Mama Bibi and the House of Many Treasures

I'm here nowwwww...I made it to Buenos Aires safe and sound! In the taxi cab with driver Victor (who got a couple good laughs at my first attempts to find my linguistic footing) my heart was pounding out of my chest. I didn't know what my home stay was going to look like, how I was going to get inside, and exactly who would be waiting for me there. We spun around corners nearly sideswiping numerous other drivers, stopping and starting abruptly (and you know how I get a little car sick just riding around in Chapel Hill....eek). We pulled up in front of my apartment building and I clambered up the front steps and looked back at Victor, wide eyed. There was a big gold panel with a buzzer and lots of buttons one of which would call Bibi's apartment. But being a  relatively small town girl (compared to the ciudad GRANDE)...I've only seen those things in movies. Victor did his thing, called for Bibi and before I knew it I was shoved into a tiny elevator headed up to the 7th floor.

Then, I entered the house of many treasures!

Sidenote: I just told Bibi the title of my first blog post...she looooved it. And insisted that I say "tesoros antiguos" to let you all know these are ANTIQUES and this stuff is reeeal.

Here are a few pictures:

 According to Bibi, these beauuutiful, intricate pieces on the left are handmade from the colonial era in Argentina! And on the right are antique botellas. (Mom: they reminded me of the ones at the Seagate store...should have brought her one!)



This is a poster from New York during the time of Coco Chanel. Bibi has a few of these pieces and is fascinated with the fashion.

 This is una abanico antiguo (antique handheld fan) and Bibi says it is more than 250 years old!



Anyway, Bibi took me to my room and I got settled in as she whipped up some pasta with daaaank homemade sauce. We sat down to lunch together and she told me stories about all of the pieces on the walls in her sweet little home. She served me lots of food and I'm thinking that's going to be a trend. She looked dejected when she asked me if one piece of bread would be all that I would be eating...so much for shedding a few lbs. meh.

Going into this adventure, I felt very alone and prayed that the Lord would prepare my heart to be ok with that and to press into him amidst my lonliness. I'm normally not afraid to take a leap of faith but for some reason my nerves were getting the best of me and a cried so darn much before leaving the US...(i guess that's no surprise really...). I pleaded with God to help me to trust his divine purpose for me here.

I know He sent Bibi.
She has a warm presence and has welcomed me with open arms already. I'm excited to explore and make friends my age of course but if anything I know that I have a home away from home to return to. As she and I walked home tonight, arm in arm, I thanked God for the sweet new friend I have in Bibi and her house of many "tesoros antiguos".