A rainy day

Wow!  When the visitors from NC came two days I thought it was a small world, but today I found out that it's even smaller than I had imagined.  Today two guests from Pennsylvania came here, one from Philly, and the other from none other than good ol' Lancaster!!  It's kind of random that in my first two months here only 3 Americans came, but in the past week there have been 7. 

There was a giant storm here last night, and then it rained all day today.  I woke up several times during the night from the thunder, wind, and pounding rain.  Even though I desperately needed to go grocery shopping today, I had no desire to venture out in the torrential downpour, so I invented a rice, cucumber and pepper dish to eat.  I had a lazy day today - woke up at 11, played cards with Silvia, swept my room, ate criollitos (a pastry) that the cook made, took a hot shower, and read a little before work.  As soon as my shift started it stopped raining.

 Lili and Romina, the mom and little girl I used to babysit, came by the hostel to visit when I was working.  Romina is just so cute, and loves trying to help.  When people came to get their room keys or ask for a menu for the restaurant I would give it to Romina first and she would eagerly take it to the guest.  She was snacking on some bread here and left a mountain of crumbs around her.  When she finished she looked at the mess and said "uh-oh!"  I got a broom and she attempted to help me clean up.  Another hobby she has recently developed is happily laying on the floor and kicking her feet and making loud noises, but in a very content way.  And when it's time to go she has mastered the art of waving and blowing adorable little kisses.

Rainy/dreary days are always the best for the restaurant at the hostel because no one wants to leave.  Right now there five tables of such a variety of people.  One table has four young women - 2 Canadian and 2 French - drinking a few bottles of wine with their dinner, talking loudly in French and at one point they laughed until they cried.  Another table has an Argentinean family - mom, dad, 5-year-old boy, and grandma - eating quietly, and the boy keeps watching the French-speaking table and looking intrigued.  The next table has an older Argentinean couple who have stayed at the hostel before, and who are having a nice conversation.  After that is the table with the two girls from PA, along with a Danish girl.  The final table has the solo travelers - a guy from Cordoba (Arg), a woman from Buenos Aires, and a German woman who speaks decent Spanish.  The dining room/reception is abuzz with a happy chatter!