a different home, and starting a new job early Monday morning. WOW, the many changes. I'm truly grateful for my health. I look forward to personally sharing with each of you my many more experiences that I was unable to write about in this blog. I have taken over 1,200 pictures, so I hope to get them posted online as soon as possible. I will send the link out shortly thereafter. Take care. Count your blessings. You have far far more than millions of others in this world.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
3 weeks flew by, only 1 to go....
Written by - Laurie Holland
Wow. I am amazed at how fast time goes by. We were especially busy during week 3, though...sometimes got as little as 4 hours of sleep....and now we are moving into our last week. During week 3, I had the pleasure of staying with 2 doctors - the husband a general medical doctor and the wife a gynecologist. They have a 21-year-old daughter who is just great. She's a psych. student at the Univ. of Buenos Aires. The whole family hopes to join me in Africa some day. They introduced me to the best ice-cream in the city, fed me well, taught me some spanish tongue-twisters, and took care of me when I wasn't feeling so well yesterday. 2 doctors in one house when you're not feeling well....what more could I ask for. I think my stomach was telling me I am lactose-intolerant. I went from eating nearly any dairy products in the states to eating many dairy products here. The ice-cream is simply irresistable.
Last week, I cannot believe how much we squeezed in. What stands out to me the most is our visit to the cattle auction. It is a place where thousands of cattle are auctioned off each day and then sent outside the city to be slaughtered. My stomach and eyes weren't so pleased to see what I saw....either was my nose. It's probably the same in the states. It was quite interesting, though. Wednesday was great. We were able to visit a province outside of the city called Tigre. We took a boat down the river and stopped at a lodge for food and drink. It is so much different than the city of Buenos Aires. I felt like I was back in Minnesota for a minute....the water, the trees....the mosquitos for days. It was nice to get away from the city's hustle and bustle for a bit. Another thing that really stands out to me is a drive through a neighborhood that is extremely poor. There was garbage everywhere, and people lived in shacks. I caught a glimpse of a cute little boy kneeling down, as he was sifting through the trash. That was hard to see. I am grateful for the opportunity to see not just the upper- and middle-class areas of the city, but the very poor as well. It shows us the great socioeconomic diversity of this city.
Yesterday, we were given the day off. Zakiya, Denise, and I went to the fairia....or fair....much like a large flea market for tourists. We realized that it was our first visit to a very touristy part of the city. I couldn´t get enough of the beautiful jewelry made from glass. At one stand, I bought about 6 or 7 sets, and it totaled only about 35 US Dollars. There was a stand selling a whole bunch of finger-puppets crocheted by hand. Denise and Zakiya bought a bunch for me to bring for the kids in Africa. I have a few activities planned for them to use finger puppets to project their feelings and emotions. We bought all types of animals - a lion, elephant, giraffe, flamingo, snail, even Tweety Bird. I think the kids are really going to like them. Thank you so much, Denise and Zakiya.
Some have been asking me what I miss most about the States....I'd have to say avocados. I requested avocados on my salad yesterday at a restaurant, but they didn't taste the same. I also miss eating dinner at 6 or 7pm rather than 10pm. Oh, and definitely the gym. Really miss my regular work-outs. I think that's a big reason why I've been a bit extra tired lately. What I will greatly miss about Argentina, besides the amazing people of course, is probably the empanadas, helado, and afternoon coffee and tea. I have yet to check out a hip-hop spot here. Zakiya and I were going to accompany my host family's daughter on Friday night to a hip-hop class, but they didn't answer the phone, so I think it was cancelled. Better luck next time. Trying to find a hip-hop spot here is like trying to find a tango spot in the States...they're out there, but good luck finding one.
Oh, another very interesting thing I´ve been learning a bit about is the mortgage and real estate industry here....mortgage is called hipoteca. It is pretty difficult to finance a home here. After the exchange rate shifted so drastically a few years ago, the economy has been unstable. Mortgages are not nearly as common here as they are in the States. If there is a mortgage, the client is never given as many as 30 years to repay. I think it's more like half the time to repay. Renting is common here, as is living with parents until in their late 20's. They have a credit check system similar to the credit bureau system that we have in the US. I've got more questions to ask about mortgage and real estate....we'll see if I have time to get more info. I could buy a brand new beautiful 2 br 2 ba condo for about 150-200k US Dollars. I most likely wouldn't be able to get a loan, though.
Oh, and I can't forget the day at the track. There's a race track here on the outskirts of the city where huge races take place, including formula 1 cars. Dad, they even have a quarter-mile track for muscle cars. We visited on a day that no racing occurred, though. There were a few cars out there practicing. We saw some guys in the pits working on some cars. I wish I could've taken a car for a run....see if my time was up to par with the big-shooters. I was informed that no women race there, though. Too bad. I think a woman on the track would really add a lot to the racing scene.
