Written texts for Steve

Does the Sun shine in Argentina?

The main project I am developing is related to writing. It is based on letters my Aunt sent to her mother between the year 1968 and 1993 At the moment I am in a process of translating Eventually I would like to edit them into a more musical shape.

03/06/68

I want to make it clear that I do not hold resentment towards anyone. I am 18 years old, you always saw me as a kid, but nobody, absolutely nobody knows who I am. It seems as if I had a split personality, strange isn't it? But that's how it is. I'm leaving because Buenos Aires has absolutely drained me, I can't stand being here anymore. Don't worry I'll try to have the best time possible. Mother, don't think that I'm going with Horacio or that he convinced me of this, not at all, he didn't. Despite what you think, he's a great guy (At least he has feelings, which is very important) Where I go, I know a man, you will wonder from where, well from the office, he is a good guy. The remaining clothes I shall come and get them some other day. Adriana- I don't think I'm going to lose you as a sister or as a friend - don't let me down, I'll write to you and I hope you do too. I'm going to miss you a lot, sugar, like it's happening to me lately. My clothes if you want to use them, just take them, whatever is mine is yours too. I would like to say goodbye but I'm sorry, I'm not going to be able to see you, I send you a big kiss. Well, I have nothing else to say to anyone, do not worry about the family's comments, make something up.

Sincerely Cristina

Santiago, 10-28-68

Dear mom: On Friday I received your letter, I'm glad you had a good mother's day. Berta and I are dating two handsome dudes, you don't have an idea how macho and smart they are, I love both of them. Mine is called Juan Carlos Scienca, we go to the theater, cinema. Oh! ... we also went to a Chinese exhibition and one of Chilean prints that were just a poem! Yesterday we went to ¨El cajó Maipo¨, it is choro (bewitching) and (mesmerising), it is an immense waterfall between two mountains that later on conform the Maipo river. We arrived at 10 (night) we made a beautiful bonfire (It was cold as fuck), very small snowflakes were falling because it is very high. We took roast chicken, cheese, salami, bread and wine (I don't know if you are aware that the amount of wine I drink is impressive and I don't get drunk), sparkling water is not used here to lower the alcohol. What soda, I'd better say, what a wine! I assure you it has no comparison. Well, as I was saying, we were there eating, dancing and chatting, the four of us are very close, we left there at 1:30 am. Brrrrrrrr what a freezing night. We arrived to Santiago, always in a car, logical, it is Juan Carlos´, an Austin (this place is 40 minutes away) So, what do you think? This is really my life, the one I always wanted, although it may seem bad to you I assure you that in everything I do, say and think there is no wrong. Well Mommy, for Adriana, tell her that I'm going to send her the atomic bomb by mail, I want to know one thing: Does she have paralysis in her fingers or what? If she doesn't write to me now, tell her not to write to me again and now for real, it's not a joke. Mamina kisses and greetings to all Your daughter Cris P.S. Write soon.

Santiago 8 - 11 - 68

Hi girl! I just received your letter and I was very happy because I had not heard from you for several days. This, I assure you, is an earthly paradise (apart from all the political mess) I'm glad you're well and the old man has won some lucas (bucks). I really changed a lot, physically and mentally, maybe you can get an idea through more letters. My hair grew a lot and I am still blonde, since the paint is not very expensive, Makeup, I have, and I lost a kilo, I grew 2 cm. If I continue like this I do not know how far I will go (weight 55 kg., height 1.71 m) This is a llesera (it means great) and mentally I am more mature and I recognize it. That is the thing I am most proud of. Regarding work (big words) some lawyer friends got me to enter advertising. It is good and at the same time bad because you have to fregarlos (that is, to screw people over). Well that's the advertising world…. Juan Carlos is 24 years old, he is my height, blue eyes, very manly, he is serious when he should be, he dances very well, he has money, he is good looking, well and THE AUSTIN, it is a sport mdoel. Ah…. Why ask for anything else right? I am very angry with my sister, she should write to me 1st because she owes me an answer- Kisses for you and daddy Chris.

Porto Alegre 7-3-69

Mãe !: Yesterday I received your letter and the photos, you are look very well, always bem bacana (amazing) I received all the letters from Vocês (you). Here's the bombshell news, I'm falling in love (dating a cara (guy)) I'm super apaixonada (In love) I started going out with him on the thirteen of March of 1969. His name is Josué Carlos Calarte Tabares. He is the living portrait of Atilio Horacio (that loser… of the Silver car) We understand each other super well - (I hope you don't give me more advice, (that I should take care of me and else, understood?)

Bom- I'm working at the University of Economics (I'm secretary of the Board). $ 20,000 for 4 hours from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. And I want to start working tomorrow to earn more money and arrumar (rent) an apt. - despois I would leave the one from the University. On Saturday or the day after tomorrow I go to Pelotas com Zé (my boyfriend) (his name is pronounced like a buzz zzzzzzzzz) to Fausto and Vera's noivado party (noivado is engagement) Mommy, why don't you study Portuguese? It is super interesting. I made a saia (long skirt) for myself. I am super stylish - I am very successful with everyone (everybody) adores me. Ah! I forgot, on Saturday Fausto is going to put a super cumprida (long) wig on me. Here comes a piece of news in this letter, at the beginning, I mention a man's name, well in a few days or so, more or less on the 13th I WILL GET ENGAGED, whether you believe it or not –and with an alliance ring! What do you say? We are not going to have a party or anything, so I do not invite you, it is no longer used on the dia de noivado (engagement day) and we are going to go out with all the fusma (group of friends) to party and nothing else - I already started to receive gifts, little ones, because our friends are all students. Z ’is 22 years old, he works, he’s, he’is, he’s... AMAZING. Give me your opinion and NOT your advice. The party of Faust and Vera was fantastic, sensational. Well Mommy, greetings to all of you from your filha

