Margarita owns the Buddha Ba, a fusion-style tea-house and art gallery. She is an example of a first-generation immigrant success story. She came to Argentina in 1973 with only 700 US dollars and ran a ceramics factory. 30 years later, she bought a run-down English-style house on a corner of Chinatown and launched this space.
"This space is the dream of an immigrant," she said. "I want to give back to this country which has received and treated me so well."
During the 4 hours I was there, 2 television channels that were doing stories on Chinatown came to interview her. It seems like Argentine interest in Chinese culture is really taking off. Since many people have done articles on the space, I asked Margarita her thoughts about integration and preservation of Chinese culture in the 2nd generation. Then we sat down and talked with the editors of the Horizonte Chino about the image of Chinese people in Argentina. Pablo Liu, the account manager, told us his plans to launch a television series called "Mi Vecino Chino" - My Chinese Neighbor. He wanted to facilitate understanding between Chinese and Argentines. They also discussed how to get the second-generation Chinese more involved in local community politics.
Pablo asked me if I wanted to stay and help him with his projects. Sounds tempting...
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