Argentina: The one about changing seasons
If you live or have lived in the Northern Hemisphere, I would imagine that thinking about the month of November stirs up memories of crisp air, comfort food, and anticipation of the winter season to come. Those feelings seem to be similar in the Southern Hemisphere, the only difference being their association with the month of May.
Thinking about November also brings nostalgic feelings of Thanksgiving traditions. While there is no Thanksgiving equivalent down here, Argentina does celebrate two holidays in May: May 1st is a national holiday commemorating Labor Day (a holiday shared with much of the rest of the world), and May 25th is another holiday marking the beginning of the revolution for independence from Spain. On both of these days it's common to eat locro: a labor-intensive stew consisting of hominy, lima beans, butternut squash, potatoes, onion, bacon, sausage, beef, tripe, pig's feet, and a variety of spices. It's not for the faint of heart, to say the least.
This is the third year in a row that I have been in Argentina in May, though it's the first May (and hopefully last) that we have been in quarantine. It's been 50 days since our nationwide quarantine started, and it looks like it is going to be extended for at least another two weeks. People fear that the coming winter will not make stopping the virus any easier, and cooler air is indeed on its way. At the beginning of the week, we received warnings that "polar" weather was coming (I can literally hear all Minnesotans rolling their eyes right now). Our days still top out between 60-70 degrees, but the mornings and evenings reach a brisk 40.
Photographic proof has shown that the summer sun is upon you northern folks. For those of us down south, It's time to pull out the warm comforter, wool socks, sweaters, and scarves that have been hidden away during the summer months. And for the record (because I'm sure you're all wondering): I will not be working on my locro-making skills through the duration of our quarantine, but I may try a new soup recipe or two.
Thinking about November also brings nostalgic feelings of Thanksgiving traditions. While there is no Thanksgiving equivalent down here, Argentina does celebrate two holidays in May: May 1st is a national holiday commemorating Labor Day (a holiday shared with much of the rest of the world), and May 25th is another holiday marking the beginning of the revolution for independence from Spain. On both of these days it's common to eat locro: a labor-intensive stew consisting of hominy, lima beans, butternut squash, potatoes, onion, bacon, sausage, beef, tripe, pig's feet, and a variety of spices. It's not for the faint of heart, to say the least.
This is the third year in a row that I have been in Argentina in May, though it's the first May (and hopefully last) that we have been in quarantine. It's been 50 days since our nationwide quarantine started, and it looks like it is going to be extended for at least another two weeks. People fear that the coming winter will not make stopping the virus any easier, and cooler air is indeed on its way. At the beginning of the week, we received warnings that "polar" weather was coming (I can literally hear all Minnesotans rolling their eyes right now). Our days still top out between 60-70 degrees, but the mornings and evenings reach a brisk 40.
Photographic proof has shown that the summer sun is upon you northern folks. For those of us down south, It's time to pull out the warm comforter, wool socks, sweaters, and scarves that have been hidden away during the summer months. And for the record (because I'm sure you're all wondering): I will not be working on my locro-making skills through the duration of our quarantine, but I may try a new soup recipe or two.
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| This is us soaking up every ray of sunshine that falls upon our living quarters. |
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