So midterms are finally done here! Think I mentioned that in my last entry. To celebrate my friend Natalie and I had a jam packed weekend! We went to the racetrack Friday, where I had absolutely no luck, but sadly could not get into the casino! Stupid Argentines still think they have the right to ask us for original ID when that law was nullified along with Jorge Videla. Saturday I went and played a scrimmage with Di Tella, then went to see Chacarita Juniors play Huracan in Argentinos Juniors stadium. After that we had a wonderful at home dinner (i.e take out from the grill around the corner), and then went out for some drinks! Sunday was by far the best day, though. Why? Well because I was on the radio.
This man Dario and his wife are really totally making my life right now! As a part of the group of fans that they run, they have a website and a radio show. So the Sunday before last Dario had announced on the show that there was an American girl studying in Buenos Aires doing her thesis on Argentinos Juniors! Apparently people actually called in and said like "Oh is that the girl I saw you with at the game?" or "yeah I'm pretty sure I saw her at the press office at the polideportivo". So it happened just as I thought, everyone knows me as "the american doing the research."
Well they invited me this week, I couldn't go last week, to the radio station for their weekly show. Now, radio is much more widely listened to in this country than in the USA. Principally because many people don't have the money to buy a television and many businesses don't have a place to put one! It was really interesting, though. I had envisioned some big building in the center of town. Nope. It was a small house right across the border between the province and the city. There was no sign outside, but there were about three recording rooms. I believe 1 downstairs and 2 upstairs.
We went in to the room, which was sound proofed, and there was a table with one microphone hanging in the middle. There were about 6 of us in total. They just talked about Argentino's chances against the team they played Sunday afternoon, and some people called in. It's amazing the amount of ways that people can call into a radio show these days! There was a computer that was practically in the table. I don't know how they configured it. But the show was getting messages on Facebook, on MSN Messenger, and e-mails! Plus, there were 2 phone lines, and you even could txt the station! We were talking, and then when someone called in we put on these headsets connected to these outlets that in turn connected to something in the middle of the table and we could hear what the caller was saying. Unfortunately, my hour of fame was not quite as huge as it should have been. Ha ha! The station was experiencing problems so lots of people only heard music on the station instead of the show.
But yeah, Dario had me say a few words about my thesis and why I chose the team. He asked me my predictions about the game (which they ended up tying 1-1), and had me end the program in English! Ha. He said they were looking for something to liven up the program. He had asked me, well can you say this that and the third (but he asked me in Spanish) in English at the end of our program? I couldn't put my finger on the direct translation and I didn't want to get it wrong, so I originally told him no. Then they were about to end the program and everyone just stopped talking and looked at me! So I said, "Stay tuned in next week, Argentinos Pasion will be back on at the same time!"
The program cut, everyone started laughing, they asked me, "Um what did you just say!" Guess they thought they'd be able to understand me! Ha.
Well after that Natalie and I went to San Telmo and were very cultural. We walked around the fair, we went to the Saint Telmo Museum. And of course, I got loads of pictures!
San Nicolas is Saturday with Di Tella's soccer team! I'm so excited! Sooo much work to do though! Oh well. I mean, who really needs sleep anyways?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Machismo at it's best....working on the museum and other thesis stuff
So as a part of my thesis research I have been invited to help put together the very first museum about the history of Argentinos Juniors. The opening date was set to be October 31, but they're shooting for November 16 now, since there have been some delays. There are about 10 people on the committee, all fans, all (except Dario, who of course has a position at the club, but who of course does not get paid for his overtime work on the museum) are volunteers. There are three females on the committee, including myself, and one who is an artist not affiliated with the club who's being paid for her work. My experiences in the museum have been quite interesting so far.
Saturday before the game Dario said that the group was getting together to work on the museum. Ok, so I hiked over at 11:00AM to be there. Now, out of the four men and two women who were there, take a WILD guess who was ACTUALLY working. Yup, Dario's wife Gabbi. She was putting names with all the photos to make placards telling the names of the players on each team that the museum has photos for. The others? "Discussing" or "Debating" about different things...none of which brought an actual decision.
Fast forward to yesterday. Another meeting. I suppose I'll be down there a lot because the opening date is so soon and there's SOOO much to be done. Anyway. Dario told me 7:00 PM. An actual somewhat organized meeting did not start til 8:15. Who was responsable for organizing the chaos? The female artist not affilliated with the club. She got everyone's attention, presented her ideas, and then the men had to debate them. And who took notes? Who thought of writing everything down so said debate didn't have to happen all over again the next meeting? Another female, of course. Seemed to me that the men just argued, debated, and planned. The women did all the concrete work, which of course they presented to the men for their opinion.
