Ant #306. Hospital.

So how was it?
Two days ago I felt a bit strange. I couldn't really describe what happened, but I felt like a dead battery.
Yesterday I woke up, do some home work and went out. After one meeting and short walk across the city I went to the monastery (my fav place) to drink a coffee and then went home.  Here I felt bad...

It was burning in my chest and seemed like someone grabbed my organs tight. And because I never experienced and heart or stomach or any other problems, so I thought it was a heart attack! From being sick physically I went to being sick emotionally. It turned into a panic attack, coz I didn't understand what was it and I knew that if I faint nobody calls to emergency (I live alone). I decided not to call them for myself and go directly to hospital, I didn't want to stay home alone. Just in case, I put in my back bag my documents, phone charger, took some money, and in 3 minutes I was in a taxi on my way to hospital.

First doctor appeared. A woman. I tried to explain how I felt, she started asking if I had a stress. I said I was ok. She called for the 2nd doctor. A man. He asked the same. Then they checked my pulse. It was perfect. They checked blood pressure. Perfect. The woman left, the man kept asking me if I was stressed recently, if I had stomach problem, if I vomited or not. I was "WTF? I'm having a heart attack! Why are you asking me this shit?"

The woman came back with a Electrocardiography machine and another one doctor. Another man. They checked my heart beating seriously. And haven't seen anything bad at all! The 3 rd doctor asked me if I ever had pancreatic issues and if I still have an appendix. He checked my whole body, it was painful nowhere. Checked and pushed a chest one more time, nothing, no pain at all.

All 3 were like "You're absolutely fine! It must be nerves. Did you receive bad news recently or break up with someone?" But I couldn't confirme anything. Anyway they kept saying it's all because of nerves which affect a pancreatic system.

And just to make sure they told me to check my chest on X-rays. I came back in a few minutes with images. All three + 1 new one doctors saw them and declared I was 100% healthy. It all turned into a joke, they couldn't make anything, while I kept feeling me not so good. The 4th doctor asked me what I ate during the day. I replied that almost nothing, I was about to cook when I felt bad and went to the hospital, I only drank a coffee and s small desert. He asked if I drink a lot of coffee? I confirmed that twice a day, more or less. He said "That's it! For the next 10 days, no fat or fried food, and NO COFFEE!" (which sounded horrible!!! Everyone knows I cannot live without coffee!). He gave me a receipt for some pills and let me go home.

Today I feel way better! But yesterday I was scared as f*ck! >_<

I'd like to thank all the doctors listening to my noise and to all of my friends who were worrying for me! I do appreciate it! Thank you!

Ant #302. Party hard.

Shortly...

We had to call to ambulance last night because one guy overdrank!
That's what I call a good party) LOL )))

P.S. I've been told "Brindo por y con tu leche!"
Those who speak spanish know that it's totally gross! Hahahahaaaa))))

 

Ant #269. Get out, yankees!

Last night while I was walking across the city I saw probably the most disgusting and ignorant thing that I've ever seen here in Argentina. The whole wall with posters saying "Get out, yankees! Get out, vultures!"
For a moment I couldn't believe my eyes. I took a picture and continued walking.
The organization that released these posters is called "Movimiento Evita" and is pro-government and pro-Kirchner.

I came home and in my head there was the only one thought... Am I still in Russia or what? What the hell happened with a democratic and tolerant country built exclusively by foreigners that came here a few centuries ago?

And suddenly I remembered...
"Economic markets are collapsing, people all over the world are suffering and people are afraid and what happens when people are afraid? They become intolerant. They start pointing the finger at other people. They say "You are the reason! You are the problem! You are to blame! Get out!" The enemy is not out there... The enemy is within!"
The woman was damn right when she first said it almost 2 years ago. This is what I see now in the place where I live.

I don't know if those people who are responsible for posters are just covering themselves with the name of Eva Peron or they really follow her lessons, but I'm pretty sure Evita would never approve this act of discrimination and ignorance. She was teaching all argentinians how to love each other, how to show their compassion, she was fighting for equal right, wasn't she? I'm glad she cannot see how her name is being used nowadays.

I always say it to russians and I guess I'm gonna start saying it to argentinians. Stop blaming other people for the problems you have! We all make our own lives and we are the only ones who are responsible for what happens in our country. If you don't like the situation with human rights, start treating people better. If you don't like the economic situation, vote for another government.

The western society is the one who gave you all the technology to print your shitty posters.
Period.

Ant #255. 1 year.

I just cannot believe it!
Today is the 1st anniversary of my living in Argentina.

