Author: agordley

During my summer abroad studying Spanish in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I realized that I have a passion for becoming proficient in new cultures. Learning about Argentine culture while simultaneously improving my Spanish for a month was an invaluable experience for me. My worldview has never felt more expansive because I was able to make real connections with Spanish speakers, speaking their language, and physically being there with them in their home country. I have become friends with Latinos in the United States, but meeting them in Argentina in their first language enabled me to form what I felt to be more meaningful connections. 

If I could give advice to future SLA grant recipients I would emphasize the importance of being patient with yourself as you learn and others as they get to know you more. It is extremely difficult to immerse yourself in a new country, culture, and language. It is ridiculous to expect to be at the level you want as soon as you arrive. Make sure you give yourself the time you need to adjust and absorb your surroundings, the conversations you’re having, the places you’re seeing, the food you’re eating, and everything else. Equally important is being patient and understanding with the new people you interact with. Chances are that the people in the country that you are visiting do things differently than what you are used to. It is easier said than done, but try your best to be understanding of these cultural differences and realize that it takes time for everyone to adjust. 

I had an insightful interaction with a Brazilian cashier at a tourist shop in La Boca. When I first started talking to her, she seemed somewhat relieved at my accent and jokingly expressed her embarrassment that her Castillian Spanish was not as good as mine. She told me that learning Spanish when Portuguese is your first language is not that difficult, but requires motivation and frequent practice. Due to the similarities between the two languages, it can be easy to lose motivation to speak the other language, since many native Portuguese speakers can understand Spanish with little difficulty and vice versa. She also explained to me that Argentine slang words are hard to pick up and apply to her everyday conversations. However, the same can be said about Brazilian slang. And, while she does love Argentina and the people she has interacted with since she started living here, she has a strong sense of national pride for her home country, Brazil. 

The second person I talked to was Juana, a young woman from Venezuela. She moved to Argentina a year ago to pursue an education in nursing. She also expressed frustration at the distinctness of Argentine slang and joked that people in Buenos Aires can tell that she is foreign almost instantly. She lives in Recoleta, a neighborhood in Buenos Aires known for attracting people from all around the world, so she admitted that she does not feel out of place in Argentina. However, she did say that outside of Recoleta and in other neighborhoods, she feels like more of an outsider. At one point she and her mother were walking in La Boca and were ridiculed by a group of Argentine teenagers for the way they looked. Aside from this disturbing experience, Juana felt very comfortable being Venezuelan in Argentina.

Hearing about what Argentines thought about the United States was fascinating. I was able to have conversations with two members of my host family: Lautaro, a 20 year old male, and Natalia, my host mother. With Natalia I discussed what it meant to be “American.” She expressed frustration with the divide between North and South America and, jokingly, refused to acknowledge that they were two separate continents. I noticed that many people in Natalia’s generation shared this sentiment. Her boyfriend, Alejandro, for example also held this view. 

Additionally, in this blog post is an image my friend and I captured of street graffiti saying, “Sabes que America es un continente? No es un país.” Translated, this means “Did you know that America is a continent and not a country?” This belief reveals that Americans can be perceived by the public as somewhat self-centered and closed-minded. It also could refer to the common error that many people who visit Argentina from the United States make in referring to themselves as “Americanos” rather than “Estadounidense.” This mistake is considered offensive because many Argentines also consider themselves Americans (referring to the continent), so it is correct for people from the United States to refer to themselves as being from the US.

It is important to note, however, that Natalia spoke very fondly of the United States and of the US people in general. She has had great experiences in New York City, since her ex-husband owned property there. She enjoys watching films that take place in New York and even purchases her silverware and cooking supplies from there when she visits. She does admit, though, that the people from Buenos Aires are generally speaking more friendly than New Yorkers.

In my conversation with Lautaro, we also discussed what it meant to be American, but he held more lighthearted views on people from the US referring to themselves as “Americans.” He was excited to hear my thoughts on the overturning of Roe v. Wade that had just happened a week into my trip. I was also able to have lengthy conversations about American political issues with three Argentinian women who were also 20 years old (Malena, Sol, and Catalina). The girls were appalled at the overturning of Roe v. Wade, but were not surprised considering the gun violence that has been present in world media in these past few months. They thought that many Americans are numb to the world around them and indifferent to the big political issues and the lives being lost. 