Cris

Porto Alegre 5-21-69

Dear mom: I received your letter and the photos are amazing! The girls from Brazil praised daddy. What I found is that everyone is fat. If you see me, which I think will be soon, don't be scared. Well, I'm super magra (thin) 52 ½ kg. As you know, I walked as a model. Regarding the money, I really also need now, the sooner the better. I did not want to tell you but I have to say. Don't be scared but I lost too much weight (I did a regimen for the parade) and they told me I'm fine but weakened. I was working in the University of Economics but the Director made strike and they didn't pay me (there was an fraud on the part of the students, that is, the University gave them money and they spent more than they should have) they made this defalcation, and since I worked with them, bye bye, well... When you send the money it has to be in dollars, mommy, don't forget, send it soon. Tell everyone to write to me because no one answers my letters - Dany or Adriana - I say goodbye to you. A Beijo Cris P.S. Send soon and write.

Paris 9-23-74

Mommy:

Quique's mother sent him a letter today in which he tells us of the mess in Buenos Aires, bombs everywhere? And what about Mirtha Legrand? They sent Quique the news. I want you to tell me everything that happens there. Here today it rains and it is very cold. The other day they also put a bomb here (injured people and bla bla bla) I saw The last tango in Paris (very good) really the Argentine censorship is a b...shit! Here there is no censorship of any kind, neither in cinema, nor in newspapers or TV, that is invaluable, ALL FREEDOM.

Paris, April 22, 1975

Hello mam! At last you are going to stop bothering me with this, you have A SON IN LAW! You like it? Now what are you going to trouble me with! Grandchildren, not even in dreams for the moment unless you send us 1,000,000 bucks every month, Europe is very expensive! Changing the subject: I tell you I had surgery on my ear and they made me an aesthetic one. What do you think? Tremendous surgery I had, just think I was on a stretcher and naked. C. Mast (the first married signature) P.S. Do not stop writing. You do it very well and your handwriting has improved.

Dear Adriana: After much waiting, yes waiting, I received your letter, because one day you said painful things to me (that is already in the past) and that was why I did not write to you. I never would have thought (it's true) that you could write a letter like the one you wrote - thank you, I needed it - it gave me courage and strength to continue with the conviction that I have and had. It is possible that I was wrong, to be honest I think I actually was, but I think it was due to the great loneliness that I always felt at home. I always felt it until the day I left. I think that if I had not met Riquet, who pulled out of the well, I would have gone crazy. You have to hear, understand people or not, never judge them, take them, accept them as they are or leave them. It is today that I think that you still do not know me, I mean, it may be that you do now. You grew up! At last! And you stopped being that innocent woman useless for this society in which we live. I already know what happened to you, but I'm going to let you tell me out of your own free will. Not in vain I am 25.

Paris, 7-11-78

Finally! Mom, don't tell me you don't have time to write, at least to know about Mathieu. I am so angry, what a family of… ! I think you have a lush imagination, right? You have to be more direct, like me. At least you know what I think. If we wanted you to travel it was only so that the ticket does not expire. The rest is all your imagination. Think whatever you want. Let's see if you write, ok? If you continue like this, it seems to me that you are going to isolate yourself from the world, don't you think?

Paris, April 16, 1984

If there were possibilities in Argentina, I swear to you that I would be gou (how horrendous the orthographic mistakes). I am done with the French, the climate seems not to, but there is nothing to do, the homeland is always calling. The boy I live with is divine, well, but too young. Lauren, he is called, but there is no case we do not click. He has no initiatives, I am quite bored, but for the moment I will keep him. Anyway we'll see. I know it is a disaster over there but please find out how much it is for a rent and jobs, cost, etc. Maybe I would go with Laurent, I don't know, I'm a little confused. But I'm fed up here, they are so different. Write to me soon and you know, with 2 boys the mess that it is and even more when you are alone and you have to manage all the same. Anyway ... I send a kiss for everyone. Cris

Marly le Roi, 20 Julliet 1993 How about mom! We live in a divine place 100 meters from the continuation of the Versailles park. You can tell Adriana, I wrote several times and to the little ones and no news. This is it, really looking forward to go to Argentina but I don't think so, not for now. Dear Nelly: How are you? We haven't seen each other for so long. I hope your health is good. Does the sun shine in Argentina? Maybe we'll see each other one day when I visit you. I really liked the drawings of Tamarita and Ariella I send you a big kiss Olivier

In October 1993 my grandmother Nelly died and a few months later my aunt came to arrange inheritance issues. I remember a few things from those days. She and her two children stayed in my room. My mom was mad because my cousins were jumping on my bed and my aunt was doing nothing to stop it. He taught me that in Paris they painted their fingernails with transparent polish and their toenails in red. I know that after that meeting, they never spoke to each other again. Cristina died at the age of sixty-eight from internal bleeding in her throat. They found her thanks to her neighbors who reported a bad smell that came from her apartment.