CSLS No-Gaffe Mondays
Argentina
Basic facts about Argentina
- 8th largest country in the world
-Largest country in Latin America after Brazil
-Largest country where Spanish is the primary language
-Population: over 40 million people (4th largest population in Latin
America)
Argentina has a very diverse geography: mountains, deserts,
rainforests, plains, lakes, rivers, and glaciers.
The country’s largest cities are Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario, and
Mendoza.
Famous Argentines include Pope Francis (Jorge Bergoglio),
Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Juan and Eva Perón, Ernesto
“Che” Guevara, Jorge Luis Borges, and Julio Cortázar.
Like the rest of Latin America, Argentina is characterized by a
mixture of peoples: indigenous, Africans, and Europeans.
Argentina is often thought of (incorrectly) as a “white” or
“European” nation because descendants of Europeans have played
a central role in understandings of national identity.
This happened, in large part, as a result of the millions of European
immigrants, primarily Italian and Spanish, who arrived in the
Southeast of Argentina at the end of the 19th century.
Important recent political events in Argentina
1976-1983: Military dictatorship. Tens of thousands of “disappeared”
and victims of state terror.
1982: Argentina loses Falkland Islands war with Britain.
2001-2002: Economic crisis and political instability.
2003-2016: Presidencies of Néstor and Cristina Kirchner
Sports in Argentina
Men’s soccer
Women’s field hockey
Men’s rugby
Men’s basketball
Most common flight connections in the US
Miami
Atlanta
Houston
Dallas
New York
Washington, D.C.
Food and drink
Alfajores (cookies)
Dulce de leche (sweet caramel-like spread)
Asado (grilled meat)
Yerba mate (a cousin of tea)
Ñoquis (gnocchis)
Milanesa (thin strip of breaded beef or chicken)
Social interaction that may surprise
Americans
Greetings involve a hug and touching cheeks and kissing the air
Especially in the Southeast, gesturing is very common
Especially in the Southeast, raised voices are common in conversation
Everyday interaction in the street may seem aggressive
Health care system
Public hospitals are free but not always of the highest quality: wait
times can be considerable
Private hospitals are a good option for tourists
Locals will speak of their “obra social,” a type of insurance plan
Crime
Petty theft is very common, so it is important to be aware of one’s
surroundings and one’s possessions.