The Picciones: Plank

Mamita!! My least favorite word in the Spanish language. I seriously get chills up and down my spine when I hear this word. Of course its because the shameless men on the street yell it at you as you walk by, along with many other inappropriate words and phrases. It makes you walk faster and put your head down. Although me, being "yankee" and all, wants to give them a taste of my pepper spray and then give them the middle finger as I take a picture of their not so dominant, weak, and pathetic ass. Then Jesus has to remind me that I need to love him, dang it!!! WHY GOD, WHYYYYY!!!!????? haha. The Devil really does test me but I keep knocking him out.

Other than this one specific thing, I love Argentina. If it wasn't for this pathetic type of human being (I'm referring to the men here who steal, pick pocket, act inferior to women by saying dirty things and treating them like a piece of meat, and make you feel unsafe and uncomfortable) I would live here. But for some reason, I can't get over it. I don't know not one person that wants to feel scared in their neighborhood or intentionally ugly so that the men won't harass them. Sometimes it sickens me so much that I question whether to start spraying every man that says something to me in his eyeballs or pray for them, because at one point enough is enough. The part that bothers me the most is that the people here say, "oh that's Argentina" or "ya, start getting used to it." Excuse me? I will never allow that to happen. Again, as I mentioned before, this is where my yankee blood comes out. (for those of you who don't know why I say yankee, its because that's what they call us americans here in Argentina. Its not offense, its just our permanent nickname) In my culture we are allowed to slap a dude in the face if we feel he has crossed the line. Don't you dare touch my ass, I will pound your face in, is my first though; here in Argentina its, oh I'm sorry my butt was in your hand's way. Its so sad, but for them so normal.

Now moving on to the great things about Argentina, let's talk about friendship, affection, merienda, and acknowledgement. These things are some great things that I shall take with me, no matter where I am in this incredibly big world. Their way of treating friends is unbelievable. I appreciate their efforts in getting together a lot and truly celebrating what having friends really means. Its hard for me to explain how they really cherish friendship but they definitely treat it different than we do in the United States. I'm not saying I don't have great friends or that I am not one, its just that they look at them as.... I can't find the word. I'll get back to you on that!

I guess the affection thing might go a long with their way of treating friends. They are very kissy, huggy, touchy people, and I am not! I need an arm distance of space around me, especially at the supermarket! haha. I honestly hate giving hugs and kisses but I admire the affection they show towards one another. For me its effort, and for them its natural. Im getting there... little by little. Im going to skip merienda and do it last because it goes along with my recipe and food below and plus the acknowledgment still has to do with friendship and affection. These people, when they walk in the room, give every single person a kiss on the cheek. They acknowledge that they are there by saying hi and exchanging a cheek to cheek touch. They give other people respect by acknowledging their existence in the room, even if they don't like them. Hatred and ignoring them, just doesn't fly here. I really really like that. Even though I forget almost always... on purpose... I think its something we should really think about bringing into our culture, at least a hello handshake or something. It makes people feel important and not just forgotten about. I just really like that they have surpassed hatred towards one another more than we have to show for in the States. It makes me sad how we bully, intentionally leave people out, and ignore them as a person altogether. Heart breaking.

And of course, the thing that brings all this together... Merienda! Its really a snack between lunch and dinner, but they get together, and then stay and chat for hours upon hours while they eat the best pastries, and drink coffee or mate(a natural green tea). I decided to make some pastries, because number one I love when my house smells like bread, and number two who doesn't love pastries? So here is step by step on how to make medialunas which is a sweet, soft, warm pastry with sugar glaze on top.

Flour, sugar, salt, and egg. Then add yeast and warm milk. Let rise until it doubles in size.

Let sit in the fridge for one hour, and then roll out. Add butter as shows in picture, trying not to let the butter escape. After done successfully, let sit in the fridge for another hour.