Book/art supplies store that also functions as an ice cream store. Jackpot!
We had the option of writing on several topics in these weeks, but I chose to tell you guys about my Turning Point so far. I am sure there will be many to come but I had a pretty monumental one in the last couple of weeks I feel I should share.
I should preface this anecdote by saying that I made a very silly (in retrospect) assumption that because I had been raised in a Latin American country, I would have little difficulties settling into Argentina. Oh man! As my good friend Charlie Brown says, Good Grief! Was I ever wrong! Turns out, Argentina is NOT Costa Rica...who knew?! (Anyone who owns a map :) ) So the first 2 weeks I was experiencing all kinds of frustrations and stress due to cultural shock. Except I didn't know that was what was causing it. I keep looking externally at all the difference factors that had been introduced in the last 2 weeks, and it never occurred to me that I was having a difficult time settling in because everything was so different!
The funny thing is, I was constantly pointing out "oh in Canada we do it this way", or "That's so different here! In Canada..." or "Why is it like that here?". But had no clue I was subconsciously pointing out the things that were stressing me or causing me anxiety.
If I had to boil down the primary causes of my anxieties and adaptation curve, they'd be:
1. The pace of life in Argentina is a lot, a lot slower than in Canada. I knew this coming here but I had no idea how it would affect me. The concept of 'work' for example, is not how I had conceptualize it in Canada or even in my first few days here. It is not laziness or apathy by any means, in fact, people work just as hard here as anywhere else in the world. But the culture overall is so much more relaxed that efficiency is not a priority.
Here is how that's a wonderful thing: I know that my baker has a friend living in Ottawa, I know that the man at the post office recognized the city I was from Oshawa from a news bit he read online, and so forth. When I went into their locales, I got my bread and I got my mail. So, they were efficient. But the priorities were different. They took the time to serve me well, politely, and even made small talk with me when they heard my strange accent.
As a result, my turning point came from realizing that I needed to switch off all my Canadian definitions of work, efficiency, travel, task completion, etc. Once I did that, I could start to enjoy small talk with my baker instead of hoping into the shop, buying bread and then bailing. *Lightbulb*
2. I have been very cold. Like, really, really cold. Like I wore 6 shirts, leggings, and sweat pants for 2 straight weeks. Yes Canada is cold. But are we used to feeling cold indoors? I wasn't. That was a huge shock to me. I was cranky that I couldn't keep warm. In fact, in 2 weeks, I don't think I wore a single layer of clothing at any point.
I kept freaking out and asking how come they don't build the homes different, why is there no gas for central heating, how come only a wooden stove heats up an entire house, etc.
Until someone set me straight and said that what was cold compared to sitting close to a friend and sharing a kettle of hot water for Mate or tea. *Lightbulb* Ahhhh.....
I'm sure this is not everyone's philosophy but I like it. I have had more tea than my body can handle and no it didn't warm me up, but sitting for hours talking with friends has done me more good than central air ever will. And to tell you the truth, I got really distracted from the cold by doing stuff like sitting with friends and drinking tea.
Again, I wasn't able to see any of this stuff until I switched off my Canadian-ness and started to absorb more of the Argentina-ness.
It has not been easy at all. But good grief it feels great to appreciate this experience for what it is. Something new and not something "Like Costa Rica".
I was always very skeptical about people who came back from trips and said it was life changing or that they learned soooooo much. I thought it was just for people who had not lived outside of the 'Western World'. Turns out I was wrong about that too. I get it now. Travelling is awesome because you get to switch your '-nesses' on and off.
