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I hate Facebook but I love Fútbol

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argentineboyFacebook, you either love it or you hate it. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with the ever so popular cyber “social connection.” It’s a total time sucker. However, since my travels began late last August, Facebook, as I’m sure many of you have realized, has been the best way to communicate with fellow travelers and newly made friends. I will share with you a little Facebook story.

Chris Jeffries Wins Mar de Plata Slam Dunk Competition

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jeffriesallstar.jpgOn Tuesday, Texas small forward Chris Jeffries won the annual slam dunk competition in Mar del Plata. Jeffries took the prize for the first time in Argentina, and the second time in South America. He previously won the award in Venezuela last season.

On Playing Pro Basketball in Argentina, an Interview with Chris Jeffries

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Jeffries Obras SanitariasDining at a 24-hour McDonald’s in Buenos Aires’ wealthy section of Nunez, you’d think Chris Jeffries would stick out like a sore thumb. He does, but no more than the two or 3 other 6’+ tall athletes headed for the brightly lit golden arches on Avenida Libertador. Jeffries’ basketball team, Obras Sanitarias de Nunez, just won their 3rd straight home game, and on his way back from the stadium, the 27-year-old small forward from Texas stopped in for a victory burger and some fries.

“You’ve got to order everything modified, or else they’ll give you the sandwich that’s been sitting there since last week”, said Jeffries, as he made his way through the packed restaurant to find an open table. With a stat sheet in one hand, big mac in the other, Jeffries sat down to talk to me about what it’s like to play professional basketball in a foreign country, and what his plans are for the future.

A Front Row Seat – Whale Watching in Argentina

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whale-breach.jpg The Southern Right Whale: beautiful, enormous, astonishing, and definitely not shy. When you travel to Peninsula Valdes you will witness just what I mean aboard one of the daily whale watching tour boats. The whales seem to appreciate the tourism just as much as we appreciate visiting them. All on board and full of emotion, our boat of tourists headed out into the Atlantic waters. Whales, as we learned from the well-informed guides, are highly vocal and rely on a variety of different sounds for underwater communication and navigation. Among the chatty sounds of the calls, clicks, buzzes, and water blowing that they produce, the sound of a boat motor is distinct. The other sounds may be used to communicate about where to find food, or when its time to change locations; but when they hear the boat motor, it can only mean one thing…it’s show time.

My Buenos Aires Tango Adventure

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Just to be clear, this isn't us.  But don't they look soulful?About a year ago my wife and I went to the movies to distract us from a difficult period in our lives. I had no way of knowing then that one day I would end up in a shoe shop in downtown Buenos Aires wearing a Carlos Gardel hat while strutting the tango snugly against various young Argentine women in tight clothes. And not just with my wife’s permission, but it was her brilliant idea in the first place.