Día Del Inmigrante

On Sunday, November 6, Argentina celebrated Día del Inmigrante,  a celebration for all the immigrants living in Argentina.  This was my day, as I am an immigrant.  It is still weird for me  to think of myself  as an immigrant, but I am.  I immigrated to Argentina in 2004 from the United States.  I am now a legal resident.

Argentines like to talk about how they are a country of immigrants.  They are proud of their Italian, Spanish, and other European roots.  When you meet Argentines, they always want to know where you are from.  What they mean is your heritage, not necessarily what country you are from.  Argentines living here for generations will still introduce themselves as “Italians, Russians, or Polish.”  They have a reputation throughout South America for their insistence to continually think of themselves as Europeans rather than as Latin Americans.

One of the things that I love about living in Buenos Aires is the access to cultural events provided by the government.  On any day of the week, you can usually find something to do that is free or at a low cost.  The government believes that culture should be available to all people.  Throughout the year there are concerts, plays, and many events you can attend.  I am still amazed at how many wonderful events I have been able to go to that have been free.  Ballets. operas, orchestras, and theater.  All first class.

Día Del Inmigrante was not an exception.  For weeks there were billboards advertising the celebration to take place in Parque de Tres Febrero in front of the planetarium.  There were to be dance troupes representing the various countries performing.This was the first year the government was sponsoring this event.  I was excited.  Not just because I am an immigrant, but because I love dance.  I am a tango dancer, but I love dance in all forms.

The event started at 2:00 pm.  I got there around 3:00 pm with my friend Fernando.  It was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining.  It was not too cold. The area was packed, but not too much.  I was able to stand fairly close to the front.  There were families with picnic baskets, groups of friends, and couples, all watching.  People here tend to make events like this an outing, sharing food and mate.  Vendors were selling choripan (a sausage on a bun), candy, and soft drinks. The atmosphere was very family and very festive.

As I nosed my way to the front, I lost my friend Fernando.  I found myself next to a family of Russians.  We smiled at each other. I caught the end of the Greek dance troupe.  I never think of Greeks living here in Argentina. There is no “Greek Town” and there are no Greek restaurants, yet they had two different styles of Greek dance troupes represented.

 As I got closer to the stage I was able to see a board that listed all the countries that would be performing; Italy, Brasil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Israel, Spain, Japan, Ukraine, Scotland, Lebanon, and Africa among others.  I also noted that countries with many immigrants here such as Peru, China, Colombia, and of course the USA were not represented.

I was mesmerized by the beautiful costumes and the wonderful dancing.  I tend to lose myself in dancing, whether it is my own or someone else’s.  I wondered if these were troupes that always practiced together, or if they came together just for this event.   Each country brought a new perspective with their native dance.  None of these dances were new to me, but it was exciting to see them performed here in Buenos Aires.   As the young dancers finished they would sit with their families.  You could see the pride and excitement on their faces.    Many people  who come here for extended stays or even those who more or less live here, constantly complain about the lack of diversity in Argentina.  You would never know that from this exhibition.

This post was originally published on Affordable Calling Cards September 10, 2009. (http://www.affordablecallingcards.net/)

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100 Pair Of Shoes And A Tango

There is something about shoes and women.  We die for them.  We cannot walk by a shoe store without stopping.  Shoes are magical. They make us feel good.  We buy them even when we cannot afford them. Heels, flats, tennies, and boots.  We love them all.

Dancing Argentine Tango brings out the best of this affliction or addiction. Beautiful, delicate, and sensual, the shoes beg to be bought. I hear them call to me when I enter the stores. "BUY ME!" they scream. I try to turn a deaf ear.  One of the shoes stores known for outstanding quality is Artesanías Ar-Sil on Juan de Garay 908 in Buenos Aires, Argentina ( Tel 54-11-4362-3936) where the shoes are made to order.  Sra. Leo and her husband Antonio provide shoes for many of the shows and professional dancers in Buenos Aires.  Several famous dancers market their own line of shoes and use Artesanías Ar-Sil to craft them.

Artesanías Ar-Sil is one of the only stores in Buenos Aires to still use 100% leather in the construction of their shoes.  All of  the shoes are made by hand in their workshop. The measurements of each customer are carefully taken by daughter Silvia in their store on Juan de Garay.  Antonio, along with his son Ariel carefully craft each shoe to the measurements of the customer.  Customers have an array of styles, fabrics, and heels to choose from.  The combinations are endless.  This is heaven for tango shoe addicts.  Artesanías Ar-Sil also crafts shoes for men as well as women.

If you are looking for high quality dance shoes, you must put Ar-Sil on your list of places to check out on your next trip to Buenos Aires.  You will dance all night in beautiful comfortable shoes hand made to your specifications. What more can a shoe addict ask for?

Artesanías Ar-Sil.  Juan de Garay 908 Capital Federal 54-11-4362-3936 ar_sil_leo@yahoo.com.ar

Travels Through Argentina

When I meet with Argentines, they almost always ask me "What do you know about Argentina?"  When they ask me this, what they are really asking me, is if I know the country beyond Buenos Aires.  I am almost ashamed to admit, that after almost 5 years of living here, I know very little of the country.  What is even more embarrassing is that I have actually been in Argentina since 2000.  I came here permanently in 2004.

In the beginning I was too busy dancing tango.  I would come for 2 - 3 weeks at a time.  I didn't want to steal my precious dance time to explore the country.  I knew I would be back.  When I came to live here, there always seemed to be one catastrophe after another.  A major car accident kept me from walking and enjoying my freedom for almost a year.

Now I give myself no more excuses.  I will start to discover Argentina.  This is my new adopted home.  I have been to Mendoza, the wine country.  I enjoyed not only the city of Mendoza and the wineries, I spent time in a wonderful spa with natural hot water springs in the mountains.  In Bariloche, I discovered an incredible paradise and chocolate to die for.

I am now contemplating trips to Cordoba, Santiago del Estero, and somewhere near the ocean. I will go whether I have someone to go with, or go alone.  I don't mind traveling alone.  Sometimes that can be a better way to go.  You have the flexibility to do the things you want to do, when you want to do them.  I do know that by November, I will have taken at least one new trip.