Great thread! I like many others here have lived and traveled wide and far. The concept of "home" is an elusive one for me as I consider myself a "citizen of the world" although I principally live in Miami now but travel constantly including staying for longer periods in Buenos Aires. But admittedly, in my heart I am "North American" just because I tend to lean towards productivity, some sense of order, fragmented relationships, practicality, etc. Argentina has a very vibrant culture (Buenos Aires) but it is an evolving democracy that is young. I mean the country had 30,000 people "disappear" due to a Dirty War not even 30 years ago and a severe economic crisis less than a decade ago. What would one expect? London, Paris, Berlin, etc? I don't think so. In two or three generations, we might see Buenos Aires more "on par" with our First World standards and with a more international flair, but it will take some time.....possibly a long time if ever.
I find Buenos Aires especially full of so many contradictions. For example, lovely architechture along side broken sidewalks and filthy streets; hurried traffic of noise only to arrive at the destination and waste lots of time, etc. The country has great potential but in the end it may all be "wasted" due to what appears to be an inherent fatalism and unconscious desire to "jinx" itself. Ah, this is what makes it so appealing and/or disgusting.. Thus, the continuous ironies. But I will likely never feel "home" here or possibly anywhere else. I have just seen too much and tend to avoid complete immersion in cultures heavily ethnocentric.
In the modern age, the concept of "home" for me is just a laptop/internet, cultural event, or good cup of coffee away. If I can find those things along with a good conversation and a local friend or two, then I am usually just fine. It takes some work but living in a big modern city is essentially an alienating experience. The cultural values of the United States with its enormous propensity towards upward mobility makes for an even more isolating experience which I find a bit less intrusive in Argentina..