More from Ushuaia, and Lauren's Visit...

Estela and I at a 15th birthday party for one of our students... almost as elaborate as a wedding!










With one class we learned about the Yamanas, one of the indigenous tribes of the area. Here we are making models of the people using foil and salt dough.










Working with prepositions, these adults had to describe the configuration they made with colored wooden blocks (because we are never too old to play with blocks!)










These girls had to describe to each other certain positions so that they were imitating a National Geographic picture.


















Since lacrosse sticks are too expensive and difficult to bring to a different continent, we improvised and learned about the sport with soda bottles and broomsticks. They watched videos, learned about the rules, and played a varied version of my favorite sport.







Most of them had never heard of the sport, but they seemed to enjoy it!












A fabulous group of adolescent girls, I would like to bring them all home with me!












We recorded different groups of students singing, telling stories, or doing plays to put on the website. This rambunctios group sang "Bringin' Home my Baby Bumble Bee". Stay tuned for the link :)









Ushuaia, partially covered by a massive cloud (unfortunately it was much more breathtaking at sunrise but I didn't have my camera...)











The ski resort, Cerro Castor, opened on June 15th (yes, when you Coloradoans were in 100 degree temperatures!) Here is the view of the sunrise, Mount Olivia and Cinco Hermanos from the car on the way to the ski resort.









Although it is small, there are some great wide-open spaces to explore the powder- a bit reminiscent of Arapahoe Basin.











Ushuaia from the bay, clouds painting the sky above Mount Olivia...












Daniel and I, close to the Tunel estancia, one of the first ranches that was developed in this area. Drinking mate and admiring the view of the city and the Beagle Channel.










A cormorant in the Ushuaia bay, from our canoe.


















What better way to wrap up my year in Argentina than to have a visit by the remaining
member of my immediate family that had not yet visited me! Lauren (despite a 2 day delay due to storms in Dallas) came to visit me in "El Fin del Mundo" for 10 days. Here we are on a canoe that we rented, with Ushuaia in the background.







One day we took a boat to see a sea lion island, shown here. It was incredible to see how they were crammed onto this tiny island of rock.










Lauren brought peanut butter and marshmallows, some traditional foods that would be easy to share with the students. They all loved roasting marshmallows over the gas stove, and there were some lucky few who got to try smores (many of whom cried "I want s'more!")














On a day trip to Lago Escondido, sisters in the "end of the world"...












Daniel and I in Ushuaia Bay on a breathtaking day.










Mmmmmm....Mate...


















In Tante Sara, one of the local cafes.













Daniel and I, with Lago Escondido (Hidden Lake) in the background.












Norel and I, on the boat trip with the city in the background.













Since Daniel is the creator and part-owner of a small, local brewery ("Beagle" la primera cerveza artesanal de Ushuaia...) we went for a tour. He explained the process (in Spanish.. and Lauren could understand!)








Unfortunately we were both a bit sick during her visit, but we were still able to aprovecher (take advantage of) some attractions in the area. Here we are in the national park- it was a bit cloudy and sprinkling that day, very Lord of the Rings-esque.








We had a delicious dinner with my host family and a member of my real family... Pilau, vino, bailes, todo bien...











Always ready to learn a little more, Lauren came with me to my Spanish class that I have once a week with Sol. She helped me write a story in Spanish and futher develop our main character.










Here we are teaching "The Electric Slide" to a group of teenage students(danced to country music, which I personally prefer to the namesake of the dance) . Although we didn´t have the cowboy hats and tight jeans to accompany it, they loved it!








... Then we tried to demonstrate swing dancing. It had been a while since we had practiced- not such a pretty sight. At least they laughed along with us!











Lunch by Lago Escondido.





















Eating ñoquis caseras and drinking Beagle beer...










A cheesy Jost picture for ya'-Lauren's outgoing flight was delayed a few hours so we had a "bonus track" to her visit. Here in Playa Larga, in our last few hours together in the southern hemisphere.