Cultural Differences

Hola todos,

I have been very busy the last few weeks, not becuase I have been doing anything particularly exciting but because I´m in the home stretch of my semester and FINALS have begun. So far I have written a 15-page paper (in Spanish) on ancient cultures and artifacts from northwestern Argentina and taken 3 in-class written essay exams (also in Spanish) in the History of Argentina, Geography, and the History of Art and Cultures in Ancient America and Argentina. All this work and studying doesn´t leave very much time for fun but on the plus side I have finished work for 2 of my 5 classes. Goodbye History of Argentina and History of Art and Cultures in Ancient America and Argentina!!

Now in my 4 months living in Buenos Aires, I have come to realize some interesting cultural differneces which are sometimes funny and sometimes astonishing.

COMMON COURTESY
Cat Calls: The women in Argentina ENJOY receiving cat calls and consider them compliments! Men often say "nice" things to you like "what lovely eyes you have", "you look beautiful today", "that shirt looks fabulous" etc. Women don´t respond but they do secretly smile and keep on walking. When women don´t get cat calls they are upset because it makes them feel that they are no longer young and beautiful enough to receive them.

Lost Items: In the USA I have returned to others and had returned to me various items like cell phones and wallets. In Argentina, I have had a broken digital camera stolen out of my suitcase by LAN airlines workers and I have had my wallet pick-pocketed out of my bag. Most recently, I misplaced my cell phone and when I called it a day later a crazy woman answered and has since been avoiding my phone calls and using my cell phone.

Tardiness: This typical Argentine charicteristic is most noticable in classes. Professors often arrive 10 minutes late, sometimes they arrive 40 minutes late, either way students are expected to wait! In the USA, if a professors arrives more than 15 minutes late class is cancelled.

TRANSPORTATION
Subway: In the US there is an unspoken rule that everyone on the subway gets off before people on the platform start boarding. In Buenos Aires as soon as the doors open everyone is on their own, get off if you can or get on quick!

Bus: When riding the public bus, men allow all the women in line to board first! Also, you will rarely see a man sitting down if there are women, especially older women, standing. Not the case in the USA.

Elevator: When getting on an elevator women are always allowed in first and when getting off an elevator women are always allowed out first, this sometimes but not always the case in the USA.

FOOD
Sick Food: In the USA when you are sick the absolute staple is some kind of chicken noodle soup/matzo ball soup. In Argentina not only is it rare to come across a chicken based broth it is rare to find clear soup. When people are sick they are given "bife de chorizo con hueso y pure de calabaza", 1/2 a T-bone steak with sweet orange squash puree. I miss Campbells!

I have another 2 in-class written exams, 1 more 15-page paper and 1 oral before I can be DONE with my semester. Hope this entry finds everyone happy and healthy.

Love to all from the southern hemisphere,

Raquel