Besos....Siestas....Tarere!!!!

Well, the first week is just about over, and it seems like we've been here for a month. Probably because we have taken in so much of Montevideo these past few days. We are staying with four girls from Paraguay, and they have been very accepting and open to taking us everywhere they go. Its really helping us get used to the culture, and its also convenient that they speak fluent English and Spanish, and even a little German.

So first things first. Tarere. The girls introduced us to this South American tea/social medium. The first that comes to mind when you see someone drinking tarere is that it looks like they are smoking a bong, at least that was our first impression. The tea is amazing though, they serve it ice cold and it has a minty, earthy zing to it. Hard to describe, have to taste it for yourself(which we are trying to bring some home :D). This is the traditional way to serve it in Paraguay, but in Uruguay, it is called mate' and its served hot. Last night, we all sat on the roof and drank mate' for about an hour, it has a more bitter taste, and definitely was not as good as tarere.

In the five days we've been here, we have begun building a frame for a ceiling in one of the rooms here at the OM base. The work helps to speed up the days, which is good, because we have A LOT more down time than we thought we would have. We think that will change when we move over to the farm in a week. We have also been downtown twice, walked down to the oceanfront, been to two church youth groups, a youth futbol game, where we got spanked.....and then played futbol....good times, went to a mall tonight, and saw a tango concert.

We cant wait to see whats in store for us in these coming weeks down here. We love and miss you all!!!

Catch you on the the mengie