19 Tháng 9, 2008 - Published 10:07 GMT

Dân Argentina tìm đường sang EU

The truth is, said Sebastian, an Argentine, it does feel strange being Estonian. He doesn't speak the language, has never been to Tallinn and knows little about the Baltic state's history or customs. But thanks to an Estonian grandfather who emigrated to Argentina in the first half of the twentieth century, he now has an Estonian passport, which gives him access to the European Union.

Sebastian is one of a growing number of Argentines discovering their East European roots. The Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, Estonian and Lithuanian embassies in Buenos Aires all report a growing number of enquiries and applications for passports. The Romanians, who demand that applicants speak the language, say many ask where they can learn it.

Many Argentine youngsters are simply looking for a quick and easy entrance to the European Union - some to travel, others to work. But Argentina also suffers periodic economic and political crises, and many like to have a second passport in case the need to escape should arise.

During the economic collapse of 2001, the queues outside the Italian and Spanish consulates in Buenos Aires stretched for several blocks. But now the Lithuanian authorities say that surnames such as Rodriguez and Sanchez are becoming increasingly common on the streets of Vilnius.

Daniel Schweimler, BBC News, Buenos Aires

customs
tập quán, truyền thống và thói quen

emigrated
di cư sang nước khác sinh sống

gives him access to
cho phép tới sinh sống

discovering
trong trường hợp này có nghĩa là, chuyển thành, dùng, sử dụng

roots
nguồn gốc, gốc rẽ, cội nguồn gốc gác gia đình

periodic
từng thời kỳ, từng giai đoạn

to escape
trong trường hợp này có nghĩa là rời khỏi đất nước mình vì những lý do như kinh tế, chính trị, để tới một nước khác sinh sống

economic collapse
sụp đổ kinh tế, khủng hoảng kinh tế nghiêm trọng

stretched for several blocks
trở nên dài hơn bình thường, tạo thành từng khối, từng nhóm

becoming increasingly common
ngày càng trở nên phổ biến