*Picture of the Washington Monument we took when we lived in Washington DC
For now I just want to share what a blessing freedom is. I realize a lot of my freedom in America comes from living in the places I've lived, and what I mean by that is middle-class America. I've always lived in safe communities where I've felt the freedom to go out and do, and experience what I wanted to.
Living here, in a home with bars on all the windows (pictures to come later), a guard on the corner who may or may not be extorting us, and a plethora of stories about being a victim, leaves me feeling trapped. (Okay, maybe not speaking the language contributes to that a little bit ... okay maybe a lot ... I can't tell you how many times I've called a taxi company only to have them hang up on me because they couldn't understand me).
If you aren't familiar with the Harry Potter books, you may not understand this next analogy, but in the last book there is a constant gray dread hanging over England. It is a constant presence. In fact it is such a strong aspect of the story, it almost becomes a character in and of itself because it is always there, affecting the mood.
That is to me how it feels here right now. The bars, the gates, the bolts, etc. are constant reminders of what is out there. They are inanimate objects that are pushing me into my house and keeping me here.
I miss my freedom! I miss the LUXURY of getting in my car and feeling safe enough to go and explore, and do what I want to. I miss the LUXURY of pulling my iphone out in public to answer a call or look up some information.
As I mentioned before, I realize there are places in the States where I might feel the same. I know there were places like that in Los Angeles, and probably places like that in every State.
The thing is, here in Buenos Aires right now, there isn't anywhere that feels like safe middle-class America.
About two weeks ago, shortly after we moved in to our house, a man came up to our gate and offered his services as our gardner. He also told us he is the head of all the security in our neighborhood. They have a little guard shack that looks like a telephone booth on every block or two, and someone sits in there 24-7.
After he offered his services as a gardner, he asked for the $950 pesos ($200 dollars) for the month for the security detail. Mike told him we'd get back to him as the Embassy already has a security company driving by our house and other Embassy houses in the neighborhood 24-7.
As we noticed these corner guards watching our every move and talked to friends who have a guard shack two feet in front of their house who were robbed while they were out of town, we realized the guards are probably watching us more than protecting us.
Yesterday our neighbor was talking with Mike and told him the same gardner/security director who had approached us was his gardner until last week when his wife saw him take a rare plant from their yard and have his son put it in their landscaping car.
That of course makes us feel super-safe having them watch every time we leave our house. And they make sure we know they are watching. They walk out of the shack, just to let us know they are watching.
At first we weren't sure if they were just trying to sell their services to us, trying to convince us they were worth their $200 a month, or extorting us. After yesterday, it looks like it might be the latter. The question is, do you pay for their non-security to keep them from robbing us themselves?
I won't let all of this keep me from enjoying Argentina, because there is plenty to enjoy. Just yesterday I walked to a little store a few blocks away that makes fresh pasta, which was divine. And right next door to that was a little bakery which is equally as good. I will focus on those benefits, and once in a while I'll get frustrated by the lack of freedom I feel, and be absolutely, and completely grateful that in three years I get to go back to the best country in the world!
