Observations of a Foreigner

Hey folks,

I haven't written for a few days, mostly because I'm trying to get my life in order for December. I am busy searching for a more permanent apartment and am also in the process of job hunting so I haven't been out exploring as much as usual. However since I first arrived here I have noticed some very interesting, odd, quirky, and sometimes downright hilarious differences between living here and living in the States.

The first thing I noticed is a difference in timescale. Porteños are rarely ever prompt at returning messages, often it will take three to four days of agonizing waiting to hear from an apartment owner or employer. Which makes it a wonderful surprise when they do respond within a day or two. Another difference in timescale is the way in which stores conduct business. Stores will open and close on their own timescale, there is no 9-5 so much as 10-4, 11-7, 1-9, etc... and since most stores are small and don't have bathrooms, if an employee needs to go they simply close up the shop and head out to the bathroom, or get some lunch, and return an hour later.

One of my favorite things to do when I am buying groceries is to stare enviously at the array of imported goods from America. I reach out, tempted by the bottle of ketchup, but then quickly pull my hand away as I calculate in horror the $10 dollar price tag. The same goes for tabasco, mustard, barbecue sauce, and A1. I have yet to find my favorite, the ever elusive peanut butter, which I think is completely unknown here except I have heard it can be found in China town.

A few more remarks about supermarkets. These are directed at Carrefour, the major supermarket chain in BA. First of all it is impossible to run in, buy a few things, and run out in less than 1/2 an hour. Even though you may have everything you need in 5 minutes the line at checkout stretches on for at least 15 to 20 people. Which means you are standing in line for 20-25 minutes, eyeing the sugar flavored coffee, tempted by the astonishing array of mate varieties, and listening to the same recording over and over again saying, in a man's voice, "Carrefour, esta bueno para vos" (Carrefour, it's good for you (said in a very commercialized and fast male voice). Okay, great. But if I have to listen to that voice thirty, forty or fifty times a day, my "good" thoughts about Carrefour might begin to change.

Another observation is that no matter where you are in the city prices fluctuate relatively independent of whether it is a wealthy neighborhood or not. For instance I just found a 1 kilogram jar of honey for 18 pesos, 2 pesos less then what I paid for a 500g jar of honey in just a slightly more upscale neighborhood.

Now I don't have much experience in American cities so I don't know if this is normal or not but sometimes, when I walk down the street here, I get caught up in the unavoidable downpour of water as someone ten, fifteen, or twenty stories up decides to water their plants. I don't know how to avoid this without having my eyes glued skyward, but I'll continue working on a solution.

Lastly, I decided to do laundry today, and since I had good service at the place I went to before I decided to go there again. To my happy surprise they charged me ten less pesos than they did the first time I went in. I don't know if it's because today is a Wednesday and the last time did laundry was on a Friday, or maybe I get frequent shopper credits, who knows. This mystery made my day.

That's all for now folks,

Kyle reporting his observations... an outsider looking in.