Favorite Things…Buenos Aires Style (#7 – Cultural Events & Festivals)

I thought I would take a break from Advent posts and share another favorite thing about living in Buenos Aires. I am working on a top ten list of favorite things in Buenos Aires. Links to my first six are below. It’s looking like I will have to pick up the final three next year. But, for now, here is #7…

These past few years living in Buenos Aires I have enjoyed taking in some of the various cultural events and festivals. There is never a lack of things to do in the city, especially this springtime of year. November seems to be especially full with events and festivals. Just this month I attended three events. Earlier in the month there was the Jazz Festival Internacional with concerts throughout the city for three days. La Noche de los Museos is an event when all the museums in the city are open for free until 3:00 AM. I have attended this Night of the Museums each of the four years I have lived here. This past weekend I attended the Noche de Librerias, when the city closes off one of the major streets known for its many bookstores. All the bookstores were open until the wee hours of the night and special activities were held throughout the night. It’s been a fun month joining the festivities!

You can check out links to my previous favorite things posts here….
First Five Favorite Things
#6 - Seasons

Jazz Festival Internacional

Noche de los Museos in my La Boca hood

Noche de Librerias

Spiritual Practice of Drinking Mate

My latest post on This Ignatian Life blog reflected on my appreciation for the Argentine tradition and custom of drinking mate. You can check out my reflection by clicking here...
The Spiritual Practice of Drinking Mate

Photo credit: Margi Felix-Lund

Favorite Things…Buenos Aires Style (#5 – My Community of Faith!)

My ongoing desire this year is to deepen stability and my call to place. One way I am doing this is by blogging my favorite things in Buenos Aires. I hope to identify my top ten (in no particular order) by the end of the year. Looks like I have some catching up to do…so here is #5!

This past week I have found myself reflecting on community and friendship. My pastor here in Buenos Aires, Juan Jose Barreda, recently wrote a reflection on friendship that is now posted on our WMF website here…"Friendship Along the Way.” This morning I watched another new video from Jean Vanier on community here…“Loved As You Are.” 

Both of these reflections reminded me how grateful I am for my church community, my community of faith here in Buenos Aires! I have attended Iglesia Evangelica Bautista Constitucion since my arrival to Argentina almost 3 ½ years ago. Since then the community has become family for me here. They partner with our WMF community in many valuable ways. They warmly welcome our short-term teams, our family and friends who come to visit with open arms (along with some besitos and abrazos). They have accompanied me with such love and care this past year, as I have been away from my mom during her cancer recovery and treatments.

The community continues to demonstrate how to welcome one another, to love one another, to accompany one another, to offer hospitality to one another and those who are poor, to grieve together, to celebrate together, to grow and learn together…and so much more! I am thankful for the many ways I have grown and all I have learned from my friends in my community of faith. When I made my decision to renew my commitment to WMF Argentina, having a church community here that I love was a significant part of my decision.

This year I have taken some steps to get more involved in the church community. I am teaching the preschool Sunday school class every Sunday (los chiquitos!). I also am helping out with various children’s special activities. Last month I began attending a neighborhood home fellowship group just a few blocks from my apartment. It has been good to connect weekly with this group of neighbors, learn and share in some Bible reflections, and, of course, share some mate (see #3 on my list below)!

This month ahead I am looking forward to the annual all-church retreat and the annual epic costume party to welcome spring! Good times!

Gracias por todo, hermanas y hermanos!

To check out favorite things 1, 2, 3 & 4 click below.
#1 – Fiestas! 
#2 – Walking in the City!
#3 – Mate!
#4 – My Hood!

News Alert...Spanish beginning to influence my English!

Recently, I have noticed a few phrases that I say in English a lot more than I ever used to before moving to Argentina. I guess the common use of these phrases in Spanish has impacted my English. Here are just a few examples...
- I imagine that…
- The truth is…
- Come!
- Tell me!

I will have really arrived when I start saying….
- I have cold or I have hot
- I have 42 years
- I call myself, David

I imagine that there are many others, but the truth is I can’t think of any right now. Spanish speakers, you know others?? Tell me!

Stay tuned!

Favorite Things…Buenos Aires Style (#4 – My Hood)

Yep, I’m still here! I know it’s been awhile. I returned to Buenos Aires yesterday after two great weeks in the U.S. The first week I was in Omaha at our Word Made Flesh offices helping with some new staff training, as well as further envisioning and defining my role as Coordinator of Formation for our community. The bonus was good times catching up with O-Town friends in between it all! The second week I met up with my parents and grandma for a week of vacay in Virginia. Why Virginia? Well, it was one of the nicest timeshare units available on short notice. It was a fun and special time with my family (although we sure missed my sister & co.!). It was especially meaningful to be with my mom after all her chemo and radiation treatments these past nine months.