Well, now we are at the beginning of week 4. I am now with my last host family. I am staying with a very nice single woman. She has a degree in Chemical Engineering but works with information systems and software. We had lunch and dinner together today at her apartment, and I even got to take a siesta. So I should be feeling good tomorrow and ready to finish my last week strong. Take care, everyone. Have a blessed week.
Wow. I am amazed at how fast time goes by. We were especially busy during week 3, though...sometimes got as little as 4 hours of sleep....and now we are moving into our last week. During week 3, I had the pleasure of staying with 2 doctors - the husband a general medical doctor and the wife a gynecologist. They have a 21-year-old daughter who is just great. She's a psych. student at the Univ. of Buenos Aires. The whole family hopes to join me in Africa some day. They introduced me to the best ice-cream in the city, fed me well, taught me some spanish tongue-twisters, and took care of me when I wasn't feeling so well yesterday. 2 doctors in one house when you're not feeling well....what more could I ask for. I think my stomach was telling me I am lactose-intolerant. I went from eating nearly any dairy products in the states to eating many dairy products here. The ice-cream is simply irresistable.
Last week, I cannot believe how much we squeezed in. What stands out to me the most is our visit to the cattle auction. It is a place where thousands of cattle are auctioned off each day and then sent outside the city to be slaughtered. My stomach and eyes weren't so pleased to see what I saw....either was my nose. It's probably the same in the states. It was quite interesting, though. Wednesday was great. We were able to visit a province outside of the city called Tigre. We took a boat down the river and stopped at a lodge for food and drink. It is so much different than the city of Buenos Aires. I felt like I was back in Minnesota for a minute....the water, the trees....the mosquitos for days. It was nice to get away from the city's hustle and bustle for a bit. Another thing that really stands out to me is a drive through a neighborhood that is extremely poor. There was garbage everywhere, and people lived in shacks. I caught a glimpse of a cute little boy kneeling down, as he was sifting through the trash. That was hard to see. I am grateful for the opportunity to see not just the upper- and middle-class areas of the city, but the very poor as well. It shows us the great socioeconomic diversity of this city.
Yesterday, we were given the day off. Zakiya, Denise, and I went to the fairia....or fair....much like a large flea market for tourists. We realized that it was our first visit to a very touristy part of the city. I couldn´t get enough of the beautiful jewelry made from glass. At one stand, I bought about 6 or 7 sets, and it totaled only about 35 US Dollars. There was a stand selling a whole bunch of finger-puppets crocheted by hand. Denise and Zakiya bought a bunch for me to bring for the kids in Africa. I have a few activities planned for them to use finger puppets to project their feelings and emotions. We bought all types of animals - a lion, elephant, giraffe, flamingo, snail, even Tweety Bird. I think the kids are really going to like them. Thank you so much, Denise and Zakiya.
Some have been asking me what I miss most about the States....I'd have to say avocados. I requested avocados on my salad yesterday at a restaurant, but they didn't taste the same. I also miss eating dinner at 6 or 7pm rather than 10pm. Oh, and definitely the gym. Really miss my regular work-outs. I think that's a big reason why I've been a bit extra tired lately. What I will greatly miss about Argentina, besides the amazing people of course, is probably the empanadas, helado, and afternoon coffee and tea. I have yet to check out a hip-hop spot here. Zakiya and I were going to accompany my host family's daughter on Friday night to a hip-hop class, but they didn't answer the phone, so I think it was cancelled. Better luck next time. Trying to find a hip-hop spot here is like trying to find a tango spot in the States...they're out there, but good luck finding one.
Oh, another very interesting thing I´ve been learning a bit about is the mortgage and real estate industry here....mortgage is called hipoteca. It is pretty difficult to finance a home here. After the exchange rate shifted so drastically a few years ago, the economy has been unstable. Mortgages are not nearly as common here as they are in the States. If there is a mortgage, the client is never given as many as 30 years to repay. I think it's more like half the time to repay. Renting is common here, as is living with parents until in their late 20's. They have a credit check system similar to the credit bureau system that we have in the US. I've got more questions to ask about mortgage and real estate....we'll see if I have time to get more info. I could buy a brand new beautiful 2 br 2 ba condo for about 150-200k US Dollars. I most likely wouldn't be able to get a loan, though.
Oh, and I can't forget the day at the track. There's a race track here on the outskirts of the city where huge races take place, including formula 1 cars. Dad, they even have a quarter-mile track for muscle cars. We visited on a day that no racing occurred, though. There were a few cars out there practicing. We saw some guys in the pits working on some cars. I wish I could've taken a car for a run....see if my time was up to par with the big-shooters. I was informed that no women race there, though. Too bad. I think a woman on the track would really add a lot to the racing scene.
