and then there were three

Congratulations Michelle and Marcelo!!!
(BAICA teachers)

They welcomed their first child, Aurelia Diane, into the world last night. Good thing Michelle went to the hospital, even though unsure if why she was feeling bad was labor or not.

Now there are 3 Qs!!

protests getting worse

This protest is different. Most protests, when I interact with Argentines, their response is "well, it's just Argentina, that's normal here." This one people are mad, ordinary people are coming out in the street, some are crying, experssing fear of another military dictatorship. Either way, most recognize that the current government is short-changing the nation in a lot of ways.

The President seems to keep shooting herself in the foot with her speeches. She came out yesterday and demanded for the farmers to stop protesting, that the government would not accept this kind of treatment with a "gun pointed at their heads." I understand the machismo element here in Argentina, but something this serious, I feel like calling the others names or raising the threats is not a wise strategy.

By the way, isn't government there to serve the people? not act like it's this big independent force of us vs. you. The government here in Argentina needs to realize that most of Argentina is with the farmers. They can admit they made a mistake and withdraw or rework their tax framework. The farmers could strengthen their support of the Argentine populace by allowing a limited amount of domestic supply out so that people can eat their meat and drink their milk again. And not export anything. Don't export anything, government can't get the heavy export taxes. They self-implode on a lack of revenue.

We'll see how this one plays out...

see an informative Q&A done by BBC News

farm protests

There are a lot of protests in Argentina, and they happen often, so I guess I only blog about the more important ones. The farm sector is on strike, refusing to send any more food to market. This happened last year too. It's always one crisis after another it seems here. So Argentines are starting to do without beef in their supermarkets, that's when everyone is now really ticked off.

The government passed a law a two weeks ago to raise taxes on already heavily taxed farm exports. The farmers get to sell their products internationally away from the heavily price controlled domestic market, and then the government sees it fit to take a large share of their profits.

see Bloomberg article here

The president has come out and called the farmers "extortionists", which is pretty strong language. Most farmers I have known in life, that is not a word I would associate with them. As I've said before, I think it's fine that Argentina has socialism. It's their choice to set up their political and economic framework as such, but there is clearly a problem in the way it is done. And yes, there are a lot of corrupt, greedy, and selfish parties involved. Argentina would do good to look at the Scandinavian countries of Europe as examples of countries who do socialism well, and take lessons from them.

I don't believe in the common Argentine saying "así es la Argentina" saying that basically, nothing will ever change in Argentina, so why fight, why be ethical, why try? I think there's a greater hope. It'll take an upright, courageous leader, but it can be done. (Psalm 33)

NCAA tourney

So the Deacs were denied from both the NCAA tournament and the NIT tournament. It's a sad day. I know.

Some redemption comes in the fact that I have been able to stream the tournament games live here in Argentina, so I get to be a part of March Madness!!

the Easter story

The entire video is the Gospel of John where all the script is the actual narrated Scripture, word for word. This part is leading up to, and Good Friday.

Fall has arrived!

The days are characterized by long shadows, cool evenings, cool breezes, and trees just barely starting to change color. It's Fall in BA! I'm liking the weather...I'm going to have to go ahead and reveal that Fall is my favorite season.

funny poster

this was a poster made advertising the BAICA camp talent show...

mate grande

my mate:


a normal sized mate:
(that's not really a mate I'm holding, it's an old fashioned milling cup)

BAICA camp 2008

I'm tired. Muddy. And smelly. BAICA camp 2008 ended today. It's where we take our high school students out to a retreat center out in the countryside and have games and competitions and talks. All relationship, fun time rather than academic, class time. Baseball, mud fights, a mud soaked soccer game in the pouring rain (my favorite), worship time, little sleep, a banana treasure hunt...all were part of it. Of course, the question, "meester, do we must do this?" was asked many times by various students. Some students it was like pulling their teeth the whole time. Others really enjoyed it.

It's an extremely exhausting time, both emotionally and physically, for the teachers. Our efforts and responsibilities during a normal school day are a lot less taxing on us. But, we do it because it's an encouraging time for the students to grow in their relationships with each other, with us teachers, and with all of it ultimately pointed with the end goal that they would claim Christ as their own. And hopefully some of them let God move in their hearts. With that hope, BAICA camp is well worth it.

strikes...again

Schools for Argentine students across the country are starting this week, some today. In seven provinces, teachers are on strike over salary and job benefits. This happened last year too. The teachers want between a 20 and 25% pay increase. I don't blame them. They already get paid breadcrumbs and inflation was 25% last year. Striking only makes matters worse though.

See the article:
Herald article


The more time I've spent in Argentina, the more I've become disillusioned with the entire system of education in this country. It is an extremely restrictive system to come through and to work in, for both students and teachers. At many public schools, teachers are nothing more than glorified baby-sitters. They try and police unruly and disrespectful students who are in cramped buildings in a class of average size 30 students. No wonder teachers are on strike. If they have to put up with that. At private schools, there is also a lack of investment in buildings, curriculum, teacher development and training. I get a strong sense that private schools are monopolistic structures and are there to earn lots of money. This results in a lesser quality product (the education) to their clients (students and their families).

It's sad really, Argentina seems to be shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to education, and this is going to come and bite them in the rear end hard in 15-20 years when these students will be of age to be the workers and professionals of this country.