Why do you want to live here? (Part I)

You moved from California to live here? What is someone like you doing here in Buenos Aires?  Did you come here to work?  Did you come here because you have a boyfriend here? I am asked these questions along with Where are you from? at least 4 times a day and usually more.  My answer has always been the same.  I think Buenos Aires is a very special place.  I came here because I like the lifestyle.  I love the people.  Even the men.  As friends. And of course the tango.

I have always been a night person.  Even when I was a baby I liked to stay up at night and sleep during the day.  Now as an adult most people think I just don't sleep.  Not true, I sleep maybe 4 hours, at the most 5.  It is impossible to function here when you sleep all day, so I just sleep less.  Here in Buenos Aires I can be a night person and not be alone. 

I remember once some friends who came here for the first time emailed me.  They were shocked at all the people who were out at 3:00 am during the week.  "What are these people doing?" They wanted to know.  How should I know?  I just know that I am usually one of them.

Another one of my friends who I got reacquainted with through my blog emailed me and wrote "I think you are having too much fun."  Yeah I am.  Even if I am still battling the men, I am having a great time. There is always so much to do here and people to do it with.  An Argentine friend once told me that if you are alone in Argentina, there is something wrong with you.  I have to agree with her.  I have so many friends here I never have enough time to see all of them.  Not only that, I seem to make more and more of them.

Here you just invite all your friends to one coffee.  The funny thing is they bring their friends. Coffee or dinner with one or two friends usually ends up to be coffee or dinner with 5 - 10 friends, or new friends.  What I love is no one ever has to check to see if it is "alright" they just invite you.  There is always room for one more.

When I lived in California I had lots of friends.  But no one ever had any time to see anyone.  Everyone was always working.  You had to make an "appointment" at least a month in advance to have coffee with your best friend.  Thank god for email or people would never know if you were alive or not. 

My life is just as busy here as it was there.  It is a different kind of busy.  Instead of driving or flying all over the place to save people from their information systems, I take buses to teach them English. I no longer have to deal with stressed out managers and employees demanding more from me, from their system and many times the impossible.  I teach Business English to people who are  glad to see me.  I am the English teacher who finally has taught them meaning of "Pissed off"  "Mind your own business" and "You're wacked." Not to mention "icky", "gross" and "that sucks."

When I am not teaching English I work with Fernando teaching tango.  We teach at least 3 days a week.  That is usually much more challenging than teaching English.  It is just as rewarding.  When you see your student finally understand the music or how to turn.   When your students tell you the lesson they had with you and the guy they never heard of was the best lesson they ever had you feel great.

Then there are the people that stay with me. Hmmm...have you read the Houseguest from Hell?  Of course not all my guests are like that.  If you read Hurricane Jane you know that I develop a deep affection for many of the people who have stayed with me.  So in between teaching English, teaching tango, terrorizing the men here, dancing, I have my house guests too.  As you can see, there is never a dull moment in my life.

I have given you reasons why I moved here. For me the richness of being here is being a part of the culture.  Being part of Argentina.  This is more than just moving here, buying an apartment, remodeling it, and living here.  It is more than just throwing your money around.  It is having a life here.

Comments

[Paula]

It's nice to read those words from you about My country!!!

[GARY A]

I THINK YOU WERE BLESSED WITH AN EXTRA DOSE OF STAMINA.
I DO THINK THE AMERICAN LIFE STYLE TENDS TO ISOLATE PEOPLE.

REGARDS GARY