There are certain things that Finns know about Argentina. They know tango is a popular dance, that the country produces a lot of meat and that especially due to the World Wars many Germans and Italians fled to Argentina. The extensive immigration of Europeans started with Spaniards and Portuguese during the colonial era and continued strong until the early 20th century. This means that Argentinians don't have the average Pancho Villa look. People from many ethnic backgrounds inhabit this country.
All of this I knew before coming here. Nevertheless, I had no conception of the versality of people's appearance here. Even I could go for an Argentinian. Here I meet people who are more blond than me and have the brightest blue eyes, and I'm ready to bet my money on them being German. No no, their parents, their grandparents, all are Argentinians. Sigh.
After less than a week here, I stopped guessing where people come from by their appearance. These "latinos" are tall and short, dark and fair, thin and chubby. One thing they do have in common though. They're quite knowledgeable about their roots. One is 1/4 Peruvian and 3/4 Spanish, the other is 1/2 Italian and 1/2 German
This ethnic versatility also has an impact on nationality. Shortly put, some people can have e.g. Italian nationality because one of the parents has Italian nationality too, even if the child is born in Argentinian territory.
So, as you can see, Argentina is a melting pot just like the US. So what is truly Argentinian? The peoples love for meat.
maanantai 5. maaliskuuta 2012
lauantai 3. maaliskuuta 2012
Work and work
Work started on Thursday at Campo de la Ribera. I'll tell you the longer history of the place once it's explained to me too but for now I'll tell you that it used to be a military prison. Then during the dictatorship it was a political prison and a "concentration camp". Many people who entered never got out alive. About 200m away is a cemetery where a mass grave was found last year.
Today Ribera is a Center for the Memory, a place organizing activities that are somehow vinculated with reminding people of the country's terrible past. There are games, toys, after-school activities, handicrafts classes, sewing classes etc etc. The only problem is that Ribera is closed at the moment. Two reasons. 1. The building is dangerous. The main issues are the electricity cables and a roof that leaks a lot. 2. There is no water at the moment. The school next door is also out of water but nobody seems to know why. Being in Argentina, the workers aren't too confident that it will be fixed anytime soon.
So, why don't we fix the cables and the roof? The project gets its funding from the government, except for last year there was some hassle and no money was received at all. The director sighed when explaining this to me. Maybe we'll have money, maybe not.
What increases the hassle is that local elections were held a few months ago. The ruling political party changed, so what is happening now is that most public officials are being fired and replaced by new people belonging to the "right" party. This of course pauses basically everything, including the flow of funds. Even 15 of the neighborhood's 19 grass cutters were fired and now they will be replaced too.
I was told this is probably the worst time for me to arrive but with 15 employees and an important mission I hope Ribera will prosper some day. My role is still a complete mystery. Let's see where we are in 3 months.
Today Ribera is a Center for the Memory, a place organizing activities that are somehow vinculated with reminding people of the country's terrible past. There are games, toys, after-school activities, handicrafts classes, sewing classes etc etc. The only problem is that Ribera is closed at the moment. Two reasons. 1. The building is dangerous. The main issues are the electricity cables and a roof that leaks a lot. 2. There is no water at the moment. The school next door is also out of water but nobody seems to know why. Being in Argentina, the workers aren't too confident that it will be fixed anytime soon.
So, why don't we fix the cables and the roof? The project gets its funding from the government, except for last year there was some hassle and no money was received at all. The director sighed when explaining this to me. Maybe we'll have money, maybe not.
What increases the hassle is that local elections were held a few months ago. The ruling political party changed, so what is happening now is that most public officials are being fired and replaced by new people belonging to the "right" party. This of course pauses basically everything, including the flow of funds. Even 15 of the neighborhood's 19 grass cutters were fired and now they will be replaced too.
I was told this is probably the worst time for me to arrive but with 15 employees and an important mission I hope Ribera will prosper some day. My role is still a complete mystery. Let's see where we are in 3 months.
torstai 1. maaliskuuta 2012
Hola Córdoba!
