Random Facts

In the past month, I have realized some strange things about the Argentines. There are multiple kiosks that are called 25 hours. I know there are some differences between hemispheres, but really? There are still only 24 hours. Freaks. One thing that has really frustrated me is the when to say yes versus no.  In the United States we say yes at the end of a sentence if we want clarification on something. For example, "it was beautiful outside today, yes?"  maybe that's a bad example, but that is NOT the case in Argentina. They do the complete opposite and it is very frustrating, "it was beautiful outside today, no?" and of course I respond yes! and they give me a blank stare and think I'm crazy because I implied, "no, it was horrible outside."  I'm slowly learning and basically I just hesitate now in order to make sure I say no, but it is so bizarre.  Another backwards thing are their faucets. "F" is on the left and "C" is on the right. Immediately I thought, "C" cold and "F" hot? buuuut no. F means Frio and C means Caliente. Learned that real fast.  Argentine's are also very rude. They demand everything and never say please or thank you. My friends ex-boyfriend explained it saying that they don't need to say please because they want it, therefore it's not uncertain and it's fine. I don't like it.  Also when it comes to eating at restaurants and paying for the bills, they split it up by the number of people, not by what you ate. This is not fair because some take advantage knowing that they are splitting the cost, so they will order more. Whereas people who eat less (ME!) have to pay for what others are eating. Bogus! Let me inform you about their eating habits as well. Basically, breakfast doesn't exist.  Sarita has been good about it making sure there is always coffee for me in the morning, but boy do I miss orange juice and cereal. I'm over toast and coffee. I tried some cereal here and it tastes like cardboard. Milk also comes in a bag which creeps me out.  As for lunch, everyone eats out, no one packs a lunch for work. Lunch is around one or two and tea time is at six.  Dinner depends on your household. Some of my friends eat around eight every night and others are like me who eat around ten.  On weekends it is the same. My program only offers "breakfast" on weekends.  So dinner on weekends is American time...six thirty/seven o'clock.  I have gone out a few nights to experience the nightlife here. I don't know how they do it.  Drinking starts at midnight.  We go to a bar around two or three in the morning and then hit the clubs at four until seven or eight in the morning. It is ridiculous and the next day is completely wasted, for us. Argentine's don't need much sleep. My seventy year old host parents will go out until four in the morning and still be up at nine. No big deal. Oh another thing Argentine's do is refuse to acknowledge others presence. In all of our home stays there are maids who come at least once a week. They are rarely spoken to or thanked for their services. Very inconsiderate. I have been talking with my maid because I feel bad. I have taught her a few words in English and she corrects my Spanish. It is a great relationship. On the side walks you will find caca de perros (dog poop). There is a law stating that you must pick up the poop, but no one obeys it. We like to refer to them as landmines. Sarita stepped in some the other day. Her shoes are still on the balcony. It's hard to enjoy the area you're walking in because you are so concerned about dodging the mines. Asi es la vida! Besos.