Man, what a transition. It's been over 3 years since I've been in outside Argentina... then the moment I clear customs in Atlanta I get the news that Joey Biden is the pick for veep! It's already shaping up to be an interesting week judging from the first day.
Having expected a bit of culture shock, I fortified myself with a tremendous slab of Argentine grass fed beef tenderloin and a bit of malbec on that sunny winter yesterday before I took off from Ezeiza ...boarding like the Beatles up the stairway off the tarmac with quite a few yanquis cheering about the beach vacation plans they had made. By the time I landed in Rio at 6pm it was dark and warm and humid. Really hard to believe how bad the Rio airport is (that's the last I'll say on that subject.)
Observing Brasilieros in their own country I was surprised at how much they remind me of yanquis, both nationalities are louder than porteños and much more open in their conduct, I noticed for the first time.
I also learned that Portuguese is not "Simply Spanish, badly spoken, as my mother-in-law considers it. Because it was obvious that I was from the US they couldn't understand why I was speaking Spanish rather than English ...after about an hour, neither could I.
But for all their boisterousness, when the airport baar big screen showed Maurren Higa Maggi nailing the gold for the long jump everyone was strangly reserved ...maybe they figured all along that she was going to win.
And nobody called anybody you che!
The flight to atlanta was the beiginning of the "compression:" into US life. Now, I'd always known that coach passengers were not allowed to use the Business Class sh**ters. What was new to me was the directive fromthe flight deckthat this policy was to "preserve the security of the cockpit as per the TSA." We were also warned that any congregating near the coach restrooms would be dispersed ...as per the Homeland Security Administration. Christ. What have we become. On the ground and just past customs, more weird things that I noticed any you probably don't anymore: The Wall Street Journal in color, English language TV without subtitles ...and no $2 bills! Back in Baires, a two is your friend! When I got $4 in change at the airport bar ...it was four bills; blew my mind for a moment or two.
And I gotta stop hording ones!
Back with an update from downtown Denver soon.
Having expected a bit of culture shock, I fortified myself with a tremendous slab of Argentine grass fed beef tenderloin and a bit of malbec on that sunny winter yesterday before I took off from Ezeiza ...boarding like the Beatles up the stairway off the tarmac with quite a few yanquis cheering about the beach vacation plans they had made. By the time I landed in Rio at 6pm it was dark and warm and humid. Really hard to believe how bad the Rio airport is (that's the last I'll say on that subject.)
Observing Brasilieros in their own country I was surprised at how much they remind me of yanquis, both nationalities are louder than porteños and much more open in their conduct, I noticed for the first time.
I also learned that Portuguese is not "Simply Spanish, badly spoken, as my mother-in-law considers it. Because it was obvious that I was from the US they couldn't understand why I was speaking Spanish rather than English ...after about an hour, neither could I.
But for all their boisterousness, when the airport baar big screen showed Maurren Higa Maggi nailing the gold for the long jump everyone was strangly reserved ...maybe they figured all along that she was going to win.
And nobody called anybody you che!
The flight to atlanta was the beiginning of the "compression:" into US life. Now, I'd always known that coach passengers were not allowed to use the Business Class sh**ters. What was new to me was the directive fromthe flight deckthat this policy was to "preserve the security of the cockpit as per the TSA." We were also warned that any congregating near the coach restrooms would be dispersed ...as per the Homeland Security Administration. Christ. What have we become. On the ground and just past customs, more weird things that I noticed any you probably don't anymore: The Wall Street Journal in color, English language TV without subtitles ...and no $2 bills! Back in Baires, a two is your friend! When I got $4 in change at the airport bar ...it was four bills; blew my mind for a moment or two.
And I gotta stop hording ones!
Back with an update from downtown Denver soon.
7 comments:
Mikey, you are freaking me out. It has been over 2 years for me since I have been back to the US. I am living this point of re-entry through you!!!
Hey Mike- Welcome to 5280! I haven't checked in to thank you for enlightening me to the Liberal Drinking crew in BA.... but my friend Annie and I totally enjoyed meeting you and your wife, and the rest of the friendly crew down at Sir Wills back in June. I am hoping you enjoy Denver a pint as much as we enjoyed Buenos Aires, and although you are probably booked to the max... would love to buy you a beer and share some local hospitality while here in Denver. If you need any contacts connections, transport, or short cuts.... just give a shout out. Will look forward to keeping up with your local take on the hoop-la. Exciting Times eh?
Happy Trails,
Lynno
ps..... if you haven't heard it 100 times--- stay Hydrated, and enjoy the altitude!
Mike, amazing the convention is this week already and the campaign will be in full force in days.
Thanks for keeping us informed. "Jealousy" it's not the true feeling I'm having but hits near! ;-)
I guess this a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you're representing us all very well.
Just finished watching day one of the convention. Looks like it will be a great show. Any chance you'll be on twitter? Would be nice to get some real time observations.
Jon
Thanks for reporting on your trip. I'm a member of Dems Abroad Thailand and look forward to reading your impressions of the convention.
Safe travels,
Chris
Mike, read and watched you this morning at Clarin's online. Very good interview indeed.
For the rest of us who want to read/watch it this is the link: http://www.clarin.com/diario/2008/08/27/um/m-01747193.htm
OK, Mike, waiting for your next post. You haven't since Sunday... keep us posted even if you must be swamped. Thanks!
Charles,
Mike has been reporting all this time with videos etc on the special edition part. Just click on the big block in the upper part where it says "moved for august" and you will be redirected.
He´s been posting great stuff!
I hope you enjoy it.
Alicia
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