The multicultural country of Argentina is filled with hospitable people, beautiful architecture, vibrant culture, and high biodiversity. Going into my abroad experience, I had made assumptions that Argentine culture would be very similar to my Puerto Rican culture. However, I quickly learned how different each Latin American country is, how there are many variations of the Spanish language, and what these differences are influenced by. Argentina is a slower-paced environment in which people prioritize talking to and looking out for those around them rather than in North America, where society is more individualistic. For example, each time I walked into a kiosco (small convenience store) or even just walked on the city streets, it was common for people to strike a conversation with me. I loved this about Argentina because it helped me learn more about the Argentine culture, improved my Spanish, and allowed me to feel welcomed into the country.
Although there was a language barrier, Argentines made the transition easy because of their patience and willingness to help me learn the language without judgment. Luckily, going into this experience, I had sufficient knowledge of the language; however, like other dialects of languages, specific phrases or words can mean different things in different countries. For example, the expression “no me importa” (I don’t mind/care) can be seen as rude, so instead they say “no pasa nada.” Beyond the language barrier, daily life in Argentina was a significant adjustment for me. One example of something I had to adjust to is their eating schedule, a traditional Argentine breakfast is very small, consisting of tostadas (toast) and coffee. Merienda (snack time) is between lunch and dinner when people go to cafes and enjoy a medialuna (Argentine croissant) or drink mate (an Argentine herbal drink). Dinner is served later than in North America. My host mom made dinner for me around 9:30-10, mainly consisting of meat. After two weeks, I grew accustomed to this schedule, and since my return to North America, I have continued to drink mate.
Looking at my experience from a porteña perspective, I am privileged to have traveled around the country and taken part in various traditions. After speaking to my host mom and local friends from school, I noticed that not many people have traveled around the country due to the instability of inflation/money. These travel opportunities showed me the biological and linguistic diversity spread across the country. Everyone is eager and appreciative to teach international students about the culture and history of their country while also curious to hear about our backgrounds and life in North America.
Living in a country that does not speak one’s native language can be very frustrating and may feel limiting at times; however, being vulnerable and pushing myself into the language and culture allowed me to create close relationships with my peers and learn more about my identity.