Celebrations of the Day of Birth

Sometimes I get the sensation that there is a birthday of some acquaintance of mine about every week or every other week... which here in Argentina usually means that they invite you to come to their birthday party... which for an exchange student - who should take the opportunity to experience whatever possible- is usually a "sure I can come" .  so that is how I end up attending more birthday parties than I have in years.  The fact that I have the same classmates all day, all year also adds about 20 more birthday parties throughout the year that I either have gotten invited to, or are yet to come.  Furthermore... the actual concept of birthday party here:

For the younger kids like my host brother who is 9, most kids rent a birthday salon and have the party there because most of the houses aren't large enough to accommodate a large quantity of people.  But, for the typical high school student's birthday  here is what I have observed:

At school everybody gives them a kiss (which here is typically right cheek to right cheek and the people make a kissing sound) (that is the typical greeting here- besos)  then the classmates typically interrupt whichever teacher they can so that everybody claps and sings a really loud "Feliz Cumple"  while the person who is lucky enough to celebrate their special day typically goes a little red in the cheeks for all the attention.

Otherwise, if there isn't a "prueba" (quiz) on the day of their birthday they will just skip school all together and invite people to come to their birthday party the day prior.  

So the actually party is typically in the afternoon around 4:30 or 5:00 and the birthday celebrator will usually invite whatever friends they want and a bunch of kids from their school class to come over to their house.  Once inside, everyone typically crowds around a large dinning room table that the host typically fills with an assortment of snacks, sweets, treats, whatever be it, typically not in the category of healthy.  Sometimes there are ham and cheese sandwiches, corn puffs, dulce de leche desserts, candy, a mini cake, sometimes pizza, little sausages, coke (almost always), sprite, juice. (One time there was a brand of soda similar to sprite called "bichy"  I could not help but laugh!) And for a couple hours everybody just sits around the table and talks and eats and eats and eats... and eats.... until finally arrives the actual birthday cake and everyone sings again and then eats cake .. that is if they actually have any room left for more food.  Then after cake everybody starts to say goodbye and go back to other activities and go home, some leave before cake or arrive whenever, it is a fairly open deal.  In general that is the typical birthday party as I have become accustomed to here in General Pico.  I go ready to talk or listen and to have the will power to resist the constant offers to eat more!  It is usually a pleasant gathering and an interesting Argentine style of celebration of the day of birth.  Oh, and of course, if the person celebrating their birthday is lucky, their friends sometimes enjoy giving them a nice face full of cake!

Día del Padre

Fathers' Day happens to be a date shared between Argentina and the United States, surely in more countries as well, but I have never had a father to appreciate any countries beyond the U.S. ( and now a host dad here in Argentina).  So in honor of my Wisconsin father I of course made a batch of scrambled eggs for breakfast and sent him a big virtual hug and kiss because it is really tough to be  thousands of miles away from the best, most loving dad I have ever known. (I also listened to a little bit of Supertramp too "thinkin' of you dad!" )  
However, I also have an incredible host dad here in Argentina that I made sure to give a big greeting and "Feliz día del padre" this morning.  In my host family we are actually waiting until next weekend when my host brother comes home from school to celebrate within our family, but I thought that it was preferable to show my appreciation today too, because when I am so far away from my chief adviser and father I have found a comfort, confidence, and trust in a super nice and smart host dad, Marcelo, and I hope he knows how much I appreciate everything he does!
We did however celebrate in other ways.  Everyone got up early (not really early jaja, but Argentina weekend early)  and we left the house by 11:00 a.m. to go to a neighboring pueblo, Quemu Quemu, where my host family has other family members.  The father of my host mother passed away only a week or two before my arrival in Argentina and the loss of a very loved grandfather, father, and husband is still fresh in  the hearts of the  family.  So in honor of Gabriela's father, we went to the cementery and cleaned all around his grave and those of other family members who share the eternal resting place.  Following the honoring and visit to Gabriela's father we went to a house of some of the family and ate the traditional Sunday and holiday meal here in La Pampa Argentina, Asado.  However, before we even got to asado there were also meat empanadas, fiambres which is typically types of dried sausage and cheese which you eat with french bread.  Everything was beyond delicious.  I was beyond stuffed  (and still am!!) I don't think I need to eat for a few days!  Of course, they always encourage you to eat more (especially my host grandma jaja), so when you are full you have to say no gracias, no gracias!  No puedo comer más!!  Otherwise I would eat for days!!  Luckily asado is for special occasions and Sundays and I can enjoy eating  a little too much of something soooo delicious without feeling guilty!  We ate a lovely family meal together and returned home in the afternoon (all stuffed and sleepy)!  As far as I have been informed we are going to top off the day with a trip to the cine (movie theater) to see Superman!!
I hope that all the fathers in my life feel loved and appreciated today!  Dad, Grandpa, my host dad (Marcelo), all my uncles, and everyone else too!

Mac Dany's

When there is no MacDonald's there must be.... Mac Dany's!!

I have not actually tried the food, because I really don't like fast food.  However, one cannot simply walk past what is an obvious attempt to copy Mac Donalds.  I have only actually seen Mac Donalds in Buenos Aires and Cordoba which are very large and highly populated places.  So, living in a smaller city in Argentina  , there is Mac Dany's.  I cannot help but chuckle every time I walk past.  Even Ronald Mac Donald (I am not sure if that is his name in Spanish) has a strange looking twin!  Perhaps his name is Reinaldo Mac Dany  or something.  I will have ask.