Argentina

 

                    (photo of Fitz Roy from Pandotrip)

We are heading north from Antarctica to the diverse country of Argentina. Argentina is 2,360 miles from North to South. We are focusing on the northeastern provinces, especially Misiones and Corrientes. So, we went from subfreezing in Antarctica to 120 degrees with lots of humidity.

                                                             Argentina Chart

    

                                                  Argentina Flag to color for fun

Here is a brief tour of Argentina

This one has more facts and history if you are interested.

ROADBLOCK

(Messi, from the Times of India website)

Like most countries besides the US, Futbol is the most popular sport in Argentina.

It is hard for me to understand the draw, it seems like a frustrating sport. You basically run around for two 45 minute halves, hoping to score. Folks,  the average score of a professional soccer game is less than 3 goals. 

So this weeks roadblock is to exercise continuously for 45  minutes twice, or one continuous 90 minute block.  If you gather your family to play soccer, make sure you hardly ever score. :)

DETOURS

In Argentina, cowboys are called Gauchos. There are lots of gauchos in the northern part of Argentina. In Corrientes, there is a legendary gaucho named Gaucho Gil.  Also in Corrientes is a dance that is done in which the men dress like gauchos, called the chamame. One detour is to figure out the basic step of this dance. You can use a partner or not. Also, you can post a video, or not. 

This link was the best explanation I could find about how to dance it, but it isn't on youtube, so it is just a link......

How to dance the chamame

Detour #2

One of the most famous foods/drinks from Argentina is of course mate. It is basically putting hot water in a bunch of grass and drinking it. :) 

Because Argentina is heavily European, pasta is very common, they don't really eat tacos. They do eat empanadas though. 

If you are super lucky, you can have an empanada made from capybara meat. (look it up if you don't know what that is)

This detour is to try some Argentinian food this week. You can look up a recipe and make it, or even find an a restaurant that serves authentic Argentinian food (please tell me you heard junior asparagus when you read that).

Antarctica

Our first week we will race around Antarctica, a land of snow and ice and penguins!

Antarctica Map--open to get a PDF to keep track of your points

Here are a few videos about Antarctica to watch

Antarctica has some cool landmarks

Like Mt Erebus, with a molten lake

(image from our breathing planet, said public domain)

Blood Falls--red because of iron oxide mixing with the salt water--it is 5 stories tall

(image from mpora.com)

and the Una Peaks

(from Wikimedia)

The Una Peaks will be this week's ROADBLOCK

The highest summit is at747 m In order to complete the roadblock you must climb 747 stairs. At my house, our main staircase has 13 steps, with is basically 57.5 times up the stairs. You don't have to do it all at once. If I went up the stairs 10 times a day I would have it more than done. 

Here are this week's DETOURS

In the Amazing Race the teams get to choose between two detour activities. You can do just one, or do both. 

Option 1: Learn the Penguin Dance

(it would be fun if you upload a video of yourself, or your kids doing it, maybe to the private Rytting facebook page.)

Option 2: Penguin Paint Craft

Penguin Craft PDF

Jen and I tried it out. You use Qtips and paint

If you don't want to use paint you could use markers or whatever other medium you have available. Post your creations in the comments if you want. 

There you go! Have fun learning about Antarctica. If you have snow, go play outside in it and pretend you are in Antarctica.

The Amazing Race--Rytting Version

 I wanted to do a fun, family oriented, healthy lifestyle activity. We have started watching this year's Amazing Race, so I thought I would try to base it off that. 

Each week we will race around a different destination.

It will last 8 weeks.

We are going to do partners. So aim for 50 points each. If you don't live in the same house, tell each other your points so you can both color in your chart. 

The run down:

Adult Version:  score points daily (6 days/week) by:

Eating 5 fruits and/or vegetables

Exercise 30+ minutes

Drink the amount of water that you feel you need. (Pick an amount and stick with it)

Keep a food log--you don't have to share it, just do it so you are cognizant of your choices. 

Each thing is worth 2 points a day

Score points by completing the roadblocks and detours

Detours are 5 points

Roadblocks are 10 points

The goal is 100 points per week, (as a team) you can earn more though

Kids Version--score points daily by:

A point for every fruit/vegetable serving (5 pt max)

Exercising or playing outside (because it doesn't have to be, I am going to exercise) 30+ minutes per day. 3 points.  (Recess counts)

Detours 5 points

Roadblocks 10 points

Also, any kid who wants to can do the adult version, but they sure don't have to.