Ivan Sciupac, 33, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and grew up in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. In 1999, he moved to Washington, where he planned to live for just one year. A technical writer, Sciupac recently retired one of the most popular stops on the D.C. blog scene, Arjewtino.
Why the blog name Arjewtino?
Being Argentinian and Jewish, I wanted a blog name that would illustrate both sides of my cultures, even though I only wrote about either aspect 10 percent of the time. One night at a bar, my friend came up with the name Arjewtino, and my blog was born.
Why did you decide to give it up?
After nearly three years, I got to the point where I was exhausted. I spent so much time on my blog, probably around 10 hours a week, and my heart was no longer into it. I decided I would rather choose to end it on my terms than let it become something that felt like a chore.
Do you miss it?
I miss writing every day and interacting with so many other interesting bloggers and commenters, many of whom have become my friends in “real life.” But I don’t miss the feeling of having to post something every day.
How has the D.C. blogging scene changed since you started?
When I started blogging, D.C. was unique in its ability to bring together different kinds of blogs, from the personal to the niche to the neighborhood, and its authors. I give credit to DCBlogs.com. I believe D.C. bloggers are still connecting much in the same way as when I started, holding blogger happy hours, becoming friends online and in real life, etc. If anything, D.C. bloggers’ willingness to meet each other is even stronger today.
What now? Are you going to keep writing?
I might someday come back to blogging, but never as Arjewtino. … My first love is writing, so I can’t imagine I’ll stay away from that for too long.
