John Christ '11
Now that I am back in the great US of A, I have had time to develop some of my thoughts about my travels...
I will start by simply stating that I love America and wouldn't want to live anywhere else for a long period of time. With that said, however, I would encourage all to travel, and to learn the ways and customs of other people.
While in Argentina I experienced different customs, and various life styles unfamiliar to us here in the United States.
Out of all things that I have pondered upon through my travels, I would have to say that the natural human interactions and relationships is what I focused on the most.
In Santa Fe, one specific difference from our life styles here is what they call el centro, or "the center." The name itself can tell you a lot about what occurs in the center. Another way of saying el centro is to refer to it as the peatonal.
This is where almost everyone goes to walk, shop, eat, watch futbol and so on. Every time I would take a trip to the center I would always ask myself. "Why don't we have this kind of thing?"
I mean, we have malls and shopping centers but nothing quite like el centro.
It is amazing to me just to sit at one of the many pubs with the smell of smoke and mate in the air and see the passionate futbol fans gather to see the last minutes of the game.
Although the peatonal in Santa Fe gave me the opportunity to observe and watch the locals of Santa Fe, after seeing the center in Buenos Aires for the first time it took me by surprise.
The many street dancers and performers supplied the tired walker with a break and the opportunity to see what they had to offer. I was offered many flyers of "sucio" nature (dirty) which I always replied with a nice "no gracias."
So, although I would never degrade my own country in any way shape or form, I would like to acknowledge the need for the great peatonal in every city of the US. Such areas of recreation hold in them so much more than just a place to walk.
I learned more about the Argentine culture and the people of Argentina by walking with them at rush hour on a Thursday evening than I ever could have wished for.
John Christ '11
*Tango dancers in the streets of B.A.*
