01.31.2011

(Last week was VERY hectic.  I promise I will go back to updating almost every day.)

Hugs.  Something I give and receive all the time in the United States.  It is my gesture preferred when I greet family or friends.  Honestly.  I love hugs.  I feel so happy and comfortable with hugs.  I feel more love that way.  And, I believe I am a good hugger, too.  I am not a proud and/or cocky person, but I will admit that I believe I am a good hugger.

Here in Argentina, people do not hug.  Every time I approach someone to even consider giving a hug, I get this weird look and people sometimes pull away, even though the people here are the warmest and kindest population of people I have met.   (The whole population…I am not saying that there are not kinder and warmer people back home, it is just that the population here is kinder and warmer than the population of people in the United States.  I believe, at least.)  It is as if they don’t want to get too close so as to not give other people an idea of that the person you are hugging is more than just a friend or family member.  I don’t get it.  We can half-kiss on the cheek with EVERY SINGLE PERSON that you know very well, meet once, or even in the professional setting.  However, I cannot get a hug from a single friend?!  I don’t get it.  And, hugging my grandma is not the same as hugging NLK or some of my guy friends.  It is just not the same.  But that is the only person that is socially acceptable to hug around here.

So, the next time anyone from back home sees me next, I would love a hug.