post-argentina, santiago feels a little different. now that i have its cousin to compare it to, it's like i'm seeing the city with new eyes. in buenos aires, i gained another south american reference point to work off of, and with it, i'm noticing elements of santiago that never really stood out before: spontaneous details about how people dress or behave, the way business is conducted, unassuming sights and sounds of streetlife that slipped my attention before...

ironically, i think being in buenos aires has helped me to grasp a little bit more what it is to be santiaguino. and that's kinda cool.