Gosh, 1 year since I arrived to Ezeiza International Airport.
It was the most exciting flight in my entire life, I was brave, full of hopes and happy! I knew what I was doing and what for. I wanted to change my life and I have definitely done it!

So how was this year to me?
Shortly, it was everything!

I got every type of events/emotions/problems that a person can get.
Sometimes it was difficult, sometimes it was fun, sometimes it was bitter, sometimes it was crazy.
Like in a song, "it wasn't always perfect, but it wasn't always bad".

Do I think it was a mistake? I don't know.
Would I rather stay at home if I knew 1 year ago how will it be? Probably yes. Not because I regret of coming here. I just think it was kinda pointless. My life changed in many ways, but not the way I wanted it to change. I lost too much and got almost nothing. But still... I'm enjoying to be here. I love the country (not the government), I like people, I like the weather, I like the situation with tolerance and human rights, I like the food and wine here.

I've learnt some big lessons here:
Expectations -> disappointments.
Life is too short for bullshit.
Trust no bitches. Watch who is really worth your time, your care and your love. Don't waste your emotions, they can run out in any moment.
You can do anything if you believe in yourself. There are no limits!

So... It's time to thank some people.

At first I'd like to thank those amazing people who I've met here. Not calling names, you all know who I'm talking about. Thank you for being with me, for getting my ass to the parties, for calling and texting me when I feel bad, for asking me how am I, for teaching me bad words, for helping me in many ways, for introducing me to other good people. Thank you very much! XoXo

Then I'd like to thank those who left me. Thank you for making me stronger, for helping me to discover my inner power, for explaining me that I'm not that bad, there are much worse people, for teaching me how to separate real friends from fake friends. Thank you very much! XoXo

Also I'd like to thank my family and my friends from my "past life". Thank you for supporting me no matter what, for not forgetting me, for staying in touch through all this year, you are better than gold, better than any diamond in the universe, you're simply the best! Thank you very much and see you all soon! XoXo

And last, but not least I'd like to thank my best friend. Thank you for always being with me, for understanding, for the best advices you give me, for your amazing sense of humor and countless laugh I got with you. I'll never forget the moment we first met almost 5 years ago and all the great experience we had together. Thank you very much! XoXo Dior bless you! )))

Sincerely yours, el ruso.

Ant 234. Throwback.

I spent a wonderful awesome fun weekend in a small city in the center of Argentina.
With lots of friends who I haven't seen for a long time, a pair of them lives in Israel, others not in BsAs, so we don't see each other frequently.

Everything was perfect except of one thing: the city itself.

It's the city where I went with "him" for the first time.
Such a throwback.
Wherever I went, everything reminded me about him.
Here we ate ice-cream, here we had some rest, here we took a picture while I was grabbing his balls...

If I knew it will be so painful, I wouldn't go there.
It's hard to smile when you feel like crying.

Ant #224. 30 years of democracy.

A few days ago there was a huge holiday in Argentina, the 30th anniversary of democracy.
And even if some people here don't think that they live a good life (financially), I keep telling that money cannot bring you the feeling of freedom!

I used to live in a place where you can earn good money, but every single day you live in a fear!
You cannot express yourself, you must pretend someone else.
I'm not even saying that when you walk across the streets you are much more afraid of police than of criminals.

Here I feel free to be who I am!
No shame and no fear!
And I would never change it for money!

MAS DERECHOS, MAS DEMOCRACIA!
More rights, more democracy!

Ant #223. The end of the world.

It all started just like a regular rain.
But in a moment I realized that we stuck in the cafe with other people.
Thunder appeared with a strong wind, more looking like a tornado.

The windows and doors (also made from glass) were shaking.
I made a few steps back and heard a waterfall behind me.

Kids and their moms in the cafe started screaming and crying.
I tried to keep calm and make jokes out of all this crap, but it wasn't funny at all.
My friend told me that it happens sometimes in their region, but I didn't believe it.
If it was true, people wouldn't pay attention to it.
Other way around, their reaction was close to panic.
Staff tried to do something, but it all was pointless.
They decided to shut down electricity to avoid electrical shock (there were lots of cables everywhere inside the walls and ceiling).
Once they did it, we heard that something fell on the floor very loudly.
Lately we saw that it was the ceiling, it crashed down!
That moment I really got scared!

Suddenly the storm went away and the staff turned on the light.
And we saw all the damages.
Thanx God, nobody was wounded!

We started thinking about letting out of this place, but the storm came back and the next moment the whole street left without electricity.
We called to our friend that lives in a few blocks from this cafe.
Luckily mobile phones were working.
The storm seemed to go away and we decided to use this opportunity to leave the cafe until it comes back again.
It all made me feel like I was in a scary movie!