Throughout all of my conversations with Argentines about their opinions on the United States, they were respectful and kind to me. Most of the conversations I had included something along the lines of “Argentines will welcome you and treat you as equals, but when roles are reversed, and Argentines are in the US, they are not treated so kindly.” I will admit that I was blown away by the hospitality that the Argentine people showed me during my month in Buenos Aires.

One drink that is a staple in Argentinian culture is mate, an herbal beverage prepared from dried Yerba mate leaves. Mate is traditionally prepared in a mate mug made from calabash gourd and silver and consumed through a silver straw, but nowadays it is more commonly prepared in different receptacles. The drink is characteristic of Argentinians, Uruguayans, Brazilians, and Chileans because of the uniqueness of the Mate plant. Only growing in the regions surrounding Iguazu, a territory between Argentina and Brazil, the mate plant is cherished among many South American cultures. Gauchos, the people who live in the Argentine countryside, are particularly known for their consumption of mate. 

I was able to enjoy mate in a cafe within walking distance of my homestay. Intrigued by the prevalence and mystery of this drink, I asked the waitress to explain the history of mate and the specific mate rituals that many Argentinians partake in everyday with friends and family. Flor, the waitress I spoke to, explained to me that drinking mate in Argentina is an extremely social activity that involves everyone. It is prepared in one mug and consumed through one straw by all people involved. After the mate is prepared, it is important that the straw remains in place so as to not stir the herbs and ruin the beverage’s texture. Mate is served hot and contains significant amounts of caffeine.

Flor explained that, while in Argentina drinking mate is mostly a social activity, in other countries, drinking mate can take different forms. For example, she says that some Uruguayans drive their cars with a hot water flask tucked into their arm and a mate mug underneath so that they can prepare mate while driving. For many South Americans, mate is an integral part of their daily routines. 

My experience with mate was a really good one. The taste of mate was very strong and unique, so I cannot compare it to anything I have tasted before. However, I can say that I really enjoyed drinking it throughout my trip and the conversations I had while passing around the mate mug!

Argentinian Spanish is very distinct from other dialects. Because of the high number of Italian immigrants in Argentina, the language spoken in Argentina is heavily influenced by the Italian language. For this reason Argentines have a wide variety of slang words known as “lunfardo” that are characteristic of the country. Spoken by both the younger and older members of the community, “lunfardo” slang changes frequently with words becoming outdated and newer phrases being added. Throughout my time in Buenos Aires so far, I have had to add these words and phrases to my conversations to communicate more casually, lightheartedly, and effectively with Argentines.

One term that I found was used frequently in informal situations was “boludo,” which has an offensive Castellano definition. However, in Argentina, “boludo” most commonly means “buddy” or “mate,” but can still be used as an insult. While playing soccer with Argentines, I noticed that the word was used very frequently during and after games. Picking up on this trend, I started using the word during and after playing. Another phrase I started using was “tener alta lija,” meaning “to be extremely hungry.” I noticed that, whenever I used this phrase to express that I was hungry, Argentines were surprised and amused. The phrase is exclusively used in extremely informal scenarios by Argentine youth. On top of these two Argentine expressions, the people of Argentina use a completely unique verb conjugation form instead of the typical “tu, informal” form. They use a form called the “voseo” which changes the way verbs are conjugated. As soon as I arrived, I noticed the slight differences in the way verbs were conjugated in this form. This kind of verb conjugation was used by every native Argentinian. 

During my time in Buenos Aires, I feel that it is important to include these elements of their language in the way I communicate with them more effectively. 

The beginning of my four week trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina is fast approaching. Since I have never traveled outside of the United States, I am admittedly a little nervous to be so far away from home. However, my desire for personal growth and life knowledge motivates me daily to take on the challenges that come along with international travel. With preparations coming to an end soon, I wanted to reflect on my expectations for this trip.

For one, I wanted to go to Argentina to improve my Spanish conversational skills. For years I have practiced and studied Spanish in the classroom, and I have always been told that immersion is the best way to learn Spanish. While I am enrolled in a language course at the Universidad de Belgrano, I intend to pick up conversational language knowledge mostly through interacting with Argentinian people. With improved Spanish speaking, I want to make the most of my Spring semester abroad in Santiago, Chile.

I also expect to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Argentinian culture. This new perspective will hopefully inspire a potential topic for a senior thesis or creative new approaches to social issues that I had never previously considered.

While I am nervous to travel so far, I am itching to experience Buenos Aires and familiarize myself with a part of the world that I have never seen.