Well, now we are at the beginning of week 4. I am now with my last host family. I am staying with a very nice single woman. She has a degree in Chemical Engineering but works with information systems and software. We had lunch and dinner together today at her apartment, and I even got to take a siesta. So I should be feeling good tomorrow and ready to finish my last week strong. Take care, everyone. Have a blessed week.
La Ultima Semana
It doesn´t seem possible that we are now in our final week as a Team in BsAs. It has been a very full, enriching and uplifting experience in many ways. What stands out most are the people - both the Rotarians and other folks here in BsAs but also my teammates. In the second week we shaped up our Team presentation and discovered what our message is . . . although the 4 of us come from very different professions and skill sets, we have a strong commonality in our deep interest in service, direct service and education to the poor, especially children. That is the basis of our presentation, and that is what makes it stand out. It´s nice to be around people who care and who have respect for the underserved. For me, I want to emphasize the tie between poverty in society and the environment. A sustainable use of resources offers better health and way of life for the poor. I am inspired by my teammates to pursue this further and find a project that truely can make a difference small or large, and give me energy to do more. I do see Rotary as part of a pathway to achieve this.
Tengo la suerte, I have the luck, to have met some very special people here, like my hosts Raquel and Alfonso, who have shared their lives for a glimpse of time with me, staying up late, sipping Torrontes white wine, enjoying interesting discussion about politics, culture and environment - and all in spanish. They speak more slowly and rudimentary for me but we are still able to get through some deeper ideas. Oscar, Miriam, and Hugo stand out for our night out at a local tangueria, where the average age was probably 60, to dance the tango and milonga. It was a warm and happy night. Hugo ended up surprising us the next week with custom made artwork of the 5 of us in the midst of the tango with a handsome partner, he drew the figures (he is a professional cartoonist) and inserted our faces from digital photographs. I also met the one and only Asian Rotarian in this District, Jose. He is originally from Korea and has made his home here in the clothing business, though he is now retired. He took special care in making sure I felt comfortable and welcomed.
Our last week awaits us and will bring new stories. I will stay one extra week and already have tickets to the Argentine province of Salta in the northwest part of the country. It´s only a 20 hour bus ride. Alfonso is contacting Rotary clubs in Salta for me to connect with . . . That will be another adventure!
Tengo la suerte, I have the luck, to have met some very special people here, like my hosts Raquel and Alfonso, who have shared their lives for a glimpse of time with me, staying up late, sipping Torrontes white wine, enjoying interesting discussion about politics, culture and environment - and all in spanish. They speak more slowly and rudimentary for me but we are still able to get through some deeper ideas. Oscar, Miriam, and Hugo stand out for our night out at a local tangueria, where the average age was probably 60, to dance the tango and milonga. It was a warm and happy night. Hugo ended up surprising us the next week with custom made artwork of the 5 of us in the midst of the tango with a handsome partner, he drew the figures (he is a professional cartoonist) and inserted our faces from digital photographs. I also met the one and only Asian Rotarian in this District, Jose. He is originally from Korea and has made his home here in the clothing business, though he is now retired. He took special care in making sure I felt comfortable and welcomed.
Our last week awaits us and will bring new stories. I will stay one extra week and already have tickets to the Argentine province of Salta in the northwest part of the country. It´s only a 20 hour bus ride. Alfonso is contacting Rotary clubs in Salta for me to connect with . . . That will be another adventure!
Week 3 in BsAs
Hola family and friends,
Well we have finished our 3rd week here in BsAs. One more week to go and then it´s back to the U.S. and then back to work. This past week was a full week. Over the weekend we were at the Penta, which is a huge Rotarty Conference. (It was Friday - Sunday). At the Penta, we were able to meet the President of Rotary International (William Boyd). He is a very personable man. He has a big heart and is doing a lot of things for Rotary. Friday we met the 4 other GSE groups - 2 from England, 1 from Italy, and 1 from Venezuela. Everyone was very friendly and was enjoying their time in BsAs. Friday night we went to a banquet and Saturday all GSE groups did a 20 min. presentation about themselves, their profession, and their country. There were about 300 people in attendance. A few of us were a little nervous about speaking another language in front of so many people, but everyone (all GSE groups) did very well. After meeting people from these different countries I know want to visit Venezuela, England and Italy...one day.
This past week we visited the YMCA, which is a school. This was very interesting because in the US, we do not have YMCA schools. The majority of the children at this school are immigrants from Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, and other parts of South America. They come to Argentina for education because it is free and very good. The parents of these students are hard workers and want the best for their children, hence, they come to Argentina. The parents pay a small amount to have their kids attend the YMCA school. It is a half day school and the rest of the day they are in After School programs. I am going to keep in contract with the Director of the school and see what material from my YMCA I can send them to help. (The school is in a poorer part of BsAs)
Friday we visited another YMCA - this one was strictly a Gym; however, they did had students from a near by school to come during their P.E. period to have recreation at the YMCA. I was able to meet the students and they were informed that I work at a YMCA in CA. They were so thrilled and excited to meet people from the U.S. I took plenty of pictures and was greeted by every child. They all wanted to know what my name was, what time of food I like, what the US is like, etc.
