End of the Game: "Ad Altiora Tendimus" or "Panem et Circenses"?
Et oui, Friday night here was "end of the game" for me...thing that I had predicted right from the beginning, when I saw the list of challenges...I told my friends and family: "You know where they will send me out?....in the restaurant review.." Everybody asked me why...and I replied: "because it is the only challenge where precisely we don't have to cook..."
But predicting this didn't mean it did not hurt me...and if you want to know how ridiculous I can be..I cried ! Yes, a woman of my age crying over a ridiculous contest ! But I was not crying because I had lost..Losing is part of any game...losing is what most often happens..I taught that to my children and my little students..I was crying at my own stupidity, at my own hard ingrained sense of honor, sense of fair play (well that is desirable in a human being, isn't it? ) or probably, because I was angry at myself for being so naïve, to think that everybody would play fair !!!
Attention: in this competition there have been AND there are some amazingly talented bloggers, who have followed the rules, even in those cases where strict compliance of rules went to their own detriment...and I feel so lucky to have met those people, people that will remain for ever in my mind !!! but let's face it and I am sorry if I am the only person that says this...not everybody has had the same dignity! In some cases, the non-compliance with the rules has been flagrant !! yet what happened? nothing happened!! To the people, "panem et circenses"?
Don't count on me for that!!! I was proudly brought up at a school in Argentina, the school that taught this Spanish native speaker to write English the way I do, that my motto in life had to be "Ad Altiora Tendimus" (we strive for perfection) perfection being working hard to give each day the best we have, respecting others, following rules, playing fair...
This is and will always be at the "heart" of "Cristina, from Buenos Aires to Paris". If you don't like my words...easy! Don't read my blog any more...but the first thing I have to do in my blog is to be faithful to myself...I am not in search of popularity here! I only work seriously for my readers' sake....
It goes without saying...I don't belong to Foodbuzz any more !!!!
Comments
Gracias Miriam !!! Yo ya escribi un mail a esta gente para borrarme también!
You took the words right out of my mouth Cristina. I also cried, not at being eliminated but because it was such a letdown after so many many weeks of hard work. A lot of people warned me entering this contest that it was, after all, a contest and that it would most likely descend into a bit of a popularity contest which we all know it did. That said, I am pleased to see one of my original picks to win is in the Top 3 and I couldn't be more pleased. So perhaps "justice" will prevail after all?
I hope Foodbuzz will have learned a lot from this contest and I hope they will run it differently next time, if they choose to do so. There needs to be much more transparency in voting and accountability for eliminations and stricter adherence to "post guidelines" in my opinion. But that is just me. That said, not sure if I would participate again.
Glad to have discovered your blog through PFB though and you have a loyal new reader here in Toronto, Canada :-) (and many many others, no doubt!)
Cheers,
Rosa
Ditto, Mardi !! You were one of the contestants that raised the bar !! So glad to have met you too !!!
Not to worry Cristina ! This is life, but I think you are very right to speak out and give them a piece of your mind, which of course won't change anything other than let the steam off.
WE know YOU were the best and we love you !
Life goes on, with more exciting adventures to come that you will, no doubt, share in this blog for our greatest pleasure.
Good luck !
Y.K.W.
Thanks for the encouragement !!! I will continue working..harder then ever!!
Still--to have worked so hard and produced so many posts, I can understand your frustration. When you can, just shake it off and keep moving forward, as you do pretty amazing work here. :)
However, the challenge was a great experience in learning, whether as a contender or an observer, and I think we'll be better bloggers because of it.
The real problem in my eyes with PFB and another challenge I just (foolishly) entered is that the winners are not always advanced on merit and compliance. "Open voting' only benefits the sponsor of the contest by driving traffic to their websites. [Other bloggers said this in the beginning but I didn't understand it then.]
That said, I know who I'm voting for. One of the last challengers has shown excellence consistently throughout the challenge and I believe is an honorable contender.
P.S. As you know, I followed you before the challenge and will continue to do so. Your work is beautiful and appreciated by your readers.
