In Argentina
There is a presidential election this weekend. I only arrived yesterday so I haven’t seen the riots, but when they happen it will be right outside of the office I’m at.
Argentina has beautiful old European / French architecture but the city is in great disrepair. You have to look through the dirt and pollution to really see its beauty.
Poor people are everywhere you look. Women with children. Today I saw an old woman urinate in the middle of the street while everyone simply walked past her.
In the office I am at the people are probably some of the smartest programmers in Argentina. Not much work to go around, so it wasn’t to hard for us to find the best of the best.
Yesterday I went to a restaurant to eat steak, outside the restaurant a women with 4 kids begged for money. People find all sorts of interesting ways to get by in the city. Some people will sit on your car for hours to make sure nothing happens to it.
It’s clear the country has financial problems when you take a car from the airport and drive past the shantytowns that are where the factories used to be.
Yet you can’t help but to see the beauty of the city.
The people are mostly of European decent who migrated here after or during WWII to escape the Nazi’s. The women, European, I’ve seen a few attractive waitresses but no luck yet. It’s only been a day give me some time!
And the city, Buenos Aires…humid.
This is where people protest…
April 27th, 2003 at 2:55 am
your description of your early experience in argentina reminds me once again that people have to hustle no matter where they live in the world. it also reminds me how fortunate we are as americans in many ways. however i wonder if our ignorance and arrogance will lead to our demise. i visited rome and milan in november and it’s like going back in time when looking at the architecture. very beautiful, but you are right you must look through the dust to see it.
anyway. i just finished reading your book which was great and i could not put it down. i first saw you on c-span in early january. i immediately purchased your book. i have just now had time to read it due to my schedule. i’m a dentist with a wife and 2 kids. i’m also working on my master’s of public health degree as well. currently on break between semesters. your life is very interesting and motivational for me. like you my life is a journey. i grew up in atlanta, ga went to school at morehouse college then to dental in nashville, tn. i returned to atlanta and pracitced there for about 4 years. i then moved to reno, nv where i practice on an indian reservation about 70 miles in the desert. don’t stop your journey. feel free to email me when you have a chance.
marlon
April 27th, 2003 at 7:38 pm
I’m in Paris right now and notice some of the same things… homeless people begging in the subway everyday… some how they manage to get by though.
I noticed the same things in Tokyo however. People stepping over the homeless to get into the Gucci shop… you know the picture.
I’m sure things are similar in the big cities of the states as well.
Sometimes I feel guitly for not helping out homless people.
Ah. Side tracking. it’s late… need sleep… but the story ies. One time in Paris I saw a tourist give a homeless guy a few Euro cents. the homeless guy threw the money back at the kids face! Apparently it wasn’t enough for him. Only about 5 cents…
Heh. Attitudes…
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