Later that day we visited a school Gobierno De La Ciudad De BsAs. This school is literally a huge castle and was built and funded by 2 men. One had the land and the other the money. The interesting thing is that this huge school was built in the middle of a low income area...Why? Because they wanted the children of this area to have the best education. This school is not just a school, they had a doctor, a dentist, and a psychologist. Each child (approx. 4,000 students) get a dental check up once a month. In addition to this, the school has a museum inside, with several educational wings and each wing focuses on a different topic. Such as: The arts, science, history of different ethnic cultures, animals, and much more. OH, there is a huge theater - stage. Honesty, it looks a Broadway theater...also an Olympic size pool....Seeing this school makes me wish I was back in Elementary school and was able to attend this school.
Overall, we had a good week and we learned a lot about the school system, the poverty areas of BsAs, and the health system. Also, the more I learn about the school system and the projects the Rotary clubs out there are involved with, the more I want to be more involved in service work. I would also love to live in a Spanish speaking country were I can study Spanish and become fluent.
Well we have finished our 3rd week here in BsAs. One more week to go and then it´s back to the U.S. and then back to work. This past week was a full week. Over the weekend we were at the Penta, which is a huge Rotarty Conference. (It was Friday - Sunday). At the Penta, we were able to meet the President of Rotary International (William Boyd). He is a very personable man. He has a big heart and is doing a lot of things for Rotary. Friday we met the 4 other GSE groups - 2 from England, 1 from Italy, and 1 from Venezuela. Everyone was very friendly and was enjoying their time in BsAs. Friday night we went to a banquet and Saturday all GSE groups did a 20 min. presentation about themselves, their profession, and their country. There were about 300 people in attendance. A few of us were a little nervous about speaking another language in front of so many people, but everyone (all GSE groups) did very well. After meeting people from these different countries I know want to visit Venezuela, England and Italy...one day.
This past week we visited the YMCA, which is a school. This was very interesting because in the US, we do not have YMCA schools. The majority of the children at this school are immigrants from Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, and other parts of South America. They come to Argentina for education because it is free and very good. The parents of these students are hard workers and want the best for their children, hence, they come to Argentina. The parents pay a small amount to have their kids attend the YMCA school. It is a half day school and the rest of the day they are in After School programs. I am going to keep in contract with the Director of the school and see what material from my YMCA I can send them to help. (The school is in a poorer part of BsAs)
Friday we visited another YMCA - this one was strictly a Gym; however, they did had students from a near by school to come during their P.E. period to have recreation at the YMCA. I was able to meet the students and they were informed that I work at a YMCA in CA. They were so thrilled and excited to meet people from the U.S. I took plenty of pictures and was greeted by every child. They all wanted to know what my name was, what time of food I like, what the US is like, etc.
Later that day we visited a school Gobierno De La Ciudad De BsAs. This school is literally a huge castle and was built and funded by 2 men. One had the land and the other the money. The interesting thing is that this huge school was built in the middle of a low income area...Why? Because they wanted the children of this area to have the best education. This school is not just a school, they had a doctor, a dentist, and a psychologist. Each child (approx. 4,000 students) get a dental check up once a month. In addition to this, the school has a museum inside, with several educational wings and each wing focuses on a different topic. Such as: The arts, science, history of different ethnic cultures, animals, and much more. OH, there is a huge theater - stage. Honesty, it looks a Broadway theater...also an Olympic size pool....Seeing this school makes me wish I was back in Elementary school and was able to attend this school.
Overall, we had a good week and we learned a lot about the school system, the poverty areas of BsAs, and the health system. Also, the more I learn about the school system and the projects the Rotary clubs out there are involved with, the more I want to be more involved in service work. I would also love to live in a Spanish speaking country were I can study Spanish and become fluent.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
International Birthday Celebration
By: Laurie Holland
There´s so much that has happened in the last few days - I don´t know where to begin. On Thursday night I had the opportunity to visit the English training school that my host family owns and teach teachs at. It is my favorite visit yet. I spoke to young people ages 16 - 22 about myself, what I do for work, as well as what I do in Africa. They were very responsive and interested, and they asked lots of very good questions, especially about Africa. I could see that they have very great futures, as they all have wonderful dreams. One of the boys has already e-mailed me asking more questions about American culture and other things. An hour and a half flew by and then it was time to head off to a dinner show.
