Tilquiza, Jujuy, Argentina (Middle of Nowhere)

Hey everyone,
 
    I have been living on a farm in Tilquiza, Jujuy, Argentina for the past 2.5 weeks. So I have been out of contact. I am intown for a few hours running some errands with the family so I must make this short.

    Aldea Luna, the family´s Natural Reserve, is 20km outside of Jujuy. 17 km of road, 2km of dirt, and 1 km of riverbed (which is shallow enough to drive over) away from the city. Before my trip began, when I was imagining ideal places for my trip to take me, I couldn´t have conjured up an image as amazing as the view from my new home. With literally nobody around, I am spending time with some of the coolest people I have ever met. I live with a Martin (dad), Elizabeth (mom), Gerardo (family friend), and Matias (11 year old son). They have taken me, and my sloppy spanish, in as one of there own, and I couldn´t imagine not ever meeting them. I work 6 days a week, breakfast at 8, work following till 12, then lunch, siesta (nap) till 3, then work till about 6 or 7. I have developed some good caluses, ontop of what rockclimbing already did. Somedays I dig trenches, others I build fences, drying racks, or new roofs for the family house. However, the work is not what matters, but more the fact that I am working alongside new people, speaking a new language, sharing stories, and becoming friends. I really couldn´t have found a better place to start wwoofing (the organic farm volunteering company). I am speaking much better spanish, and can understand the majority of what is said to me. I am picking up a large amount of new Argentinian vocab, which will prove useless as I change countries, but I am loving it.
All the food is vegetarian, and incredibly healthy. I eat amazingly well. I average more than 6 whole fruits a day, I am sure. Countless vegetables as well. With this diet, I have realized the unimportance of meat in one´s diet. I am actually considering becoming a vegetarian again, well probably when I get back to the states and definately not beef or pork. Too many resources go into producing all this meat, and more people could eat, if meat wasn´t so popular. Seeing the ugliness of nearby cow farms has helped me in this decision. Most days, after work, I go down to the gardin, and pick some fresh mint for tea, then read, play games with Matias, or talk with the family. Life is simple, and exactly what I wanted.
On Sundays, the day off, I have gone on long hikes on the 1200 acre property. On the first Sunday, I hiked away from the house, and followed a trail climbing through the forest. I found a steep hill, which I climbed, and took a break, listening to the wind, and taking in the view. Everyday includes some new amazing experience like this. I also spend a fair amount of time in my hammock on the roof deck of my cabin. The view from there is pretty amazing. So amazing I am heading back with the family now. So that is all for now, I hope all is well.

Pictures will come when I come back to town in 2 weeks or so,

Oliver