And what did I do, you might ask? Well. I shined trophies. Hence the picture. Small job. But of course as a foreigner I was just there to observe, and grateful for the chance to do it! It was phenomenally interesting all the tiny details that go into the planning of a museum. Personally I don't think they'll be able to fit everything they want to in such a small space, but I suppose we'll see what happens. Apparently the opening was supposed to be like in mid October, which means they're really pushing the clock moving it back a month. They've had to deal with a lot of delays and everything, and of course money problems. They pay for it all out of pocket and then later get reimbursed by the club, provided they can show receipts.
In other thesis news. I do believe my interview with the president of the club is going to be tonight! I have ten questions to ask him and I'm quite excited!!! I've heard great things about the man, so I'm sure I'll learn lots. Last night I also procured another interview with the man that owns the Merchandising business for the club. He's 78 and can remember games since he was 4, according to him at least. That's all for now in thesis land. Mid terms are done and this weekend is my fun weekend!
That's all for now in Buenos Aires.
Saturday before the game Dario said that the group was getting together to work on the museum. Ok, so I hiked over at 11:00AM to be there. Now, out of the four men and two women who were there, take a WILD guess who was ACTUALLY working. Yup, Dario's wife Gabbi. She was putting names with all the photos to make placards telling the names of the players on each team that the museum has photos for. The others? "Discussing" or "Debating" about different things...none of which brought an actual decision.
Fast forward to yesterday. Another meeting. I suppose I'll be down there a lot because the opening date is so soon and there's SOOO much to be done. Anyway. Dario told me 7:00 PM. An actual somewhat organized meeting did not start til 8:15. Who was responsable for organizing the chaos? The female artist not affilliated with the club. She got everyone's attention, presented her ideas, and then the men had to debate them. And who took notes? Who thought of writing everything down so said debate didn't have to happen all over again the next meeting? Another female, of course. Seemed to me that the men just argued, debated, and planned. The women did all the concrete work, which of course they presented to the men for their opinion.
And what did I do, you might ask? Well. I shined trophies. Hence the picture. Small job. But of course as a foreigner I was just there to observe, and grateful for the chance to do it! It was phenomenally interesting all the tiny details that go into the planning of a museum. Personally I don't think they'll be able to fit everything they want to in such a small space, but I suppose we'll see what happens. Apparently the opening was supposed to be like in mid October, which means they're really pushing the clock moving it back a month. They've had to deal with a lot of delays and everything, and of course money problems. They pay for it all out of pocket and then later get reimbursed by the club, provided they can show receipts.
In other thesis news. I do believe my interview with the president of the club is going to be tonight! I have ten questions to ask him and I'm quite excited!!! I've heard great things about the man, so I'm sure I'll learn lots. Last night I also procured another interview with the man that owns the Merchandising business for the club. He's 78 and can remember games since he was 4, according to him at least. That's all for now in thesis land. Mid terms are done and this weekend is my fun weekend!
That's all for now in Buenos Aires.
The meeting took place on this really old set of bleachers! Ha. ->
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Field Research Really Pays Off...SOOO Happy With the Reception This Team is Giving ME!!
I had such a great weekend and it's only Saturday! As I believe I told you all, a couple of weeks ago I met the head of marketing for the entire club, whose name is Dario Vaccarrini. This man and his fiance Gabi have like single handedly MADE my thesis. Dario, I suppose, was floored that I knew about his team from 5000 miles away and has just been telling EVERYONE about me: to the point where I had two people say to me today (one who was the former press secretary of the club which was neat), "Oh YOU'RE the American doing the thesis!" And everyone is just enchanted with the fact that I chose this small team to write about. As such.
I got into the stadium this morning to help Dario with the museum preparations. The team's FIRST try at a musuem is set to open by the end of the month. From there, a friend of Dario's took us down to the soccer training complex in a neighborhood called Bajo Flores (like 20 min. car ride) to watch the junior divisions play. I had NEVER seen this complex. I was thinking about hopping on a colectivo and just going down there. Now, I'm glad I didn't. It's in a pretty rough neighbhorhood just a block away from a shanty town.
Ok, so, the reception that I got at this complex. For example. For those of you who haven't been reading the persistent complaints on my Facebook status, I've been having the worst shin splints. I remember asking someone about two years ago what shin splints were. They told me it was when the muscle there begins to slowly separate from the bone. Ok. I took that at face value and tried to explain to Dario why my legs were hurting (a literal translation for shin splints seems to be beyond everyone's grasp). While I was explaining this, one of the many trainers at the complex walked by. Dario stopped him, asked him what it was called when the muscle separted from the leg in the shin. He looked at him puzzled. Dario explained what I was trying to tell him. The man took me into the medical exam room, sat me up on one of the beds, and checked me out right then and there! He asked me where it hurt, felt my shins to see about the muscles, and took a look at the bottoms of my feet. Apparently it's not the tendons in my shin, it's my feet that are the problem. But I was FLOORED that he would do that for someone that was so far from in any way related to anyone of the athletes!
