Get Lost in Patagonia

This past week has been amazing.  I've had the great opportunity of traveling through southern Argentina with my sis, Kate.  I cannot get enough of la naturaleza that one can find in Patagonia.  Although our plans have not gone as planned, it has been perfect so far and I am sure we will continue to be amazed by God's wonderful earth.

We have met amazing people, seen amazing views, had amazing conversations, and have had many great laughs.  I am so blessed.  I don't deserve any of it, but I am very grateful for it all.  

It was also really exciting and fun to show kate around Buenos Aires and what my life has been like for the past 5 months.  The night she came over to have dinner with my host family, protests broke out in the streets towards the conflict between "el campo y el gobierno" (the farmers vs. the government).  This "cacerolazo" or pot banging form of protest has been used a lot since i have been here, and my señora Georgi and her son Joaquín took us to go check it out before dinner, quite an experience.  I wish i could post a video but im stupid and cant figure it out.  so if you really want to see it just go to youtube.com and search "cacerolazo 2008 callao."  Callao and Sante Fe are two main streets in Buenos Aires really close to my house.  

Anyways, Buenos Aires was last week and we just arrived to Puerto Madryn which is a city next to the Valdes Peninsula.  We were going to see penguins we thought, but they have left for brazil.  So i guess penguins migrate too, and they migrate north, and they swim, weird to think about.  But it is whale season, so we will get to see some huge southern right whales, hopefully.  Got to go and hope to post some more pics from Puero Madryn or whatever else happens on the rest of our trip!

 

Small talk = blah

"If we are so impoverished that we have have nothing to reveal but `small talk`whenever we meet, then we need to struggle for more richness of the soul."
-Frank C. Laubach-

In my time here in Argentina I have met a large amount of people from all different areas of the world, with different lifestyles, and very different ways of percieving the world. I have spent anywhere from 5 minutes with these people to a handfull of months.

I have realized that I have never really understood the majority of these people fully. Conversations always seem to be full of this thing we call "small talk." Sometimes because of time restraints this is all we can to talk about.
i.e. whats your name? where are you from? what do you do? the weather, current events, common interests etc. etc.

I find myself constantly repeating these conversations, or really just elaborating on these subjects the next time I spend time with the people I come in contact with again. Why is it that we are afraid to talk about things that matter. Granted I have met people that are open about talking about their beliefs, religion, world views, and inner thoughts, but it is hard to come by. Sometimes it is hard to do this also with my difficulties with the language, or theirs.

One thing I intend to start doing is initiating conversations that are directed to things that matter more. I understand that my belief in God and Jesus Christ does not interest a lot of the world, but this is my life and who I am. Should I not share this just because I do not want to "bore" the other party? Am I denying my faith in Jesus Christ by keeping it to myself, or am I detaining an opportunity for someone else to experience the Glory of God as I have in my life?
Just something that I have been thinking on recently.

"It is not the fashion to tell your inner-most thoughts, but there are many wrong fashions, and concealment of the best in us is wrong. I disaprove of the usual practice of `small talk` whenever we meet, and holding a veil over our souls."
-Frank C. Laubach-