January Newsletter- 5 pictures that perfectly sum up Argentina, coaching corner & more!

In this issue...

• 5 pictures from my trip that perfectly sum up Argentina

• Coaching corner

• What I’m listening to

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5 pictures from my trip that perfectly sum up Argentina

This year for the holidays, we headed to Argentina to visit my husband’s family. Five years had passed since our last trip, providing enough time to see the country with somewhat fresher eyes, and to pick up on all of the quirks that make Argentina, Argentina.

Here are 5 pictures that, for me, perfectly sum up the Argentina experience:

1. This 20-page menu

In Argentina, the menus more closely resemble books than anything else. This is because each item is listed separately, even if it has only a slight difference from the one above.

Here’s an actual example:

#511: (yes, there were more than 500 items on this particular menu) panqueque (crepe) with ham

#512: panqueque with ham and cheese

#513: panqueque with ham, cheese, and tomato

#514: panqueque with ham, cheese, tomato, and oregano

This goes on for days.

At one restaurant, the menu took up the entire back wall because each combination of pasta and sauce was listed as a separate item. Needless to say, as an American, this drives me nuts. The absolute galling inefficiency!

I once asked my husband, "Why don't they just list all the items and let you build your own entree?" He shook his head sadly and looked at me like I wouldn't know a good menu if it bit me in the ass.

2. This chocolate display of the Argentine national soccer team winning the World Cup

When I say that this country is proud of winning last year’s World Cup, I don’t think you understand the level of commitment. We’re talking memorabilia everywhere. T-shirts. Murals.

This.

This.

And, most deliciously, this.

Yes, that’s the moment Argentine national team won the championship, depicted in chocolate.

Yes, that’s Mbappe, the captain of the French team, collapsed on the floor in defeat.

Yes, those are tears made from what appears to be royal icing.

Given how much this country loves chocolate and soccer, the only way this display could have been more quintessentially Argentine would be if the trophy was made of steak.

3. Just…this.

Also, this.

If argentinos have mastered one thing, it’s the abandonment of every last fuck there was to give. Passive aggression doesn’t exist- if an argentino thinks you’re being an asshole, they tell you. (My kids’ vocabulary expanded by several Carlin specials this trip).

If a waiter’s shift is over before you finish eating, that’s a you problem, amigo.

If a stop light is trying to slow someone down, it is duly disregarded.

I once saw some construction workers take a lunch break right in the middle of the street they were repairing. And by ‘middle of the street,’ I mean they literally sat on some overturned buckets in the road, used a piece of plywood for a table, and took a leisurely lunch hour. I like to think the blaring horns and yells from angry drivers added to the ambiance.

Sometimes I think of those heroes as I’m bolting down a sandwich in the car driving from one thing to another.

4. This collage of my 9-year-old sleeping in random places

If you suggested to an argentino that all activities should come to a halt for something as trivial as a kid’s bedtime, they would choke on their chimichurri. There, kids fit into the adult’s schedules- not the other way around.

I’m not gonna lie, that often means a lot of grouchy, overtired kids, (think, packed restaurant at midnight on a school night), but it was still a nice change of pace from our way of doing things.

It also meant my youngest would pass out without notice in all sorts of different places, and I couldn’t resist capturing the moment(s).

5. This late-night shot from New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is a big deal in Argentina. Since it falls during the summer, festivities usually include some combination of asado (barbecue), fireworks, alcohol, and of course lots of family and friends. It’s not unusual to see people of all ages still at it well past midnight, hence this picture of everyone still going strong at 3 a.m.

The first time I was in Buenos Aires for the holiday, our twins were 6 months old, and I, in true first-time mother fashion, was determined to keep them on their sleep schedule. (Picture an apartment packed to the gills with noisy relatives and fireworks being shot from every rooftop in the city, and then laugh with me at the futility of my past self’s efforts.)

Fourteen years later, I’ve learned to embrace the chaos and not to cringe when passersby hand the city bus drivers wine at midnight. It’s much nicer this way.

Come to think of it, that’s probably a good philosophy for enjoying the ride, no matter where you find yourself.

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Coaching Corner: How do we choose our creative projects??

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What I’m Listening To: Short History Of… podcast

Lately I’ve been making a concerted effort to branch out and listen to something besides history or comedy podcasts. Which is why I have a recommendation for a new history podcast that I love! (Resolution, schmesolution.)

Short History Of… is a weekly podcast, delving into all sorts of- you guessed it- historical topics, ranging from Muhammad Ali to the Roman Empire. (Contain yourselves, men.)

There are lots of history podcasts out there, but I like this one because it’s short enough to hold my attention while still giving some in-depth info. It also covers lesser-known topics, like the history of Las Vegas or the real Peaky Blinders. (Also, John Hopkins, the narrator, has a dreamy voice.)

What podcasts are you listening to these days? (Bonus points if you have a recommendation that gets me out of my rut! ) Let me know in the comments.

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