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Sunday, June 01, 2008

Buenos Aires: a mixed review

I thought I’d be leaving Buenos Aires with a positive impression of this place and its people. Too bad the taxi cab driver pulled over onto the side of the freeway when we were minutes from the airport to try and make out with me. He also ripped me off and charged me way more than the ride was worth...probably because I didn't give him any sugar. Ladies beware: his name is Raul, he is 38 but looks older... Just another old dirty man.

I also had a rude awakening one I arrived to the airport, the bureaucracy is ridiculous. They have to have an official oversee everything for every single person, the machine kiosks are there but you aren’t allowed to use them yourself. You MUST go through a person, so it’ almost like they could have put some fake cardboard cutouts of the machine kiosks and they would have served the same purpose: nothing.

Not only do you have to wait ages when there is no line just to get your bag checked, they have to run across the corridor to another line where you pay your ‘airport taxes’ that are required. I’m guessing the ‘airport taxes’ pay for all the extra headcount and unnecessary inefficiencies.

Then they rope up the waiting area at the terminal where your gate is, so you have to go through another line where they check your boarding pass and passport for the 10^th time, before you can enter in the area by the gate to WAIT. Did you get that? A line to get into the waiting area…that’s right…..WTF.

So now I’m just waiting to board this flight, excited to return to los Estados Unidos, the best freaking place on Earth. I’m going to be a stupid American today and say how awesome it is to live in the U.S. despite how stupid the Bush administration is.

*on the flight*
Crazy old Argentinian woman is sleeping in my window seat. WTF. I just got on the plane, and I find her all snuggled in at the window seat I purposefully selected as mine. I wake her up and say, "excuse me ma'am, is that your seat?" and she's like 'no, this is my seat' pointing to the seat next to the one she's cuddled up in. I'm like, 'You're in MY SEAT' and she has the audacity to say 'can you change with me' and the look on my face was probably HELL NO. So she's like, oh, you prefer this seat. Well no f*cking DUH stupid old woman! I checked in online and selected that seat for a reason, and I'm not about to switch with you for a 10 hour flight just bc you're old.

What was really annoying about this old lady is that she kept moving around and bumping into me because she couldnt' get comfortable. At 3 am she woke me up with a tug and I thought someone was shaking me awake. NOPE....just stupid bitch old lady getting comfortable by tugging on my arm. I HATE WHEN STRANGERS TOUCH ME. WTF. I hate her. Then she also threw her trash at my feet...no not her feet, at MY feet. WTF stupid ho. I was like ready to kill her. Then at one time she bumped me again, and I just looked at her like WTF and she goes 'sorry' like she actually meant it. I know she was trying to be a bitch to me on purpose, probably bitter that the baby in the next aisle kept crying and I was all comfy in MY window seat. RAWR.

Well I don’t want to leave you thinking that my Buenos Aires experience wasn’t all that, because it was really nice. It’s definitely the place for the best steaks; both delicious and affordable. You can eat like a queen or king for the price of what you’d pay at Applebee’s. Last night Mike and I went to a place called La Cabrera in Palermo, which was the absolute most wonderful dining experience. Although all the places we ate at in Buenos Aires were amazing, the caliber of food and service at La Cabrera was exceptional.

I view Buenos Aires as a place that offers you a bit of a European Latin experience here in the same continent. Although it has many Italian influences, don’t be fooled because it is no Italy. It lacks the richness in history as well as the refined sense of class I feel Italy is entitled to, due to its location and rich history. Not to mention fashion. Italy has fine tuned the concept of high fashion which is evident in its vast variety of high quality shopping. Where Buenos Aires does have a special Latin flair in its clothing boutiques, it fails to diversify its styles and lacks some quality. I am finding holes left and right in a dress I bought.

I think my experience would have been better if there wasn't so much pollution, if I had been better prepared for 40-50 degree weather, if taxi cab drivers didn't either yell at me, rip me off, or try to make out with me. I probably would have enjoyed it more if there was more night life to experience, and if I had more company. Traveling alone and doing touristy things alone just made me feel like a chump, vulnerable to anyone that wanted to make a buck off of me.