Later we went back for the game, which began at 6PM. Now last Thursday I became a member of Argentinos Juniors (the first American citizen with such an honor, might I add, in the club's HISTORY), so I could have gotten into the popular section for free. Dario, however, had other plans. He and Gabbi gave me a press pass that they normally use for their fan group that they run, and so I got into the plateas with them! Seats were great, and the team played GREAT! So after the game, I figured out that with said press pass, one would be allowed, no questions asked, into the area where the players leave...for after the game commentary. So...I followed Gabbi down the stairs (leaving before everyone else, because with a press pass you can do that), and was right in the central hall when everyone was leaving.
So there was this German tourist who also met Dario at one point. He was with the group. All the sudden I hear him speaking in German with this older man who's nicely dressed (like, not atheletic apparel) but with an Argentinos Juniors shirt. He was also standing outside the press limits. This man got very interested when I pulled out my membership card and told the german man in our group. Turns out...he's the presidents cousin and his name is Carlos Sanchez! Now, I already met Luis Segura, the president of the club, who agreed to be interviewed for my paper. But, it's thanks to his cousin that I owe this great picture with me and mid-fielder Nestor Ortigoza!!! Nestor was SOOO nice. He obliged both me and Carlos in taking pictures.
Oh it was a great day. Got so much useful information!!! WOW
I got into the stadium this morning to help Dario with the museum preparations. The team's FIRST try at a musuem is set to open by the end of the month. From there, a friend of Dario's took us down to the soccer training complex in a neighborhood called Bajo Flores (like 20 min. car ride) to watch the junior divisions play. I had NEVER seen this complex. I was thinking about hopping on a colectivo and just going down there. Now, I'm glad I didn't. It's in a pretty rough neighbhorhood just a block away from a shanty town.
Ok, so, the reception that I got at this complex. For example. For those of you who haven't been reading the persistent complaints on my Facebook status, I've been having the worst shin splints. I remember asking someone about two years ago what shin splints were. They told me it was when the muscle there begins to slowly separate from the bone. Ok. I took that at face value and tried to explain to Dario why my legs were hurting (a literal translation for shin splints seems to be beyond everyone's grasp). While I was explaining this, one of the many trainers at the complex walked by. Dario stopped him, asked him what it was called when the muscle separted from the leg in the shin. He looked at him puzzled. Dario explained what I was trying to tell him. The man took me into the medical exam room, sat me up on one of the beds, and checked me out right then and there! He asked me where it hurt, felt my shins to see about the muscles, and took a look at the bottoms of my feet. Apparently it's not the tendons in my shin, it's my feet that are the problem. But I was FLOORED that he would do that for someone that was so far from in any way related to anyone of the athletes!
Later we went back for the game, which began at 6PM. Now last Thursday I became a member of Argentinos Juniors (the first American citizen with such an honor, might I add, in the club's HISTORY), so I could have gotten into the popular section for free. Dario, however, had other plans. He and Gabbi gave me a press pass that they normally use for their fan group that they run, and so I got into the plateas with them! Seats were great, and the team played GREAT! So after the game, I figured out that with said press pass, one would be allowed, no questions asked, into the area where the players leave...for after the game commentary. So...I followed Gabbi down the stairs (leaving before everyone else, because with a press pass you can do that), and was right in the central hall when everyone was leaving.
So there was this German tourist who also met Dario at one point. He was with the group. All the sudden I hear him speaking in German with this older man who's nicely dressed (like, not atheletic apparel) but with an Argentinos Juniors shirt. He was also standing outside the press limits. This man got very interested when I pulled out my membership card and told the german man in our group. Turns out...he's the presidents cousin and his name is Carlos Sanchez! Now, I already met Luis Segura, the president of the club, who agreed to be interviewed for my paper. But, it's thanks to his cousin that I owe this great picture with me and mid-fielder Nestor Ortigoza!!! Nestor was SOOO nice. He obliged both me and Carlos in taking pictures.
Oh it was a great day. Got so much useful information!!! WOW
Thursday, October 15, 2009
A List of Questions I'm Sure I'll Never Figure Out
I am currently at the polideportivo of Argentinos Juniors with massive shin splints, no will to take notes on political science before the press office opens at four, and feeling like another bon-o-bon alfajor. As such...thought I'd write another blog entry about the "Whys" of Argentina.