Today I saw Córdoba, my new home town for the first time. I arrived with the night bus from Buenos Aires. Two weeks have passed in South America. With my mum we saw Rio and the carnival; Iguazu (Argentina) and Iguacu (Brazil); and Buenos Aires and tango. Mum went home on Monday, I went to Uruguay on Tuesday and now I'm here. Tomorrow is my first day at work. I will be the first foreign worker/volunteer at Campo de la Ribera. Apparently the organization is suffering from some financial difficulties so it will be interesting to see if I can actually be of any help. My address is Dean Funes 1046 and my telephone number is 351 39 31 855
(I still have to figure out how it should be dialed from abroad).
This is the beginning of a life changing experience, one of many.
A lot to talk about, a lot to be grateful for (like this minilaptop that is worth way more than the 100€ I paid for it). I watched a short video tonight and it presented the idea of 3 gratitudes. Every day be grateful for 3 new things and your brain will learn to see the positive in stead of the negative. Today I am grateful for my minilaptop, for arriving safe and sound to Córdoba and for hearing that mum returned home safely. What are you grateful for today?
This is the beginning of a life changing experience, one of many.
A lot to talk about, a lot to be grateful for (like this minilaptop that is worth way more than the 100€ I paid for it). I watched a short video tonight and it presented the idea of 3 gratitudes. Every day be grateful for 3 new things and your brain will learn to see the positive in stead of the negative. Today I am grateful for my minilaptop, for arriving safe and sound to Córdoba and for hearing that mum returned home safely. What are you grateful for today?
sunnuntai 12. helmikuuta 2012
Information increases pain
Information increases pain. Oh yes. Two exhilarating news.
About half of the flights from Heathrow are cancelled due to snow. How can it be that in the same circumstances the Gatwick and Stantead airports manage to dispatch all flights? It's proof of Heathrows inability or unwillingness to fix the problems they faced in Christmas 2010. So, if you want to be on the safe side, avoid flying from Heathrow from October to March.
This is only a discomfort. We'll get to South America sooner or later. The other piece of information is more unnerving. Rio de Janeiro's police is on strike. A similar strike in Salvador caused an extreme increase in murders and violent assaults. Yes, you guessed it, they want more money and this is the perfect way to pressure the government, one week before the carnival. Their wages are very low and their demands are absolutely justified. Still, I'd prefer not to get shot.
About half of the flights from Heathrow are cancelled due to snow. How can it be that in the same circumstances the Gatwick and Stantead airports manage to dispatch all flights? It's proof of Heathrows inability or unwillingness to fix the problems they faced in Christmas 2010. So, if you want to be on the safe side, avoid flying from Heathrow from October to March.
This is only a discomfort. We'll get to South America sooner or later. The other piece of information is more unnerving. Rio de Janeiro's police is on strike. A similar strike in Salvador caused an extreme increase in murders and violent assaults. Yes, you guessed it, they want more money and this is the perfect way to pressure the government, one week before the carnival. Their wages are very low and their demands are absolutely justified. Still, I'd prefer not to get shot.
keskiviikko 8. helmikuuta 2012
Almost, almost..
With the excitement of soon heading for new adventures comes the urge to write here every two hours.
The main thought at this moment is that the conception of time is funny. When we were children waiting for something to happen in one week's time was torturous. Now I meet friends I haven't seen in 5 months and everything is like it has always been. When we part, I say "See you in July!" and that's fine. No big tears shred or promises of never forgetting the other person.
There are three reasons why it's easy to leave.
1. I've done it before a few time so people and I are more used to it.
2. Even though there are issues and problems I could tackle, I know people here will be more or less fine without me for now.
3. I don't have a mortgage, a husband or a dog waiting for me here.
So off I go while I still can.
The main thought at this moment is that the conception of time is funny. When we were children waiting for something to happen in one week's time was torturous. Now I meet friends I haven't seen in 5 months and everything is like it has always been. When we part, I say "See you in July!" and that's fine. No big tears shred or promises of never forgetting the other person.
