For today I offer this introduction to life in the big city. Buenos Aires is at times a gurgling, splurting, traffic congested, grey clouded monster of a city. The cars and collectivos churn out huge clouds of smog and the city is shrouded. However, there is definately something else in the air (or water..some element) which makes it unique.
From the Argentinians I have met they are clearly proud of their uniqueness. They all tell me "we are unique, not like everyone else", unlike the rest of Latin America, even in Argentina it is unique, almost a country within a country. Buenos Aires is a city of immigrantes, everyone's grandparents or great grandparents flocked here from every corner of the globe, a southern equivalent to New York. An example: I met a Portena who had Portuguese, Northern Argentinian, Buenos Aires and Japanese roots.
Bueno, esta...That is a little thought bubble for today. On another note, it seems inflation is rising like mad. Last year you could buy a decent meal for about $5 pesos and now it is about $20. Prices are not too dissimilar to the UK, a cafecito is $7. Seems it is getting more expensive every day. I am no economist and don't really understand this but for the Argentinians it is real bad. Today, while in the locatorio (internet/phone/paper place) I got talking to an old couple who told "un dicho" or a saying in Argentina. Wages take the stairs, inflation takes the lift.
Another side note is the protesting nature of Argentinians. They love to protest about everything. At the moment their is a bus strike, no buses from 10pm to 5am in protest against the lack of security for drivers, ( a driver was stabbed by a drunk in a far barrio of BA). It is a Latin American thing my Peruvian housemate told me. Our advisors at USAL (the uni I am at) told us there are protests very often and qutie often they are violent and we should be wary. At least they are active!
I am learning lunfado, morfar=comer, copado=guay, mina=chica, laborar=trabajar, sueldo=wage, y está.
