So, part of the reason I came down here is to spend some time writing, and toward that end I joined a writers’ group in Buenos Aires, and I went to my first workshop tonight. The folks seemed really nice–all Americans and one Argentine who writes in Spanish (which blows my mind). The piece we read for tonight was really good, as well, which is obviously promising.
And, even better, I had a conversation with my cab driver on the way home that actually contained some back-and-forth. It was truly amazing. I was a giggling, broken-Spanish idiot every time I understood what he said:
(approximate translation)
Cab Driver: Are you from the United States?
Me: Yes! I am from the United States.
Cab Driver: Where?
Me: Washington, DC.
Cab Driver: My brother lives in Miami.
Me: Miami! Wonderful. It is hot in Miami.
Cab Driver: Yes.
<ten minute silence>
Cab Driver: I am from Peru.
Me: Peru! That’s . . . how . . . Peru. Wonderful.
Cab Driver: How long are you staying in Buenos Aires?
Me: Two months. I have two month in Buenos Aires. Yes, two months.
Cab Driver: <jumbledwordsjumbledwords>
Me: I’m sorry, I don’t understand.
Cab Driver: <jumbledwordsjumbledwords>
Me: I’m sorry, I don’t understand.
Cab Driver: <jumbledwordsjumbledwords>
Me: I have much sorrow. I am sorry.
Fan. Tastic. That’s what we call that.
Best. Post. Ever.
Ohhhhhh. I get it now. The Argentine writer writes in ENGLISH. That’s what’s so impressive. You wrote that he writes in Spanish, and I was like, “big deal.”