5 Everyday Things You Should Know

Nothing much happened today so I thought it would be a good time to write an entry about some general differences that I have noticed throughout my ten days here in Argentina.

1. There are close to no rules whatsoever in the roads.  Seriously.  The taxi driver on his way from the airport to our house scared Nancy and I out of our wits.  On roads with more than two lanes there are usually painted dashed lines but most people drive on them like the line is the track for their car!  The buses stop with literally ten inches between it and the vehicle in front of it.  And I know I tend to exaggerate when something is way too close in proximity for comfort, but I am 98% certain that a ruler could not fit between vehicles here.  There are some stoplights but I'd say a ratio of intersections to stoplights would be 16:1.  Mostly when there isn't a stoplight cars travel in close groups behind each other so they have the right-of-way.  If they are alone, they honk their horn before entering the intersection.  But you know what?  I've yet to see or hear of any car crashes and yet to see any road rage.  There aren't many stop signs here (hence my not taking a photo of one), but this is what they look like:

Credit: worldwale.com

2. The poorer population here own two-wheeled carts drawn by a horse.  It's kinda cool when I hear horse hooves clopping down the streets (some of which are brick).

3. Everyone here kisses each other!  On the cheek.  Whether it's woman to woman, man to man, or stranger to stranger, it's considered rude to not greet them with a kiss.  I mean when you walk into a store you don't have to greet the owner with a kiss, but if you're introduced to a friend's friend on the street, you better be prepared to lean in to kiss their left cheek.  (I've yet to see anyone go for the right cheek first, though some people kiss both sides starting with the left.)  And it's not really a kiss on their cheek but more of laying your cheek on theirs and making a kissing noise.  The Argentinians are very touchy!  Which brings me to point numero four...

4. The nonexistence of the personal bubble.  No one here is afraid to be standing next to you, right next to you, lying on you, right there.  Yep, there they are, right there.  Hello, sir.  Is that shirt new because it feels like it.

5. I'm not sure why this one didn't occur to me before I came here but nonetheless it surprised me when I took a look at the bathroom faucet.  Notice anything different?

F is for frío (cold)!  And the hot water?  C for caliente.

I hope these have been of some interest for you!

Jessica