The adventure so far...

Amazing waterfall!

2007-05-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

One of our best pictures of Iguazu Falls! It´s actually part of a series of 70 waterfalls on the Argentinian-Brazil border. Absolutely amazing! Had a great holiday here and now into project number 2. Still really enjoying it, finding it challenging as well, but all going good. Miss you guys! Talk soon. Dan and JodesX

2007-04-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

Yet another random image from Argentina..... enjoy!

Random photos... literally!

2007-04-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

These are random pictures, one is Dan looking for nits for the guys in our team lol, and really haven´t even seen the second one! Hope you enjoy!

In Argentina!

2007-04-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,
Sorry it has been ages since I spoke to many of you! But thanks to Ellie, I have now figured out how to put something on while over here (my Spanish isn´t that great yet to read the site stuff here). I can´t figure out how to see my camera on this computer, so you will have to just put up with my words! Well, things are pretty different here in good old Venado Tuerto. This small Argentinian town reminds my strangely of Junee, where I grew up in Oz. There are so many rust-bucket cowboy cars still alive... only just... and creeping down the road. It is dry and hot and really, not much to do here on the social side. On the work front, I have been building my muscles on the building site here, yep, you better believe it! Have been doing some brick laying and some plastering. My brick laying is way better than my plastering though. :)
It´s been pretty tough being a team leader... had to have quite a few serious chats with some people in the team about different things. Spanish is slowing getting there. So cheap here! And so much meat! Will be a vego when I leave I think! And the eat so much and stay up sooooooooo late! I feel so old.....
The people are so friendly though.
We have also been quite involved in the church services, and Daniel has even preached a sermon! In English though... and interpreted by our awesome Spanish team member!
In about 2 weeks we finish our first project and we are going on a short team holiday at some cool waterfalls on the border with Brazil, should be good (Nadia, if you are reading this, these are real waterfalls, it is not a metaphor... but the metaphor may appear as well). Thinking about vising the Golapogas Islands and Ecuador when we finish but not sure yet. Better keep going. Really miss you guys!!!!!
Jodes and DanXX

To the north!

2007-02-14T09:25:00.000-08:00

I couldn't come to Ireland without visiting the North, which some might call the occupied counties (yep, sorry it is British soil!). We went to Northern Ireland with some good friends of ours from South Africa (Nadia and Lorissa) and had a great time! We visited Giant's Causeway, as you can see with it's cool step-like structure, real freak of nature that! And also loved the view from a mountain in Donegal which had a 600m drop! The North was way more rugged than the south, and the accent was certainly had to understand! But loved it. And food and beer is cheaper too!

Heading to Argentina

2007-01-03T23:10:00.000-08:00

I think many of you already know this, but we are heading to South America for four months in March to work with a charity Christian organisation - Latin Link. We have just found out the details of 'the mission'. We will be in Argentina for two projects and actually will be team leaders! That will be a challenge! If any of you want to support us with a kind donation then please check out a donation website we have just created: www.justgiving.com/aussies
Thanks, Dan and JodesX

Christmas in Paris...

2006-12-25T13:50:00.000-08:00

While many of you are enjoying a sizzling hot Chrissy in oz, give a spare thought for us 'doing our time' in cold Paris. Yep, tough life for us! lol. It has been really cold here but we are having a great time! We arrived on Christmas Eve and spent Christmas Day out on the streets of Paris with my brother, Glen, and nephew Jono. We introduced Jono to snails last night but Glen just couldn't go the mile for a taste! Guys, Paris is gorgeous! And even more so at Christmas. Lights are everywhere! The Eiffel Tower is all lit up and sparkling away but sadly today you couldn't even see higher than the first level because of the fog!
Had a great dinner at a French restaurant last night but our Christmas meal tonight was pasta cooked by none other than yours truly! Better than turkey with all the trimmigs though! The guys are keen to hunt down an Aussie pub tomorrow to check out the cricket, I'm sure they will find one. Tomorrow we are staying in a flat but I don't know the code to get in yet... should be interesting!

Here are some of the kiddies...

2006-12-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my school kids! For those of you who don't know... I have been working as a special needs assistant at a 'special school' in Cork, as well as still doing some writing (don't worry). Here are some of the angels (not!) that I work with. I do love it... even though they kick and punch me and yell out profanities at me, there is some sort of satisfaction in it (lol). Today I got kicked and punched by the same girl (with down syndrome) - she says she loves me and hates me! But, seriously, we have a great relationship!

More of Ireland

2006-12-19T12:55:00.000-08:00

This was the first day it hadn't rained for the past 3 weeks so we thought we should take advantage of this rare phenomenon. And when the clouds receded the rugged but spectacular coastline of south west Ireland was in full view. We sat in awe for about 20mins with our fellow southern hemisphere friend (Nadia SA). Days have been extremely cold lately... and my goodness don't get us started about the wind... and rain! Wearing the full thermal kit already! Off to Paris on Saturday to spend Christmas with Jody's brother Glen and his eldest, Jonathan. Merry Christmas to everyone who reads this (heard there are two or three people... thanks Danny, Nellie and Martina!)

My goodness the weather!

2006-12-02T15:42:00.000-08:00

These pics are of Daniel with some friends at a pretty nice traditional pub in ireland, Dan helping out with some 'fish research' in Ireland, and us out by a lake in County Kerry.
Well the weather here has been shocking! A white van has been swaying and feeling the pain of the hard wind which is pounding outside as I write... perhaps the worst weather we have experienced. But the locals tell us this is unusual and they only get a couple of storms a winter, so let's hope this is the worst of it! A guy was even blown in from a bridge into the water and was rescued... not sure how many pints he had though (lol). This weekend we are taking it easy... last weekend we went to county Kerry, nearby, and met up with a mate of ours from England. He was studying the fish there and we helped him out but again the weather was awful! One one occasion I stayed in the van and let Daniel get saturated while he helped to measure fish in the wind and rain. Not a great deal happening of late... school is getting a bit better and I have been to some pretty nice social events for the paper. Our time is going by so quickly here so we want to get away for a few more weekends in the van and tear around Ireland.

Now settling in Ireland

2006-11-15T11:48:00.000-08:00

For the time being we are in Midleton in Ireland. Daniel is working as a painter and Jody is (believe it or not) working as a special needs assistant at a school for children with mild disabilites as well as writing a weekly social column for the county newspaper (that's county, not country). The work is not bad... I've only been slapped across the face a few times... but I guess the punishment comes with the territory.
We have tried to see a few places around Ireland since moving here a couple of months ago. Some of the highlights are the Ring of Kerry (visiting some old stone forts and castles and going on bushwalks... some where you can't even see very far because the weather was so bad!) We also kissed the Blarney stone, that's right we are tourists!!!! And checked out the Rock of Cashel, a cool castle on a mountain top.
Enjoy!

To the gorillas...

2006-11-15T11:44:00.000-08:00

For our final week in Uganda we went on a gorilla safari. Obviously the highlight was the gorillas, but we saw other African wildlife along the way. The gorilla trek wasn't as hard as expected, and we got a couple of metres away from a silverback and his family... unbelievable!

Uganda...

2006-11-15T11:20:00.000-08:00

We spent two weeks in northern Uganda in September with the East African Missionary Society (if you want to find out more about the organisation go to http://www.teamsonline.org/). This trip was certainly amazing! We helped out in local churches, helped run kids fun days, visited really poor areas (which was so sad to think we could not help these people more) and also visited prisons. The people were so lovely and so hospitable! Who knows... we may return there one day and we would certainly love to go back! This place really touched our heart!