This is not going to be a post about my personal trials and tribulations in Argentina. It is a translation of something I posted to Facebook in Spanish. Thing is, in Spanish it was very funny, I am not sure about the translation in English. It seems that these days I am funnier in Spanish that I am in English. Imagine that.
I am sick and tired of people who come to Argentina ; Buenos Aires, and do nothing but complain. There is always the comparison of here, to where they came from. I get it, Your home country is your reference point. However, if you are traveling, whether it be for a short time or extended time,the idea should be to broaden your horizons, to learn about a new culture, to experience the people, the food, the music. I know there are some people who travel to check a box to say they have been there. Maybe they have different criteria. People, can you please stop saying that pizza, ice cream, shampoo, toilet paper and whatever other stupid insignificant thing is better in the USA, Europe, Asia, Australia, or wherever it is you come from. I don't want to hear it, and neither does anyone else.
Then there are the people who move. People have many reasons for changing their country. Some are economic, people who think they will have more opportunities if they change their country. Others leave because of political or natural disaster like in Venezuela, Haiti, or Syria. Here you also find people who fell in love when they were on vacation, so they are here for a person. Others because they are digital nomads or retired and they believe that their money will go further.
Sometimes you don't have a choice, but when you do, you should choose somewhere to live that you like. When you change your country, you must change your mindset. You should forget everything you knew, in order to accept your new culture. If you don't and you are always comparing, or looking for things that you had or used from your home country, guaranteed, you will be miserable. Unfortunately these people make everyone around them miserable. It's a good thing misery loves company because these people will hopefully find each other.
My neighbor is a perfect example of this. He is in Argentina because his girlfriend is Argentine. She is lovely. He is a jerk. Until yesterday I bit my tongue and did not say much to his constant tirades of how Europe is better than Argentina. (It takes great effort for me to keep my mouth shut) Dude have you heard about Brexit? The Yellow Vests in France? Italy on the verge of a financial meltdown?
Yesterday we crossed paths and he went into one of his long speeches lambasting Argentina. He was angry about rising prices. (He actually lives in Euros not pesos, so he should not be complaining as much as those of us who have to live in pesos) We have over 40% inflation in Argentina. You need to be prudent and look for good prices. They exist, but you have to find them. He was complaining about the prices in Coto. (Coto is one of the large supermarket chains here)
"No, no, no," I told him. "Coto is super expensive. You should shop in the smaller stores." He glared at me. "On Calasanz there is small store that sells cheeses, ham, and other cold cuts for cheap prices." Instead of listening to me he continues ranting how Coto raised the price of pategras 4 times in 2 months. "This place where I shop is the cheapest in the barrio. This guy has actually lowered his prices on some items." Instead of listening to me he continues ranting about Coto and his fucking pategras cheese.
"Look," I say to him, You should buy your cheese and ham from the guy on Calasanz near Rivadavia. "Is it Chinese?" he asks? "I won't shop where the Chinese are owners, they are dirty." I ignore this and continue on. "Supermercado Dia is good for things like yogurt, milk, queso blanco (it is kind of like sour cream) "Oh Dia, I don't like that place. They are horrible in Spain. People in Spain hate them." he says. "BTW", I tell him, "The Chinos (it is what people here call the supermarkets owned by the Chinese) are the best place to buy cleaning and paper products." "No, no, no. didn't you listen to me? I won't shop in a Chino. I don't want to support people who are trying to take over the world. They are buying everyone and everything."
"In Spain and Europe people shop in the big chains. They are the best. They have the lowest prices." I respond to him, "Not here. The big chains are the most expensive. Everyone knows that. The few times I go to Coto or Disco I am shocked at how expensive they are." "Well not in Europe." he responds. "In Europe they are the best places to shop, and the cheapest."
That's is, I have lost my patience. "Listen you shithead, you are not in Europe, you are in Argentina. In Argentina the big chains are the most expensive, but you can shop there and complain." The idiot completely ignores me to continue complaining. I want to slap him. Now he starts on the tourism. "There is no tourism in Argentina, Barcelona has more tourists than all of Argentina." "Fair enough" I start to explain to him that before the current government there was the problem with exchanging money, there were few planes. These things have been corrected and tourism is now up." "It will never be as good as Spain. No one wants to come to Argentina."
That does it. "You are such an asshole, why are you here? Why don't you just go back to Europe if it is so horrible here?" He is shocked. "You called me an asshole?" he asks. "Yes I did. Get the fuck out of here. No one wants to hear your constant complaining. If Europe or Spain or wherever is better, then go. Good Riddance." Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
*Original Post in Spanish
Estoy harto de gente viene para pasear, vivir y siempre todo esta mejor en EEUU o Europa o cualquier país. Hoy mi vecino (de Europa) estaba quejando sobre los precios en Coto. Explique es mejor a comprar quesos en la quesería sobre Calasanz, los lácteos en Dia, los productos de limpieza en el chino..y no. Me dijo no va a Dia, porque odio en España. No va al Chino porque ellos están comprando el mundo. Me informó como en España las cadenas grandes son mejores a comprar. Yo explique acá no, son mas caro. Siguió peleando como mejor es España hasta yo como Argentina adaptada dije "Andate de España boludo, porque acá no es España, es Argentina. Si no te gusta y todo esta mejor en España, andate." Que se yo...
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