My Semester Abroad

Today was my madre's (host mother) birthday — also known as a great event for insight into the psyche of Argentine women. This country, more specifically Buenos Aires, is known as the "plastic surgery capital of the world." The guests at the dinner party were known to me as "the blonde," "the one with the car," "the one who had surgery," "the dark skinned one," and "the one whose ex-husband works in the public spaces office in the government."

We went to a lovely restaurant, and it was great, but at the same time obvious that everything that occurred was happening so that it could be regurgitated in a fabulous story later.

We talked about plastic surgery, the shirts everyone had recently purchased (save me), the money my madre had just received for her birthday and what shoes she would buy with it. We watched with great anticipation as men entered the restaurant, as most of the women present were single. My madre was quick to point out that there was an Asian person in the large group of men for me to look at.

I quickly grew tired of the trivial topics of conversation, and also of having to translate them in my head and tuned out. Luckily for me the food, like most meals out in Argentina, was fabulous. My taste buds distracted me while my ears tried to tune out the din of Argentine superficiality.