I’ve heard lots of people talk about how ‘reverse culture shock’ can actually be worse than the initial adjustment of moving to a new country. I suppose in some ways you think you know what to expect when you return home whereas when you move somewhere else everything is generally excit[...]
Archive for the ‘Culture’ Category
¿Qué es “el sereno”?
I called to my 2-year-old son to come back. He looked back at me briefly over his shoulder, said, “No! Isaiah!” and went on his way up the dirt road which is lined with little wooden and cinderblock houses. I had my baby in my arms and the toddler had gotten away from me so [...][...]
November 4th, 2011 - 8:00 am § in Argentina, Around Town, Culture, Event, In the Field, Uncategorized
Mathapi Apthapi Tinku: Coming Together
The community of sikuris in Buenos Aires is, to say the very least, unique. We are our own little world. Though the community has surely always existed, many consider 1992 (the 500 year anniversary of Columbus) a marking point in its history. Over the past two decades it has been growing stea[...]
Where the Sidewalk Ends, Part II
Panama’s sidewalks leave a lot to be desired. For one, they rarely exist – at least in my tumbledown municipality. And when they do, it is not advisable to trust them. Manholes are left uncovered, grates yawn with serrated edges, and all sorts of other ankle-breaking traps exist for the unsuspec[...]
Mindo’s Green Revolution
“Han escuchado la historia de tourism en Mindo?” Have you heard the history of tourism in Mindo? “No.” Ok, well….. It’s a story of deforestation and reforestation; of destruction and rejuvenation; of changing perceptions of land use; and of ecology. Last week when I visited Mindo (a smal[...]
Leaving the Nest: Thoughts on Culture and Living at Home
Every time that I reconnect with old friends or greet new acquaintances, I dread that inevitable moment in the conversation, in which I must admit that I currently live at home with my parents. A large pit swelling in my stomach, I avoid eye contact, I euphemize (“I’m crashing on my parents’ c[...]
Aguanten las Warmis! Women Sikuris in Buenos Aires Do More than Just Dance
In learning to play the siku one learns a lot about the Andean cosmovision. It carries a lot of meanings and reflects on a way of life. At the heart of it all is the idea of equilibrium: two parts that fulfill their unique purposes to create one whole. You’ve got the two halves of [...][...]
