Una Pomodora en Londres

My friend flippy walking in London

Thank you for the video,


ME ENCANTÓ.

Somebody's thought on Argentine people... worth reading.

This is my fifth time in Argentina, in 3 years. In December 2006, I decided to visit a country I knew nothing about to relieve the mundane existence in Canada. Pretty much just throwing darts on the map, I decided to come to Argentina. Well, Argentina is at the other end of the earth, and far away from Canada, so it fit my bill of getting away. 

With absolutely no knowledge of Spanish and the country, I jumped on a flight and headed to Buenos Aires. I was hooked ever since... 

How to explain this fascination? I am not quite sure, and I do not want to belabor on that. A standard answer I give goes as follows: Argentina is definitely not like Canada for one, its language is Spanish (some say Italian-ated Spanish) and sounds passionate and very distinct, its history is fascinating (and a bit too 'crazy' for modern North Americans or Europeans), its sprawling geography showcases any landscape you would want to see anywhere else (mountains, deserts, glacier, plains, sea, rivers, coasts, lakes, tropical zone, sierras/ hills....), its politics boisterous and in general, a very resourceful country, like Canada.


However, Argentina is a puzzle to 

Jumping, jumping

many. One of the most famous economists, noble prize laureate, Paul Samuelson once remarked "There are 4 types of economies in the world: developed nations, developing nations, Japan and Argentina". Below I will put down some observations and thoughts on Argentina...these are totally my own and I do not claim scientific validity to them. Most of the thoughts and observations are on the Argentine people. For me, it is the most interesting concern when I go visit a place. 

First of all, to paint the Argentina people with big brushes: imagine 35% of Spanish immigrants, 35% of Italian immigrants, the rest consists of Jewish, Middle Eastern, other European, and a minor population of asian immigrants and the native people. Mixing them over the centuries, then you get the Argentine people. The city and the province of Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Rosario, and Mendoza are said to have the most European immigrants. The further you go inland to the interior provinces, you see more people with the native mix, or equally more of the 'Hispanic' look. So depending on where you go in Argentina, you would notice the change in demographic/ ethnic composition. In Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Mendoza, what do 

Waiting for the next green light

people look like? Well, I would say that in general they have the Mediterranean look, strong facial features, high-bridged noses, deep eye-sockets, dark or blond hair. It is more frequent that the men here leave their faces slightly un-shaved so to have a scruffy (macho?) look. It is very common for them to have longer hair compared to North Americans, usually sporting a mullet covering down their necks. The girls in general dress well and make good use of make-ups. Women here seem to be of medium built compared to North American women and carry a hand-bag, in Buenos Aires, at least. (this is more similar to Europeans). 

However, what I really like about Argentina and which North America lacks, is the warmth, passion and spontaneity exhibited by the people here. Argentina seems to have retained the Mediterranean roots of its immigrants, or maybe it is the latin culture in general where they throw their arms open (in general) to foreigners and strangers. Some say they are the Europeans without the attitude. I don't know if all will agree with that characterization...however, I do feel welcomed and at home every time I am here. People greet and make eye 

On Avenida Santa Fe, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Repulica Argentina

contacts with you; they want to show you their cities, their villages, their people and are happy to chat with you. They are not afraid to embrace you and spend quality time with you...this the North Americans would rarely do. The importance of human relationships seem to be so naturally embodied here, you feel it is part of daily life. In the developed world, we seem to have become so atomic in the units of our lives, that we no longer spend time with friends, with family and with strangers. 

