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Blog Stranieri |
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Crossroads
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Standing at the cross junctions of my life...
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The Buenos Aires Milonga With The Strictest Social Codes
What makes the saturday milonga at Maipu 444, named Cachirulo, so popular with the milongueros of Buenos Aires?
What is the reason Cachirulo can boast the highest level of social traditional tango dancing in Buenos Aires (not to be confused with professional nor nuevo dancing)?
I believe one of the key factors, is due to the strict enforcement of the traditional milonga codes, by the organizers Hector and Norma. Codes that discourage inconsiderate social dancers away from the milonga.
Hector and Norma really enforce the rules. One time I saw a couple of french ladies dancing together between themselves and straightaway Norma asked them to stop.
Numerous times, tourists who were fooling around the dancefloor, disrupting the other social dancers, were asked to leave the dancefloor.
There was another time, a group of japanese tourist came and did not use the cabeceo (eye contact) rule to invite the ladies. Hector grabbed Jean-Michel straightaway to explain to them the rules (Jean-Michel speaks japanese).
Just the other day Hector showed me his new code enforcing gadgets, a yellow card and red card! Like football referees, he would show the first time code offenders a warning yellow card, then repeated offenders would be ejected off the dancefloor with a red card. What a funny guy!
Even I, or even regular porteņo dancers, were not spared. There was one time when I was doing quite large steps. He came over and asked me to dance smaller. I see him do it to offending milongueros too.
The organizers efforts reaped benefits. While Salon Caning, Niņo Bien or Porteņo y Bailarin are besieged by problems of unruly dancefloor, bad navigation, crazy high kicking dancers; Cachirulo maintains a high level of dancing and a traditional social milonga feel.
I will leave the explanation of the obvious and hidden codes of the milonga, to be done by the well written articles of my good friend Jean-Michel.
?Saber Milonguear? Part 1: the obvious codes of the milonga - By Jean-Michel LEDEUR
?Saber Milonguear? Part 2: the hidden codes of the milonga - By Jean-Michel LEDEUR
Just a week after Jean-Michel wrote the above 'codes of the milonga' posts on Royce's blog. By chance or otherwise, Hector approached him to come up with a little signboard of the codes of the milonga, in english, chinese, french, japanese and spanish. And he put it up at the entrance of the milonga.
He then asked Jean-Michel (look at how slim he is!) and Royce to give a little impromptu announcement during the milonga. Enjoy!
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The Last Frontier - Student Again
My last update on the student visa problems was in February; where I needed to resend my police record back to the Argentine counsulate representing Singapore, located in Indonesia (whew), for them to re-legalize it.
I sent it through DHL and 2 weeks later, they sent it back to the Argentine chancellery. With this final piece of the puzzle I went to the University of Salvador (USAL), sat through a short interview and they finally handed me a permission form which allowed me to go to the Ministry of Immigration to apply, not just a student visa, but temporary residency.
After the ministry of immigration checked through all my documents, 24 hours later they issued me a temporary 'DNI' (document of identification) that was valid for 50 days, while they arranged with other departments to process my application. I was to go back to collect the official DNI two months later. But this temporary DNI was sufficient for me to start school.
So I started school early april 2008. As I had went back to confront my demons 2 years after failing my first army spec ops selection tests. I am now confronting my demons which I had left behind six years ago; when I was kicked out National University of Singapore (NUS).
School was not easy. USAL made me missed NUS a bit. I had missed the chance of making the best out of the wide open school campus of NUS, filled with libraries, lecture halls, football fields, amphitheatre, etc. And here I am, in a small 8m by 8m classroom. My university life will revolve around here for the next four years.
The first few days of classes I was completely lost. I remembered just staring blankly at the professors and noting down some keywords I caught so I can go back home to look them up.
Then more problems arised when I had to do so much reading but in spanish. Every paragraph for me, will take the same amount of time for others to read one chapter. I resorted to downloading the english versions of the texts of Plato, Heidegger, Saussure etc... Reading first the english texts then the spanish texts.
Of course more problems arises when I have to write essays, which I have to write them first in english then translate them to spanish.
The most amazing problem came two weeks ago, when I went for my very first classic greek exam. Not only I had to bring along a classic greek dictionary; I had to carry a spanish to english to spanish dictionary the size of an encyclopedia to the class. My fellow classmates stared on with amazement.
But it is strange how things are working out. All the above problems are helping me to concentrate more in class. A small classroom space and student size made the interaction more personal; I had to study and prepare beforehand to make sure I can answer the questions. Not being able to follow what the teachers are talking about, made me read more on my own. Reading each text several times in english then in spanish actually made me understand them more profoundly.
