Feliz Navidad.....
Trip Start
Jun 02, 2006
1
66
102
Trip End
May 17, 2007
Posadas, Argentina
Friday, December 22, 2006
Today was my fifteenth day at the refuge and the last for two weeks. In case you were wondering what a typical day is like for me here (where I shall be spending almost a quarter of my whole trip in the end), I'm going to tell you - so are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.
This morning I got up just before 7am, having slept fitfully. (Sleeping fitfully seems pretty typical actually - not sure if it's too much wine, too much heat, too many worries or what - I dream a lot more here than I usually do and I wake three or four times in the night.) Normally I would then do my yoga stretches and situps and pushups, but Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's Cuca leaves at 7am for a physiotherapy appointment (she fractured her hip a short while ago). So she leaves breakfast for me and this means the cafetiere pot is left to cool from about 6.45am onwards. As I feel guilty plugging in her microwave to heat the coffee back up again and dread her coming back and finding me flagrantly wasting electricity, I tend to skip yoga and have hot coffee instead - a good decision I think. So I have cornflakes, brown toast, fresh squeezed orange juice and coffee with hot milk A darn fine breakfast actually. With Cuca at the gym, I also get a peaceful breakfast without trying to make or understand spanish conversation.
At about 8.30am I leave to walk to the refuge. Normally, by this time of the morning, it is HOT and I'm sweating before I even leave the flat. And I really mean sweating. I've never had so many pores working so hard before. I tend to walk more slowly than normal as I feel conscious that my time with Walter or Daniel is generally only an hour and half or so, and the sooner I arrive, the sooner it's over and I'm back at Cuca's feeling like I've skived off most of the morning. The walk is OK. The roads are a mix of tarmaced and red dirt, with smart cars and horse pulled carts. The houses are a mix of (mostly) decent concrete based houses all shapes and sizes and some dilapidated huts. It takes me about 40 minutes to get to the refuge.
This morning on my walk, I was thinking about the serenity prayer. Give me the courage to change the things I can, the serenity to accept the things I can't and the wisdom to know the difference. I often think about this. This morning, I concluded I'm pretty good on the courage part (I've been divorced, had 8 or 9 different jobs, my hair colourīs almost been through the whole rainbow, I'm here) and (if I listen to my heart as my friend Rose would say) I think most of the time I've got the wisdom bit right too. But I tell you. The effort I expend frantically trying to be serene is exhausting. So, for christmas this year, I'd like santa claus to bring me a big dollop of acceptance please.
So, I got to the refuge - a two storey house amongst other houses on a road like any other road in Posadas - greeted the lady in the office part and got the buggy out ready for Walter. (I recently bought a kiddies buggy as the two boys seemed to want carrying to the park all the time and that is just too hot and hard work.) Daniel was at the gate and smiled and laughed to see me (and I glowed inside a little I confess). Then Walter, ready for his morning out, was also laughing loudly as he got into the buggy. I let the lady who looks after the kids during the day who I'm going to take out the next day so they can be dressed in decent clothes and given shoes. Normally they might be in tattier clothes and hunting for shoes that fit can take ages. As I get Walter sorted, the other lids will ask if they can come too, or go another day. I think they ask pretty much as a habit in the vague hope, not really held, that I'll say yes. I think the kids and staff are getting used to me swapping about between Daniel and Walter each day.
So, by about 9.15am, Walter and I are on the road to the park. Walter is actually a bit more fun than Daniel, waving at cars and people and enjoying playing (Daniel seems happier to simply be on the move). We get to the park by about 9.30am and then I try to interest Walter in the swings and slides. We then do a bit of throwing things and picking them up - he likes this - especially if held upside down to do the picking up. We play with the hammock. I get even sweatier. We walk around the gardens a little, and then about 10.30 we start the walk (push) back.
At 10.45am, I then say my goodbyes, always feeling a little guilty I should have stayed and done something with the other kids. Today, there are only a few there as they are gradually disappearing off to various host families for Christmas.
Today I stopped off at the supermarket on the way home (feeling consiously soaked in sweat and rather grubby - but hey) for salad for lunch and wine for dinner. Then, as it was my last day for a little while, I stopped for a beer and empanadas (a sort of fried cornish pastie). I got back to Cucas at about 1ish, showered using nit shampoo and dettol soap. Don't think I have them yet - but it's likely to happen! Afer lunch I played a bit of solitaire (I've read all my english books - arghh!). I don't generally siesta but occasionally do nap. It's certainly too hot until three at the earliest to go out.
By three today, with no book to read, I was ready for a change of scenery and walked into the centre of town - it takes about 20 minutes. I tend to come first to internet, then potter around the shops for things for the kids, then potter back to the house for about 6ish and a glass of wine before dinner at 7.30ish.
Lately I've been sitting out on the balcolny after dinner and spending a good hour or so just watching life below. People here spend most of their evening sat outside their shop or house. Shops are open until about 9ish, having shut from 12 until 4 for siesta. There's a pet shop and a kiosk opposite and more houses and another block of flats. Next door there's a community hall place for parties and this is the time for end of school balls - the dresses are wonderful. I have my ipod on and just watch and watch (and sometimes get back to that hunt for serenity too).
Tonight though - I'm breaking with tradition - and going out!! I bought a ticket yesterday for a U2 tribute band. The show starts at 10pm (well - I'm wondering if the doors open at 10pm and the show starts sometime or other after that). I'm presuming they'll sing in english, but we'll see. 1 pound fifty for the ticket!
So - hope that wasn't too boring for you! And you're still sitting comfortably and haven't nodded off. I'm off to Buenos Aires on Monday (Christmas Day) by way of first class coach overnight to then spend ten days in blow out luxury with Wendy. I will return here ready to start again at the refuge on 8th January. I think there are a number of other volunteers also around then - some newbies - but how that will or won't change things for me I don't know. I'm looking forward to trying different activities with Walter and Daniel (following great tips from Mum) and maybe arranging some other trips out with the other kids.
But before all that - I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year and 2007 is a year to remember for lots of right reasons.
CASxx