Later that night our group went to a great restaurant in the evening where they dance tango. Even though each of us had minimal tango dance training, we all were out there on the dance floor having a great time. Something really funny - I was sitting down at our table when a short gentleman approached me and asked me to dance. I couldn´t turn him down. But when I stood up (and I was wearing heels that night) his head came to my chin. It was a hilarious sight! Every time we stepped in front of the fan, my hair whip-lashed his face. I was trying hard not to laugh. Additionally, in tango the man is supposed to lead the dance.....well.....that wasn´t happenin´. He was trying, but he was just too short. On the way home later that evening, my host family and I rode home in a taxi and were in tears laughing about me and that short guy dancing together. Aaahh....great memories!
On Friday our group went to a hotel downtown Buenos Aires for the beginning of The Penta....a huge Rotary conference. I met 4 other Group Study Exchange groups - 2 from London, 1 from Italy, and 1 from Venezuela. We had an amazing banquet dinner friday night. The President of Rotary International was there (William Boyd). At midnight, a cake was brought to my table and some people sang happy birthday to me. That was very thoughtful!
Yesterday on my birthday was the ¨big day¨ for all of us Group Study Exchange groups because we had to each give a presentation in front of hundreds of people. Our group did really well! I think what stood out most about our group was our service. I was able to share about 2 minutes of my Africa video....music and all. Not very much time, but enough time to get my point across and inform the audience about the orphans in Zambia. I received a great response. The President got up and gave a speech about the many poor children and widows that the Rotary Foundation helps around the world. I had to fight back tears, as he touched upon many of the things I envision myself doing in the near future. I approached him after the conference, shook his hand, and fought back tears (again) as I thanked him for the words he chose to share with the people. He could have talked about many things that day. But he chose to talk about the helpless; he said what matters most is to LOVE people. He shared a few quotes by Mother Teresa. In summary, it was to love the people of the world. Very inspiring!
Later that evening I celebrated my birthday with people all over the world. It was great! Italy, England, Venezuela, and Argentina....couldn´t have asked for a better way to celebrate. We all ate at a great restaurant and then all went out dancing. I left at about 3:30am with a soaked t-shirt and jeans....really worked up a sweat and had a great time dancing.
This morning I was a bit sad to say good-bye to the other GSE groups, as we all had to go our separate ways. I´m going to check out studying Spanish in Venezuela. After meeting people from there and hearing more about their country.....wow, I was impressed. Anyway, I am now with my 3rd host family. The father is a doctor of general medicine and the mother is a gynecologist. The daughter is 21 and studies psychology at the University of Buenos Aires. What an absolutely great family! They live in a very nice part of the city - many things are within walking distance. We went to the famous cemetary here, which is unlike anything I´ve ever seen. People pay big bucks to be buried there...well, basically, it looks like they build a beautiful monument - each person has their own. There are rows and rows of monuments made of gorgeous marble, statues, etc. We also walked through what is something like a flea market. After a nap this afternoon, we all went out for pizza together (excellent pizza!) and then ate the greatest ice cream I´ve had yet. At dinner, I found out that the daughter really likes hip-hop dance and was planning to take a dance class on Friday night. So I am going to try to make time to accompany her. How great would that be! Hip-hop culture is not very prominent here, so it would be a treat to see how it´s taught here. Tomorrow is going to be a very very full day, so I´m heading off to bed now. Hope you all have a wonderful week!
There´s so much that has happened in the last few days - I don´t know where to begin. On Thursday night I had the opportunity to visit the English training school that my host family owns and teach teachs at. It is my favorite visit yet. I spoke to young people ages 16 - 22 about myself, what I do for work, as well as what I do in Africa. They were very responsive and interested, and they asked lots of very good questions, especially about Africa. I could see that they have very great futures, as they all have wonderful dreams. One of the boys has already e-mailed me asking more questions about American culture and other things. An hour and a half flew by and then it was time to head off to a dinner show.
Later that night our group went to a great restaurant in the evening where they dance tango. Even though each of us had minimal tango dance training, we all were out there on the dance floor having a great time. Something really funny - I was sitting down at our table when a short gentleman approached me and asked me to dance. I couldn´t turn him down. But when I stood up (and I was wearing heels that night) his head came to my chin. It was a hilarious sight! Every time we stepped in front of the fan, my hair whip-lashed his face. I was trying hard not to laugh. Additionally, in tango the man is supposed to lead the dance.....well.....that wasn´t happenin´. He was trying, but he was just too short. On the way home later that evening, my host family and I rode home in a taxi and were in tears laughing about me and that short guy dancing together. Aaahh....great memories!
On Friday our group went to a hotel downtown Buenos Aires for the beginning of The Penta....a huge Rotary conference. I met 4 other Group Study Exchange groups - 2 from London, 1 from Italy, and 1 from Venezuela. We had an amazing banquet dinner friday night. The President of Rotary International was there (William Boyd). At midnight, a cake was brought to my table and some people sang happy birthday to me. That was very thoughtful!
