LivingInPatagonia.com

Our Local Butcher

Written by Shanie

One of the special things about Argentina, in my opinion is the small ma and pop specialty stores. These are not the gourmet, expensive type found throughout the United States — these are thriving, quirky, quaint shopping adventures that always offer a better — and cheaper product — than the grocery store.

This is our friendly local butcher lady slicing up some grass-fed beef. She is stoked on her job — smiling, humming and moving with a bounce in her step throughout the process.

I admire how many jobs that may seem mundane to many throughout the world are considered a treasured way of life here. I have seen the pride that was in this woman’s demeanor in waiters of fast food restaurants, in the lift operators bumping chairs at the ski area and in the house cleaners that are making much less than back home.

Many people I know would be upset, bummed and maybe even a bit depressed if they lived at the income level that the aforementioned people are living at.

In fact, many friends and family that I was blessed to see on a recent trip back to the United State considered times to be horrible, depressing and unbelievable. The doom talk was evident everywhere I went — along with the accompanying frowns. But then as we would leave to say goodbye all of the people complaining about their financial well-being would climb into a brand-new beautiful car.

It is pretty safe to say that the waiter, lift operator, house cleaner and our friendly local lady butcher don’t drive a shiny new car or SUV. But they are smiling.

I guess it is all testament that life is what we think it.