The party continues...

Winda surrounded by her kids

All the grandchildren (and the wives and novios) (the youth)

 After appetizers, crepes, lomo (meat) with vegetables, tiramisu or cheesecake, another cake an aunt made, came the alfajores (little cookie sandwiches filled with dulce de leche) which nobody had any desire to eat because we were all already at explosion point with the food that came earlier.  So... we made some towers.

Cumple de 80

It is not always the most anticipated birthday but it is pretty darn special when the special 80th birthday rolls around.  The my Argentine abuela Winda celebrated her 80th birthday this year and I had the honor to take part in the party. It was a lovely spring day that we spent eating and eating and eating but it was awesome to celebrate 80 awesome years of a woman so kind and loving whose love spreads to everyone she meets. She is famous for her pinwheel chocolate cake and spaghetti and well just about anything she cooks, but the party was at a restaurant so she got a day off from cooking us all delicious food.  Her 4 kids surprised her by dancing a tango with their spouses.  It was an afternoon filled with tons of food (I mean it!)  and the pleasant company of family friends.  I hope the abuela Winda had an awesome day and many more!  She even calls me nieta (grandaughter) and makes me feel absolutely like family.  I am absolutely blessed to have one of the most loving host grandmas that exists and I know I will never forget her.

Máximo

 The Crepes... which came after appetizers... and before the meat, 1st cake, 2nd cake, and cookies

With my host sister, Nati

Señor Lomo (we decided to play a little bit with the leftovers)

Agustín (host brother) dancing valse with the abuela

A little bit of dancing

Back to Buenos Aires

With my host sister Nati, we decided to take a weekend trip to visit my host siblings René and Marina who study in Buenos Aires.  Thursday night we left in bus at about 10:30 p.m. and arrived at about 6 in the morning in Buenos Aires with the siblings awaiting us.  We spent the weekend walking the streets of the city to see as much as possible!  Enjoying lots of delicious food, interesting people watching, and lots of adventures!

Couldn't ask for more loving and fun host sisters!  Thanks for the enthusiasm!

In the botanical gardens there are tons of stray cats that wander around and can be adopted.  (My host sister Nati with one of the cats)

Chillin a little while.

The embassy of the United States of America.  I felt like an ambassador myself, with just a bit less of political stress.  

Posing on the bridge with Nati and Marina (Rose gardens)

Whoa!! Giant metal flower!

La gata

Yes, I do have an a host cat in Argentina.  Sometimes I get woken up in the morning with the raspy cleaning of my face with cat tongue.    The Katalina even climbs trees!  I have never met a Cat that is so vocal, especially about being hungry, wanting to go outside, well ... for pretty much everything.  I was grabbing water out of the fridge today and she stood up on her two back legs and in the split second that I was not watching her she started eating chicken from the fridge!  (she likes asado too!) Quite the beggar, (and demands lots of love).  But I enjoy the companionship of my fluffy Argentine cat!

Seminario de Música

I had the wonderful opportunity on August 15-17 to go to a provincial band clinic that combined all the small bands of my province, La Pampa, with the youth band in Santa Rosa, La Banda Sinfónica de La Pampa, along with some professional guest musicians (one even came from Spain to play trombone)  It was quite a lovely experience.  We stayed in an albergue, which is basically like a government funded camp building where large groups can come and stay for sports trips or band trips or whatever it may be.  Unfortunately I forgot my flip-flops, so I prayed each night that I would not contract any foot disease or fungus while showering, however, I couldn't avoid showering after long busy days of playing.  I of course also forgot toilet paper.  Gosh how I hate forgetting toilet paper.  In most public buildings there is hardly ever any toilet paper, so it is always best to bring an extra roll along, but obviously I take a long time to learn such things.  
Despite that, the trip was awesome, spending a whole weekend filled with beautiful music and the chance to share oboe in a different part of the world.  I never imagined that I would be the only oboe player in the province!  It is good for making me play louder (as Mr.Reul and Mr.Krofta would appreciate)!  I also met lots of kids from different regions of the province.  A few lovely days of sharing music!

My awesome Flute group!!!! (with the oboe of course)  (always the odd one out )

Break time!

A bunch of us after the concert.

Apologies

With the unfortunate lapse of internet access in my host house for 3 weeks and simply lack of time, I have been a horrible blog writer for the last month or so.  I hope that those folks who follow my adventures will accept my apology!  Anyhow.... I will stop wasting time and actually write something worth reading.