Si te postran diez veces, te levantas
otras diez, otras cien, otras quinientas;
no han de ser tus caídas tan violentas
ni tampoco, por ley, han de ser tantas.
Con el hambre genial con que las plantas
asimilan el humus avarientas,
deglutiendo el rencor de las afrentas
se formaron los santos y las santas.
Obcecación asnal, para ser fuerte,
nada más necesita la criatura,
y en cualquier infeliz se me figura
que no mellan los garfios de la suerte ...
¡ Todos los incurables tienen cura
cinco minutos antes de su muerte !
No te des por vencido, ni aún vencido,
no te sientas esclavo, ni aún esclavo;
trémulo de pavor, piénsate bravo,
y acomete feroz, ya mal herido.
Ten el tesón del clavo enmohecido
que ya viejo y ruin, vuelve a ser clavo;
no la cobarde estupidez del pavo
que amaina su plumaje al primer ruido.
Procede como Dios que nunca llora;
o como Lucifer, que nunca reza;
o como el robledal, cuya grandeza
necesita del agua, y no la implora...
Que muerda y vocifere vengadora,
ya rodando en el polvo, tu cabeza !
Te prestaré mi hombro mañana para que llores tu desdicha y junto a vos derramaré mis lágrimas por la pérdida de mi tan ansiada recompensa...
Cristina dale nomás!!
Un abrazote,
Graciela
I followed you from the beginning and I thought you were exceptional. I never made it past two and I also cried. I followed the rules, but I guess I was not "popular".
I will continue to look forward to your creations and to me you are a "winner".
@Gracielita: Arriba Almafuerte !!! Te contaré una anecdota sobre eso!! Gracias!!
@Patty: I don't know if I can tackle so much sweetness!!
Thanks a lot!!
@Elizabeth
@Claudia
@Foodalogue
I always felt you so close to me!!! Thanks a lot, girls!!
I love your work and your blog, and as you know, I followed you before the challenge and will continue to do so. Your faithful reader from Paris :)
Thank you Cherine!! I feel less lonely here in Paris !!
I like that you wrote this, and, being that this was a contest, I believe you. I know how people can be;-)
Don't fret though. You made it so far and are so talented. Just be glad that you are so lucky to know so much and be this way. I often wish I could be in Paris and come over and learn from you;)
XO,
Stella
p.s. Oh, and I think you should have been at least in the Top 3. The other contestants are good-really good! But you were too. I think some things have a lot to do with popularity/networking. I mean, it explains how W became president over here:) Makes no sense but it happened. You know (smile)?
Don't worry,(I know that it is easily said than done!), but all of us who are in love with your blog, will still be here awaiting with great expectation, the update on the rss feed telling us that you have a new post....then we will click, see and smile!
Saluditos, Gaby xx
You know there are a lot of crazy , intolerant people in this world...We are setting an example: I am a "carnivorous" Argentinian, you are vegeterian...still great friends!!
@Evan
Thanks for your affectionate words!! You can always follow me in Twitter, or other media
@Gaby
Thanks for your sweet affection! When are you coming to Paris, to visit me? xoxo
Unfortunately, the thing about a contest is that there can only be one winner at the end, which means everyone else will have to live with coming in second... or third... or thousandth. Them's the breaks.
You took beautiful photos, shared great recipes, wrote wonderful posts, and bonded with your daughter while making a fantastic video. I think these achievements are worth celebrating for their own sake. Putting down the contest just lessens their value, because it means you didn't do them for any purpose other than to win... not to grow, not to learn, not to share. Is that really the case?
Could it have been done better? Sure. Hopefully Foodbuzz will learn a few lessons and fix up a few loopholes next year. Still, that doesn't make the finalists (or the eventual winner) any less deserving.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment! but if you read my post well, I said that still there are bloggers of value in this contest!!! (and actually I 've just voted for one of them)I never thought I had to win..far from that!! there were and there are valuable people here !! but maybe because I was part of this contest, I noticed things that passed unnoticed for others..As I said in my post, meeting great people was the best reward of this contest...learning of course, I learn every time I read a post written by somebody else, sharing with my daughter that helped me so much in the video, listening to my family's opinion when I explained my idea for each post...It was a great life experience !!! but some people did not respect the rules, and they were not penalized !! and that is unfair for the more than 1000 people that participated, not only for me!
