Social media is amazing. I recently learned that I moved back to the USA and that I am dead. I wonder what I died of? I find it humorous that people still find me newsworthy. I had my 15 minutes of fame, and now I have crawled back into my hole...more or less. I can tell you unequivocally, the rumors of my demise are false (the dog and cat are not writing this post) and I have not moved back to the USA. I only go back once a year to get my Old Navy wardrobe, Costco vitamins, and my contact lenses. Otherwise, I would most likely never go back, although never is a strong word.
Argentines never fail to mention my American intonation when I speak (intonation is not the same as pronunciation), however, I feel more Argentine than American. Most bicultural people will tell you that it is like having a split personality. You are but you aren't. You don't really fit in anywhere. You love your adopted country, but it is not always easy.
Fifteen years is a long time to live somewhere, anywhere. You adapt. I now think eating dinner at 9:00 or 10:00 pm is normal. I cannot eat dinner at 6:00 pm or 7pm. That is merienda here. (Some kind of snack) Things not being straightforward are now normal to me. I now am an ace at figuring out the subtext. My favorite are the men who are bigger than me, look at me menacingly, and try to convince me I am wrong. People like building administrators. They don't scare me. I just stretch and look up at them and give them shit right back. Which shocks them. I have the 3 strikes; woman, foreigner, blond.
I learned how to get what I need or want. You need "friends," and you need the Internet... and Facebook. (ugh) I could never live without the Internet. The Internet is my friend. As a former business analyst it is easy to figure out what is fact and what is fiction. Facebook needs no explanation.
So what exactly am I doing with my life? I am teaching English...in China..on a virtual platform. I love it. I have learned so much about Chinese culture. I work for a great company. What I don't like is getting up at 5:00 AM to start teaching at 6:00 AM. I have never been a morning person so it has been a cultural revolution to be peppy and bright eyed so early in the morning.
I am traveling. Last year this time I was in India. That was a wonderful experience. I had no culture shock. After living here, nothing really bothers me. I can imagine coming from the 1st world it could shocking. I went to the USA, Iguazu Falls, and of course Chile. Next year 2019, I will be traveling quite a bit. It's either now or never. Never is not an option.
Do I still dance? Yes, but not so much. Maybe once a week. Sometimes twice. Tango is not the same as it was when I first came here 18 years ago. Most of the milongueros and milongueras have died. The level of dance has suffered. People either shuffle around the dance floor, or they do steps. I try to go to places where there are few or no tourists. Sorry guys. I know this is your grown up Disneyland dance vacation, but I can't bear to listen to:
- You are the best dancer in your community and there is no one else for you to dance with (I would hate to see how they dance in your community ...if you are the best)
- How you bought 400 new pair of shoes
- Who you know, like I care, I live here.
- How you are being way overcharged to take lessons from name brands who don't know how to teach
- What countries you go to to dance (You know, I stopped taking my shoes when I travel, that is yet another blog post)
- My absolute favorite - how you know more about what it is like to live here and dance here, than people who actually live here and dance here.
- There is no good food here...wrong wrong wrong
Now that I have nothing to sell, I can be my normal snarky self. Maybe you don't like it. That's OK. You can call me names, I don't care. Gigi (AKA Louise) understands. She is my partner in snark. I am back, and not from the dead. From the bowels of Caballito where I reside with JerryBrown and Maxi. Hasta la próxima...
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