So, after being away for a couple weeks I am overdue for my next favorite thing about living in Buenos Aires. Today, as I was out and about running some errands, I was quickly reminded how much I love my neighborhood of La Boca, specifically, the street where I live! I love that it is common for me to greet people on my street within a few block radius. Whether it is the owners of the restaurant a couple doors down, the older men who sit in front of their homes to people watch all day, the men who are homeless and recycle to earn some money, the managers who run the local store, or the young guys who work down the street hustling the tourists to eat in the restaurants just a block away…it is always fun to recognize and greet people along my regular walking route in my La Boca hood.

In addition, I love that I live within walking distance to the Forcatto family and the Dean family. I love that on futbol game days I can hear the roar of Boca Junior fans from the “Bombonera” stadium about five blocks away. I love the way neighbors hang out on the streets sharing mate or cerveza. I love the trees that line my street and the way the leaves change with the seasons. I love the drum lines that often beat their drums and dance past my apartment. I love that if I listen closely I can hear tango music being played in the tourist areas just a couple blocks away.

And the list goes on and on with things I love about my neighborhood. It is always super hard to say goodbye to family and friends in the U.S.! But, I am grateful that I can return to an apartment and neighborhood that feels like home!

To check out my favorite things #1, 2, & 3 (in no particular order of importance)...click below.
#1 – Fiestas! 
#2 – Walking in the City!
#3 – Mate!

More to come...

Día de la Memoria por la Verdad y la Justicia

Today, March 24, is a holiday in Argentina, Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice. The holiday commemorates the victims of the military dictatorship that began with a military coup on March 24, 1976. This period of military dictatorship is known as the “Dirty War” and lasted for about seven years (1976-1983). It is estimated that at least 13,000 people disappeared during this dark and sad period of Argentina history. Anyone resisting or opposing the dictatorship were kidnapped, tortured, and murdered.

I can’t imagine what it must have been like to live in Argentina during this time. In my three years here I have read books and articles and have watched several documentaries and movies about this fairly recent period in Argentina. I have also visited a couple museums and demonstrations commemorating and remembering the period. All of it is very tragic and sobering.

The Madres of Plaza de Mayo are Argentine mothers whose children disappeared during this period. During the dictatorship, they marched daily around the Plaza de Mayo in front of the Casa Rosada government house for the return of their abducted sons and daughters. They are known for the white scarves they wore on their heads when they marched. The Madres still exist as an active human rights movement.

Many of today’s Argentines lived through this period and will never forget. The idea of today’s holiday is that what happened will never be forgotten, so that it will never happen again – ¨nunca más¨!

To read more in English:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_War

Here is a government education site in Spanish: http://www.me.gov.ar/efeme/24demarzo/index.html

Favorite Things…Buenos Aires Style! (#3 - Mate)

Sharing mate around the picnic table!

A collection of mates and thermoses!

As a response to my desire to be more attentive to my call to place, I am blogging on my favorite things in Buenos Aires. (See my January 22 post by clicking here.) These favorites are in no particular order of “favoriteness.”

This February our church community enjoyed two summertime picnics about an hour outside the city. These days were a fun time of playing, eating, and relaxing together. Among other things, these days with my Argentine friends reminded how much drinking and sharing mate is something I love about Argentine culture. I have described mate quite a bit on this blog, so I won’t repeat myself. However, for my blog description of mate, click here.

The picnics began and ended with mate and snacks shared around the picnic table. As the mate gourd is passed around the circle from friend to friend, conversation, friendship, and laughter are enjoyed. I had to leave the first picnic early and everyone expressed disappointment that I would miss the time of sharing mate. I have found sharing mate to be a meaningful gesture and act of hospitality, welcome, and friendship. Go to any plaza or park around 5:00 PM in Argentina and you will quickly notice circles of family and friends drinking and sharing mate. I love it!

Sharing mate is a staple activity with the youth and young adults at the train station. Usually one of the first things our friends ask for is our thermos, so we can fill it with hot water (which is available just about anywhere in Argentina). Just about every Sunday afternoon our community gathers to hang out and play. Sharing mate is a common part of these community gatherings. Church events and gatherings always include sharing mate. No visitor to our community can escape trying and experiencing mate.

