Actually I have only been here about 6 months but it feels so much longer.
I finished up farming Wednesday, spent Thursday wandering in Mendoza city, and spent the night on the 14 hour bus ride to Buenos Aires. All in all, a revealing and interesting trip.
Although farming was difficult with long days, it was nice to spend so much time outdoors and spend time in a place so different than what I am used to. The rest of my farming experience involved a lot of rocks - actually a truck full. And the rocks were way bigger than what we picked up last time. Almost boulders I tell you. We spent hours collecting these rocks. At least afterwards, we got fresh apple juice from the sister´s organic farm. They also gave us cookies. But I use that term loosely, because what looked like a delicious chocolate chip cookie was almost certainly a soy patty with raisans that tasted like a chicken fritter but was definitely not. Anyways, the next day we used the rocks to outline gardens that we contructed. We moved some more dirt. Hoed a bit more. Transplanted a nut tree, which took some serious strength. I was atacked by a baby horse. We chased hens for fun. Cut down 3 trees, I guess to make room for the nut tree. Moved dirt again. Carried many old tires to the road to be used as a gardens. Basically, a lot of work. The simplicity of such a way of life is intriguing, but its is not for me. I am more interested in urban farming. Anyways, the family definitely warmed up to us and were sad to see me go. I kinda thought of myself as an abassador from the USA during this trip. They were curious about the American life and I think the other American volunteers and I suprised them by projecting a warmer and somewhat altruistic image.
After a week of an organic vegetarian diet, I was ready for some steak and that was the first thing I did in Mendoza. I sampled some wine and really just walked around the city. It is super nice and very clean. There were a lot of police officers too. I went to a couple plazas and really just took it easy. I didn´t go to any of the hundred bodegas or winerys. Another time...
Now I´m back in BA and going to spend time with the family, one of the best parts of being abroad here. I´ll put of some pictures of the farm later.
Lastly, Argentines really like carmelos. Now, I naturally thought it might be something sweet. But if someone offers you a carmelo, don´t accept it because it is really just a Halls throat lozenge.
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