But after "swimming" we arrived to our friend's home, wet, but alive!

Thanx, San Francisco, for making me appreciate my life even more!
It was a great experience!

Ant #219. Martin Solveig.

Oooooooh, I like him since I heard his song "Madan" back in 2004.
And I was so happy when I knew that he was the opening act artist during Madonna's MDNA Tour.

And at one of the concerts I've visited I had a great moment with him!
He gave me his personal "Smash" head band! I wrote about it here.
He was so nice to me! ^_^

So why am I saying it?

HE'S COMING TO BUENOS AIRES!
WOO-HOO!

And of course I have already bought a ticket!

But before going to his concert party I gotta learn the dance! Check it out! So f*cking funny! And he's wearing a russian t-shirt! XD

And here is the new song itself (the one from video)! It's so teethbreaking! BLOW!!!

Ant #217. Hello from the past.

A few days ago I saw on my Facebook newsfeed that one of my russian friends is travelling across the South America and about to arrive to Buenos Aires.

As you can see, we are not very close friends. I know her thanks to Madonna's fan club and we met each other just a couple times on different parties, but I always considered her as a very smart, intelligent and beautiful girl.

She travels with her italian friend, so we had to speak english all the time for everybody could understand everything. Well, not a big deal! ;-)

We met in La Boca! Those who like tango definitely heard this name! The world capital of tango, the place where it was born and turned into an art!

We spent an amazing day, talked about everything! She didn't know that I moved here, so of course she wanted to know all the details! I also asked her about our mutual friends.

What a flash-back! Like I left Russia just yesterday! ^_^

Ant #214. Half a year.

Oops, just found this in Drafts folder.

Probably I was about to write a "half-a-year-living-in-Argentina" post.

Aha, half a year, I came here on apr 22.

But what should I write about?

Everything I was dreaming about is destroyed.

Sorry, I'm not in the mood to write a great inspiring post!

*CANCELLED* 

Ant #210. No regrets!

Friend: Ok... Do you regret coming to Argentina?

Me: It's a difficult question. I could say "NO, I don't regret", but it wouldn't be the 100% truth.

Friend: I get it.

Me: I've always loved Argentina, escpecially BsAs, and I knew that one day I'll be living here, but I thought this dream will come true when I'll be 50-60 years old. Because all my family is still in Russia. I was thinking about moving to another country, but I was looking at Spain or UK, something close to my home, so I could see my family frequently. Now I'm here and it doesn't seem even possible to visit them, it's too expensive. That's it. And I'm not even talking about that I lost everything (my job with a good salary, my home in Moscow, my friends... everything...). I came here with my burning heart and it all ended so quickly... So how do you think I feel now?!

Friend: I can imagine... But how is your mindset now? Are you willing to stay?

Me: I feel like a paper boat in a river... The water is driving me somewhere but I don't know where exactly. I'm about to stay, but just because there's no sense to come back. The same crap, everything from the beginning. So I think I'm gonna try to build my new life here. I can come back any time, but I should try to stay.

Friend: Nice! I had no idea what you had been through... Please count on me for anything you need, I'll always do my best to help.

Me: Well, I'm a strong and very positive man, I had even worse times in my life. Not a big deal! ))) And thank you very much, I do really appreciate it!

Ant #203. Little Boots.

I totally forgot to describe the concert!

So...
Of course it wasn't the show that we all used to go. There weren't dancers, stage constructions, huge screens etc. But there was an awesome atmosphere! Joy, fun and crazy non-stop dance!

I came to the place a couple of hours before the concert. And I came really in time, coz Victoria came out on the street to welcome fans! So nice of her!
We talked a lil bit and took a picture!

Then she left and soon we got inside the venue. I stood in the 1st row, as usually )))
After a pretty cool warming-up performance Little Boots came on stage!

There was a cool story with me!
Before the show one of fans asked me if I wanted to get a poster. I chose one with the name of my fav song of her... "SHAKE".

When she was singing this song she saw it and... Take a look at 1:00!

It was sooooooo cool! )))

I came home tired as hell! It was one of the most exhausting (in a good way) concerts I've ever attended: I didn't stop dancing from the very beginning till the very end! ^_^

I hope I'll see her again!

Ant #199. Simple club or simple art?

I never visited something like this before!

A pretty night club in a small provincial argentinian city!

It calls KIKA! ;-)

Ant #197. Supporting russian LGBT-community.

