DIA PRIMERO
This is our second time to Buenos Aires and we were excited, but not as excited as Grandma and Grandpa Asay were to see their grandkids.
On the drive to the mission home we passed a villa miseria (shanty town, basically), one that is immediately off to the side of the major highway.
The thing I found amazing about this one {Villa Ferrito} is that, when we were here last year, it was located on the opposite side of the highway. According to my father-in-law, less than six weeks ago the government closed the original Villa Ferrito. Over the course of the next week or so the squatters crossed the road, tore down the razor fence around a large, green, privately-owned field and set-up Villa Ferrito Redux. The government is now in the process of trying to buy the land from the private owner. But the villa is HUGE! Hundreds and hundreds of tents and huts with electricity filched from power lines with jerry-rigged wiring. And all in a matter of weeks. Crazy.
The kids spent the rest of the day running around the house and playing in Grandpa's office cum gym. DIA SEGUNDO
Attending church in Banfield. The kids were treated like special guests in Primary and had a good time despite the language differences.
Greta was well taken care of by Hermana Godfrey during her Primary class.
Sunday night we attended Noche de Luz, a Christmas choral performance that the mission does each Christmas. My mother-in-law has spent many weeks directing and preparing the program and I have to say that the twenty elders and sisters sounded really, really great. Elder Taylor, the choir director, was amazing and I plan on seeing him with the MoTab someday. It was great to meet and talk with so many of the missionaries that night. The North American missionaries loved seeing the kids; just a little reminder of home.
DIA TRECEROMonday was transfer day in the mission so I spent the morning at the church attending the transfer meeting. Again, couldn't understand a thing that was said, but I enjoyed seeing how much the missionaries love Presidente and Hermana Asay.
Matt went into Capital (Buenos Aires proper) in the morning for business meetings. Since the mission home was going to be overrun with missionaries for the next day or so, we planned on spending the night in Capital and took a taxi in the afternoon to meet up with Matt at the Marriott. Crazy and fun taxi ride, not the least because Lily threw up three times during the 40 minute drive.
While Matt swam with the kids at the hotel, Brittany and I went across the street to the Plaza San Martin to take photos and look around. After taking this photo of Brittany I switched places with her so that I could have my photo taken as well. Imagine me sitting right where Brittany is with my camera bag (wallet, iPhone, passport) sitting next to my foot* when suddenly I look down and see a kid reach through the broken balustrade and take my bag - all while making eye contact with me! The split second it took for me to realize he had actually taken my bag gave him a good lead as he ran down the grassy hill. That's when I took off sprinting (and yelling) down the stairs in the photo below, making pretty good time in my skirt and heeled sandals. By this point several people on the grass and stairs had begun yelling and chasing the thief along with me. I was shocked to see such a response as this is not the Argentine way I'd experienced, especially at futbol matches I'd attended. As I ran I kept thinking, "What a pain to cancel my cards from here." ~ "Matt is going to be so annoyed." ~ "Wow, I can't believe my sandals haven't broken, yet. These were worth every penny." More than 70-ish yards later, just when I began to think there was no way the kid could be stopped, two of my fellow chasers caught up and literally tackled the kid to the ground on the sidewalk. It sounded painful - and I was glad my camera wasn't in the bag. The thief ran off, I picked up my bag and turned to see the whole park staring at me (remember I had been YELLING at the thief the whole time). One of the merciful tacklers had been hurt in the scuffle with quite battered and bloody leg. I felt so badly and kept telling him Gracias and trying to give him money. I made my way back up the stairs and found Brittany standing in the exact same place I'd left her. I couldn't stop laughing and only wished Brit had thought to record the chase. Mostly, I was heartened and grateful to see so many helpers come to my aide. * I've never, ever been so brainless to set my bag down in public and I realize I completely brought it upon myself. Still, it made me laugh.
Later we ate dinner at an empanada restaurant we'd eaten at last year, and realized we'd remembered it more fondly than the food merited. 
DIA CUARTO
He kept touching Greta's hair and skin which bothered her a bit.
We finally made it to Cimetiere de la Recoleta, a cemetary modeled after Pere Lachaise in Paris. I don't know why I love visiting both of these cemetaries, but even Greta said it was a "cool park".
After all that walking we were ready to eat lunch at Matt's favorite Argentine restaurant, Las Lilas, for steak and other local specialties. Mmmmmmmmmm. It did not disappoint!
My little carnivore couldn't have been any happier.