Upon leaving this country December 11 I am sure I will not have figured out....
1) Why fotocopiadoras exist if photocopying here is just as illegal as it is in any other country.
2) Why there are people that walk 15 dogs at a time and don't pick up the poop from any one of them.
3) Why people wash their sidewalks IN THE RAIN!!!
4) Why no one pays attention to no smoking signs.
5) Why I Argentine men don't know how to holla at a woman correctly. (I mean, let's be realistic, I have only met one Argentine man who doesn't think he's doing a woman a favor by cat calling at her in the street)
6) Why NO ONE is ever on time to anything regardless of whether or not they're taking public transportation to get where they're going.( I swear the time thing gets worse proportional to how far south of the equator you are)
7) Why the first part of the asado at restaurants is always delicious and the second piece is always fat.
8) WHY IN THE WORLD YOU GET ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING DELIEVERED HERE.
9) Why NO ONE ever answers e-mails.
10) Why blind people would ever be allowed on subways (not trying to be discriminatory here, people, but lets get real, that's kinda dangerous!)
11) Why the dogs are dressed better than I am.
12) Why on earth all Argentine dogs are so well behaved and can walk around without a leash.
13)Why Maradona is still considered a god if 1) his career was cut short by his own stupidity and 2) he can't even coach the national team correctly and should be thanking God day in and day out that they beat Uruguay yesterday
14) Why the candy here is sooo much more delicious than in the USA.
and most of all...
15) WHY CHRISTINA KIRCHNER IS SO DUMB...WHERE IS THIS WOMAN'S HEAD AT???
So that's my list. I'm sure there are more unresolved questions that I will go little by little adding. But yes this is a very interesting company full of compexities.
Upon leaving this country December 11 I am sure I will not have figured out....
1) Why fotocopiadoras exist if photocopying here is just as illegal as it is in any other country.
2) Why there are people that walk 15 dogs at a time and don't pick up the poop from any one of them.
3) Why people wash their sidewalks IN THE RAIN!!!
4) Why no one pays attention to no smoking signs.
5) Why I Argentine men don't know how to holla at a woman correctly. (I mean, let's be realistic, I have only met one Argentine man who doesn't think he's doing a woman a favor by cat calling at her in the street)
6) Why NO ONE is ever on time to anything regardless of whether or not they're taking public transportation to get where they're going.( I swear the time thing gets worse proportional to how far south of the equator you are)
7) Why the first part of the asado at restaurants is always delicious and the second piece is always fat.
8) WHY IN THE WORLD YOU GET ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING DELIEVERED HERE.
9) Why NO ONE ever answers e-mails.
10) Why blind people would ever be allowed on subways (not trying to be discriminatory here, people, but lets get real, that's kinda dangerous!)
11) Why the dogs are dressed better than I am.
12) Why on earth all Argentine dogs are so well behaved and can walk around without a leash.
13)Why Maradona is still considered a god if 1) his career was cut short by his own stupidity and 2) he can't even coach the national team correctly and should be thanking God day in and day out that they beat Uruguay yesterday
14) Why the candy here is sooo much more delicious than in the USA.
and most of all...
15) WHY CHRISTINA KIRCHNER IS SO DUMB...WHERE IS THIS WOMAN'S HEAD AT???
So that's my list. I'm sure there are more unresolved questions that I will go little by little adding. But yes this is a very interesting company full of compexities.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Personal Updates and My Adventure to Tigre!
Ladies and gentlemen, my apologies for the lack of an entry this weekend! Things are getting pretty hectic for me right now and my priority is of course, finishing this semester!!!! So what's been going on in this great city? Let's see if I can relate with a hint of cohesion here.
Well on my part, I realized about a week ago that if I really try, I can be finished with the entire semester by November 25. Something that is absolutely astounding, considering the Gettysburg College calendar puts finals starting on December 13! But it's mostly because I am a foreign exchange student, and because Universidad Salvador (where I am taking classes) has students take their final exams the semester after, foreign exchange students OBVIOUSLY must take them before they leave. So, I have papers for my political science class and my literature class instead of final exams. And.....just about ten minutes ago I finished my final paper for Literature!!! The bad part about doing it this way is that, at least for Literature, I am going to have to defend my paper orally (almost like the thesis defense on a master's level, but I'm ASSUMING/hoping/praying that it's going to be a weee bit simpler because, well, they said it only had to be 8 pages!) in one week! But anyway...I'm hoping that I can get everything done, and realizing that I have only like 7 or 8 more weekends here! Where in the world did the time go???
