la educacion

i feel compelled to write tonight about the amazing people in buenos aires and their educacion, or what we americans would refer to as "politeness" or "etiquette." to us, it's too formal and unnecessary to our daily lives. but for argentines, la educacion is simple, natural and expected.

i've already told you about riding the subte and the buses, where everyone gives up a seat for the elderly or pregnant women. when you go to the stores here, people are overly helpful, they aren't annoyed when you ask them a question and they will downright accompany you to the aisle you're looking for whilst chatting about the weather. everyone wants to know where you're from and what you're doing in buenos aires, and they are always so pleased to have you.

but the reason i felt so obliged to write home about argentine courtesy is because i recently joined a gym in my neighborhood and i am pleasantly overwhelmed about how comfortable and amiable an environment exists at a place that in the states is usually the last place you are nice to someone. when you walk into a spin class, the instructor looks around the room, finds the new person in the room, introduces themselves and everyone in the class, then asks your name and gives you a kiss. tonight, i took a class called "functional training" and the instructor kissed everyone hello and made routines where we all worked as a team. by the end of the class, we were old friends--and naturally, we all got a kiss goodbye. you can just tell that everyone that takes classes in the gym knows each other and it's such a warm environment. which to me, is pretty much the complete and polar opposite of the feeling you get at american gyms. you feel like everyone is staring at you, you feel self-conscious, and no one wants to talk to anyone and groan when they have to wait for a machine.

i just think these experiences i've had at the gym say so much about the culture of being courteous in buenos aires, of opening yourself up and engaging other people; even complete strangers. every argentine person i meet wants to be my best friend. compare this to the american why-are-you-talking-to-me attitude (especially in miami!) and it makes me wonder why we don't take a note from our south american friends and adopt some educacion. because the only effect it has is to make people SMILE, and at the end of the day that's far more important than saving a minute or two of your "precious" time.

nicolasa emergente

it's been a semi-chaotic week and a half, setting down roots in my new life in buenos aires. last saturday i moved into my apartment in Palermo, and was finally able to stop living out of a suitcase. at least now, there's organized chaos in my oh-so-large bedroom. i spent the week exploring my new neighborhood, stopping in at the outlet stores and the not-so-outlet stores. i cracked mid-week and purchased an amazing leather jacket and a few tops that cost me less than $100 dollars total. i also joined a gym, started ballet classes, and looked into tango, salsa and photography classes. and you wonder why i never want to leave!

last week i also started work at the Argentimes. so far, it's basically been an orientation of the cultural, social and political history of Argentina. and man, this country is fuuuuuuucked up. wars, coup d'etats, economic crises--you name it, they've experienced it. and in the recent past, at that. it's actually kind of funny because the more i learn about this country's tumultous past, the more i want to be part of it and the more i begin to criticize the US. in fact, as of now there isn't a single thing i miss about the US, especially the disgusting consumer mindset and the apathy of our people to question their government and demand action. It seems as though everyone here is incredibly politically charged and opinionated, and that is so invigorating for me that I can't wait to get out there and learn as much as i possibly can. i'll get to cover all kinds of topics, from news and political editorials to restaurant reviews and nightlife. i can't think of a better way to experience this city that has so much left to uncover.

i suppose that after my third week here, the "sheen" so to speak has started to wear off. i no longer feel like i'm somewhere new, and have really begun to settle into my life here. i'm absolutely crazy about my roommates, there is such buena onda in the house it's crazy. people ask us if it gets hectic with so many people in the house but it doesn't at all. we all like to cook and do so together often, and we are cooking for some argentine girls we met at a party this thursday, as well as having an asado on sunday afternoon.

i'm also really crazy about living in such a culturally vibrant city. this weekend there was a music festival at the centro cultural called Ciudad Emergente, which was an indie rock/pop music festival with art and photography installations. it was SO my scene--hipsters everywhere, awesome music and pretty things to look at everywhere you went. the weather was absolutely amazing as well, with sunshine and temperatures in the mid 60s. i went to the markets this weekend and got an old Ciro Algeria book that's bound in leather and over a hundred years old, and some antique sun glasses plus something for my mom for her birthday.

but even through all these new experiences i am having, i feel like the road to finding myself is going to be a long one. being 23 just seems like such a goddamn confusing age, i'm not really a grown-up but definitely not a kid, and not knowing what i want can get really frustrating. for as much fun as i am having, i can't help but feel restless at the same time, waiting for something but having no idea what that something is. i think that traveling is the best thing i could be doing right now, especially alone, because the occasional loneliness mixed in with the accidental connection with a total stranger is teaching me more than any classroom or work environment ever could. i'm living in every single moment and taking it all for what it is, emerging into myself one day at a time.