I'm officially now a Bonarense* now and not a Porteno. The distinction is whether one lives in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires or in the province of Buenos Aires that surrounds the city proper.
*I think I spelled that wrong.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Learning a language is an interesting experience because you learn how many things don't make any sense in your own language. For example, today I have been trying to describe power strips in Spanish. Power strip is a decent description of a device that offers multiple electrical outlets, but truthfully it doesn't make much sense literally. And frankly, while I assume there's a few other words in English for it, I can't think of them right now.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Ironies Abound
When I wander around the city on public transportation, I frequently bring my ipod shuffle on me, loaded with various podcasts, Ride songs, and maybe a Shakira album or two.
Sometimes I leave the earbuds in, but usually I take them out if I talk to people, even for the simplest interactions.
The other day I didn't take my earbuds out, though I had turned off the sound. I walked up to the ticket counter, said where I was going for the train and the cranky lady asked if I had 10 cents. No, I don't have any coins, I replied. She asked me again, I shook my head no. Then, visibly annoyed, she said "HELLO! DO YOU HAVE 10 CENTS?"
I was pretty amused, you cranky old bureaucrat you. I'm the one with the earbuds in, yet you are the one who lacks the auditory capability. I replied politely with a smile on my face 3 times and heard every word spoken, yet you utterly failed to pay me heed or notice that my facial expressions would have indicated that I had also responded. Also, cranky lady, I will continue to wait at the ticket counter until you remember to give me the ticket I've paid for...no matter how annoyed you are.
Sometimes I leave the earbuds in, but usually I take them out if I talk to people, even for the simplest interactions.
The other day I didn't take my earbuds out, though I had turned off the sound. I walked up to the ticket counter, said where I was going for the train and the cranky lady asked if I had 10 cents. No, I don't have any coins, I replied. She asked me again, I shook my head no. Then, visibly annoyed, she said "HELLO! DO YOU HAVE 10 CENTS?"
I was pretty amused, you cranky old bureaucrat you. I'm the one with the earbuds in, yet you are the one who lacks the auditory capability. I replied politely with a smile on my face 3 times and heard every word spoken, yet you utterly failed to pay me heed or notice that my facial expressions would have indicated that I had also responded. Also, cranky lady, I will continue to wait at the ticket counter until you remember to give me the ticket I've paid for...no matter how annoyed you are.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Argentina hates me and wants me to die
They have cancelled Daylight Savings Time this year.
Christina and Nestor Kirchner, you may be two of the worst elected officials* in the history of the world and trying to ruin your country to enrich yourselves, but now it is personal with me.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
There are nights when...
There are nights when life just is perfect. Everything is exactly like you want it. You have made long-term plans, they have come to fruition; short-term things have worked out in your favor as well.
Tonight is that blissful night.
Tonight is that blissful night.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
This tilts me
I've never been to the McDonalds drive thru here until a day or two ago. They call it Auto Mac.
Where's the menu? It was basically about 6 photos of combo meals, and that's it.
Where's the menu? It was basically about 6 photos of combo meals, and that's it.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Today, today
Went running with a friend today, took the ol' camera along. Took the subway over to his place on Las Heras, then we went running up to the Coast. Wandered around the little convention centerish type thing (hey, there's a driving range, sweet!), then started heading down the coast.
Here's a little link to the map of where we were. Find the coast below the airport, follow up.
I sometimes wonder if people get a distorted sense of what it is like to live here when I post pictures like this. This is running up the coast. I think this is actually some little drainage ditch into the river. At first I thought that was a sunken-ish piece of machinery. Then I noticed that it appears to be in some sort of pool, if you note the concrete barrier. The sign on the sucker said something about ecological cleanup or something. Not sure if you can read it.
FYI, there are actually alot of expensive restaurants and clubs up here. Why is it that the water enchants people so much...especially at night?
I took this picture because there was a plane taking off right next to the road. Right after this plane took off, a plane landed on the same runway. Yep...I'm flying Aerolineas Argentinas soon!
Looking back from a little point sticking out into the river. On the far right you can see downtown in the distance. To the left of downtown you can see a club -- I think it's a club, and I'm sure it's somewhat famous whatever it is exactly.
This is the right half of the park. I just rotated 90 degrees and snapped another pictures. Off to the left was some playground equipment, but looks like you can't see it.
We kept running up the coast. We passed Santa Tierra (Holy Land) which appeared to be some sort of Catholic amusement park. Or at least I assume it was Catholic. Here's Evan's rule of thumb: if there's a body on the cross, it ain't Protestant. I just did some research and apparently the rest is some sort of private sports/pool park. Somehow I didn't here of it last summer, I guess...? It's not like I've been here forever, but at this point I do feel like I know Capital Federal pretty well, especially the richer neighborhoods.
If you follow that map from before, the road curves around the park and has a few UBA campuses on the right. We keep following the road and it turns into this. Thanks for the sidewalk! We walked on the side of the road with onrushing traffic right next to us. We got a few glares, but surprisingly no honks...and Portenos looooove to honk.
La casa de las gallinas. The stadium of River Plate.
Boca's stadium = much better. Though I do have a certain fondness for River's jersey, I have to admit.
Here's a little link to the map of where we were. Find the coast below the airport, follow up.
I sometimes wonder if people get a distorted sense of what it is like to live here when I post pictures like this. This is running up the coast. I think this is actually some little drainage ditch into the river. At first I thought that was a sunken-ish piece of machinery. Then I noticed that it appears to be in some sort of pool, if you note the concrete barrier. The sign on the sucker said something about ecological cleanup or something. Not sure if you can read it.
FYI, there are actually alot of expensive restaurants and clubs up here. Why is it that the water enchants people so much...especially at night?
I took this picture because there was a plane taking off right next to the road. Right after this plane took off, a plane landed on the same runway. Yep...I'm flying Aerolineas Argentinas soon!
Looking back from a little point sticking out into the river. On the far right you can see downtown in the distance. To the left of downtown you can see a club -- I think it's a club, and I'm sure it's somewhat famous whatever it is exactly.
This is the right half of the park. I just rotated 90 degrees and snapped another pictures. Off to the left was some playground equipment, but looks like you can't see it.
We kept running up the coast. We passed Santa Tierra (Holy Land) which appeared to be some sort of Catholic amusement park. Or at least I assume it was Catholic. Here's Evan's rule of thumb: if there's a body on the cross, it ain't Protestant. I just did some research and apparently the rest is some sort of private sports/pool park. Somehow I didn't here of it last summer, I guess...? It's not like I've been here forever, but at this point I do feel like I know Capital Federal pretty well, especially the richer neighborhoods.
If you follow that map from before, the road curves around the park and has a few UBA campuses on the right. We keep following the road and it turns into this. Thanks for the sidewalk! We walked on the side of the road with onrushing traffic right next to us. We got a few glares, but surprisingly no honks...and Portenos looooove to honk.
La casa de las gallinas. The stadium of River Plate.
Boca's stadium = much better. Though I do have a certain fondness for River's jersey, I have to admit.
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