Our WMF community recently began expressing our commitments to one another through covenant, once a staff member renews his or her contract. As we discussed meaningful symbols to include in our Buenos Aires covenant celebrations, mate was one that all agreed needed to included on the table. We have one specific mate that always goes with us to the train station. Walter bought this mate when he first started building relationships with our friends at the train station. I love how this particular mate represents six years of friendship, welcome and hospitality with our friends, whether sitting on the train station floors or the grass outside in the plaza. So, this mate is a perfect symbol to include in our covenant ceremonies.

So, yep, mate...another favorite thing in Argentina!

Favorite Things…Buenos Aires Style! (#2 – Walking in the City)

As a response to my desire to be more attentive to my call to place, I am blogging on my favorite things in Buenos Aires. (See my January 22 post by clicking here.) These favorites are in no particular order of “favoriteness.”

I have always enjoyed walking. Back in California several times a week I would regularly walk my neighborhoods of Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Long Beach. When possible walking near the water is definitely preferred. The Seal Beach pier and the waterfront harbor in downtown Long Beach are still favorites when I am back for a visit. Walking is life-giving, restful and refreshing for me. It is often a time to clear my head. Many of my best times of prayer, attentiveness and reflection happen when I am walking. In many ways, it is a spiritual practice for me.

It is no different here in Buenos Aires! These past few weeks I have had some foot issues that have made walking pretty painful. I, finally, found a podiatrist here and, hopefully, I am now on the right track! But, in the meantime, I am realizing how much I miss my regular times to walk some of my favorite places in the city. I took a retreat day this past week and had to cut my plans short, which included a little walking in a park and visiting a museum. I was over ambitious and my foot just couldn’t hack it.

This all made me realize how much I really enjoy walking in Buenos Aires….another favorite thing! I enjoy my short walks (5-6 blocks) through my La Boca neighborhood to visit the Deans and Forcattos. I look forward to my 20-minute walk to church on the unusually quiet streets on Sunday mornings. I can take a 20-minute bus ride to Puerto Madero where there is a long stretch of walking along the old river docks of the city. There are many parks and plazas that are nice to walk through. The stretch of blocks on Avenida de Mayo between the government buildings of Plaza de Mayo/Casa Rosado and Congreso is another favorite stretch of walking. The beautiful architecture, the tree lined streets and the people watching are all part of the experience for me.

So, today I am grateful to live in a place where I can enjoy walking.

Favorite Things…Buenos Aires Style! (#1 – Fiestas!)

For the past few weeks I have been meaning to compile a list of favorite things I love about life in Buenos Aires. This is a result of my recent reflection on “Attentiveness and Call to Place,” recently posted on This Ignatian Life blog. You can read the reflection here: http://ignatianlife.org/attentiveness-and-call-to-place/.

These first weeks of 2011 I have often found myself out and about thinking, “Oh yah, I love this about Buenos Aires!” But, I neglect to make a note of them. So, instead of waiting to make a list, I will post favorite things as I recognize them (in no particular order).

So, #1…FIESTAS! Argentines know how to throw a party and it usually involves lots of food, music and dancing into the wee hours of the night (or morning). While I have now acquired quite a few favorite Latin dance tunes, I am afraid I still lack the moves. I was reminded of how much I love Argentine parties just this past week when we had a despedida (farewell party) for our WMF intern, Matt. Parties here don’t really get going around 10:00 PM and go until at least 3:00 or 4:00 AM. And if you leave at 1:00 or 2:00, you are the first to leave. After three years in Argentina, this party timeframe has become my new normal and I even try to be one of the last to leave (a goal not always reached). I still have a lot to learn about hosting a party myself, but I will keep working on it. The Deans and I recently hosted a sabbatical despedida for the Forcattos. We laughed at how often we huddled together to try and be good hosts. (How many norteamericanos does it take to throw an Argentine party??)

Our church and circle of friends really know how to celebrate well community, friendship and big life events! All one has to do is scan my FB pics for highlights of these fun celebrations.

So, thank you Argentina, friends and community for the celebrations of friendship and life together!

Christmas in Buenos Aires...My Top Ten!

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas (in the Southern Hemisphere). Yesterday hit 90 degrees here in Buenos Aires with a much higher humidity “feels like”! We are experiencing a weekend break from the heat before it is forecasted to return in full force just in time for Christmas. I’m sitting here in my apartment this afternoon with the window open, fan blowing, my little Christmas tree lights on, and drinking some Christmas coffee. (Thanks World Market for my 52 pounds of coffee prize! Thanks mom and dad for the monthly 5 pounds of coffee runs to claim my prize! And thanks Howie for bringing the latest Christmas supply!)

