las cosas peqenas [the little things]

Sure, there are the really obvious and amazing things about traveling. But the ones that I am finding most interesting right now are the little things. Like buying the right power adaptor for all our techy toys or finding an apartment. Not knowing the language is a huge barrier. Actually, we know enough Spanish to get by. Even with a little knowledge, the amount of courage and persistence required to accomplish the little things in a foreign country is astonishing. Yesterday, we bought a cell phone and i felt like i conquered the world! Same feeling from placing our order at a restaurant, conversing with ANYONE, and making a purchase in a store.

Another little thing that takes effort to assimilate to is the 'porteno' vibe. It's probably common in most big cities ... although coming from 8 years in Bend it's unusual to me ... the hardened, focused expression with no eye contact and NO smiles. After a day or two of trying to prove to myself that smiles were universal, i aborted that plan and began working on my 'portena face'. the further i investigate, the more i understand about this. My theory is that in a city this size, you save your energy for your actual friends & family. You don't go haplessly throwing around good vibes just to make random people feel good. That said, the warmth they
share with each other, and even newly introduced friends-of-friends is incredible. Lots of kisses, embraces, pats, and general affection towards each other, but NOTHIN to strangers.

A funny little thing ... and i'll stop after this one ... is not fitting in AT ALL. yesterday chris and i went to this coffee shop, sat down, picked up the menus, and began working through the words.
(Food vocabulary is the LEAST of our worries. Where we are unsure, we usually just order it for the education.) A server walks over, takes them out of our hands, and replaces them with the english version - with no words exchanged! He was sweet about it, but still, how freaking obvious do we possibly appear? Apparently very much so, because later that night upon arriving at a restaurant for dinner, we were greeted by an adorably welcoming server who took one look at us and began speaking english [not the norm, by the way].

Ah well, this is the humbling, identity-stripping experience i am after ... and i'm LOVING IT. (and missing you)