Top Three Hazards of BA

1. The Drip

New Yorkers will probably relate best to this one. You're walking along, minding your own business and suddenly....PLOP. The condensation from an air conditioner has landed right on top of your head, and it's now running down your scalp. While technically not harmful or life-threatening, "the drip" can be quite startling and annoying, especially if you're dressed nicely. Here in Buenos Aires, "the drip" is exceedingly common because central air does not exist. Like most of Latin America, most apartments and homes are air conditioned by window or "split" units because the costs are much, much lower (both in terms of construction as well as the monthly power bill). Thus, Matt and I now have a new rule for navigating the sidewalks. Look ahead for puddles, and when you see one, walk around it. Chances are it's a "drip zone."

2. The Poop

Now, I just discussed one rule for navigating the city by foot. Here's another important one. Don't just look ahead for puddles. Look down also to make sure you're not about to step on dog crap. Yes, dog crap. I don't know the figures, but let's just say that there are a LOT of pooches in Buenos Aires. Apparently the dog walking profession was born here to meet the needs of busy dog-owning urbanites who were gone all day. Just head out on any weekday, and you'll be guaranteed to see a dog walker with a least 15 dogs, somehow managing to get them all to happily trot along in sync. How do they handle their brood's needs? Legally, every dog owner and dog walker is required to scoop the poop, but clearly this is a law that many Argentines are disobeying. Or perhaps the dog walker only has so many hands and scoop bags. I don't know, but suffice to say, we watch our step these days, and life smells much better. (To be fair, the problem isn't nearly as bad in nicer neighborhoods.)

3. The "C" Knob

In the US, there are two knobs in your shower: hot (H) or cold (C). But in Latin America, the words for hot and cold are "caliente" and "frio." Are you guessing the hazard yet? Let me describe the scenario. Your alarm goes off in the morning, and you're still rather out of it. Your brain isn't awake yet. To rectify that, you step inside the shower, and turn on the water. Suddenly, it gets really, really hot. Scalding hot. In panic, you crank that "C" knob for all its worth to turn the temperature down. But it's only getting hotter! What the heck is going on? That's when you realize you're turning up the hot...instead of the cold. Because "C" here means "caliente," not cold. No matter how many times I do this, it's almost like the "C" on the knob is inexorably programmed to mean cold in my subconscious. It's almost Pavlovian. Need cold? Turn the "C." So as you can see, of all three hazards, this one is definitely the most dangerous. Luckily, I don't have any third degree burns...yet.