Argentina is also a land of contrasts, contradictions, and extraordinary events, depending on how you look at it: 
* The pavement of Plaza 25 de Mayo in front of the presidential palace, Casa Rosada, seems to be in a state of permanent deterioration, broken and dirty, that it betrays a symbol of national power. However, if you go to certain cities in Pantagonia such as El Calafate or Ushuia, you feel like in Europe, so modern, clean and well-maintained. 
* The population in general is very well-educated (you would know when you travel and chat with the younger people in middle class and up). However the country does not seem to be generating jobs that utilize their skills and educations. ( misallocation of resources, perhaps?) 
* Some (minority of) people are very rich ane well-off, and form certain upper scale neighborhoods in various cities, with private security and a North American or European living standards while you have many in dire poverty, and there seems to be no political will to change it. 
* The most European country in South America, but had tragic episodes in its history, including the military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983 (about 25 years ago it ended) and the Falkland War/ Las Malvinas and where people have high level of distrust for governments and politicians. 
* Nowhere did I find a people with such a high level of civic consciousness as to what need to be done, and how things need to change in Argentina, however this high level of civic consciousness seems fail to translate into real political and social changes. 
* A resource rich country, however, the richness of resource does not seem to translate into richness for the general population and into investments that would continue generating future benefits. 

Much of these can be explained by the fact that Argentina is a sprawling country running through the trajectory of history with diverse regions, diverse constituents and diverse interests held together by imperfect institutions, unstable political processes and less-than-ideal democratic traditions. Some would also add the legacy of Juan Domingo Peron, military dictatorship, the evildoing of Carlos Menem, and the subversive hands of the US government and its goons in CIA to the brew. (I do not claim infallibility in any of these views.) 

I can go on more...however, I think I will comment accordingly as I go. 
Despite all its idiosyncrasies, I have to say I love Argentina for its people and its culture. That is why I came back again and again. How distinct and fascinating this country is in its constitution, language, culture, music, landscape and life-styles! I just love it! 

I will stop here, and go get something to eat. To wrap up this blog, I will post some pictures I took in the city of Buenos Aires yesterday where a marketing campaign was pushed out on Avenida Santa Fe, the shopping and recreational district of the city, for the grand opening of a new HP store. I will also attach the link of Libertango by Astor Piazolla, the most original Argentine nuevo tango composer. Enjoy! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUAPf_ccobc

Life in the world: Blogs

Here are some blogs where you can see how life in other countries of the world is like.

(btw, I would really like to know who writes for the Buenos Aires' blog!)

Paris, (rate: 6)

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/life+in+paris

London (rate:9) !

http://fromsouthlondon.tumblr.com/ (this blog is great, although I have never talked to the girl who uploads its posts yet, its amazing! the pictures she takes, the tube trains and all that, even food!)

Buenos Aires (rate: 9+) !!

http://90daysinbuenosaires.tumblr.com/ (OH I'm in LOVE with THIS ONE! Great idea for a blog, it makes me feel so proud)

Italy ( rate: 7+)

http://brittlongsblog.blogspot.com.ar/

Berlin (rate: 8) !

http://www.expatica.com/de/life-in-germany/blogs_photos/Where-I-live-in-Berlin_17019.html (this one has more countries! great one also)

Iluminados por el Fuego (Blessed by Fire) & This is England (Esto es Inglaterra)

This Is England is a 2006 British drama film written and directed by Shane Meadows. The story centres on young skinheads in England in 1983. The film illustrates how their subculture, which has its roots in 1960s West Indian culture, especially ska, soul and reggae music,^{[4] [5]} became adopted by white nationalists, which led to divisions within the skinhead scene.

In 2010 a spin-off series set three years after the film, This Is England '86, was shown on Channel 4. A sequel, set two and a half years after the previous series, This Is England '88, was broadcast in December 2011. The third and final instalment, This Is England '90, is due in 2012.

, Blessed By Fire is the story of two young men who were sent to fight the 1982 war in the Falkland Islands (or as they are known in Argentina, the Malvinas) and who return home bearing the brutal scars of war.

Twenty years after the war's end, journalist Esteban Leguizamón (Gastón Pauls) is informed that Alberto Vargas (Pablo Ribba), one of the men he served with, has attempted suicide after suffering from years of depression brought on by his experiences in the war. Esteban visits the comatose Vargas at the hospital, and in a series of extended flashbacks, revisits the scene of Argentina's "unwinnable war."

Source: Wikipedia

Ambas totalmente recomendables.