There are three reasons why it's easy to leave.
1. I've done it before a few time so people and I are more used to it.
2. Even though there are issues and problems I could tackle, I know people here will be more or less fine without me for now.
3. I don't have a mortgage, a husband or a dog waiting for me here.
So off I go while I still can.
maanantai 6. helmikuuta 2012
Energy boost
You know the feeling when your vacation is about to end and you feel like you still have loads of things to do? Well, that's what I'm experiencing now. Apparently time is never enough. During this past week I've cooked and cleaned more than I have done during my entire "holiday". Mum has been very happy and my brother has done his homework on his own initiative several times. It's been a good time.
Now there are still some things to be done. Tomorrow I'll go once more to Turku to take the judicial oath. It's a technical remnant. The oath enables me to apply to a year-long traineeship at a court, which gives the title of "vice judge". An official occasion, I'll have to wear a black suit, swear the oath and then walk backwards out of the room! Out of respect, they say..
Most likely I wont become a judge nor will I have any actual benefit of this but then there are a couple more "important" people who have seen me. Who knows, maybe I'll be accepted for the traineeship (I could ramble about the selection procedure of the the traineeship but I better not). Dad comes along and we'll visit two friend's of his. A nice way of spending the last days here.
One week.
Now there are still some things to be done. Tomorrow I'll go once more to Turku to take the judicial oath. It's a technical remnant. The oath enables me to apply to a year-long traineeship at a court, which gives the title of "vice judge". An official occasion, I'll have to wear a black suit, swear the oath and then walk backwards out of the room! Out of respect, they say..
Most likely I wont become a judge nor will I have any actual benefit of this but then there are a couple more "important" people who have seen me. Who knows, maybe I'll be accepted for the traineeship (I could ramble about the selection procedure of the the traineeship but I better not). Dad comes along and we'll visit two friend's of his. A nice way of spending the last days here.
One week.
keskiviikko 1. helmikuuta 2012
Countdown
Two weeks. In two weeks I'll be sitting in an airplane for 12 hours flying from London to Rio de Janeiro. Then it is time to be soaked up by the carnival atmosphere of Rio and to avoid thieves in the best possible way.
The facts are the following:
- Departure: February 14th, route Pori - Helsinki - London - Rio.
- Return: June 28th, route São Paulo - London - Helsinki - Pori.
- City: Córdoba, Argentina
- Home: No idea. My official contact in Córdoba is supposed to arrange me a place to stay but probably I'll get a place the same day I arrive. Mañana..
- Employer: Campo de la Ribera. More on this later when I actually know what it is all about.
- Post-travelling: Bolivia
- Finance: Hoping that the subsidy from the government will suffice. If not, it's a good thing I'm not a big spender.
The battle with my backbag has also begun. How to pack for a hot (Rio), temperate (Córdoba) and cold (Bolivia) climate and still have the bag weigh less than 15 kg? Beats me... Jumping from a Finnish beautiful winter to a hot steamy Rio summer is nice of course but it's wonderful to be here too. Time flies and soon I will too.
Two weeks.
The facts are the following:
- Departure: February 14th, route Pori - Helsinki - London - Rio.
- Return: June 28th, route São Paulo - London - Helsinki - Pori.
- City: Córdoba, Argentina
- Home: No idea. My official contact in Córdoba is supposed to arrange me a place to stay but probably I'll get a place the same day I arrive. Mañana..
- Employer: Campo de la Ribera. More on this later when I actually know what it is all about.
- Post-travelling: Bolivia
- Finance: Hoping that the subsidy from the government will suffice. If not, it's a good thing I'm not a big spender.
The battle with my backbag has also begun. How to pack for a hot (Rio), temperate (Córdoba) and cold (Bolivia) climate and still have the bag weigh less than 15 kg? Beats me... Jumping from a Finnish beautiful winter to a hot steamy Rio summer is nice of course but it's wonderful to be here too. Time flies and soon I will too.
Two weeks.
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