Cheerful Giving: The past few days: Buenos Aires, La Plata, Bus Ride & Encarnación

It is 96 degrees out today and feels like 105. Quite the change from dry Albuquerque and snow the day before we left, but here’s a little bit about my last few days. The most important thing I can say about this experience so far is that I love it! After a few teary last phone calls in the U.S., we boarded on our extremely crowded plane to Buenos Aires. (Sr. Angela, if you’re reading—this was the second time of quite a few that I regretted how much stuff I brought. You may have been right.) With less than five seats empty on our flight, overhead storage was limited so I had to put my (embarrassing) hat, towel and pillow hanging backpack underneath my seat, where it wouldn’t even fit until I took out my computer and a book. As the flight took off, I think Caitlin and I were both pretty nervous, but hearing words in both Spanish and English were just the transition I needed. Plus, my seatmates (a young woman from Argentina and a young man from Quebec) were really friendly. I even managed to sleep for a few hours off and on.

Upon arriving in Buenos Aires, we first paid our reciprocal entry fee. Visas aren’t required for U.S. citizens wanting to enter Argentina, but we do have to pay a $140 fee that’s equal to what Argentineans pay when they come to the States. Good news is that it’s good for 10 years!! Then, baggage and customs was a cinch, but finding the sisters, that was a different story. So many people were exiting customs and so many people were waiting and looking to find their passenger that we somehow missed Sr. Mariella and Adriana (a postulant—aka someone who wants to be a nun and is checking out what their life is like). After about 20 or 30 minutes of searching and wondering what we should do, I made one last round. Lo and behold there they were. I was so excited I just spurted out, “Hermanas canossianas?!” And Sr. Mariella excitedly hugged me saying Si!

Next was luggage. I didn’t understand everything they said, but I’m pretty sure Sr. Mariella and Adriana were a little surprised by how much we had. After shoving and maneuvering our bags into the small car and sweating profusely while doing so (it’s summer in Argentina right now so the temperature was somewhere in the mid 90s) we made our way to La Plata, a city outside the city of Buenos Aires.

The sisters gave us a short tour, lunch and took us to our rooms. It was so nice to be able to rest! The shower and nap were both much needed. After our nap we went to prayer with the sisters, and I’m so glad that we learned the Padre Nuestro (Our Father) and Ave Maria (Hail Mary) before coming. After prayer was dinner (bread, pasta, salad, chicken, and veggies) and some chocolates from Brazil. After dinner I was out. If you’re wondering, the school and the sisters’ house (except for the kitchen) didn’t have air conditioning, but it really wasn’t hot inside with the fan. In La Plata the sisters run several schools and kindergartens that we got to tour. Class wasn’t in session though because the students were taking their exams before the new school year starts at the end of the month.

Before catching the bus to Posadas, Sr. Mariella and Adriana also took us to the Provincial House in La Plata to meet Sr. Beatriz (the Provincial for the province of Argentina) and some of the other sisters in the community.

I’ll be honest, I was not excited for the 16 hour bus ride from La Plata to Posadas, but it was actually pretty awesome. Buses in South America are nothing like the buses in the U.S. There is no comparison between these buses here and Greyhound. Megabus is definitely in the right direction, but still has some work to do. We had plenty of foot space and even a thing to put our feet up, a TV with movies and music videos, a bathroom, air conditioning and two meals. I’m pretty sure they had free whiskey and beer too although neither of us tried it out.

Luckily the sisters in Paraguay have a truck so luggage in Posadas was easy. Next, we drove across La Puenta Internacional (the bridge that crosses the river Parana and takes you into Paraguay). Security and customs was pretty laxed compared to the U.S. and despite having our visa that doesn’t expire until 2017 we still have to go to Posadas every three months since tourists are only supposed to stay 90 days.

The sisters’ house is really big and new. It was built maybe 4 or 5 years ago and also houses the kindergarten (jardín de infantes). There’s a larger chapel for prayer and Mass with the children and a smaller chapel for daily prayer. We live on the top floor with our own bedrooms and a shared bathroom. And luckily, there’s wi-fi. We don’t have a/c in our rooms, but we do have the most powerful ceiling fans I’ve ever felt. Like in Albuquerque the house is much more than I expected.

After settling in we got a quick tour of the center for health and a little bit of the city. We went to Mass at the Cathedral and then stopped for some ice cream, which we ate in our courtyard under the stars. Not a bad way to start out our time!

Some photo of our adventures in Argentina, traveling and a tiny bit of Encarnacion. More to come soon!