[Tango-L] Bravo Nina!

[WHITE 95 R]

Yes, Nina's explanation is very good. The American culture is indeed 
different to that of the countries South of the border. After so many years 
of living in the USA I had practically forgotten the delightful custom of 
spending time with friends in a relaxed manner. I was reminded of this some 
years ago when I was in Guadalajara on a business trip. I had made friends 
with my company's business associates and they showed me a wonderful 
alternative to our 30 minute, inhale the lunch approach. The Mexicans there 
worked until around 2 or 3 p.m. But then we would go to a cantina (that's 
what they call some restaurants there) where we would sit and order the most 
wonderful meals and would sit and chat (never shop talk) and eat, We'd spend 
2 hours or more in a very relaxed manner. It was delightful. Of course, they 
would return and work until 7 or 8 p.m., But that's how they did things.

In my native Ecuador, I remember in my childhood accompanying my father to 
meet and socialize with his friends. They would meet in outdoor cafes or 
places much like the Cafe Tortoni in BAires where they would sit and discuss 
everything from politics to futbol while sipping incredibly strong coffee 
and smoking Chesterfields...They always seemed to enjoy their moments 
together so much.... On of the things that stuck in my memory from one of 
our trips to BAires was of a time when we went into a restaurant to eat 
lunch where we saw a table with around 6 or so men. They were older guys, 
perhaps in their 60's and 70's. They were talking and eating, drinking their 
wine and being with each other. Their bonhomie was a palpable thing... Ronda 
and I were moved by their enjoyment of each other and they moment at that 
time.

Anyway, I don't remember my father making appointments to meet with his 
friends. I don't think that there was ever a need to consult daytimers, palm 
pilots or anything like that. It seemed as though life was expected to be 
lived like that. Every thing was more relaxed and things happened in a more 
leasurely way... Who knows, maybe evrything has changed now and the American 
way is being adopted everywhere. But still, when it come time to relax and 
spend time with friends, the people of other countries seem to take more 
enjoyment from the being together than from the doing of any particular 
thing.

Manuel



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>From: Deby Novitz <dnovitz at lavidacondeby.com>
>To: tango-l at mit.edu
>Subject: [Tango-L] Bravo Nina!
>Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:21:37 -0300
>
>Nina,
>
>Great explanation about the cultural differences from one who has lived
>on both sides. You too Neil.
>
>Deb
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>Tango-L mailing list
>Tango-L at mit.edu
>http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l

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