Capybara: a symbol of capitalist resistance in Argentina
Andrea Sadowski
Does your neighbour’s dog ever poop on your lawn? Imagine a guinea pig the size of a potbelly pig pooping on your lawn, stomping on your garden, and attacking your dog. Nordelta, a wealthy, gated community in Buenos Aires is being reinhabited by the very residents who were nearly eliminated from the area in 1999: capybaras. Residents of Nordelta want to build strategic fences to try and keep the capybaras away from their precious lawns; some residents are even trying to hunt the capybaras themselves. These large rodents have become a symbol of anti-capitalist resistance amongst the poorer residents of Buenos Aires. The capybaras are simply taking back the land that was once theirs. I love to see it. I hope some rich, white, Argentinian man steps in a pile of steaming capybara poop on his way to the golf course.
Anxious about my social anxiety
Sydney Marchand
I think I’ve forgotten how to socialize. Sure, I talk to my coworkers or casually strike up a conversation with the cashier about the “beautiful day we’re having” or “the great deal on apples,” but socializing with friends or classmates in person? Nope. I don’t think I can do it anymore.
I’ve always been a socially awkward person. I’ve never been the type of person to sit at the front of the class or start a conversation with the stranger sitting next to me. But I think that the heavy transition to online collaboration and virtual communication has stunted my ability to develop my (lacking) social skills. In fact, I believe it has reinforced my introverted tendencies and praised my ability to avoid social interactions.
With school returning to in-person instruction, I can’t help but feel anxious about meeting new people and professors. I’ve become accustomed to (and, frankly, more comfortable with) hiding behind a keyboard where I can be a leader in online discussion boards and freely participate in group chats without the fear of stumbling over my words. I can’t be the only person feeling an exorbitant amount of pressure to be enthusiastically social post-lockdown. I mean, c’mon, a new routine is stressful enough without having the pressure of small talk and being personable, right? Sigh. I send all my luck and courageous spirit to any fellow socially awkward humans out there as our in-person social life lurks around the corner. We got this.
My pet peeve in passing
Chandy Dancey
In a perfect world, when you’re walking on a sidewalk or down an aisle at a grocery store, typically you move off to one side when you’re approaching someone and the other person moves to the opposite side. You pass by each other in one fluid motion without any drama. But obviously this is not a perfect world. Twice this summer I’ve reserved an arbitrary side to be on (and I mean I was well off to the side) in advance of passing someone, only for them to stop in front of me and ask me to move. Keep in mind: there was no one else around and an obvious space right beside me to pass. Now, I don’t get road rage, but maybe I’m developing something called sidewalk rage because this entitlement ticks me off.
You really have to ask yourself: is it worth it to say something? Am I really going to take time out of my day to ruin this person’s mood? No. It’s really not worth the energy or time nor is it productive. And so I will continue to gape mutely at people who don’t know basic sidewalk etiquette and deftly take a step to the other side to satisfy their nonsensical demands.
Illustrations: Iryna Presley/The Cascade
Andrea Sadowski is working towards her BA in Global Development Studies, with a minor in anthropology and Mennonite studies. When she's not sitting in front of her computer, Andrea enjoys climbing mountains, sleeping outside, cooking delicious plant-based food, talking to animals, and dismantling the patriarchy.
Sydney is a BA English major, creative writing student, who has been a content contributor for The Cascade and is now the Opinion editor. In 7th grade, she won $100 in a writing contest but hasn’t made an earning from writing since. In the meantime, she is hoping that her half-written novels will write themselves, be published, and help pay the bills.
Chandy is a biology major/chemistry minor who's been a staff writer, Arts editor, and Managing Editor at The Cascade. She began writing in elementary school when she produced Tamagotchi fanfiction to show her peers at school -- she now lives in fear that this may have been her creative peak.
