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Published: February 13th 2008
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Who is American? When I tell people I´m American, they always ask which country I´m from, with a confused look on their faces like I obviously did not understand the question. South Americans and Central Americans are just as American as us North Americans. I was told this so many times in the last week I’ve been guilt tripped into using Estadounidense.. Which of course basically means United States(ien) or something of that nature. Don’t get me wrong I agree with the logic.. its just so much easier to say Americana!!
I’m on my second week of work after having a great weekend. I went to my first Argentine futbol game on Friday and ¨Estudiantes¨ won!!!! It was insane there was one section for the ¨popular¨ where (like the packers) all of the co-owners of the team pack in like sardines and jump literally the entire game.. There is Murga drum music playing the entire time and chants that never end. I got stuck in the other open section that was barely full looking into about 5 other completely empty sections and a sparsely populated green section for the other team. (This being the end of summer and the first game of the season, everyone is still on vacation)
Jen spent the night and we girl talked it up with Quilmes of course (Nick this is your new beer to try.. its Brazilian!) The next day I figured out the cool part of my neighborhood and this AMAZING wine bar (which I’ve now convinced Wendy to be our study spot 😉 ) So after a bit of studying with her we went to Fabbie´s for an Asado al Horno (BBQ inside) AMAZING food I ate sooo much I couldn’t eat on Sunday!! Sunday was pretty laid back with errands and laundry...
Wednesday I got my first physics lesson since high school. I was able to go to the university for mechanical engineering to discuss the viability of a new model for a windmill.. I understood all the Spanish but the physics was wayyyyyyyyy over my head.. all the while I’m learning a ton about how to develop a product, find out what numbers are needed to launch the idea to the market and how to apply for patents in other countries. I’m also working on some government subsidy applications for the tech development of some small business. I have a bunch more plans in the works for export import work, design and implementation of entrepreneurship workshops and of course the consulting part of the firm should start in March.
Notes on:
Work Believe it or not Argentines work as much as some Americans do. My host mom & dad both work at least 10 hours a day and travel on the weekends to work in another city! I work with people who work two jobs and most attend classes at night (University is free here, but its hard to live on your own without a full-time job)
Money So in the midst of out housing crisis, I have realized something interesting about American money. Argentines think Americans are rich.. (one of my friends even got yelled at when he offered a man a sandwich instead of a monetary handout) Americans live richly, but I found it very interesting that Argentines dont take out mortages or loans. They either get it for free (education is state funded) or they pay it in full (homes or cars).
Socialization and Mate Mate is a Tea that originated in the North of Argentina and Uruguay, but is now drunk all over the country. It is basically loose Yerba leaves that are put into a hollowed out gourd. It is filled about half way with the leaves and hot water (not boiling) is poured over top. You drink out of a metal straw called a bombilla (which should never be touched or moved once in the tea). After you drink the whole portion (which is done pretty quickly) it goes back to the server and is refilled and passed onto the next person in the circle in a clockwise direction. The whole point of this is more tradition and social rather than taste. It’s actually not that bad and I’ve become accustomed to it fairly quickly. Everyone gathers together, basically anywhere (park, work, classroom, etc) to drink this and it really just relaxes you and give you time to chat with your friends.
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mate
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Mate, quilmes
First, Quilmes started as argentinian, Bemberg Family sold the company to Brahma -beer that is actually water, not beer-. Mortgages and loans.: hard to take any, there are too expensive, criminal interest rates here. It´s cheaper to ask a loan to mob organization than to ask it to a bank. Bankers are real leeches here. I could go on and on. enjoy