An American in Buenos Aires (A messy, rude one at that)

Today, we talked about cultural differences in my Spanish class. I have Spanish four days a week. We're an awkward, but interesting bunch: a tall, lanky and very tan French girl, two Korean girls, a Japanese guy, who is actually half Argentine, but grew up in Japan and sports an extremely long dreadlock, just one that is, and another American girl who is actually from California and went to UC Berkeley.

Practically every class we go around and talk about our respective countries. For example we read an article about how Argentine youth are lazy and not doing anything particularly good with their lives, then we each went around and talked about how the youth are in the States, Japan, Korea, and France. Needless to say, there are lazy youths in all parts of the world.

But today, I had the chance to vent a little bit about the things I notice here, that I notice because they are things that make me feel like I stand out. First off, I had to complain about how no eats in the street. Mainly, because I have to convince myself that "its okay" if I want to eat an apple in public (also they cut all the fruit they eat rather than just gnaw away like I do). Not only that, but to consume a beverage on the street you must use a straw as to not offend anyone by opening your mouth too wide (I guess). This must be why there is home delivery. FOR. EVERYTHING. Ice cream, Chinese food, groceries. Good forbid, you'd have to eat on the street.

The next thing I noticed when I went to see a documentary this past weekend and was sitting in an overheated theatre. I had to remove some layers and as I shifted in my seat I noticed that everyone was completely still. So still. Not even uncrossing their legs. The documentary wasn't even that good! I shifted so much in my seat due to the heat, due to my nature and this woman just sat so calmly next to me that I thought she might have died.

I must say I write with a bit of tenderness since in these past months I have come appreciate even the quirkiest of Argentine custom. Although the ones that I write about aren't drastically outstanding, they are every day reminders that I am not from this place and I'm far away from home.