Horses! (Izzy)

Well, I am back again!
And with news! We went horseback riding today!
And yes, it was really really fun! I tried to speak Spanish to my horse (they were rental horses who went with us and a Gaucho, an Argentinian cowboy, up into the Andies,) and we all had a great time.
We went with some owners of a winery and their 11-year-old daughter Lauren. They are experienced horseback riders and so is Dad, so Mom, Daniel and I were the only first-time riders! We got on the horses, started walking and hoped for the best!
When we had gotten comfortable with the walking, we started making them trot a little every now and then. In the second half, my horse started trotting, got to the front and decided to start galloping! It was scary at first but fun! We all survived.
The horses were so used to going on the same path all of the time (they always went the same way,) That I hardly ever had to choose where to go. If there were two paths, they ended up meeting again in a few meters, so it didn't matter where you went! We walked through the wonderful Andies and got some beautiful views!
Until the next exciting thing,
Izzy

Parque Ischigualasto- AKA Valley of the Moon

Parque Ischigualasto is in Northern Argentina. Home of desert landscapes and lots of dinosaur fossils. We drove through hours of desert to get to this outpost of paleantology. Lots of gorgeous vistas and way too much dust! We drove back through the biggest lightning storm of our lives. A little flash flood slowed our return but eventually we plowed through the flood waters in our very not 4 wheel drive car. We made it through and all heaved a sigh of relief except Daniel who just continued to snore.

Shrine (izzy)

Hello, hello, hello!
It's Easter, so I am doing easter colors. I hope all are well, and I have the weirdest news!!!
We went to the Shrine of Difunta Corea. Difunta was a lady who's husband was drafted for a war (dunno which one,) and they had to walk through a desert, or a really dry patch at least, and they didn't have any water. She dropped dead of dehydration and her baby was with her.They found her three days later, and her baby had been kept alive by breast-feeding even though she was dead. So, they declared her a saint for her baby-keeping-aliveness.
She has the most visited shrine in the country and everyone comes to her for wishes they need granted. They built a market around it where you can buy everything from hanging chairs to candles to bread. Truck drivers have come for years and years to ask for a safe trip home, so there are these really old license plates lining the stairs up to her shrine. The people bring offerings of water bottles because she died of thirst. There are little buildings plastered in donated plaques with the peoples' names and stuff, and each building is for a separate thing, like sports or weddings or kids. Some people donated their wedding dresses because they got to get married and kids that survived diseases make little offerings.
We were watching around and taking pictures when we got out of the car, and we saw a guy crawling on his back. He was using his feet and his shoulder blades to go up the road, to the stairs, up the stairs, and to the shrine in a form of thanks. It was bizarre. There were a few people doing that. Our theory is that because she died on her back they crawl on their backs (all the paintings show her on her back.)
Well, that is all! I hope we get some more highly-appreciated comments on this one (hint-hint...)
Until next blog,
Izzy
P.s. Here are some pictures!

The plaques The back-crawler

The New School

Here is the kids' new School- San Nicolas. It is a private secular bi-lingual school. The kids have been doing a great job making new friends and getting used to learning in Spanish. Some of the kids speak a fair amount of English so they do have some help translating the assignments.

Casa Familia Feldhaus

Here is the new pad! Plenty of room to roam.

Almost Settled

Well friends and family, it has happened....We have settled into a routine (somewhat) and have our internet connection, our cable, and our phone working all at the same time! We are making friends and meeting people in Chacras, and we are trying very hard to eat dinner after 8pm (which is not easy for us, but we want to fit in). Isabella and Daniel have school most days until 5:30 pm, so the later dinner time is somewhat necessary.

Everyday we are amazed that we have managed to pull off this adventure to this point. The stresses that we left behind in the states are sometimes replaced by new ones (such as driving, as the rules of the road are often still a mystery to us) but we continue on, still believing it is all worth it. Living within walking distance from several wineries makes life here a little more special, as well.

In a few weeks, we head into Chile, to renew passports and give the kids a chance to see a little bit of another South American country. We will keep you posted!

Randy celebrates a birthday on the 14th of this month, so wish him well if you get the chance!

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Hey to all! I made a smilebox about my new friends and I hope it loads onto your computer (it may take a second.) It took me a while and I hope you like it!

Starting Over in Chacras De Coria

Hola friends and family in Los Estados Unidos! We have had a rough time trying to get set up with internet and various other services but we DO have a Wi-Fi cafe right acoss the street from the school...

We do have a house now, the kids have started school and sports, we are making friends, and getting to know the area pretty well....

We are hoping you will find time to make comments on our blog or check in with email....We still miss all of you very much and want to know how things are going for all of you...

Ciao for now, K

Hola.......(Izzy)

Hola, mi amigos!

I am back yet again, with news! Daniel is starting... (drum roll, please...)

RUGBY!!!

Yay, Daniel! As he has already told some of you, it is a great opportunity for learning the language, and getting friends, and all that jazz. I think that it will be fun for him.
How is life in the glamorous California (and all the other places you might be reading this from?)? We miss your lovely comments on our lovely blog..
For those in school, how is school? For those at work, how is work? My school is going great, but i am very glad that it is finally the weekend. I was getting tired from going to new friends´ houses all week. They are all so nice, but I need a break!
Here are their names:
Elena
Bianca
Valentina (spanish for valentine)
Maria
Clara
Clara (again)
Macarena (yes, like the dance,)
Hannah
Ana
And then all the rest that I can´t quite remember (sad, I know.)
Until the next time we find this internet place again,
Izzy