I guess at my current age, I am more mature and quiet to settle down to study for hours. Also, my mental state is keyed to absorb the knowledge available to me. I find myself thirsty for more knowledge, reading and finding out more and beyond the texts given by the school.
Life experiences also helped to guide my thinking in a more mature way. As much as I can in my philosophy writings and understanding I try to guide them towards applications and influences in living my life.
This time, even though the odds are stacked against me, I am even more confident than 6 years ago; more confident and determined that I will conquer this final hurdle. Because this would be the final bond that I will break to completely free myself to explore the world.
Below is a letter to my beloved spanish teacher who could not understand why I wanted to study philosphy, she recommended engineering, business, law or psychology instead.
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Don't worry Mariana :)
I know you care for me and want me to have a good future... A bit like my mom. She says the same things you say all the time. Haha. :) But I know myself. If I was more conventional in my choices and had choosed to study business or architecture etc... I would not be here in Buenos Aires would I? I would be in Singapore, still working in my Army job, with lots of money and married with one baby coming up.
I had said philosphy is useful in life. It really is. Of course the 'arm chair' philosophers are indeed not very useful to the society nor themselves. But I treat these four years of studying philosphy as acquiring a skill that will help me think better, have a more open mind and see the world in a more profound manner.
Would I continue to philosophize all my life? Probably. But is there such a job called a professional philosopher? I don't think so. Most philosophy graduates go on to become language teachers, business people, arts directors, lawyers or even our dear english girl's grandfather; a carpenter.
In my life, as I grow to become who I am, I have seeked out what defines me. What is my meaning in life. Who am I really are and what am I made of. During the journey, I set some targets for myself. The first was to find my physical and mental limits. That was achieved when I joined the Special Forces in the Army. And during that discovery process, I learnt how much determination I can have, how much physical efforts I can make and also helped shaped my character. I become stronger.
So now, my next goal is to find out my intelligence limit. How smart I am? So which subject is more appropriate than philosophy? A subject that requires you to think and analyse from different and profound angles? Not engineering, biology, history, or literature. Of course all these subjects need intelligence, but not as demanding as philosphy, in my opinion.
After these four years, I am sure I will find the limits of my intelligence, grow to become a better person, and of course get the degree which I could not get in Singapore. After which, I have to and will, find another passion in life to continue to seek. But at least I would be sure for myself, in my physical, mental and intelligence aspects. So one day if I want to climb mount everest I would know I can achieve it. One day if I want to write a bestseller, I may know if I have the capability. Whatever dreams I might have I would have no fear in my own capabilities.
Such is life. I don't ask you to understand my choices. But I hope you can support me. Because already philosophy is difficult, philosophy in spanish is even more difficult. But philosophy in spanish with Mariana saying it's useless all the time, is incredibly difficult. :)
Having said all these, I am not angry with you. I know you want the best for me and yes we are friends. And I respect you more than a friend so I understand. Like I said, a bit more like my mom. :) And please do continue to say whatever you want to say. Because in life, no friend agrees with each other 100% all the time.
love,
Isaac
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Isaac's Midsummer Nights Tango
Dear friends,
I'll be coming back to Singapore for the month of July 2008. During which I am looking forward to share my Buenos Aires tango insights with you guys. I'm organising some workshops, guided practicas and also a couple of milongas for everyone to enjoy themselves.
This is the website to go, to check out the details of the activities I am planning: midsummernightstango.blog.co.uk
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The Festivals In Buenos Aires Part 3
After living 26 years of my life just eating and not cooking anything other than instant noodles and fried eggs; after having inspired to learn to cook because, living in a faraway land the thing you miss most about your country, and that which could let your foreign friends have a taste of your culture - is the food.
After two failed butter cake attempts, one failed Char Kuay Teow (fried chinese flat noodles with dark soya sauce) attempt, I proclaimed myself graduate summa cum laude from the Isaac Ho Mommy and Granny's school of cooking, year 2007.
After all that, here I am, back in Buenos Aires ready to flex my culinary muscles in front of my friends.
"I am going to host a Chinese New Year's party at home, and I propose a 10 dish chinese culinary spread. I would be inviting 15 guests; Javier, Andrea, Marite, Rosana... etc..."
"...And the dishes I would prepare are Jiao Zi (steamed prawn dumplings), hainanese chicken rice, Ma Po Dou Fu (beancurd with spicy meat sauce), stir fried beef with celery, Nian Gao (sticy new year cake)... etc..etc.." I told Royce and Jean Michel excitedly late January 2008, two weeks before the Chinese New Year.