Matt and Ike finished the day off with a visit to the local heladeria (ice cream parlor) to watch the Boca v. Tigre futbol match. A perfect night for them.
DIA QUINTO
Isaac has spent every free minute in the mission home pool. And, yes, the water really is that green AND this was right after the pool cleaner had come by. Matt is sure that Ike will grow a second head from water contamination : )
We've spent today grocery shopping, baking and cooking in preparation for the big Christmas dinner with the missionaries tomorrow. I suggested we go out for Christmas Eve dinner so that Mom wouldn't feel like she had to prepare something for us. It was a very beautiful summer night that ended with one solid hour of neighborhood fireworks ~ I kid you not. One hour!
While Matt swam with the kids at the hotel, Brittany and I went across the street to the Plaza San Martin to take photos and look around. After taking this photo of Brittany I switched places with her so that I could have my photo taken as well. Imagine me sitting right where Brittany is with my camera bag (wallet, iPhone, passport) sitting next to my foot* when suddenly I look down and see a kid reach through the broken balustrade and take my bag - all while making eye contact with me! The split second it took for me to realize he had actually taken my bag gave him a good lead as he ran down the grassy hill. That's when I took off sprinting (and yelling) down the stairs in the photo below, making pretty good time in my skirt and heeled sandals. By this point several people on the grass and stairs had begun yelling and chasing the thief along with me. I was shocked to see such a response as this is not the Argentine way I'd experienced, especially at futbol matches I'd attended. As I ran I kept thinking, "What a pain to cancel my cards from here." ~ "Matt is going to be so annoyed." ~ "Wow, I can't believe my sandals haven't broken, yet. These were worth every penny." More than 70-ish yards later, just when I began to think there was no way the kid could be stopped, two of my fellow chasers caught up and literally tackled the kid to the ground on the sidewalk. It sounded painful - and I was glad my camera wasn't in the bag. The thief ran off, I picked up my bag and turned to see the whole park staring at me (remember I had been YELLING at the thief the whole time). One of the merciful tacklers had been hurt in the scuffle with quite battered and bloody leg. I felt so badly and kept telling him Gracias and trying to give him money. I made my way back up the stairs and found Brittany standing in the exact same place I'd left her. I couldn't stop laughing and only wished Brit had thought to record the chase. Mostly, I was heartened and grateful to see so many helpers come to my aide. * I've never, ever been so brainless to set my bag down in public and I realize I completely brought it upon myself. Still, it made me laugh.
Later we ate dinner at an empanada restaurant we'd eaten at last year, and realized we'd remembered it more fondly than the food merited. 
DIA CUARTO
Matt had another meeting in the morning, and determined take advantage of our time in Capital, I forced Brittany and all the kids to walk to Cimetiere de Recoleta, which was, of course, further away than I'd expected. On the way the kids were stopped by an elderly man who was so taken with the kids, um, paleness, I guess. He kept saying how beautiful they were and asked to have his photo taken with them.
He kept touching Greta's hair and skin which bothered her a bit.
We finally made it to Cimetiere de la Recoleta, a cemetary modeled after Pere Lachaise in Paris. I don't know why I love visiting both of these cemetaries, but even Greta said it was a "cool park".
After all that walking we were ready to eat lunch at Matt's favorite Argentine restaurant, Las Lilas, for steak and other local specialties. Mmmmmmmmmm. It did not disappoint!
My little carnivore couldn't have been any happier.
Matt and Ike finished the day off with a visit to the local heladeria (ice cream parlor) to watch the Boca v. Tigre futbol match. A perfect night for them.
Isaac has spent every free minute in the mission home pool. And, yes, the water really is that green AND this was right after the pool cleaner had come by. Matt is sure that Ike will grow a second head from water contamination : )
We've spent today grocery shopping, baking and cooking in preparation for the big Christmas dinner with the missionaries tomorrow. I suggested we go out for Christmas Eve dinner so that Mom wouldn't feel like she had to prepare something for us. It was a very beautiful summer night that ended with one solid hour of neighborhood fireworks ~ I kid you not. One hour!MERRY CHRISTMAS
BTW, sistas. I stole this car when I found it parked next to the house and have shipped it home as a souvenir. I'll bet Brianne gets to it first, since it has her name written all over it.
BTW, sistas. I stole this car when I found it parked next to the house and have shipped it home as a souvenir. I'll bet Brianne gets to it first, since it has her name written all over it.