I'm glad that I got to see Mike, my parents in Houston, and I'm so happy that I'm finally home in my sweet home. I would have considered a return visit to Buenos Aires in the summertime, but Raul the cabdriver ruined that thought when he freaked me out and tried to make out with me on the side of the freeway. NOT COOL.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Grown up life is only so-so

I remember the days of school where I hated class and the routine of educational institution with a passion. I thought freedom was at the end of the journey where you received your college diploma...

Oh but what is freedom? There is not really 'freedom without limitations' in this world because no matter what, you are bound by obligations...either to your family, to your pets, to your job, to your bills, etc. There isn't real 'freedom' to do whatever if you choose to be a contributor to society.

I guess we are lucky enough to have freedom of thought, freedom of expression, freedom to love, freedom to pursue happiness...and for all of these freedoms we are blessed. However the very existence of society and civilization puts requirements upon our existence; a requirement of contribution and responsibility.

I say grown up life is so-so because I am no longer as carefree as I was in school. When you're in school you are looking ahead to a somewhat short term goal that is both attainable and a milestone in life. Graduating from college, getting a job; those are milestones in life to be proud of. But what next after those passages? Promotion? A new manager? See, the things you have to look forward to once you've got the job and degree are farther out than you can tangibly grasp, so it seems like a waiting game rather than striving upwards. I have at least 5 years before I am at the level and experience I want to be at in my career. Distinguishment seems to be hinged more on time than talent or accomplishment, experience and time weigh in more.

As a grown up, I have to worry more about money. Even though I make a good salary, I feel poor. My economic stimulus payment is going towards the shattered crown I need to replace on a molar, and because the old crown shattered in less than 2 years of having it, insurance won't pay. So this time, my Uncle Sam money is not going towards a shiny new bauble for me, but for my unfortunate dental issues and unreasonably expensive dentist out to rape me of my monetary stability. On top of it all, my parents barely stay afloat on no income as my brother goes farther into debt. These are all things on my mind as I know I have responsibility to help my family as times are hard. So when people look at me and see the corporate up and comer on her way to financial and professional success, I'm feeling the pangs of an impoverished immigrant still struggling to provide and make ends meet. Perhaps not in reality, but most definitely in a psychological and emotional sense. I know I can provide for my family, but they aren't allowing me the peace of mind to take on their burdens and struggles...so I am left as a bystander to suffer through empathy of knowing how hard things are for them. How can I allow myself the luxury of purchasing material things that are entirely out of reach for my family, how can I go on vacations without worrying that the money would be better spent helping my parents, how do I justify my own enjoyment of my success when they struggle? I take all my happy moments with a bittersweetness, and I resent that I should feel guilty for my 'better life'.

There are so many things that frustrate me and upset me about life...and yet I am at a loss when trying explain these emotions. How would anyone, how could anyone understand this off kelter 'balance' in my life? It's the lack of balance and stark contrast between my current lifestyle and those of my family that leave me feeling in the wrong for being where I am. I almost feel as if I am the bad guy because I am not struggling in the same sense as they do. And because of that, well ironically, I struggle.

On a brighter note, it's good to be in a relationship with someone that lifts me out of this negative musing and wandering in gray matter. He tries to get my mind off these things which is helpful, because my thinking and mulling over the facts does no good. I'm glad I'll be getting away for a while to spend a week in Buenos Aires. It's far enough away that I won't feel guilty for not calling home.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Snow in April....WTF

I'm up early getting ready for a Bikram yoga session...and I look out my window....and it's snowing and 31 degrees outside. The calendar says it's April 26. WTF is all I can say.

I don't think global warming has reached Minnesota. The bitter coldness lingers for months beyond a normal winter. I miss having the majority of my seasons be summer. Dammit why do I have to work in MN? Oh yeah, because money matters. DOH!!!!!

well...I'm stumbling for thoughts because the only thing running through my head is WTF(*&*#&*$#&^$^&#%$^%#&^$&*#*(%) is it snowing outside?!!!!!! WTF?!