My plans, you ask? Well next Friday afternoon will be some sort of Museum trip. Because lets face it, every tourist must hit up a few museums on the way and be cultured and classy and the like. Next Saturday and Sunday will be spent with my nose in the books. The NEXT weekend however, oh the next weekend. THAT will be spent at the RACETRACK!!!! There so happens to be a racetrack about six or seven blocks from my house WITH a casino. For anyone who doesn't know me that well, I'm an ace better and have had some pretty big victories at Freehold Raceway, not to toot my own horn or anything. But we shall see what Argentine Raceways are like! The weekend after that is Mar de Plata with the soccer team. The weekend after that is Iguazu!!! The following weekend is up in the air, the weekend after that will be homework, and the weekend after that is four days in Uruguay (if not more!!). Ines says I should go on to Montevideo and not stay in Colonia (where everyone from our program is going for Thanksgiving dinner and the director's ESTATE there), but lets face it... after 6.5 weeks of hell I'll need the beaches to relax me!!!
So, I'll be absolutely everyone wants to know what I did this weekend!!! Well, the majority of it I spent with my nose in the books, BUT...I did get out of the house! I thought it best I get some sun that did NOT come from a soccer field. So on Sunday Natalie and I ventured forth to Tigre, a town about an hour train ride from my house. Tigre, I believe, was the original site of the founding of Buenos Aires. When it failed, they moved the second site farther south. I BELIEVE, but please, don't hold me to that. It's famous for its proximity to the River Tigre and it's fruit market!! There was LOADS of stuff we could have done. Well, we took a forty five minute ride out on the river for the equivalent of 7 US $, and took lots of pictures of course. We walked around the huuuge market (but didn't see much, lets face it... we totally need a whole day to see everything. I kid you not it's just that huge), had a verrry luxurious lunch, and sat in the sun for a while. It wasn't much, but we definitely considered it a well deserved study break. I found a little shop in the market that sold old issues of the best sports magazine of the country (when I say sports, think soccer) called El Grafico, and I bought the issue when Argentinos Juniors was fighting for the Copa Libertador en 1985. I also picked up a couple of souveniers! Hope you like the picture!!
That said, my research has hit a roadblock and I'm fighting the lack of sources in this country to help me understand the development of the neighborhood. I've gone on several wild goose chases hitting up the two biggest libraries in the country and found 9 pages, a power point slide show, and a map with interesting points in the neighborhood along with several email addresses that have led to absolutely NOWHERE. My contact? The one that gave me the tour? It's been a week since he answered my email. Thinking about sending him another one. It's been difficult and really impeding my writing. I know I'll work around it somehow, though!
As for what's going on in this city? I don't know if anyone's heard about the situation with Terrabusi, the company that Kraft just bought. The situation is that, during the week this summer when much of the country shut down due to the rampant spread of Swine Flu, a portion of the workers in this factory started demanding better working conditions (b/c from what I've heard the conditions were horrible) and to be allowed the week off, just as other factories were giving their workers off. The company refused, and when those workers did not show during this week, they were counted as just not having come to work and they were fired accordingly. Now, in this country one cannot be fired without compensation of the equivalent of, I believe, two months salary. Terrabusi has ADAMANTLY refused to pay these workers there compensation and the 150 workers and their supporters have taken to the streets. Of course, they tried legal methods first, but as no one answered and the government has done nothing, the workers have begun periodically blocking the biggest route into the city, La Ruta Panamericana. It's getting critical here, people. I've been told that it isn't like the US when, if you get fired, you just look for and find another job relatively quickly. You get fired here, and you're out of work for a while.. if not permanently. This is a matter not just of principal, but it is a matter of whether or not these 150 families will be able to survive. To me, a sad example of greed on the part of Terrabusi and something the government should have been involved in a looong while ago. They intervene to bring the country their football, but not this? I have no idea where Kirchner's priorities are at.
So, that's how it is in Buenos Aires.
Well on my part, I realized about a week ago that if I really try, I can be finished with the entire semester by November 25. Something that is absolutely astounding, considering the Gettysburg College calendar puts finals starting on December 13! But it's mostly because I am a foreign exchange student, and because Universidad Salvador (where I am taking classes) has students take their final exams the semester after, foreign exchange students OBVIOUSLY must take them before they leave. So, I have papers for my political science class and my literature class instead of final exams. And.....just about ten minutes ago I finished my final paper for Literature!!! The bad part about doing it this way is that, at least for Literature, I am going to have to defend my paper orally (almost like the thesis defense on a master's level, but I'm ASSUMING/hoping/praying that it's going to be a weee bit simpler because, well, they said it only had to be 8 pages!) in one week! But anyway...I'm hoping that I can get everything done, and realizing that I have only like 7 or 8 more weekends here! Where in the world did the time go???