Stop Crying Your Heart Out- Somebody's interpretation

This is something I found surfing the web a while ago, I so liked it, particularly the part about "take what u need", but first here are the lyrics;

Hold up
Hold on
Dont be scared
Youll never change whats been and gone

May your smile (may your smile)
Shine on (shine on)
Dont be scared (dont be scared)
Your destiny may keep you warm

Cos all of the stars
Are fading away
Just try not to worry
Youll see them some day
Take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out

Get up (get up)
Come on (come on)
Whyre you scared? (Im not scared)
Youll never change
Whats been and gone

Cos all of the stars
Are fading away
Just try not to worry
Youll see them some day
Take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out

Cos all of the stars
Are fading away
Just try not to worry
Youll see them some day
Take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out

Were all of us stars
Were fading away
Just try not to worry
Youll see us some day
Just take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out
Stop crying your heart out
Stop crying your heart out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3hLxyAUfJw&feature=related

Somebody's interpretation:

This song is about moving on in life,to forget wateva happened in the past...coz 'Life always finds a way'.

"Hold on" - Hold on to your beliefs..just hold on to your precious life...n "dont be scared",your beliefs wont shatter again...you might have fallen once...but that wont happen again.and stop whining about the past coz ur never gonna change it..so y complain abt it?!

"May your smile shine on" - may u keep smilin as u always have ,despite everythin that kept beating u...kept pushing u back...but u still smiled..kept moving forward...N if u have any doubts about that,dont be scared;ur destiny will keep u on ur feet..coz everything happens for a reason.

"Cos all of the stars..." - Luck might not be on ur side today...everything does seem to be fading away at this moment...but if u keep faith in urself n ur beliefs...everything'll come back to u one day...

"take what u need..." - just try and learn whatever u can from this past experience..n it'll help u in the future...n Just Stop crying about what dint go well in ur life...coz one day u'll be seeing all the 'stars' again.. :)

Callejeros: Three

I translated, once again, a Callejeros' song. This one is absolutely fantastic.

I wake up every day wanting to be the defense,
the prosecutor and the judge; you, me and him.
I want to know what they did,
What they will do and what they will not do or I want to be the paper,
the stone and the scissors;
eyes, mouth and skin.
The cuckold, the most desired man and the stubborn Infidel.
The door, the window, or to fall off the balcony as Olmedo did, not to return again.
To be the degenerate boy, to love your body or to try for the first time.
Noon, midnight and sunset.
Three options will be always better than two.
I want to be the murderer, the victim, the witness.
The smoke, the bag of glue and the wine.
The trip, the first step, the destination.
To go high, to go down or to react: to look for the exits.
To be able to lock up freedom and get a bit of truth from it
I am an empty paper, ten songs in one day
or maybe I only know how not to die of thirst.
I love you all day long, I hate you and I'm scared
and I want to be a train, a truck on the route and a shot to the temple.
I become Cemento, Museum or some "cabaret".

I want to be an Avenue, I want to be a no through road but I'm a corner again.

Tie match, home team wins, away team wins.
The owner, the skipper and the ant.

To go high, to go down or to react: to look for the exits.
To be able to lock up freedom and get a bit of truth from it

And to steal a bit of truth from it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaZIBdbkock

That's a live performance of the song.

Callejeros 9 de Julio ( in English)

Another opened prison cell,
Another school behind bars,
Another faded flower,
Another scumbag who takes over the goverment, lies, steals some money and then disappears
Another storm in my mind makes it impossible to even cease thinking

Another Boca v. River that ends up in argy-bargy and scratching in the end,
Another entertainment for my listless soul I will have to find
Another big doubt stands naked on a night that finally finds me


Another day without peace...


Meanwhile I cannot find you, so I sink myself in town,
Walking along the 9 de Julio Av. fearing that I won't see you any more,
The cars pass me by, so does life,
The Avenue splits open, so does this bound

Another pint of cold beer is filled, enjoyed, emptied and then disappears,
But we'll be submitted to threats that are stronger than any vice,
We'll be left with a different country

That others will have to bear...

Meanwhile I cannot find you, so I sink myself in town,
Walking along the 9 de Julio Av fearing that I won't see you any more,
The cars pass me by, so does life,
The Avenue splits open, so does this bound

Another big doubt stands naked on a night that finally finds me

Another day without peace...