The Art of Making Argentine Friends
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One might think that a group of single, 20-something-year-old girls living in the bustling city of BA would make local friends quite easily; however, as I’ve learned over the past three months, that is not necessarily the case. While many Argentines are very friendly and welcoming (except for the men, who are sometimes too creepy – ick), many are also turned off by Americans and their typical gregarious behavior. I’ve been quite keen on making guides/outlines these days, so here’s a list of do’s and don’t’s if you want to make some Argentine friends.
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1. You’re not from America, you’re from the United States. Northern Americans typically forget that South America is indeed America, too. Argentines take offense to our assumption that they are not Americans, so when someone asks you where you are from, say “The United States.” It may seem unnatural, but it definitely prevents a potentially hostile situation later (trust me).
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2. If someone offers you mate, drink it. Mate is a hot, herbal tea that is unique to Argentina, and MAN do the Argentines love it. Drinking mate is very much a social activity, so if someone offers you a cup from their own personal thermos (be warned: each thermos has one cup and one straw you drink from, and everyone shares), be polite and accept. Mate is also typically very bitter, but it is considered rude to not finish all the mate you’re given, so…best to grin and bear it.
The sharing of mate is a cultural experience.
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3. Be friendly! As always, being outgoing and striking up some small talk goes a long way. Sometimes the conversation barrier is a little daunting, but simple body gestures and some good old Spanglish can get you far. For example, I once struck up a conversation with a girl in the bathroom of a club, and it turned out she was a club promoter for several hotspots in BA. She was super nice and gave me all the insider gossip – all from one little conversation!