Thank you !! I wondered why we didn't ALL speak up !!
I am going to Argentina in January via Paris...just exiting enough for me to run across the airport to catch the next plane...!
I have always loved your posts because you speak straight from the heart. We see the true and honest Cristina, not hiding behind any veils or pretenses. Thank you so much for your honesty in this post. I actually thought your last restaurant post was really really good! I was especially impressed with your smooth video skills and the way you chose to feature the rich background of the chef. In general, your posts have been amazing and I'm so glad I got to know you through this contest. :)
From the beginning it was clear that this would be a popularity contest, and I am not surprised. Being on the outside of the loop, I do not know how the rules were broken, but i feel sorry for everybody who was eliminated if they let some injustice slide.
I am just happy that I have found your blog.
Leila @ My Barbarian Table
I hate it when you find out your competitors aren't fighting fair!
Thank you Nancy!! I value highly your words...
@ Everybody
I don't know if it was the wisest thing to write this post or not...but I felt I had to do it...because when we don't like sth in life, when we feel sb has done us wrong, and we don't express it...sth horrible begins to grow in our chest, in our heart, like cancer, so my philosophy is to let it out...then yes, after this "catharsis" I am ready to look ahead, to continue being the girl with the big smile, to keep on working hard, and dreaming... AND sharing this amazing friendship with each of you !!! Thanks a lot for all you have given me !!!
I voted for you each time, really thought you would win the entire thing..you certainly worked hard enough and your results were perfect.
Please don't be too disappointed...life is never fair. And you have gained the respect of so many readers, new and old. I love your blog, Cristina, you have a friend and follower in me!
I doubt Foodbuzz will learn much from this; how disappointing.
Thank you for all your support throughout the contest, but mainly for your friendship!!! I am so happy to have met you!!
@Trix:
You are wiser than me!! I agree with you completely on Top 9 !!!
I have no idea how the other contestants may have ignored the rules and gotten away with it, but it is definitely dishonourable if such a thing happened and yes, the judges should not let such a thing go unchecked!
I would be so angry after all the hard work I would have put into such a project! Ma pauvre Cristina! But you know the quality of your work here - it has stood long before PFB and it will stand long after, so no more tears, yes?
You are right! I should have known better!!
@Marcella
Thanks for your words, sweet Marcella, and enjoy your stay in BA !!!
@Denise
You are right!! I'm just a silly, over emotional, firm believer in fair play girl, but don't worry !!! I'm ready to COME BACK !!! ;D
As for Foodbuzz, it is completely there loss.
When it comes to blogging, it is so easy to get side tracked. All I can say is blog for you, not for any one else. Sometimes I have a horrid sense of humor and I am super naughty, but that's what makes me me, and if i changed that, my blog would not be special any more. Stick to what is YOU, that's the best thing about your blog (and your stunning treats of course ;)).
I am so proud of you for coming this far, and in my book daaahling, you are so the winner!!!
*kisses* HH
I am getting the big carry on version. I got it ordered this weekend. It takes 10 weeks. My colours are going to be pink and red.
So daaaaaahling, it doesnt matter if we win any contest, cause we are so cute and fashionable :), what more could u want?
Thanks a lot! and let's cheer up!!!!
@Heavenly Housewife
You said it, Hana!! Thanks a lot for making me smile, and laugh!! (as always!) and I ADORE your sense of humor!!
I'm so sorry to hear that!!! Pucha,Que Bronca!!! Pero bueh... me parece que no se podia esperar mucho mas de Foodbuzz..."Bastante Mediocres" los organizadores de este evento!!! Y la verdad me parece que con Tremendo Talento Y Creatividad que Tenes Ni falta Te hace estar en ese "Contest".
Desde Aqui para vos APLAUSOS X 1000!!!
And I'll continue to look forward to your BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS!:)
ABRAZOTES,
Aldy.