These past few weeks I have been asked many times when I am leaving for “las fiestas”? Most of my friends assume I am headed to North America or somewhere on vacation. I have had fun responding that I am staying here in Buenos Aires for Christmas. Yes, I will deeply miss being with my family in California these days ahead! But, at the same time, I am trying to soak in the season and receive all it has to offer in Buenos Aires. While Christmas in Argentina does not bring the same feel of Christmas in the U.S., there are customs and traditions I have already enjoyed and others I still look forward to this Christmas week. Here are just a few highlights:

1) Our annual community Advent Gathering, when we light the first candle of hope and pray for our friends. Then each Friday morning we have light the next candles on the wreath with a time of liturgy and prayer.
2) All the neighbors out on the street sitting on the sidewalk as both the weather and festivities warm up before Christmas.
3) Our church “pesebre” (nativity) that takes the entire stage (see photo above). Last Saturday all were invited to the annual community tradition of assembling the pesebre. It was really meaningful to join in that tradition!
4) Our annual Christmas party with the youth, which took this past Monday. We had a total of 30 people, including our community, Servant Team, Argentine partners, and our friends. Our time included a pollo asado (chicken bbq), a Christmas reflection in front of the pesebre, special crafts, and Christmas movies. We shared 18 Christmas gifts to our friends.
5) The wire Christmas trees light up in the plaza and parks throughout the city, surrounded by the summertime green and shade of all the trees.
6) The cold drinks of the season…Gancia (similar to vermouth with soda water, lemon, and lots of ice); Sidra (a cider drink); and extra cold cerveza.
7) Our church’s Christmas worship service, which will take place tomorrow night. Candles will be light around the pesebre and the baby Jesus will be laid in the manger.
8) This week ahead I look forward to visiting our friends at the Retiro train station and sharing some Christmas “pan dulce” and mate.
9) It’s all about Christmas Eve here! Fireworks go off at midnight, gifts are opened, and the festivities continue through the wee hours of the morning. (Definitely not a “silent night”!)

So there are nine favorite things about Christmas in Buenos Aires (in no particular order of importance)! I will keep my eyes and ears open to round out the top ten. Stay tuned!

10) Okay, that was quick…how could I forget? Number #10! Holiday drinks at Starbucks, Argentina-style…Toffee Nut Latte, Dark Cherry Mocha, and Chocolate Carmel. (gingerbread, peppermint, and egg nog are not the tastes of Christmas here.)

So, there it is my top ten....so far!

world cup fever!

In case you didn't notice, I am pretty caught up in the World Cup here in Argentina! It is super fun being in a country so pumped about the games. There is a huge screen downtown for people to gather and watch the games. This week the enthusiasm here for Argentina has really turned up as they won all three of their first games and now move ahead to the next round. To top it off a local player for the neighborhood team, Boca Juniors, scored scored the final goal of the Argentina's last game....goooooolllllll, Palermo!

To top it off the United States won their group today and also move ahead to the next round. Bring on more games days this Saturday and Sunday! At least the Lakers sealed the deal, so no more staying up until 1:00 am to watch the NBA Finals.

Here is a super helpful schedule "wheel" for the World Cup games. The easiest way to keep up with the dates and times of the games, etc. The times are all South Africa time, so you have to adjust to your time zone.

http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/calendario-english.html

And here is a pretty funny satirical article posted on "The Onion" about the insufferable World Cup fan in the USA.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/nations-soccer-fan-becoming-insufferable,17553/

Breath!

Well, I am about half way into the 31-Day Challenge. This morning I was starting to get down on myself for not following through with some of my goals. Busy days and cold weather have not inspired bike riding and outdoor activity. I have a lot on my mind these days as I prepare to head to the U.S. in a couple weeks. There is always something on my to do list to accomplish. I find myself preoccupied much of the time, which too often prevents me from being present in the now! This morning I started my day with two blog posts that, hopefully, will help reset my posture these days ahead.

Alan Fadling is sharing a new Classic Prayers series on his blog. This prayer from the eighth century helped start my day today....click here. I’m looking forward to following along with Alan and he shares more classic prayers in the days and weeks ahead. Thanks Alan!

Then I was catching up with the 31-Day Challenge blog. Jara shared this helpful breathing exercise...click here. I think I better keep this handy these days ahead. Thanks Jara!

