Since last night, there has been thunderstorm in BA. I have never ever seen such thunderstorm and lightening ever in my life. Had just seen and heard such sounds in Bollywood movies. Where there is lightening and the actress goes and clings to the actor and breaks into a Hindi song. Here, there was no such scene. That loud hustling sound of wind has actually been scary. Everywhere I see from my window, people's doors and windows are banging aloud. Trees are moving and even falling. I know wherever I go, I create a thunder, but not this kind... puhlease!!
Another thing, ever since I have come to BA, I have finished bottles and bottles of.......what did you think? Moisturizer. My skin is getting so dry here. I wonder why? Only Delhi weather suits me (apart from the winters, though).
I do miss Delhi, my friends and family, my home, my work.
Ever since I have come to BA, I have not seen/come across a single Indian. They say you see sardars in every part of the world. I have not seen any sardarji here. I have met Europeans- French, Italian, Spanish, people from UK, I have met people from Turkey, even Bangkok, but not one single desi/Indian. Not even a Pakistani.
Food as usual, has been my least possible expense. Fruits are the cheapest here. I do not eat outside because I am not sure of it, being purely vegetarian. Shopping for Tango shoes has been the biggest expense (and I am not buying leather shoes), besides the accommodation, cabs and paying for Tango classes and milongas.
I am trying to attend two good milongas every night. Which means I get to dance with at least 50- 60 different leaders every night. I have not come across ONE SINGLE leader who gave a bad lead. NEVER did my shoulder hurt, NEVER has anyone stepped on my toes (fingers crossed- should not happen ever), never has any person been sweaty, bad smelling etc. Every single person has used Cabaceo to ask me for a dance. I have NEVER sat during a single Tanda. I have NEVER seen any woman shabbily dressed in a milonga or not wearing the right heels. They are all so well dressed, wearing perfect make up, jewelry and fabulous Tango dresses. In fact, what I miss out on, is that I am unable to look around much at those fabulous dresses and shoes. Every moment I am dancing (with my eyes closed). If I will get distracted even for a second, there is a chance that I might falter. There is no scope to look around or chit chat. People even start dancing during a cortina. A different form though. And then change partners. Here lots of music is also played in between for salsa, merengue, bachata, rock and roll and it is very cute. I have learnt the new form chacarera as well. Here, every time, my leader has escorted me back to my seat. They surely do remember where you were sitting. The space to move is REALLY less and yet, they move and make you move so well. After every song and before the start of every next song, partners chit chat for 30 seconds.
The standard compliments that I receive are:
You are so beautiful.
You dance so well- like a ballerina.
The standard questions being asked to me are the same and in the same order-
1. qué país (which country are you from?)
2. Is tango popular in India?
Though, I say "Yes" to them, in an answer to the above question, let me confess here on this blog- No, Tango is not popular in India. We barely have a community of 50 people dancing Tango in New Delhi and they too are divided in their own groups. It sucks there. There is so much politics even amongst those 50 people. They all want to be King and Queen of that kingdom of 50 people. I do not see women appropriately dressed for Tango in the milongas. Some even come in salwar kameez and flat chappals. They all harp their own tunes. They just talk about musicality all the time back home in India. In India, people only talk about Tango. In BA, they DO Tango. I have not heard the word, "musicality" even once, in BA. For sure, people do dance to the right beat but never 'just talk' about it.
Never has any DJ started clapping, singing, shouting etc during any milonga here. Yes, it happens only in India. In Buenos Aires, DJ's are completely unobtrusive behind their DJ console in a corner. In Delhi, even DJ wants to rule that kingdom and assumes a great authority.
Crime rate in Delhi and Buenos Aires would be same- I presume. You have to be cautious of your own belongings.
People in BA Aires eat a lot of meat. Very few are vegetarians. I see things made of leather all around. Even jewelry made of leather. It is a disgusting sight.
Prices of various things are comparable to Delhi. It is as expensive or as cheap as Delhi. Yes, here there is a minimal entry fee for Milonga. In Delhi, entry to a milonga is free. But Delhi milongas are not worthy of being a charged milonga. Here, every night a draw is also taken out from your ticket number. One or two people get to win a champagne bottle. I do not even bother to see my slip. Because they are announcing the numbers and everything else in Spanish. Yes, I have not even bothered to learn the numbers in Spanish.
