"Changkito! Who is changkito?" Javier's brother called out "Are you changkito?" he glanced at me. Nope. My name is Isaac. "Oh ok." He put the package aside. "Next!!!"
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It was christmas eve 2007. More importantly, it was her birthday and most importantly, it was a day after she left Buenos Aires.
I was feeling very down and had plans to sleep and watch movies alone at home and have myself a very miserable Christmas. That plan was quickly banished when I got a text message from Javier, which read, "Want to come to my home for christmas eve?"
"Sure!" I replied, "I don't want to be alone in my house."
Javier's family lived in Tigre, some forty-five minutes taxi ride away from the centre of Buenos Aires city. Along the way we went to pick up two of Javier's friends, Matteo and his lovely partner Patricia. They danced tango too, and I later found out they were the main organizers and performers of the large scale Tango Festival of Florence, Italy.
It was afternoon when we arrived. In the house lived his mom, grandma, brother, sister-in law, auntie, uncle and their kids. Most of the rest of the extended family lived a few houses away and would be gathering later in the evening for a big family dinner. Similar to our chinese new year eve reunion dinner.
At their door, we were greeted by three big dogs and Javier's mom. Later on, Javier's brother (who is a dancer in the Argentine National Folk Dance Troupe), sister-in law and their little 2 year old son joined us (this little fella is already imitating how to folk dance like his dad; the dancing blood runs in the family!).
We were all having a relaxed chat in the kitchen when suddenly a voice came booming in, "who are all these rude people who came without even greeting me?" A kindly wrinkled face appeared in the kitchen doorway, half smiling in mock anger. "Oh shut up mother! We thought you were asleep! These are Javier's friends!" Javier's mom replied nonchalantly, continuing her preparation for the dinner.
"What do we have here? A little chinese kid (un chinito!)!" She smiled as she ruffled my hair, "Your name is Isaac? Few years back Javier brought home some chinitos for christmas too." (Funny, now as I am typing this, it sounds to me like some name for potato chips.) "Oh well, I'll let you guys play, I'll be off to prepare my dishes for tonight!"
(*Chinito - Little chinese kid, spanish slang.)
Javier gestured to me, talking about the food his grandma makes, "Mama mia, yummm!" My first impression of this eighty-five year old granny as she staggered out of the kitchen was, 'what a strong lady!' So much life force and so alert in the brain! In fact a lot of elderly in Argentina, I had observed, they have a lot of respect from the younger generation in their family, a lot of self esteem and vitality.
As I helped out to set the tables for the dinner party, I saw lots of gifts under the christmas tree. Turned out that gift exchange was a hightlight of Christmas eve. So Matteo, Patricia and I decided to go shopping with Javier, at a local town center in the late afternoon.
Javier bought lots of presents, one for each family member. With the limited budget I got, I decided I could only get one present, a pair of board shorts for Javier.
As the sun set, the once empty patio area was now laid out with a fabulous spread, with decorations hand made by Javier's mom. Javier bought two bouquets of jasmin, cut the flowers and put them into bowls bringing a fresh light jasmin fragrance to the ambient.
The festives got underway, uncles, nieces, friends, brother, sisters, all started to stream in one by one and by nine o'clock at night, everyone was seated and eating.
I just sat back and observed quietly as they all chatted away. No television, no distractions; just eating, talking and drinking wine. Over twenty of us seated at a long table eating together. "We used to be able to set our dining table on the street outside our house, with other families, and the whole neighbourhood would eat outside their houses, so every family can see one another and eat side by side. Times have changed." one of the uncles of Javier told me.
"10, 9, 8..." Countdown, like everywhere else in the world. Midnight struck and everyone rose to congratulate one another, a 'clink' of their champagne class and then giving one another a hearty embrace and a kiss. Another one of the argentine ways I take to very well; a little human touch never does any harm.
We went out of the house and set off some fireworks. "The chinese celebrate their new year with fireworks too." I explained to one of the uncles, "But Singapore banned it a few years ago as some houses got burnt or people got injured by the explosives."
"Yeah it happens here too. Every year during Christmas and New Year's. You have numerous accidents like this in Argentina." the uncle replied. "Maybe your government is smart. But this is something we enjoy very much."
Finally the grand highlight of the evening. The time where everyone gets the presents. "Let's see who gets the most presents this year!" "It must be Martin (Javier's little two year old nephew)!" "You always get more presents than me!" "That's because I'm more popular!!" The place is abuzz with anticipation.
One of Javier's brother volunteered himself as the present giver. One by one he called out the names written on the presents. No surprise little Martin got the most presents, more than ten of them. Javier got his fair share. Patricia and Matteo got a few. I got one from Javier.
Soon all the presents got their owners except for one with the name 'changkito'. "Well we have a stray present." Javier's brother mused. Everyone started to wonder whoever 'changkito' might be.
"Let me take a look." one of Javier's auntie took up the package for a closer look. "Oh no its not changkito. Its CHINITO!!!" And instantly she looked at me with a big smile.
"Well, he is chinito! The little chinese kid!" Javier's granny exclaimed. "I forgotten his name so he is chinito. I hope you don't mind. Haha." Everyone burst out laughing.
It was quite heartwarming for me that the only other present I got would be from Javier's granny! And what a way to get it!
Great story.