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[Odler]

http://www.jeanlouie.com/

April 13, 2004

Yesterday morning, American Airlines flight #956 landed at JFK, ten short

hours and more than 8,200 kilometers, after taking off from Buenos Aires

Ezezia Airport. Not much worry about jet lag, since the time difference is

only one hour between the two cities.

Down in the southernmost country of the continent, I discovered a people

whose overall looks and lifestyle are different from the other South

Americans, but whose attitude is not that much different. I did not meet

the cold, distant attitude that is registered in the Argentine stereotype.

They may not meet the Brazilian exuberance, but Argentines are Latin. The

multicolored houses in La Boca, or the passion around the rivalry between

Boca Juniors and River Plate are perfect illustrations. The smile and

attention to the foreigners are present at all time. As a tourist, one

feels welcome.

The country is going through a bad economic time. Buenos Aires claims a

staggering 20% jobless rate. But, Argentines seems to take it in a

stride. There are very few beggars in the streets. Buildings, monuments,

and streets don't look abandoned or decrepit. Life in the commercial

sector (e.g.: Calle Florida) does not showcase a striking depression.

Street protests are now scant.

Buenos Aires, the Paris of South America, is far from being as majestic

and historic as the City of Lights. It is not an exotic city, either. It

is clean and well kept, with plenty of fun to be had. Please, don't miss

the tango dinner-show at Carlos Gardel Theater.

African by heritage, Caribbean by birth, American by choice, I am a

citizen of the world.

Once again, I took a trip to a new country, discovered a new culture, and

came back a little more human, more and more conscious that we are all the

same, even if we don't want to believe it.

I am now back home, in Warrenville, NJ. It is so sweet to be back home.

Until the next adventures, it was The Traveller.

SEE PICTURES AT:

http://www.jeanlouie.com/

(Odler R. Jeanlouie, Tuesday, April 13, 2004)