Rotary
Club of Great Missenden
The GSE Team in Argentina
16 May 2007
Diary reports from Kirsty (days 9 to 15) and Gavin (16 May 07)
e-mail dated 15 May 07 from Kirsty
Day 9/10 - Curcazu Cuatia
We ended the Wednesday afternoon
with a trip to a recycling plant - Which Sheila loved! It was a big plant built with Rotary help and we
spend several hours there looking
at it all. Sheila then stayed on for more talking while the rest of us went and found tea and cakes in
town. She eventually returned about
7pm! We gave a presentation that evening to the rotary there and had our first taste of Tongue!
We left on the Thursday morning and drove to Goya. Goya is on the river Parana, south of Corrientes. It has about 80,000 people. We meet the Rotarians for lunch and had our first change of diet - FISH!! Surabi a river fish very tasty. The afternoon was siesta for most people but I went and taught English with my host "Would you like a chicken sandwich?". Then we met up with the Mayor and chatted with him. More photos and reporters! The early evening contained an exciting vocational event for Su with a meeting with a group who work with addicts and their families. She had a good chat with them and found out lots of information. The evening was our presentation, it went well.
Day 11 - Goya.
We went to a Deaf school and took
assembly! I loved it. Everyone introduced themselves in sign and they children sang/signed
two songs for us, the national
anthem and another one. Really interesting and all enjoyed it.
Lunch was followed by a stroll along the river or siesta.
Then a city tour with a funny guide
and lots of local stories. Dinner again was a selection of offal!! Liz´s top 5 are now... 1)Thymus, 2) Tongue,
3)kidney, 4)udder, 5) Intestines. I
was not so brave and only tried udder and kidney. We also impressed them with
our country/Scottish Dancing which Liz and I performed with gusto!
Day 12 - Goya
A fab day on a ranch. Beautiful
weather, again lots and lots of food, these guys never stop eating! We saw ostriches and rounded up
cows whilst on horseback with Gauchos... well perhaps they rounded up the cows and we sat on the horses
and walked to the gate and back!
The evening was free so we met up with some members of Rotaract and went to
the Casino! Where we lost thousands of pounds, no actually we ate some food
and listened to the band! Made it to 3am!!
Day 13 -
Goya
Down the river, 14 men(& women)
and a boat. Over to the Isle de Damas (Ladies of the night island!). Saw wildlife and a man fishing
with no trousers! Then off to
another country house for more food. This time offal soup, but lots of fab cake too. A quiet evening for most
people but wild crazy dancing for Liz, Su and I along with my host. Fortunately in the privacy of her house, I
am not sure the people of Goya are
quite ready for us!
Day 14 -
Goya -- Chaco (Resistencia)
A bus journey back to Corrientes
where we were met by Rotarians and driven over the river to Chaco - the next province.
Lunch again fish - very welcome was followed by bliss oh
bliss - siesta and shopping. Lots
of weird and wonderful things.
Dinner was again really relaxed with a rotarian couple and
some more fish. Followed by a
Scottish Ice cream bombom - Dulce de Leche centre, surrounded by vanilla ice cream and covered in chocolate - a
bit like a Scottish person! Sweet
in the middle, cold on the outside and covered in chocolate, oh how we laughed!
Day 15 -
Resistencia (half-way through)
The morning was spent in a
Biodiesel machinery factory finding out how they
make biodiesel here. Very interesting, but also lots of cute puppies! Lunch was
BBQed goat, we have now completed all major meat groups eaten here!
This afternoon was siesta and shopping and e-mailing all of you!
e-mail dated 16 May 07 from Gavin:
We had an excellent visit this morning to the vice governor
of Chaco province, who was extremely helpful, and very interested in my work
with the CAB and wants details of the organisation. As soon as he heard what we
wanted he picked up his phone and started calling people within the municipal
authority (i.e., district council, rather than the county council he works for)
It looks as though well get some good contacts out of this on Friday.
Conference starts on Friday evening for us, although there
are seminars during the day for select groups. I´ll be thinking of you all
then.
Just time to write to Jenny now. Incidentally, we´re in
Resistencia now if anyone is following our progress on a map.
Best wishes, Gavin
Return to GSE coverage
Return to Home Page