Yesterday on my birthday was the ¨big day¨ for all of us Group Study Exchange groups because we had to each give a presentation in front of hundreds of people. Our group did really well! I think what stood out most about our group was our service. I was able to share about 2 minutes of my Africa video....music and all. Not very much time, but enough time to get my point across and inform the audience about the orphans in Zambia. I received a great response. The President got up and gave a speech about the many poor children and widows that the Rotary Foundation helps around the world. I had to fight back tears, as he touched upon many of the things I envision myself doing in the near future. I approached him after the conference, shook his hand, and fought back tears (again) as I thanked him for the words he chose to share with the people. He could have talked about many things that day. But he chose to talk about the helpless; he said what matters most is to LOVE people. He shared a few quotes by Mother Teresa. In summary, it was to love the people of the world. Very inspiring!
Later that evening I celebrated my birthday with people all over the world. It was great! Italy, England, Venezuela, and Argentina....couldn´t have asked for a better way to celebrate. We all ate at a great restaurant and then all went out dancing. I left at about 3:30am with a soaked t-shirt and jeans....really worked up a sweat and had a great time dancing.
This morning I was a bit sad to say good-bye to the other GSE groups, as we all had to go our separate ways. I´m going to check out studying Spanish in Venezuela. After meeting people from there and hearing more about their country.....wow, I was impressed. Anyway, I am now with my 3rd host family. The father is a doctor of general medicine and the mother is a gynecologist. The daughter is 21 and studies psychology at the University of Buenos Aires. What an absolutely great family! They live in a very nice part of the city - many things are within walking distance. We went to the famous cemetary here, which is unlike anything I´ve ever seen. People pay big bucks to be buried there...well, basically, it looks like they build a beautiful monument - each person has their own. There are rows and rows of monuments made of gorgeous marble, statues, etc. We also walked through what is something like a flea market. After a nap this afternoon, we all went out for pizza together (excellent pizza!) and then ate the greatest ice cream I´ve had yet. At dinner, I found out that the daughter really likes hip-hop dance and was planning to take a dance class on Friday night. So I am going to try to make time to accompany her. How great would that be! Hip-hop culture is not very prominent here, so it would be a treat to see how it´s taught here. Tomorrow is going to be a very very full day, so I´m heading off to bed now. Hope you all have a wonderful week!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
More of BsAs by Zakiya Sullivan
Well we are almost finished with our second week! Time is flying.... We are having so much fun out here.
Last week we visited a few museums - Auto, photo, music - and learned a lot about the history of automobiles, cameras, and musical instruments. We also got to visit the Japanese Garden. I truly enjoyed this visit. I definitely felt like I was in Japan. Our tour guide did a wonderful job of giving us the history of the garden and a little about the Japanese culture. I think my favorite was the ¨zig zag¨ bridge. The meaning behind the zig zag bridge is that in life we have to make decisions, we have to decide which way we are going to go - to the left or right - this decision or that decision...So in Japan people would come to the bridge to think about decisions in life.
This week we have gone to 2 different hospitals, a school for the deaf and blind, 3 schools and I went to the YMCA and CHARTS. My heart was touched when we visited the school for the deaf and blind. We had an opportunity to go into the class and meet some of the kids and allow them to ask us questions. They all wanted to know where we were from and had us point it out on the globe. One kids wanted to show us that he knew how to spell ¨dog¨ in English, so he wrote it on the board...It was cute!
At the YMCA, I got to meet with the Execute and was able to talk to him about what I do at my YMCA and hear a little about what their Y offers. I took a tour and next week I am going to go to some of the schools were they have After School programs, their camp site, and visit with their program director.
Later that night we had tango lessons....much fun! We had an excellent teacher who taught us a few tango routines. It was fun watching my other GSE mates dance...especially Mike our team leaders. Denise said she has two left feet...but not that night! She was moving and grooving...so was Laure and Kenny. I think I would like to take tango lessons when I return to the states.
Yesterday we visited 2 primary schools- which is our Elementary school - and one private school - primary to secondary - our elementary and high school. At the private school we had the opportunity to talk to one Jr. and one Sr. class. This school is a bilingual school and the students are fluent in English and Spanish, so we were able to talk to them in English. After we introduced ourselves and told them a little about our life, they had the opportunity to ask us questions. A few were interested in our opinion of our President and what we thought about foreign affairs and the war. We were very impressed with their questions.
It was very interesting to learn about the different school system. Some schools here are all day schools. The students arrive at 8am and finish at 4pm. They do however get 1hr. 3o mins. lunch break where they have the opportunity to go home and have lunch. We also learned the many people from other countries come to BsAs because the schools are free and the education is good. After students finish High School, they go to a university and college. The univ. is like a prepping for college. The univ. is free for them.
