September and the “Estudiantinas”
by Pacho Coulchinsky
(a mix of high school kids’ fun competition)
A prelude to the imminent coming of spring in Reconquista (Argentina)
The month of August is dreadful for us in this northern corner of the southern hemisphere also known as Latin America. Strong winds from the South bring along cold fronts, as if Old Man Winter would enjoy punishing us for wishing so much that spring would arrive, already.
Winter, in fact, slowly retreats like a defeated God who pounds furiously everywhere he reaches, or perhaps, it simply wants to sweep clean the streets, freeing the trees’ branches of their already dead old leaves, in order for Spring to explode of color, smell and sounds.
Suddenly, the wind calms down, the landscape dresses in vibrant tones of green and the first blooms capture our imagination, as if it was the work of a crafty illusionist, who suddenly lifted his magical robes, persuading the still slumbering landscape to appear once again and so renewing the world and its inhabitants’ souls, filled with the enchantment of Spring.
Now, of course, the youngsters’ souls are the ones that seem to be caressed the most by Spring. During the month of September, the take over our city transforming it into a show-ground for competitions in many different disciplines, such as sports, art, music, projects, social work, etc. The city comes very much alive, with all of us willingly participating in their contagious enjoyment and their impetuous youthful force that seems to carry us all into its irresistible thrust.
It is a truly inclusive party, since young people with different physical and mental abilities and the schools to which they belong are some more of the party.
It is a city-wide party with all of us diving into this breathtaking, irresistible call that wakes us up from winter’s stupor, enkindling this renewed hope of birth to a new life. It helps us reminisce of the time when we ourselves were children filled with the excitement and yearnings of young people.
