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Yes yes yes hello

Wowie so a bit has happened since Uruguay, and it seems that my time here is wrapping up and in my mind it´s all coming too quickly.

Reuben and I performed the puppet play in the late afternoon sun under the big tree in the courtyard. The chicos loved it. I was playing the part of Luis, one of the chicos, who doesn´t talk but rather makes very distinct noises. I got them perfected and he was just beaming with pride. His face was classic- this old man absolutely overcome with joy and giving a big gummy smile. Usually I find him pretty annoying, but it was good to be able to be distanced by the performance and still be having fun together.
However one thing I do find disconcerting is the lack of praise I get for doing things and the loads of praise that Reuben gets doing the same things. It´s as if he´s done it by himself!! It´s happened with cooking and also this play. I don´t make a big deal of it, but it makes me a little sad on the inside. Oh wells, such comes from being in a completely male-focused country, I suppose. I don´t agree with it but I think the only thing I can do is suck it up.

I have just spent the last few days in Villa Allende, back at the orphanage with Jess, Rosie and Iona. As always it was swell to see them again, and to be able to laze without feeling slobby. Surrounded by guys all the time often I feel that my relaxation time is actually me just being lazy. Not with the girls though.

The kids are pretty funny, but really intense. I suppose that´s stereotyped, living in an orphanage. Yesterday arvo I was having a siesta because I wasn´t feeling so flash and the kids were banging against the barred window and yelling. I told them to go away because I was feeling tired and they opened up the window (from the outside) and started throwing leaves and branches and sticks onto me. OH MY LORD! They have irritation nailed. They were like monkeys against the cage. The girls are amazingly patient with the kids and are still really kind even when they´re fed up. I suppose they have learnt how to deal with it after three odd months.

This morning Rosie and Jess and I came into Cordoba. They have now left the orphanage forever!!! They are so excited about it. It´s been a good experience for them I think but also they have had a pretty tough time there. They have survived nits, never-ending colds, disgusting bathrooms, cold showers, conjunctivitis, and sharing a tiny room between three. I definitely salute them! They´re off to do a language course in Cordoba, before meeting up with their families and doing some travel separately. Iona is going to stay at the orphanage for a few weeks longer.

Reuben and I are off to the small little mountain village of La Cumbrecita. It´s nestled among the Sierra Cordobas and supposedly there´s heaps of amazing walks to precious little balnearios (swimming holes) and cascadas (waterfalls). We´re only there for a day and a half, so just a quiet little getaway. Michael is in Chile at the moment.

So I have a month left! EEEEKKk!!!! I will continue to keep you posted.
I hope you´re all well...was there a heatwave in Aus?
Lots of love!
G