Mendoza zoo

This is the Mendoza zoo. It is just down the street from where we live in the San Martin Park. Normally I don't care too much for zoos (I hate to see animals in cages) but this zoo was different than usual and gave us more opportunities to interact with the animals like I never have before.

The Monkeys weren't even in their cages! They ran around and jumped OUTside of the cage. I am not actually sure if that was on purpose or if they escaped. Either way, we got to see them up close. I don't think you will find a zoo in the states that would allow monkeys to get into children's strollers!
This is Madonna the Parrot that guards the front entrance and welcomes visitors to the zoo. We could pet her and I even let her nibble on my finger. She didn't speak but other parrots in the park we saw actually spoke Spanish! They said "hola"!The cages weren't really distanced for the observers and we could get really close to the animals. The Lindahls had been to the zoo before and a zoo keeper took them around to show them which animals were friendly.
Hermana Lindahl was fearless at the zoo. She was (don't try this at home!) sticking her fingers in the cages and petting some of the animals. Yes, I pet a mountian lion.
This baboon played a game with us. He would stick his fingers outside the cage and when we would try to touch his fingers he would quickly snatch them away and snarl at us with his teeth and then looked at us like he was laughing. He repeated this over and over and seemed to be very entertained by the whole game.
When Hermana Lindahl went around with the zoo keeper he even let her feed the elephant!

These are the People in My Neighborhood . . .

People here get REALLY creative on ways to make money. It is not uncommon here to drive up to a stop light and a man approach your car window selling a newspaper or fruit. Most popular are window washers. When your car stops, young boys are immediately at your window ready to wash your windshield before the light turns green just to earn a few pesos.

THESE young men await cars on the corner where I live.

Lucho and Martín and their two friends juggle, sing, do acrobats and play the harmonica for the cars that are stopped at a red light. They then go and collect the coins from the car windows before the people drive off. They don't make much money but they LOVE what they do and have a great time doing it.

They did a special performance just for me the other day so that I could show you and are my good friends. Every time I pass by they wave and say hello.
Enjoy the show.

Would YOU want this job?

More Argentine Occupations

The Ice Cream Man

Here is our local ice cream man. No ice cream trucks here - they use a bike. This ice cream man has a cooler on the front of his bicycle to keep his ice cream cold. How do you know that the ice cream man is coming so that you can run to the streets to get one? In the states you would hear music as he rounds the corner, but the Argentine ice cream man has a whistle. The high-pitched whistle alerts all the children that he is coming and can be heard well in advance. In Chile, the ice cream man doesn't use a whistle, but rather his voice. He would just yell at the top of his lungs: "Heeeeeladooooooo!!!"
Unfortunately it doesn't look like anyone is very interested today in buying ice cream.

The Garbage Man

This is our neighborhood garbage man. He pulls his horse and cart up to a house and loads the trash into the buggy. You can't actually see the garbage man in this picture (he is behind the cart) but you can see that he has two helpers. Probably the same age as my 6th grade friends. They help their dad load the cart and drive the cart.

Would you help YOUR dad pick up the trash?

The Waiters
We live on a street that is just a few block from the tourist hotels of Mendoza. Because there are so many visitors in these hotels the street is lined with restaurants. The restaurants set tables outside on the sidewalk to drawn in customers. They also put their waiters on the corner to invite people to eat at their restaurant.
These waiters already know us well.

The Meat Man

I know that you (my 6th grade friends) LOVED my report on the hanging meat in the markets so I thought that you might like to meet the man behind the meat. This is Oscar.
Oscar has chosen a profession which involves being around the raw, hanging meat daily. He cuts the meat for the people and wraps it up for his customers. At the end of the day he removes the meat from his display can and hangs in a large freezer. Notice that Oscar doesn't have any gloves. When you ask for a particular cut of meat he just picks it up with his hands and slaps it on the table. When I first met Oscar he shook my hand and patted me on the back. Ew. I went home and immediately washed my hands. After observations and experiences like this, we are very conscientious about our meat man's manners.
Oscar works at our neighborhood kiosk where we buy all of our fruits, vegetables and meat. This kiosk is about two blocks from our house and everyone here knows us well.

Oscar know some English and with a rough accent with say "hello, How are you?" Sometimes when I come to buy meat he asks me how to say something in English and I help him.
Would YOU want this job?

