I wrote! Reader Notes
Go to sectionWhat to us is everyday to another may seem like behavior from another planet. Thus, those customs that we bring from the cradle, often, displace those who come to visit us from other latitudes. Above all, when they see us interact in social meetings - between friends, football colleagues, work or family - where our argentinity is more noticeable than ever. Today we want to tell you what are the 5 Argentine customs that surprise foreigners most.
Kisses , hugs, claps on the back: the Argentine is warm with his friends , with simple acquaintances and even complete strangers. Here we greet the doorman of the building with a kiss , all our coworkers and even the doctor. Between men and between women . The situations in which we opt for a more distant greeting, such as shaking hands, are counted. It can be at a business meeting or a bank procedure and, in general, it is more common in older adults. But, in most cases, the Argentine will approach as if he knew you all his life. This is not common in other cultures, but we don't care: we print a kiss on anyone, even if we've never seen it before.
Mate , by itself, is a rather peculiar infusion. But even more so is the way we take it: every day, at all times, round and sharing the same bulb . This last detail scandalizes more than one foreigner, but in the long run everyone surrenders and tries it. It usually happens that at first the taste is strong, bitter - if they are touched by a fundamentalist primer who does not conceive matte with sugar- or even ugly. But it is very common to see how our tourists friends get excited and end up buying mate, bulb and yerba to carry this custom with them back to their country.
We're charlatans , that's true. We engage in conversations anywhere, with anyone. But there is something that is even more striking: we don't talk, we just wait our turn to talk. Finishing an idea without being interrupted is almost a feat in our country. Sometimes, parallel minicharlas are opened in the same talk. We are diverting the conversation by so many interruptions, jokes and points of view that, moreover, are not necessarily related to the main topic. If it is hard for us to follow the thread of a conversation between Argentines, imagine a foreigner!
When foreigners come to visit family or friends in Argentina , they probably have four roasts in the same week. It's just that roast is our way of entertaining and celebrating. It is, too, the basis of our diet. Roasted everywhere and for any reason: that is another of the Argentine customs that most surprise foreigners. And, as with mate, they end up loving it.
In Argentina we have a rather peculiar concept of punctuality . Beyond that there are really unpunished people (and really punctual people, of course), for the common people, about 15 or 20 minutes of delay is something perfectly tolerable. And even more so, if it is a social gathering. If we get “ type 9 ” together, it means people will start to fall from that hour, but by no means will everyone be present at 9 o'clock. It is likely, even, that the host of the meeting will not be ready for the scheduled time because he knows that no one will arrive on time.
Publication Date: 17/11/2020
We suggest you continue reading the following notes:
Type Nine
Why is our habit of interrupting?
Do we like being Argentine?
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I wrote! Reader Notes
Go to sectionCuanta razon, ho vivo en Bergamo y todos pensaran que era un marciano, por suerte ya se acostumbrado, o mejor dicho, despues de tantos años, me acostumbre a ellos, però nosotros Los argentinos SOMOS UNICOS !!
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