My plans, you ask? Well next Friday afternoon will be some sort of Museum trip. Because lets face it, every tourist must hit up a few museums on the way and be cultured and classy and the like. Next Saturday and Sunday will be spent with my nose in the books. The NEXT weekend however, oh the next weekend. THAT will be spent at the RACETRACK!!!! There so happens to be a racetrack about six or seven blocks from my house WITH a casino. For anyone who doesn't know me that well, I'm an ace better and have had some pretty big victories at Freehold Raceway, not to toot my own horn or anything. But we shall see what Argentine Raceways are like! The weekend after that is Mar de Plata with the soccer team. The weekend after that is Iguazu!!! The following weekend is up in the air, the weekend after that will be homework, and the weekend after that is four days in Uruguay (if not more!!). Ines says I should go on to Montevideo and not stay in Colonia (where everyone from our program is going for Thanksgiving dinner and the director's ESTATE there), but lets face it... after 6.5 weeks of hell I'll need the beaches to relax me!!!
So, I'll be absolutely everyone wants to know what I did this weekend!!! Well, the majority of it I spent with my nose in the books, BUT...I did get out of the house! I thought it best I get some sun that did NOT come from a soccer field. So on Sunday Natalie and I ventured forth to Tigre, a town about an hour train ride from my house. Tigre, I believe, was the original site of the founding of Buenos Aires. When it failed, they moved the second site farther south. I BELIEVE, but please, don't hold me to that. It's famous for its proximity to the River Tigre and it's fruit market!! There was LOADS of stuff we could have done. Well, we took a forty five minute ride out on the river for the equivalent of 7 US $, and took lots of pictures of course. We walked around the huuuge market (but didn't see much, lets face it... we totally need a whole day to see everything. I kid you not it's just that huge), had a verrry luxurious lunch, and sat in the sun for a while. It wasn't much, but we definitely considered it a well deserved study break. I found a little shop in the market that sold old issues of the best sports magazine of the country (when I say sports, think soccer) called El Grafico, and I bought the issue when Argentinos Juniors was fighting for the Copa Libertador en 1985. I also picked up a couple of souveniers! Hope you like the picture!!
That said, my research has hit a roadblock and I'm fighting the lack of sources in this country to help me understand the development of the neighborhood. I've gone on several wild goose chases hitting up the two biggest libraries in the country and found 9 pages, a power point slide show, and a map with interesting points in the neighborhood along with several email addresses that have led to absolutely NOWHERE. My contact? The one that gave me the tour? It's been a week since he answered my email. Thinking about sending him another one. It's been difficult and really impeding my writing. I know I'll work around it somehow, though!
As for what's going on in this city? I don't know if anyone's heard about the situation with Terrabusi, the company that Kraft just bought. The situation is that, during the week this summer when much of the country shut down due to the rampant spread of Swine Flu, a portion of the workers in this factory started demanding better working conditions (b/c from what I've heard the conditions were horrible) and to be allowed the week off, just as other factories were giving their workers off. The company refused, and when those workers did not show during this week, they were counted as just not having come to work and they were fired accordingly. Now, in this country one cannot be fired without compensation of the equivalent of, I believe, two months salary. Terrabusi has ADAMANTLY refused to pay these workers there compensation and the 150 workers and their supporters have taken to the streets. Of course, they tried legal methods first, but as no one answered and the government has done nothing, the workers have begun periodically blocking the biggest route into the city, La Ruta Panamericana. It's getting critical here, people. I've been told that it isn't like the US when, if you get fired, you just look for and find another job relatively quickly. You get fired here, and you're out of work for a while.. if not permanently. This is a matter not just of principal, but it is a matter of whether or not these 150 families will be able to survive. To me, a sad example of greed on the part of Terrabusi and something the government should have been involved in a looong while ago. They intervene to bring the country their football, but not this? I have no idea where Kirchner's priorities are at.
So, that's how it is in Buenos Aires.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
"Dale, loco!" What a life I live!
What a life I live, folks! It's Sunday morning and I've already had a great weekend! Well on Friday, I was super productive. I did homework from around 10AM until 12:15 at night with minimal breaks. Why? Principally because I knew I would be doing no homework Saturday. And what did I do Saturday?
Well.
Saturday morning University Torquato Di Tella played against Universidad Catolica at the fields of the University of San Andres. I didn't play goalie, though. They let me play in the field! But the bad part about that was that I didn't get to play the whole game. So many of us were there that we made a lot of substitutions. We won, though! 1-0, and my friend Jess from the same exchange program (IFSA) scored the goal! It was great, because she had missed a penalty kick before, so she got to redeem herself. Unfortunately, though, I could not go out to eat with the team to celebrate. Why? Well. That's the second part to my day.
