Last Tango in Buenos Aires

Tiger Woods Example

All this week in New York, the American media have been freaking out about Tiger Woods's infidelity. Once you become accustomed to Argentine attitudes to sex and marriage, these attitudes seem laughably over-moralising. Whose business is it really whether a politician or celeb sleeps around? CBS news had two psychologists on the couch for the all-encompassing interview 'Why Do Men Cheat?'

The response of the male psych was - The overpowering greed of celebrity. If this is so, Buenos Aires must be full of stars. Every bus driver is famous. Every old goat is famous. Celebrity is not a reason for sense of entitlement. Narcissism is though and that is abundant in Argentina. The response of the female psych was - Why do they bother to get married in the first place? A more interesting proposal.

After my mini world tour I am afraid of becoming even more cynical as I sit here with my married 'amor' who treats me like a sex toy at his disposal - or is trying to except he is fronting a cold blast of fria. It isn't easy - this coldness. I realise now that it isn't part of my culture. English women like to josh. In England if a man says hello on the street and ou blast him with ice, you are going to get back at least a 'Cheer up luv' and possibly 'Miserable cow'.

In NY the men on the street are very respectful. Their comments are designed to make everyone have a nice day. They've been customized through four decades of women's lib.

Number of decades of women's lib passed in Argentina - 0.

Would I rather live in a country where you can be friends with a man and enjoy spirited conversation or would I rather be called a Goddess all the time? After comparing three countries in close proximity time-wise, respect is better.

DNI

It's Friday and as I have done pretty much every Friday since I got Residencia in Argentina last May, I have promised myself that On Monday I Shall Go To The DNI Office.

After the nightmare that was aduana (customs) I have been in a solid state of resistance to taking on the idiotas who labour in Public 'Service' ever again. 'This is Argentina', people, mostly Argentinian tell me, 'You are in South America now'. As though this is some kind of legitimate excuse. Why then do they try to pretend it's Europe? Why are they now charging for everything as though it's Europe?

The DNI office opens at 6am and they have run out of turnos by about 6.03am. Those who do get one are waiting almost a year for their appointment - Unless they are willing to pay for one.

Last time I went to lunch with el Coronel at some incredibly swanky and expensive place on the Costanera Norte, I was bemoaning my two weeks of full time work to get 10 cartons of books through customs and he asked why hadn't I let him help me. He may be a respectable businessman now but old Coronels never die, they simply continue their corruption.  When I need my DNI, he told me, I should let him know, he would make one phone call and in half an hour it would be done. Oh it was tempting but I know there's no free lunch - especially when he's paying for lunch.

Last December - every Monday having passed me by with no DNI - I decided to try him out. I sent him an Email asking if he would make that call. He called - me - daily asking me to go to dinner. No dinner - No DNI. After a few weeks and safely back in England, I became so incensed I mailed him asking why he had offered if he wasn't planning to come through (Very politely of course - you don't want to mess with the Militario).Not so he said. It was because I went to England. And when he gets back from holidaying in Patagonia with his wife, we will go to dinner and discuss it.

Why There Are no Berries in Argentina

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11910

This is a long and fascinating article on the history and the future of the recession not only in Argentina but in all of Latin America.

It shows how people are wrong to think that Argentina is insulated from the depression because there is little credit here. Looks like it's time to prepare for Armageddon and instruct families back home to save up for ransom demands. Not that I need to worry - Britain was close to declaring bankrupcy a couple of days ago.