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THE FOLKS AT LA LUCENA
Pedro (Peter) and Pablo are the backbone of the staff. Peter started La Lucena thirteen years ago along with his wife Nicole. Pablo has also been here from the beginning. He lives in the nearby town of La Granga and has a farm in the even drier region in the north of Cordoba Province. 
Natalia (Nati) and Lise enjoy each other's company while struggling to understand each other (a Spanish-English dictionary is a permanent fixture on Lise's body.) There are four households at La Lucena. We live in the "cerito," Nati lives in the "unito," and Mike and Zuleika live in the "docito." (the frequent use of the diminutive "ito" has been one cause of Lise's muddled brain.) Peter, Nicole, Alec & Corey live in the big house up the hill. Cecilia (Ceci) lives with her 3 year old daughter in the neighboring town of Ascochinga. She is a former La Lucena student and came back to be a part of its mission. The La Lucena center lies just behind the trees in everybody's backyard.
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Lise and David spent each day participating in and occasionally leading the activities for the group that was at La Lucena this week. Lise put the solar ovens to use and baked some cakes with the students on a chilly but sunny day. On a warmer day at the river, David joined in the competition with his twig and leaf boat coming in second in the regatta de los barcos.
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Nati and Ceci preparing for a Trees for Tomorrow activity taking water to seedlings that were planted before the dry season started. Meanwhile, Lise and David helped a group of students gather and sift soil from the forest floor and caca del caballo from the horse pasture for planting more tree seeds in preparation for the next growing season.
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Mike, who is also from the U.S. and is in his second year at La Lucena, is trying to get these chicos interested in the complexities and insights of the Bosque Serrano ecosystem of which only 2% is left. They finally got excited when they realized that they could aid the forest's future by pulling out Siempre Verda seedlings, an exotic tree from Asia that is taking over the native Piquillin forest. Mike was an important resource and inspiration for us this week since he taught in English. 
His best advice was simply, "Don't worry." He lives with Zulieka (Zuli) a local woman whom he met during his first year here and who
is studying at the university in Cordoba to become a translator and teacher. On her days at home, Zuli is courageous enough try to explain the complexities and insights of the Spanish language to us.
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Mary, Mecha and Angelita, the kitchen crew here at La Lucena. They cook incredible homemade meals, often using the Chilean wood fired oven, and serve them up with endless smiles. Always bread and dulce for desayuno with hot sweet tea and mate. Sandwiches, hamburgers, pizza for almuerza. Hot soup, pasta or rice dishes for cena.
| Tremayne and Colby participated in the week with the students, eating, sleeping, and taking classes along with their Argentine peers. Trying to integrate into a group of 13-17 year olds despite language and cultural barriers was quite daunting but they took on the challenge with enthusiasm. We are extremely proud of them for sticking out the exhausting week and coming out smiling on the other end. 
Colby quietly found his place amongst the friendly teenagers, learning to like mate, the bitter national drink of Argentina. Tremayne was drawn to the boisterous ones in the group. A very attractive girl, Maria, cut off his long hair and a boy, Pipe, shaved his mustache. Now he totally blends in with the other Argentine teens. In this photo you can probably find Lise and David in our blue Wolf Ridge Anoraks and Colby with his headlamp, but can you find Tremayne?  
The week is over now. The cold weather continues, with temperatures still dipping below freezing at night and our house temperature struggling to stay above 10 degrees Celsius, although we've enjoyed a few warmish days outside. We all recharge in our own way. Here you will find the boys, David and the solar ovens soaking in the northern sun. Lise can be found writing or studying birds or Spanish. Other free time activities are Colby off riding the horse, David and Tremayne playing a few rounds of Frisbee golf and Lise doing laundry. Life is not so different here. The first group left Saturday morning, we meet the next group Sunday evening. One more intense week and then there is a week break to work on projects, travel to Cordoba for a day in the city, and whatever else we can dream up... 
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