Last Thursday, I pretty much wondered into the stadium of Argentinos Juniors, the team I'm doing my thesis on. I got to watch them practice. Later that day, I also stopped by and asked about the museum I had heard about before. The two men whom I asked (one who I later figured out was the coach of the junior divisions) went in, found the coordinator of the construction of this museum. He was floored when I told him I was from the USA and was doing my final thesis on his team. He took me up to the museum (which was not even open yet) , showed me around, answered some of my questions, promised to help me with my paper, AND invited me to the team's game Saturday! Said he could get me platea seats for 50 pesos (around $USA 12). Of COURSE... I said, SURE.
So after the soccer game at San Andres, I hopped the train with one of the other girls who had to get home, and with my friend Natalie, hopped on the colectivo to get down to La Paternal where the stadium is. Well. It turns out, that he didn't have to pay anything for the tickets, so we got in FREE. Frankly, I was FLOORED that he didn't try to make some money off of us by not telling us. He's a REALLY nice guy. He and his wife are HUGE fans of the team. And he's also the Head of Marketing for the whole club!
So we got platea seats. The difference between platea and popular is that platea is the typical stadium seating that we think of in the United States. Popular, while much less expensive than platea, is a space where people stand to watch the game. Our seats were absolutely great! We got there early so we watched the reserve divisons play. The first division of the club ended up winning 1-0!! It was a really good goal too.
Then...we got a stadium tour!!! We got out on the field. We were in the central hall when some of the players and the coach (who played on their 1985 championship team) were being interviewed by the press. We got to see the press room, the locker rooms, and the museum! It was absolutely incredible! And all for 30 pesos! I definitely plan on working with this head of marketing on the museum. It's just INCREDIBLE. This would never have happened at the stadiums of the bigger teams, and it certainly would have never happened in the United STates!!!!
Part 3 of my day? Ines and her friend invited Natalie and I to what is called a Pena. A lot of people come together and dance folklore music from different regions of Argentina. It was sooo interesting. Of course, I was incredibly tired. But I just found it sooo interesting that these things still exist today! Ines is such a classy lady. She radiates class. And this was definitely something that would have been right up her alley, if it had been done right. Hahaha. The place was great (an old restored theater), and the food was absolutely delicious. Everything was homecooked. The music? Not so hot. Well, it is to say, the performers. The first two must have been friends of the house, because they weren't at the program. The third, the first performer on the program, played with a lot of enthusiasm, but the sound was far from the best. We left relatively early, except I was soooo tired!!! =)
So that was an excellet day I had here. The game was absolutely awesome. Hope you enjoy the picture! It's me and Natalie on the team's benches!!!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Maaany VERY choice words for the Argentine Immigration System
To begin with, there is absolutely NO earthly reason why I should be leaving Migrations at 11:05AM when I arrived 15 minutes early for my 7:45AM appointment. Yes, folks. 3.5 hours. Three and a half hours and SIX HUNDRED PESOS LATER I am basically assured residency for 2 years in this WONNNNDERFUL country.
So apparently, Argentina considers whatever country you were born in your nationality. So while most Americans would consider me an American born in Colombia, Argentina considers me a Colombian with an American passport. Soooo..... I get there, and think "Yes! I'm first in line for the entire day!" It was like 7:50 and I had the ticket 001. Ok. I go up to the window and the guy takes my passport, he said, "You were born in Colombia?" I said "Yes". He said, "This is the wrong counter." So he went with me to the counter where they were giving out numbers, and told the two women that since I was born in Colombia I had to go through the MercoSur (Market of the South- the Southern Cone's entity similar to the EU, which other countries in South America, including Colombia, are also an affiliate) procedure.
So then they give me ticket 012 for the Mercosur counter. I wait like 6 or 7 minutes and my number is called. Now, IFSA (the exchange program I came with) said that we had to bring 300 pesos. LUCKILY I withdrew lots from the ATM, to avoid the absolutely gigantic ATM fees they charge. So, they told me the fee would be 600. I asked why. They explained that since I am Colombian BUT do not possess a Colombia passport, I have to go through the Mercosur Process, BUT they have to charge me in a category called EXTRA-MERCOSUR. Which basically means, those applying for residency that were born OUTSIDE Mercosur.
