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Written Task # 1
This notebook belongs to Patrick Fitzherbert
02/01/15
My departure from London was quite natural since I have always loved to ride horses, and
going to the country of the estancias implies a great expectation to me. I wish that my stay
in the estancia will develop my Polos abilities.
On the Heathrow, my family, worried, gave me a vast portion of skittles, brownies,
cupcakes and lots of sugary products to make my luggage even heavier. I have my doubts
that they believe that in Argentina I am going to leave in caves and eat with my hands. Now
I am in the plane of an Argentinean airlines called Aerolineas Argentinas people have
told me that my plane will fall but for the time being it is quite stable. In four hours I will
arrive to Buenos Aires .There a driver will take me to the estancia at 300 kilometers of the
countrys capital.
03/02/15
In the airport people looked friendly -excluding the people at Customs who in all countries
are nasty- and a little bit too expressive, I just have witness two intense discussions. Now I
am with the driver who has arrived one hour late because, according to him, all
Argentineans are bad drivers, of course, excluding himself.
In the evening, I arrived to the estancia called Las Casillas; the house has French-style
architecture, its rooms are spacious and vines cover the walls to the roof giving it a mighty
atmosphere ; the park has a vast variety of trees and a pack of hounds are ambling all day.
The family is composed by the marriage and six siblings, despite the fact that they come
from a distinguish family they are suffering financial problems and made their estancia a
sort of hotel. The hosts have greeted me politely and have served an asado which was
delicious, although I did not appreciate a gummy dish called lengua a la vinagreta I
wonder what is it? They told me that tomorrow at six in the morning I will work the cattle
with the gauchos since the family will leave to Buenos Aires.
Rabuffetti Manuel

04/02/15
I am exhausted.
In the morning, I had to prepare with my own hands the criollo horse they lent to me. The
saddle didnt counted with stirrups and the bridle wasnt complete in England I didnt use
to do this- therefore the gauchos laughed at me and I heard they told me a word that
sounded similar as stupid which was accompanied by something like rringou or
gringo. The gauchos arent very friendly they were always mocking how I hold the reins
with my both hands and that I didnt use a type of horsewhip called rebenque. Moreover,
I was eaten by mosquitoes and every minute it appeared that the thermostat increase two
degrees. When we where galloping one of them made me a joke and threw me to the
ground. Luckily, I have only some scratches.
06/02/15
Today, I ate again an asado, now I find it a little bit dull. At the time of tea, they gave a
drink called mate: it tasted horrible. I think they tried to poison me!
09/02/15
I cant stand the idea of sharing my time with the gauchos: they are mocking of me all day
long. On our morning horseback riding my horse-which I named him York to remember
my country- jibbed in the middle of the field, therefore the cattle escaped. Moreover, I cant
stand the monotony of the pampas.
12/02/15
Another day with asados, it is the only meal they offer to me! I want some fish and chips! I
miss the cold weather of London. I miss the pavement! I miss my friends and family! I
want to return to my country!
16/02/15
At last good news, today York saw a snake and it reared violently, but I kept in the saddle.
From their look I could realize that the gauchos are coming to respect me.
Rabuffetti Manuel

19/02/15
During lunch they invited me to play a football match. It was pretty entreating and it made
me remember of my childhood. What is more, they have revealed their names to me: Pedro
whom I recall it stands from Peter, Enrique (William) and Lucas whom I dont know its
equivalent from the English language.
23/02/02
On Saturday, they invited me to the village where we played some cards games and darts.
In addition, they bought me as a gift a typical boina which is a kind of hat and one
bombachas de campo which are the trousers that the gauchos use to work the cattle. It was
a gentle gesture.
24/02/02
I felt like a gaucho, I used my new clothes and started to build some sentences in Spanish.
Although, I find it difficult to pronounce the rr sound.
02/03/15
The sunny days of Argentina are much pleasant than the dull days of England. I spent the
day in the swimming pool and played with the dogs. I even seem to stand up the mosquitos
bites. At evening, Enrique, Lucas and Pedro taught me how to play a game called
Truco.It was extremely fun; Lucas and I won 30 to 23.
05/03/15
Ive noticed that I have only six day left to enjoy Argentina.
10/03/15
Now I can assure that to contemplate the sunset of the pampas is the most gratifying
experience of life.

Rabuffetti Manuel

11/03/15
This was my last horseback riding in the estancia.We went to the most remote part of the
country and gallop all day. Moreover, we played races and York was distinctly fast as if
he knew it was our farewell. At night, my friends cooked a delicious asado and played the
guitar all night.
12/03/15
On this grey day, London gave me a cold greeting. I wore the clothes, that my friends gave
me, to honor their country. A deep nostalgia invaded me because I wasnt standing on the
beautiful pampas. At soon I get through the Customs my family was there to salute me. But
they walked near and didnt recognize me: they confused me with a gaucho.

Rabuffetti Manuel