What´s different about the culture- definitely the driving. They have lanes, but they do not mean anything...It is very funny actually...Last week we drove with one of the Rotarians to the Rotary meeting and we could not stop laughing at they way he was driving. When he asked what was so funny, we explained to him how the driving is much different in the U.S. As we were telling him, a car cut him off and literally drove right in front of him. His comment was, ¨In the states, if someone does this you may yell at them...but out here...NO, he´s my friend!¨ It´s normal to drive like this.
Also what´s different is the way Argentines pronounce words with ¨ll¨ They are pronounced with the ¨s¨ sound vs. the ¨y¨ sound. If your ear is not trained to it, this is a big difference. It was not until late last week that I realized when someone would say ¨Ella, which is she in Spanish- pronounced A-yah, but here pronounced A-sha¨ they were saying ¨she¨ I thought that was the name of someone...even more when they would one of my GSE mates ella, I thought they either forgot their names, or thought their name was ella.
So are it has been a true blessings to learn about the culture of BsAs, how Rotary is involved in many service projects here, and getting to know my teammates and Mike more.
Last week we visited a few museums - Auto, photo, music - and learned a lot about the history of automobiles, cameras, and musical instruments. We also got to visit the Japanese Garden. I truly enjoyed this visit. I definitely felt like I was in Japan. Our tour guide did a wonderful job of giving us the history of the garden and a little about the Japanese culture. I think my favorite was the ¨zig zag¨ bridge. The meaning behind the zig zag bridge is that in life we have to make decisions, we have to decide which way we are going to go - to the left or right - this decision or that decision...So in Japan people would come to the bridge to think about decisions in life.
This week we have gone to 2 different hospitals, a school for the deaf and blind, 3 schools and I went to the YMCA and CHARTS. My heart was touched when we visited the school for the deaf and blind. We had an opportunity to go into the class and meet some of the kids and allow them to ask us questions. They all wanted to know where we were from and had us point it out on the globe. One kids wanted to show us that he knew how to spell ¨dog¨ in English, so he wrote it on the board...It was cute!
At the YMCA, I got to meet with the Execute and was able to talk to him about what I do at my YMCA and hear a little about what their Y offers. I took a tour and next week I am going to go to some of the schools were they have After School programs, their camp site, and visit with their program director.
Later that night we had tango lessons....much fun! We had an excellent teacher who taught us a few tango routines. It was fun watching my other GSE mates dance...especially Mike our team leaders. Denise said she has two left feet...but not that night! She was moving and grooving...so was Laure and Kenny. I think I would like to take tango lessons when I return to the states.
Yesterday we visited 2 primary schools- which is our Elementary school - and one private school - primary to secondary - our elementary and high school. At the private school we had the opportunity to talk to one Jr. and one Sr. class. This school is a bilingual school and the students are fluent in English and Spanish, so we were able to talk to them in English. After we introduced ourselves and told them a little about our life, they had the opportunity to ask us questions. A few were interested in our opinion of our President and what we thought about foreign affairs and the war. We were very impressed with their questions.
It was very interesting to learn about the different school system. Some schools here are all day schools. The students arrive at 8am and finish at 4pm. They do however get 1hr. 3o mins. lunch break where they have the opportunity to go home and have lunch. We also learned the many people from other countries come to BsAs because the schools are free and the education is good. After students finish High School, they go to a university and college. The univ. is like a prepping for college. The univ. is free for them.
What´s different about the culture- definitely the driving. They have lanes, but they do not mean anything...It is very funny actually...Last week we drove with one of the Rotarians to the Rotary meeting and we could not stop laughing at they way he was driving. When he asked what was so funny, we explained to him how the driving is much different in the U.S. As we were telling him, a car cut him off and literally drove right in front of him. His comment was, ¨In the states, if someone does this you may yell at them...but out here...NO, he´s my friend!¨ It´s normal to drive like this.
Also what´s different is the way Argentines pronounce words with ¨ll¨ They are pronounced with the ¨s¨ sound vs. the ¨y¨ sound. If your ear is not trained to it, this is a big difference. It was not until late last week that I realized when someone would say ¨Ella, which is she in Spanish- pronounced A-yah, but here pronounced A-sha¨ they were saying ¨she¨ I thought that was the name of someone...even more when they would one of my GSE mates ella, I thought they either forgot their names, or thought their name was ella.
So are it has been a true blessings to learn about the culture of BsAs, how Rotary is involved in many service projects here, and getting to know my teammates and Mike more.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Tango Unleashed
By: Laurie Holland
Or shall I say "Zakiya unleashed"?....HA! Our group had a great time tonight learning some basic steps to the tango. Our instructor danced with Zakiya and demonstrated some really quick moves...and she kept up! Guess all those years of dance lessons as a child helped her "unleash".