I am surviving all the milongas and dance lessons without learning a word of Spanish. I know the language of dance. I do not know why I am resisting or am not interested to learn the language at all. Maybe because, I find it a hassle. I myself do not know, why. But I am not making any effort to learn Spanish. Maybe, because I am too focussed right now, on dancing.
Got to go for my dance class now.
Another thing, ever since I have come to BA, I have finished bottles and bottles of.......what did you think? Moisturizer. My skin is getting so dry here. I wonder why? Only Delhi weather suits me (apart from the winters, though).
I do miss Delhi, my friends and family, my home, my work.
Ever since I have come to BA, I have not seen/come across a single Indian. They say you see sardars in every part of the world. I have not seen any sardarji here. I have met Europeans- French, Italian, Spanish, people from UK, I have met people from Turkey, even Bangkok, but not one single desi/Indian. Not even a Pakistani.
Food as usual, has been my least possible expense. Fruits are the cheapest here. I do not eat outside because I am not sure of it, being purely vegetarian. Shopping for Tango shoes has been the biggest expense (and I am not buying leather shoes), besides the accommodation, cabs and paying for Tango classes and milongas.
I am trying to attend two good milongas every night. Which means I get to dance with at least 50- 60 different leaders every night. I have not come across ONE SINGLE leader who gave a bad lead. NEVER did my shoulder hurt, NEVER has anyone stepped on my toes (fingers crossed- should not happen ever), never has any person been sweaty, bad smelling etc. Every single person has used Cabaceo to ask me for a dance. I have NEVER sat during a single Tanda. I have NEVER seen any woman shabbily dressed in a milonga or not wearing the right heels. They are all so well dressed, wearing perfect make up, jewelry and fabulous Tango dresses. In fact, what I miss out on, is that I am unable to look around much at those fabulous dresses and shoes. Every moment I am dancing (with my eyes closed). If I will get distracted even for a second, there is a chance that I might falter. There is no scope to look around or chit chat. People even start dancing during a cortina. A different form though. And then change partners. Here lots of music is also played in between for salsa, merengue, bachata, rock and roll and it is very cute. I have learnt the new form chacarera as well. Here, every time, my leader has escorted me back to my seat. They surely do remember where you were sitting. The space to move is REALLY less and yet, they move and make you move so well. After every song and before the start of every next song, partners chit chat for 30 seconds.
The standard compliments that I receive are:
You are so beautiful.
You dance so well- like a ballerina.
The standard questions being asked to me are the same and in the same order-
1. qué país (which country are you from?)
2. Is tango popular in India?
Though, I say "Yes" to them, in an answer to the above question, let me confess here on this blog- No, Tango is not popular in India. We barely have a community of 50 people dancing Tango in New Delhi and they too are divided in their own groups. It sucks there. There is so much politics even amongst those 50 people. They all want to be King and Queen of that kingdom of 50 people. I do not see women appropriately dressed for Tango in the milongas. Some even come in salwar kameez and flat chappals. They all harp their own tunes. They just talk about musicality all the time back home in India. In India, people only talk about Tango. In BA, they DO Tango. I have not heard the word, "musicality" even once, in BA. For sure, people do dance to the right beat but never 'just talk' about it.
Never has any DJ started clapping, singing, shouting etc during any milonga here. Yes, it happens only in India. In Buenos Aires, DJ's are completely unobtrusive behind their DJ console in a corner. In Delhi, even DJ wants to rule that kingdom and assumes a great authority.
Crime rate in Delhi and Buenos Aires would be same- I presume. You have to be cautious of your own belongings.
People in BA Aires eat a lot of meat. Very few are vegetarians. I see things made of leather all around. Even jewelry made of leather. It is a disgusting sight.
Prices of various things are comparable to Delhi. It is as expensive or as cheap as Delhi. Yes, here there is a minimal entry fee for Milonga. In Delhi, entry to a milonga is free. But Delhi milongas are not worthy of being a charged milonga. Here, every night a draw is also taken out from your ticket number. One or two people get to win a champagne bottle. I do not even bother to see my slip. Because they are announcing the numbers and everything else in Spanish. Yes, I have not even bothered to learn the numbers in Spanish.
I am surviving all the milongas and dance lessons without learning a word of Spanish. I know the language of dance. I do not know why I am resisting or am not interested to learn the language at all. Maybe because, I find it a hassle. I myself do not know, why. But I am not making any effort to learn Spanish. Maybe, because I am too focussed right now, on dancing.
Got to go for my dance class now.