In other news, World Cup fever is alive and well here in Argentina! Thursday was a big game day here! Argentines have been somewhat guarded going into the World Cup this time around. The national team did not play to well in the qualifying games and barely made it into the World Cup. But, Thursday’s big win really seems to have revived hope in Argentina’s prospects. It’s super fun to be here and experience World Cup excitement and passion. As Cora Forcatto says about her classmates, “Todos estan locos para el mundial!” That pretty much sums it up...everyone is crazy for the World Cup! Fun times!

Plus, to top off game day on Thursday….THE LAKE SHOW CONTINUES! Go Lakers!

Today I am off to see Toy Story 3D with the Forcatto girls.

Bicentenario

Argentina will celebrate its Bicentenario on May 25. It is the 200th anniversary of the May Revolution when the first national government was instituted. It was the starting point for independence from Spain in 1816. Next weekend is a four-day weekend to celebrate the Bicentenario here. There will be a full four-days of activities, festivals, and events throughout the city. I’m looking forward to checking out all that is planned.

One thing I really enjoy about my Spanish tutoring is also learning about Argentina history and culture. My Spanish lessons have included learning about Eva Peron, the most recent military dictatorship in the 70’s/80’s, history of the tango, the café culture and a lot more. We are currently reviewing some Bicentenario history. This pretty cool Bicentenario online mural reviews 200 years of Argentina history. http://www.muralbicentenario.encuentro.gov.ar/flash/index.html

March Prayer Requests from WMF Argentina

Our community just posted some March prayer requests on the WMF Argentina blog. To partner with us in prayer, click here....

http://www.wordmadeflesh.org/argentina/2010/03/march-prayer-requests-from-buenos-aires/

argentina news

Thanks to all who have emailed or checked in on Facebook about the impact of the Chilean earthquake in Buenos Aires. I appreciate your care and concern. We had no impact here in Buenos Aires, as we are on the opposite side of the country from the Chilean border (Atlantic side). Regions on the western side of Argentina that border Chile did feel the quake and had some damage, but nothing like the impact in Chile. Please pray for the people impacted by the quake in Chile. Many friends from our church have friends who live and/or minister in Chile. Here is link to Buenos Aires news in English. The link is also on my sidebar is you ever want to keep up with the news here in English.

The Buenos Aires Herald - http://www.buenosairesherald.com/

What Are We Waiting For This Advent?

This Advent Christine Sine is hosting a blog series, "What are we waiting for this Advent?" on her blog GodSpace. Today my contribution is posted on the blog. Click here or read below.

Advent in the Southern Hemisphere:

Actively Waiting in Newness of Life

This Advent and Christmas season will be my first in the Southern Hemisphere. Since moving to Buenos Aires, Argentina, I have often grumbled about how most church calendar reflections, liturgies, and meditations center around Northern Hemisphere seasons. The themes of Advent usually involve waiting in darkness as nature retreats to survive the cold. On the other hand, Easter themes most often reflect and celebrate the Resurrection alongside the new life of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Having now lived and shared life in Buenos Aires for almost two years, I am now more aware of the opposite rhythms of life and seasons here.

Since I went to visit family and friends in the United States last December, this year will be my first opportunity to observe, reflect, and participate in a spring and summer Advent season. I have already begun to notice some differences. We are quickly approaching the end of the school year and summertime, so there is much activity and anticipation with all that comes with summer breaks and vacations. Near the Christmas decorations at the stores are the summer outdoor supplies with pool and beach toys, patio furniture, and lots of plants and flowers. More and more people are outdoors enjoying the warmer temperatures and the new life in nature. People are anxious to soak in the fullness of green grass and trees in the plazas and parks in the city, engaging in the new life that comes with the season and enjoying it. All this stands in contrast to the Advent meditations of winter and parallels my desire to live my Christian life and faith to the fullest this Advent season.

This Advent, as I consider what I am waiting for, I think of new life! Jesus, the Good Shepherd, tells his disciples in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Advent is an active waiting! Both Isaiah and John the Baptist proclaim the Advent of the Messiah by teaching the people to prepare the way, make straight paths, and produce fruit in keeping with repentance. (Isaiah 40:3-5, Luke 3:4-8). This active waiting implies engaging in the new life that Jesus brings. Yes, we wait in hopeful anticipation for Jesus’ Second Advent, but we also live into and experience the fullness of new life offered today.

