British Embassy hails Jane Austen’s enduring legacy on anniversary

A small corner of Recoleta stepped back in time on Tuesday as guests at the British Embassy in Buenos Aires marked 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen. 

The celebration, held on December 16 at the Ambassador David Cairns’ residence, blended literary homage, academic study, era-specific dress and even some dancing, briefly recreating Austen’s world in Argentina.

Guests enjoyed a programme that included a presentation of Queremos tanto a Jane, Juana Libedinsky’s recently published book on Austen’s global cultural impact, which was set alongside a talk by historian Klaus Gallo, who provided historical context about what life was like when the author wrote her six classic novels: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

Attendees sipped tea and sampled cupcakes and cookies decorated with the author’s portrait, recalling the classic English tea tradition so familiar in Austen’s books.

Cairns, who arrived in Argentina earlier this year, noted the  themes that run through all six of her celebrated novels – society, women’s roles and money – and argued for their enduring relevance more than two centuries on. 

Indonesia making plans for bilateral anniversary

Indonesia’s Ambassador to Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay Sulaiman Syarif hosted a group of artists, business professionals and journalists in Palermo on Tuesday as he outlined plans to celebrate seven decades of bilateral relations between his home and host nation next year.

Ambassador Syarif’s choice of location for the meeting was extremely noteworthy: Ru’s Kitchen, the first and only Indonesian restaurant in the capital. Located at Carranza 1969, Palermo, the fast-food eatery is open for deliveries and dining experiences. 

While promoting the national cuisine, the envoy voiced his hopes for the next year, during which Indonesia will mark 70 years of diplomatic relations with Argentina. 

In conversation with the Times, the diplomat said he saw opportunities ahead for trade and commerce that would be to the “mutual benefit” of both nations. Tourism could be another growth area, he stressed, noting that some 3,000 Indonesians had visited Argentina last year, with 11,000 travelling the other way.

Syarif talked up import and export opportunities, noting in particular that he wants to facilitate the entry of Argentine beef – as he put it, “el mejor carne del mundo.”

The world’s largest achipelagic state, made up of more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is home to some 280 million people and has an estimated GDP of more than US$1.4 trillion. 

Ambassador Syarif also said he plans to see more of Argentina in the coming weeks and months, starting with a trip this week to Bariloche.