I left the hostel in the morning to get to know the city. I crossed the avenida 9 de Julio, a major boulevard in Buenos Aires, and went to ask the man who sells newspaper and magazines at the kiosk on the intersection. He answered me and then he asked me where I was from. At the same time a lady come to buy a magazine, the man told her he doesn’t have enough change. The lady didn’t have a smaller bill and she really wanted the magazine and get on her way, she was complaining that people don’t give change and was upset. I had change on me so I changed the 100 pesos she has and she thanked me. But she continued to complain and she said Argentinians are the worst people and she’s Argentinian, I and the man said that there are good and bad people everywhere. But she continued to say and she was directing her conversation to me. She said I know you’re a foreigner but the Argentinians are the trash and she went on her way. I noticed in Argentina is a problem getting a change, when I was in Rosario I needed some change and 2 different restaurants won’t give me change, I even offered one that I want to buy something but when one of them knew I needed for the change she didn’t sell me. I kind of, couldn’t understand why, I can see why this lady who came to buy a magazine is frustrated, but I think she’s over reacting. So far on my trip, everyone I met was very kind and very helpful. I really enjoyed every minute of my stay. Many people really will do whatever it takes to help you especially when they know you’re a foreigner. I had my prejudice about Argentinians before I came to visit. I thought they were arrogant and don’t like to help, but I was wrong, now I have nothing but positive things to say about them. That’s one the beautiful things about traveling, whatever picture you had constructed in your head about certain people whether it comes from the media or from others, it goes back to your own judgment and experience with the people you meet during your travel. And so far in every place I visited not only in Argentina but in other countries as well, everyone I met was very kind and helpful.
Anyway after the lady left at the newsstand kiosk, I continued to chat with the owner and he started to speak to me in French. His ancestors who came long time ago were from France. He spoke several languages including one of the indigenous languages of Argentina. I noticed people in Argentina and other countries in Latin America are very well cultured and resourceful.
I learned that Argentina used to be the 6th richest countries in the world almost 100 years ago, and that’s why many people from Europe and other parts of the worlds used to immigrate to Argentina to seek better lives. But now the country is almost bankrupt and they have many problems economically, politically and socially. A tourist can come and leave Buenos Aires without noticing any of these things, because most of the tourists’ attraction are located in a nice and safe neighborhoods but true picture is not as rosy as it looks. However, I learned from others that there are many neighborhoods that are so dangerous even the police cannot enter them. One day I went to an area called La Boca, it’s a rough neighborhood that has the stadium where Maradona played at and has some beautiful street art. When I asked for direction I was told to be careful around there but it felt safe, there was a lot of other tourists and many policemen. I guess just like every other city in the world, it has some unsafe or rough neighborhoods, but I noticed that the locals are more careful because their judgments are based on what they hear on the news.