"Yup! This Chinese New Year would be the time where I return the hospitality to all my argentine friends and also cook for them some real chinese food, not the lousy ones they get from the chinese restaurants here... Hehehe... and Royce I would like you to help me cook..." I continued excited, all gungho and ready to cook up a storm.
"Hold hold hold hold... Isaac, calm down..." Jean Michel said, bemused. "How many cooks you have?" He asked. "One, myself. Plus Royce two. Plus Maxima as a helper. Heh heh heh."
Royce, the real cook, chimed in, "How big is your kitchen? How many pots and pans for cooking do you have?" Slowly, the Isaac that was flying in the clouds was being pulled down to earth.
"I think you should consider that you have only one or two afternoons to prepare your meals, the size of your kitchen and the cooking tools available to you, and most importantly, you cooking experience and manpower available. A 10 dish spread is impossible!!!" They said a matter of factly.
I couldn't help but feel the impact of crashing down to earth. But I know they had the best of intentions and they are experienced in organizing parties. Plus I know I have the tendency to be a little bit extremely idealistically inclined.
"Ok... what do you guys think then..." The disappointment in my voice could not be suppressed. I think my dear friends sensed that and but they were determined not to let me fly off into outer space. "Isaac, what is important in such a gathering is that all your friends enjoy your presence, much more important than proving you are a good cook."
In the end we decided on doing a much scaled down party: my now famous 'Hainanese chicken rice' (who better to do hainanese chicken rice than a hainanese?), a 'ku lou yoke' (sweet and sour pork), supplemented by the bah kwa (dried pork) Valerie sent to me from Singapore, ready made steam buns bought from Chinatown in Buenos Aires, and Royce's stir fried kangkong.
During the party day, 15th Feb, Friday, I started cooking from 10am in the morning; Maxima helped in the kitchen all day. Poor Maxima had to put up with my army like commands.
In the end when the guests arrived around 830pm I was still putting together the finishing touches of the dish, at that moment I thanked Royce and Jean Michel for keeping me in place, if not the guests would probably had to wait till 12 midnight to eat... But we made it, Royce, Jean Michel, Maxima and I!
As we rolled out the dishes, the guests came streaming in, Rosana who used to teach with Cacho Dante, Cecilia my first argentine friend, Adriana my spanish teacher and two of her students, Gimena, Bichy, Andrea Misse, Annie and Fish the taiwanese dancers, Sandra, etc... the house was packed.
Jean Michel and I did a little impromptu standup comedy act while introducing the dishes. Reminisence of my university emcee days with Nick the Dick. There was a lot of chemistry between us because Jean Michel did theatre too when he was studying. There were loads of laughter talking about the exotic chinese food and their names.
Then the party got underway. I put on some funky chinese music, the food was swept up fast. They enjoyed the food very much, they even wanted the secret recipe! Well it was not hard to impress because good chinese food is hard to find here.
Looking back at the party, food is really a way to bridge cultures. Especially chinese cuisine which is so sophisticated, delicious and has so much history. It is really a good skill to learn; a very personalised way to spread the goodwill and introduce my very own culture in a foreign land.
All thanks to Isaac Ho Mommy and Granny's cooking school!
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Philosophic Inspirations
Once upon a time there was a centipede that was amazingly good at
dancing with all hundred legs. All the creatures of the forest gathered to watch every time the centipede danced, and they were all duly impressed by the exquisite dance. But there was one creature that didn?t like watching the centipede dance?that was a tortoise.
?How can I get the centipede to stop dancing?" thought the tortoise. He
couldn?t just say he didn?t like the dance. Neither could he say he danced better himself, that would obviously be untrue. So he devised a fiendish plan.
He sat down and wrote a letter to the centipede. "O incomparable centipede," he wrote, "I am a devoted admirer of your exquisite dancing. I must know how you go about it when you dance. Is it that you lift your left leg number 28 and then your right leg number 39? Or do you begin by lifting your right leg number 17 before you lift your left leg number 44? I await your answer in breathless anticipation. Yours truly, Tortoise."
When the centipede read the letter, she immediately began to think
about what she actually did when she danced. Which leg did she lift first? And which leg next?
The centipede never danced again.
-- Excerpt from "Sophie's World" by Jostien Gaardner
"When I dance I do not think (about steps). When I think, I am just a ghost, I'm not dancing." Tete, milonguero, Buenos Aires.
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