So, the new life of spring and summertime in Buenos Aires will be the lenses through which I observe, reflect, and engage in Advent this year. Our community in Buenos Aires serves among children, youth, and families living in poverty, including those who live and/or work on the streets. How will I give testimony to this newness of life, as I seek be an instrument of the advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love in the lives of my community and our friends this Advent and Christmas? My Advent desire is to seek and live this newness of life in Jesus that stands in contrast to the things that steal, kill, and destroy. Actively waiting in newness of life!

creating open space for advent....

I recently read the following description of a spiritual practice or discipline from Henri Nouwen, "the human effort to create open space to listen to the voice of the one who calls us the beloved." Very appropriate and timely as we enter the Advent season in just a week and a half.

Advent begins Sunday, November 29 (the Sunday after Thanksgiving). Sometimes I feel like I am rushing things reflecting on and discussing Advent before Thanksgiving. But, for me, I am finding it more and more necessary to consider how I will create open space sooner then later….before my December calendar completely fills up!

This will be my first Advent season and Christmas in Buenos Aires. I am thinking I will skip a tree this year….and just stick with my Advent wreath and the new nativity crèche I plan to buy here next week. I thought December outside the U.S. might prove more low-key and tranquilo! Opps! I am already finding it just as busy and full. Add the end of the school year and beginning of summer into the mix, and you get a U.S. June and December all rolled into one in the Southern Hemisphere. Making it even more essential to create that open space for Advent!

Below are some Advent links and resources I have discovered over the past few years. I’d love to hear any additional ways you are observing Advent this 2009!

Christine Sine’s Annual Advent meditation for 2009:

http://godspace.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/the-coming-of-the-lord-is-near-advent-meditation-video-2009/

GodSpace Blog:

This Advent Christine Sine will host a blog series, “What are we waiting for this Advent?” It will include blog posts and reflections from a variety of people. I plan to also contribute to this series. Stay tuned!

http://godspace.wordpress.com/

Songs for Advent:

My friend Ben Miller recently pointed me out to this digital download for Advent.

http://www.sojournmusic.com/2007/12/05/advent-songs-2007/

CRI/Voice - The Season of Advent: Anticipation and Hope:

www.crivoice.org/cyadvent.html

CRI/Voice - Daily Scripture Readings for Advent

(Book of Common Prayer – Year Two):

http://www.crivoice.org/advent2.html

Sacred Space Advent

(Includes Advent Retreat & Other Links):

http://www.sacredspace.ie/advent/

¡che!

The more I learn Spanish, the more I am picking up on distinct Argentine phrases and slang. One word I noticed immediately was ‘che.’ My trusty gringo guide to understanding the Argentines, titled ¡Che Boludo!, defines ‘che’ as ‘hey!’ or ‘hey you!’ Basically, it’s like a combination of ‘dude/bro!’ & ‘hey!’ The guide also defines it as a meaningless interjection in whatever context.

Okay….so, I am slowly figuring out the appropriate and natural contexts to use ‘che’ as ‘hey' or 'bro’! But, I still use it sparely, so I don’t seem too much like a poser. For sure, the ‘meaningless interjection’ part will take awhile without looking like I am trying way too hard to speak Argentine.

Oh, and in case you were wondering….It is also understood that the word was not adopted from Argentine Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, but in fact, the opposite. He received his nickname because Argentine’s frequent use of ‘che’ often distinguishes them from other Latin Americans.

H1N1 (Swine Flu) in Buenos Aires

The H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu) has hit Argentina pretty hard in recent weeks. This week the government announced closing schools for the month of July (the last two weeks of the month are already winter vacation for kids here). They are also discouraging any public gatherings to curtail the spread of the virus. See my prayer requests below for more specifics.

However, since sharing our prayer needs yesterday, we have now decided to cancel Encuentros for the month of July. Encuentros is our twice a month overnight gathering with the youth from the train station. As a precautionary measure, our church has canceled all gatherings for children, youth, and adults for the month, with the exception of an hour worship service on Sundays. This is happening throughout the city in churches and social/civic organizations.

My last prayer letter and prayer requests indicated how meaningful our Encuentros gatherings with the youth have been in recent months. We shared the news with them yesterday. They were disappointed, but understanding of the situation and need to cancel. It is extra disappointing to cancel during the winter season, since Encuentros provides our friends a safe, warm place to sleep a couple nights a month.

Please pray for God’s best this month. Pray that the spread of the virus would be limited in the weeks ahead. Pray that we can find special ways to connect with our friends and encourage them during this time. And pray that God would protect their health.

Buenos Aires News

Just added a new link on my sidebar ("Life in Argentina") for the latest news and headlines from Buenos Aires in English -
Buenos Aires Herald