moneda [mo-nay'-dah] : coin Listen
There are many circumstances where your WOTD might have another or multiple meanings, but to keep things simple and to the point, we will stick to the translation which focuses on the topic.
So, I was one step ahead today. The camera actually made it into the backpack. But by the time I could get to it to take a picture of the couple digging for monedas in their pockets, bags, and ears on the bus today, they had succeeded in their quest, had inserted the desired monedas into the moneda machine, and took the front seats up by the driver. Boy, were they lucky. They were Spanish speaking tourists. I know this because A. they were speaking Spanish - (or Castilian) and B. because they did not know that they couldn't get change on the bus. I smiled as I heard the driver flatly answer, "Sí, monedas únicamente" (Yes, coins only.) two or three times as their bewildered faces asked that question. Really? We can only pay with monedas?
Ok, so what's the big deal, you ask? Well...if there were monedas growing on trees, it wouldn't be a big deal. But that's not the case. Remember the fruit vendor who didn't have change one day so he gave me a tangerine instead of my 10 cent moneda? You'll go to the grocery store. You'll lie. No, I don't have monedas. Liar, liar pants on fire. But no lie = no bus ticket, so it's survival of the fittest...or, really, the most mendacious. Sometimes it backfires on you. You want an alfajor (special Argentine cookie) that costs 50 cents. You only have a 2 peso bill. They ask for monedas, you lie, and they won't sell you the alfajor. If you had 50 cents all along, you can't just pretend like the coin magically appeared next to your foot on the sidewalk so you walk to the next little kiosk and think twice, but use your 50 cent moneda for that alfajor you wanted so badly. There is actually a moneda exchange office where people can change up to 50 pesos ($15 US) a week in monedas. I've never been, but I've seen them lined up on the news channel with the first guy saying he got there at 5:00 a.m. and was still waiting 3.5 hours later. Ah, Argentina. These are the things that make life just a little more quirky here.
Last night after dinner with two friends, Emily and Andrea, I walked Andrea to her bus stop. Now, that was being a good friend, right? And then I hear, "Oh no! What am I thinking? I don't have monedas." I look at her. I know where this is going. I'm about to sacrifice a moneda. And as the #12 rumbles our way, I open my moneda purse, press the one peso moneda into her hand, and know that my pants are definitely not on fire. "A friend in need is a friend indeed."
"Usá tus monedas. No las guardes.""Use your coins. Don't hoard them."
Update! Nov 22, 08. Wouldn't it have been nice to appear in the Times?