Okay, now to business. Yesterday, our day was completely full! We visited a car museum (dad, you'd love some of the race cars displayed in there), then a Christian school, and then a school for the deaf. Now that was a great experience. I've always wanted to learn sign language. That day I had 2 language barriers....I tried asking one of the women how to sign something so that I could sign with the kids...and then I was a bit frustrated that I couldn't even ask her because I didn't know how to say it in Castellano. Truthfully, yesterday was one of those frustrating days...the days we all experience when learning a new language. We took a tour of the city and everything was spoken in Castellano. I couldn't keep up. We also visited a hospital and were given tours of the rooms of ill patients. Culturally, it felt quite different and a little uncomfortable. In the US, it is quite intrusive to go walking into a patient's room for a brief moment, and then walk out, as if I'm on a field trip. As a result, one of the tour guides thought I was disinterested. When I explained, I learned that the patients are not offended, and the staff at the hospital appreciate us walking into the rooms, even for a brief moment.
You know, as many things as I may have mentioned that are different here in Argentina, we have FAR MORE in common with the Argentines, particularly the Rotary Club's goal of peace. It's amazing to see firsthand how so many countries work together and bridge the gap of cultural ignorance. Although different cultures may do things in a different way, we have the same heart, the same vision....and that should unite people. I highly respect the Rotary Club and its amazingly endless efforts toward peace among all people. One day, I'd be very proud to call myself a Rotarian.
Another Rotary meeting last night...I think it was our group's best presentation yet. We are all feeling more confident and getting to the meat of our message. We have another meeting tomorrow night, and on my birthday (St. Patrick's Day....the 17th....don't forget!) we will be presenting to over 700 people! How exciting! The president of the Rotary Foundation (from New Zealand) will be there as well, which is quite a big deal considering he is rarely present at any of the large conferences around the world. There will be 4 other exchange groups there as well - from England, Venezuela, Italy, and Argentina. I met the 4 members of the Argentina group last night. What a wonderful outstanding group! Really! They will be going to California for the month of April to do what our group is doing here in Argentina. I hope to see them while they are in California.
This exchange program is truly a fantastic program. I'm picking up the language, which is important, but most importantly I'm gaining cultural awareness and meeting people that really inspire me with their actions. Thus far, it has superseded my expectations, and I am very grateful to the Rotary Foundation for allowing me to represent the US team!
Or shall I say "Zakiya unleashed"?....HA! Our group had a great time tonight learning some basic steps to the tango. Our instructor danced with Zakiya and demonstrated some really quick moves...and she kept up! Guess all those years of dance lessons as a child helped her "unleash".
Okay, now to business. Yesterday, our day was completely full! We visited a car museum (dad, you'd love some of the race cars displayed in there), then a Christian school, and then a school for the deaf. Now that was a great experience. I've always wanted to learn sign language. That day I had 2 language barriers....I tried asking one of the women how to sign something so that I could sign with the kids...and then I was a bit frustrated that I couldn't even ask her because I didn't know how to say it in Castellano. Truthfully, yesterday was one of those frustrating days...the days we all experience when learning a new language. We took a tour of the city and everything was spoken in Castellano. I couldn't keep up. We also visited a hospital and were given tours of the rooms of ill patients. Culturally, it felt quite different and a little uncomfortable. In the US, it is quite intrusive to go walking into a patient's room for a brief moment, and then walk out, as if I'm on a field trip. As a result, one of the tour guides thought I was disinterested. When I explained, I learned that the patients are not offended, and the staff at the hospital appreciate us walking into the rooms, even for a brief moment.
You know, as many things as I may have mentioned that are different here in Argentina, we have FAR MORE in common with the Argentines, particularly the Rotary Club's goal of peace. It's amazing to see firsthand how so many countries work together and bridge the gap of cultural ignorance. Although different cultures may do things in a different way, we have the same heart, the same vision....and that should unite people. I highly respect the Rotary Club and its amazingly endless efforts toward peace among all people. One day, I'd be very proud to call myself a Rotarian.
Another Rotary meeting last night...I think it was our group's best presentation yet. We are all feeling more confident and getting to the meat of our message. We have another meeting tomorrow night, and on my birthday (St. Patrick's Day....the 17th....don't forget!) we will be presenting to over 700 people! How exciting! The president of the Rotary Foundation (from New Zealand) will be there as well, which is quite a big deal considering he is rarely present at any of the large conferences around the world. There will be 4 other exchange groups there as well - from England, Venezuela, Italy, and Argentina. I met the 4 members of the Argentina group last night. What a wonderful outstanding group! Really! They will be going to California for the month of April to do what our group is doing here in Argentina. I hope to see them while they are in California.
This exchange program is truly a fantastic program. I'm picking up the language, which is important, but most importantly I'm gaining cultural awareness and meeting people that really inspire me with their actions. Thus far, it has superseded my expectations, and I am very grateful to the Rotary Foundation for allowing me to represent the US team!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