The invitation to joing this demonstration I received yesterday.
At first I wasn't about to come (I had other plans), but the fact that it will be in front of the russian embassy made me change my mind!

I didn't know what to expect. In Russia all pro-LGBT demonstrations are prohibitted (officially not, but actually yes), and people who join them risk to be busted/beaten/killed (depending on how lucky you are).

I came to the place a lil bit earlier to check everything and I saw a couple of my friends there.
I felt better!

Someone told journalists that I was russian, and they all came to me to talk, to ask some questions, to share opinions. I gave the interview to one of local TV channels which wasn't a big pleasure, coz usually I'm not a fan of this kind of attention. But I had no choice, I was the only one russian there.

It was super-fun! There was a cool music, gay-flags and lots of nice people!
Some people asked me my contacts, to talk later.

I stayed there a lil bit more and then left.

I'm no longer in Russia, but it doesn't mean I can forget about that country. I still have there my family and my friends who need to know they are not alone!
Be stronger! Together we can do anything!

Ant #191. Letters.

Hey, dear!

A hug is what I really need now, for sure! If u ever come back here again, you're always welcome at my home.

I never regret for what I've done, I can only regret for what I haven't done.

The problem is that I never lived alone before, always with parents or roommates. And if I ever felt lonely I had somebody to talk to. It's so new to me. I wanted to live alone so badly, and now when I got what I wanted I understand how much I need someone else.

I know what you're gonna say... that I'll get used to it. I agree, but this is the worst of the worst moments to do that. When your heart is broken you need many people around you so their voices could muffle your heart's crying.

You're right, we didn't have too much time to know each other better, but I hope we will in the future. And I do appreciate the fact that you told me your secrets. It means a lot to me, seriously! And I really hope we'll see each other before the next tour.

And thanx for advice about volunteers. I think it's a great idea!

XoXo

*  *  *

Sometimes I need to take my thoughts out of subconsciousness and write them to somebody.
It helps me to understand what I really feel.

Ant #190. CFK.

Many people ask me why do I love CFK so much?

The answer is simple: to me she represents everything I needed in russian president - standing for human rights, freedom of speech and expression, being close to people.

Moreover, I like her as a woman. She definitely has a style: the way she dresses up, her hair, her make-up... Everything is perfect!

She knows how to make fun! I loved her dancing in Cordoba! Check it out HERE!

And of course she got more respect from me when she legalized gay marriages, even if so many people including Pope were against it.

Bravo, CFK! <3

Ant #188. Pronunciation.

Last saturday all my old friends were celebrating a b-day of our mutual friend.
I recorded one video and sent it to them.
They were so happy to see and hear me, but then some of them told me that my accent has changed and my voice sounds completely different now.

Since I moved to Buenos Aires I almost don't speak russian: I speak 70% spanish and 30% english.

Frustrating...

Ant #187. Home! Sweet home!

Finally I got my own place...

This is a small cute apt in the heart of Buenos Aires in a walking distance from evrything.

Now my life is gonna be different!

The day before signing a contract I realized that I've never lived alone. NEVER EVER!

This is so new to me. Definitely!

Let's wait and see what the new life will bring to me!

^_^

Ant # 180. Neighbours.

A few hours ago I was coming back home.
I entered the building, said HI to security guard and went to the elevator.
There was a girl.
I asked her which floor did she need. She said: "No worries, I'm going high."
I pressed 11, my floor.
She said:
- Aw, you also live on 11th?
- Yeah, you too?
- Yeah! But where exactly? I never saw you.
- 11D, but I have just come here to Argentina. So now I live with Juan.
- I don't know him. I live in this building more than a year, but we never met.
- So... What's your name?
- I'm Leila, and yours?
- Gena. Nice to meet you!
- Nice to meet you too! If you need something, feel free to come and ask.
- Thank you very much! See you!
- See you! Bye!

In my previous apartments I lived 4 and 3 years correspondingly, and I didn't know any of my neighbours, and here I live a few weeks and already met this beautiful girl!
I hope we become friends!

^_^

Ant #172. Discovering Argentina.

The last couple of weeks I visited a few places here in Argentina.
All of them were entertaining and impressive.

The past years I've been in Buenos Aires (of course), San Carlos de Bariloche, Ushuaya, Iguazu, La Plata, Cordoba.
Now I added a few more pins on my trip map!

1) Tigre

2) Villa Carlos Paz

3) Villa General Belgrano

4) La Cumbrecita

Next stop is Santa Rosa!

P.S. Anybody can give me suggestions? Or maybe you wanna see me in your city! All the comments are very appreciated! XoXo