All in my neighborhood

The Police Man

This man has been in the law enforcement service for 28 years in Mendoza. He wears the highest level of honor. He was stationed tonight near our restaurant with his motorcycle observing the happenings of the city. I haven't seen many policeman here, but we did have one encounter last week . . .
Last week we got pulled over by the police. Yet another adventure in Argentina. After dropping some people off at the airport we were driving along, mid-afternoon and were signaled by the police to pull over. After looking at our identifications (we having absolutely no clue why we were being pulled over) the man says that we will be fined for driving without our headlights on. Without our lights on? At 4:00 in the afternoon? The sun was shining brightly . . . Turns out that in Argentina about one year ago they began a new law that said that all vehicles, all day should drive with their lights on. Sigh. Fine. Smile innocently (and I clarify - we were). "We didn't know" "No somos de aqui" (we are not from here) smile more, big eyes etc.
He explained further that Sister Lindahl's license would be revoked and that in 30 days she would have to go the courts to reclaim it. "For lights?!" I thought, "People speed through the streets and double park and you are spending your time revoking licenses from drivers who have failed to have their headlights on in during midday?" I wanted to say but instead I calmly said "si senor" and sent out an extra sweet smile. "We didn't know of this rule" we said seeking mercy, "We won't do it again", a new man arrives and we repeat all of the above again. The license is returned and we continue on our way.
And that was my first time being pulled over.

Aconcagua

Monday we drove out to the border of Argentina and Chile to the highest peak in the Northern Hemisphere called Aconcagua. We drove up through the Andes Mountains to about 11,000 feet to look at a peak that stands 23,000 feet in total height.
They say that it is actually one of the easiest mountains to climb. It takes about two weeks because of the effects of high altitude. The climbers have to stop frequently to acclimate and avoid altitude sickness.

It was very windy and cold but the view was amazing!

Incan Hotel/shopping

On our way back from the mountain peak, we stopped for some shopping. Traditional Incan sweaters, scarfs and hats.

We were told that this building was once a 20 room hotel for tourists and guests. Unfortunately the hotel was closed three years ago due to deterioration.

General Authoritites

We recently had visitors from Salt Lake come to visit us. Sister Allred (General Relief Society Presidency) and Sister Dibb (Young Women Relief Society Presidency as well as President Monson's daughter) They came to Mendoza for various training meetings.
I got to be the translator for Sister Dibb. We first went to an early morning seminary class where the youth were studying the Bible at 6:00 a.m. Sister Dibbs taught them about the importance of maintaining high standards in their youth in preparation for serving missions and marrying in the temple. Being the daughter of the prophet, Sister Dibb also gave them some time for the youth and leaders to ask questions about her father. We learned that he likes to mow the lawn and he still does it today and that he watches Perry Mason mysteries every night before bed! I also found out that the prophet’s temple recommend is signed by his two counselors - a question that I had never thought to ask.
Later that day, we had a training for all the leaders in the young women organization of the church. They were able to express their concerns for the girls of Argentina and Sister Dibbs provided her encouragement and direction for them in their efforts. She emphasized the need for support from all sources: family, friends, church leaders etc. and the need for each girl to feel loved. She expressed her belief that one girl can change the world.
After the lesson, every member wanted to personally send their greets to the prophet through her and to thank her for her lesson. Many approached wanting to share their testimony with her, tell her about their personal conversion story and one girl gave her a hug and would not let go and she just cried and cried. I played the voice of both parties and was emotional myself as I both spoke the words of gratitude or pain and of acceptance and comfort.
These women were amazing examples to me of women with faith and dedication to serve the Lord. During my short time with them I felt strengthened and had a greater resolve to be better.

Bodega

As part of a tour with the visiting sisters we took them to the main tourist attraction here in Mendoza: the Winery. Mendoza brings thousands of tourists every year to visit the wineries and to taste of the best wine in the world. We went to the Bodega Salentein where we got personal tour of the winery.

Pink Eye

NO this is NOT an extension of my Halloween entry.
Just another adventure here in Argentina called - pink eye. I have been a little sick the last few days and suddenly my eye hurt, got red and extremely swollen. I couldn't even open it! It was pretty miserable and lonely since I was confined to the house and given "leper" status as it is VERY contagious. I immediately got antibiotics and am healing very quickly.

Halloween

Halloween in Argentina was very simple. It is considered an American holiday. Everyone knows about Halloween from the movies but they don't really celebrate it here the way we do. No trick or treaters, no decorations, no haunted houses etc.
They DO, however, celebrate the day in their English classes. Just as in America we might celebrate Cinco de Mayo in a Spanish class, here they celebrate Halloween in their English classes. The dress up and learn about our culture.As for me - I went to a young single adult Institute Halloween dance. It was a costume dance, but I didn’t have many resources myself for a halloween costume. I wore my Genie pants from Israel (which I use as my pajamas!), my soft shoe slippers, put my hair up in a high pony tail and did my makeup fun.
The music was a mix of cumbia, merengue, rock and random YMCA, “Gloria!” and rock’n around the clock. I immediately found the funnest looking people (the oes that actually had costumes) and joined up with them. I danced all night long and had a lot of fun.