Mind you...it took like 30 minutes to figure this out. I wasn't going to pay them 300 pesos extra just because they said so, and luckily just as this was happening, the Migrations Head for IFSA was coming into the building. So, I asked him to come over and asked him why they're saying they want twice as much as IFSA said to bring. He said that even though I was MERCOSUR that I was applying for Transitory Residency, and therefore should only be charged 300. Well, they said I was at the wrong counter for Transitory Residency. So they took me BACK to the counter where they give out the numbers. Ugh. I don't even want to waste energy describing this whole fiasco, which, may I add, attracted the higher ups in the corner offices to come and resolve. We got the final verdict from the man in the very corner office. Then of course I had to wait about 2 hours for them to do God knows what with this piece of paper that I signed. I swear they gave me back the exact same piece of paper I signed except with my photo stapled on, and of course THAT took 2 hours.
I would wager that this was more of a fiasco that most DMVs in the US. There were SOOO many people behind these glass windows, yet it seemed only a quarter of them were actually working!!!! They were ALL taking their SWEET time drinking their mate and having their croissants, and it just really ticked me off!
Besides. Wouldn't you think that my exchange program IFSA would have KNOWN how this works??? That those born in Mercosur countries have to pay extra if they're naturalized USA citizens??? Oh, of course not!!!! Their excuse?? "Well, it's really not that common."
In addition.....of course I took the wrong train home. I had to walk 8 blocks then catch a bus, when I should've gotten off at a station 4 blocks from my house. And the most confusing thing??? I was on the right line. Needless to say I really just felt like crying when I FINALLY got home, which was about six hours after I left my house. This has definitely NOT been one of those days where I'm just too good at this country.
But yesterday was!!!! And this Saturday will be as well! Stay tuned for blog entires detailing everything! As I think I have already ranted enough for one entry and getting on to how great of a Saturday I am going to have would be rather confusing.
All I can say. That's how it is here in Buenos Aires!!!!!
So apparently, Argentina considers whatever country you were born in your nationality. So while most Americans would consider me an American born in Colombia, Argentina considers me a Colombian with an American passport. Soooo..... I get there, and think "Yes! I'm first in line for the entire day!" It was like 7:50 and I had the ticket 001. Ok. I go up to the window and the guy takes my passport, he said, "You were born in Colombia?" I said "Yes". He said, "This is the wrong counter." So he went with me to the counter where they were giving out numbers, and told the two women that since I was born in Colombia I had to go through the MercoSur (Market of the South- the Southern Cone's entity similar to the EU, which other countries in South America, including Colombia, are also an affiliate) procedure.
So then they give me ticket 012 for the Mercosur counter. I wait like 6 or 7 minutes and my number is called. Now, IFSA (the exchange program I came with) said that we had to bring 300 pesos. LUCKILY I withdrew lots from the ATM, to avoid the absolutely gigantic ATM fees they charge. So, they told me the fee would be 600. I asked why. They explained that since I am Colombian BUT do not possess a Colombia passport, I have to go through the Mercosur Process, BUT they have to charge me in a category called EXTRA-MERCOSUR. Which basically means, those applying for residency that were born OUTSIDE Mercosur.
Mind you...it took like 30 minutes to figure this out. I wasn't going to pay them 300 pesos extra just because they said so, and luckily just as this was happening, the Migrations Head for IFSA was coming into the building. So, I asked him to come over and asked him why they're saying they want twice as much as IFSA said to bring. He said that even though I was MERCOSUR that I was applying for Transitory Residency, and therefore should only be charged 300. Well, they said I was at the wrong counter for Transitory Residency. So they took me BACK to the counter where they give out the numbers. Ugh. I don't even want to waste energy describing this whole fiasco, which, may I add, attracted the higher ups in the corner offices to come and resolve. We got the final verdict from the man in the very corner office. Then of course I had to wait about 2 hours for them to do God knows what with this piece of paper that I signed. I swear they gave me back the exact same piece of paper I signed except with my photo stapled on, and of course THAT took 2 hours.
I would wager that this was more of a fiasco that most DMVs in the US. There were SOOO many people behind these glass windows, yet it seemed only a quarter of them were actually working!!!! They were ALL taking their SWEET time drinking their mate and having their croissants, and it just really ticked me off!
Besides. Wouldn't you think that my exchange program IFSA would have KNOWN how this works??? That those born in Mercosur countries have to pay extra if they're naturalized USA citizens??? Oh, of course not!!!! Their excuse?? "Well, it's really not that common."
In addition.....of course I took the wrong train home. I had to walk 8 blocks then catch a bus, when I should've gotten off at a station 4 blocks from my house. And the most confusing thing??? I was on the right line. Needless to say I really just felt like crying when I FINALLY got home, which was about six hours after I left my house. This has definitely NOT been one of those days where I'm just too good at this country.
But yesterday was!!!! And this Saturday will be as well! Stay tuned for blog entires detailing everything! As I think I have already ranted enough for one entry and getting on to how great of a Saturday I am going to have would be rather confusing.
All I can say. That's how it is here in Buenos Aires!!!!!
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