#behindthebites

 Good Morning folks!

We have a very short vid to share with you this week, captured during our time in Botswana, Africa.

It’s a simple gift, to brighten your morning, to raise the corners of your mouths and get your giggle warmed up.

While we were visiting the kids at a preschool in Maun, they performed a few songs for us. One little boy couldn’t hold his moves in any longer and decided to break out in dance.

Enjoy!

Cute kid can’t hold in the moves

 Today’s inspiration:

As Christmas celebrations subside, I’m sure many of you are suffering from extended family hangovers, but for those of us who are away from our families at this significant time of year, we just can’t say we’re in the same boat. Over the past week it’s been more common to find Carl and I huddled by the window yearning for an overprotective unsolicited comment from a parent, to hear the screaming of a newborn family member wearing a reindeer onesie and we’ve especially been missing those warm festive hugs that only a grandmother can give. No it’s not a bite of a Coles bought pavlova that has us in a constant state of nostalgia, it is the thoughts of our family and loved ones.

  Even though we’ve now left Buenos Aires I wanted to catch you all up on the filming experiences we had there as it was in this Argentinian city that our cravings for the presence of familiar faces began. Argentina is a country made up almost entirely of immigrants and many say this is what has contributed to their strong family and friendship bonds… because how else is a community meant to function and progress without these formidable ties?

  There is even an Argentinian drink that epitomizes this attitude of togetherness and it is called Mate. No, not mate as in ‘soul mate’ or the Aussie slang pronunciation ‘g’day mate’, however fitting that might be, but rather ‘matay.’ In the 274th docobite this week, which you can watch 

here

, Veronica explains that this drink is designed to be shared, “we will not share the same cup but when we drink Mate we will share the same straw, I don’t know why but it’s just the way we are.”

  During our filming we were offered the chance to get out of the city (thanks to http://www.sayhueque.com) and as this is an opportunity that doesn’t come by us often we jumped at the chance. So off we went to an estanzia, a farming property in the country where a collection of families often work. We met a wide variety of people on this very special adventure but what stood out to us the most is how they were all connected, “we’re part of the same fabric,” Antonio from docobite 269 told us.

  With the help of our beautiful translator Betty, Antonio shared details of his past life with us, the time he spent in the Navy, before he was the estanzia cook and, “100 pounds lighter.”  Antonio didn’t want to leave his wife and newborn son to work in the Navy and while in service he came close to death which only made him yearn for his family that much more. He told us that this time in his life right now is the happiest he’s had because he is surrounded by his family all the time, as they all work together in the estanzia. To Antonio, family is the thing that makes him happiest in life.

  After we spoke with Antonio we spoke with his children and his very cheeky grandson. Luz, Antonio’s daughter, is a single mother and ironically this too has united their family as they now all work together to look after the little guy. Together they’re a wonderful representation of how families can be there for each other, especially in challenging times. Of course not all families are this capable, and willing to be so, but it is something wonderful to aspire to.

  Finally we spoke to the eldest and most revered member of the estanzia family, Oscar. In his eighties, and recovering from a broken back, you will still most likely find Oscar riding his horses and attending to the farming duties. Oscar shared with us his almost half century love story with his wife but when I asked Oscar what he loves most about his beloved he replied, “she gave me 5 beautiful children.”

  And this is pretty much the most common answer I receive when I ask a Stranger that age old question, “what is the most important thing to you?” In fact the Stranger’s reply usually comes rolling out before I’ve even finished my sentence, “family, of course.”

  So whether family makes you happy or crazy, let’s take a moment, let me take a moment, to appreciate our own family in all their glory. Thank you for all your love and support fambo, both blood related and those family members we’ve had the privilege to choose. We miss you like crazy!

  Don’t forget to make a couple of New Year resolutions for all your own family folks and a very, Happy New Year to you all!

As always we thank you for your eyes, ears and curiosity.

Cheers,