30/11/2019 – San Rafael, Argentina

Spent the morning volunteering. Cannot remember exactly the work, but probably cleaning, ironing, making up a guest room or something like that! We made lunch - we basically rotate pasta, rice and polenta with chickpeas or lentils and vegetables. We are starting to tire a little from feeling like ‘the help’. Things are very segregated – there is a separate volunteer fridge, different bread for volunteers, even different oil and seasoning available for us to use! At Alex’s birthday party last week there was cheese and chorizo for the adult guests that we weren’t allowed or offered. Not being introduced to people, sort of having to sweep around peoples feet if that makes sense. It is hard to explain because at the same time the family we are with are very friendly and it is a nice place to be! Mixed feelings! It is also a bit difficult because we live where we work, so we are often being asked to just quickly do something or another, when we have finished our time at work for the day. I suppose for them it is their home and their business so they don’t really separate the two, but for us as volunteers it is a bit different.

Having said all of that, we got to go and swim and sit by the pool in the glorious sunshine all afternoon, and had to remind ourselves we are here for free! We swam, read our books and had a siesta on the comfy poolside lounge chairs, absolute bliss!

We fed the animals, which is another highlight of being here. The llamas make me so happy!

We chilled for the evening, read our books, and watched The Crown.