Sharing Is More Than Caring

 

    On my first night in Argentina, when I arrived at my host family's house, my host sister made herself  drink, took a sip, and passed me the cup. And that, sharing a cup with a stranger, was very weird for me. The next day I asked if I could go to the store to buy shampoo, and my host mom asked, why? Do you not like the shampoo in the bathroom? Which surprised me, because to me, that was their shampoo, but she said it was mine too. But this is not just my family. The first time I went to a party, I didn't have any party clothes, but like four girls from my class brought bags of their party clothes for me to borrow. And this was before they knew me very well.  

And at that same party I experienced the shared cup phenomenon again. Where there's ten girls, but only five drink cups, so everyone is passing the cup around and sharing. I think a part of this is that people do not really care about spreading germs, but regardless I think it's a really cool custom. Another time I was at a bigger party in a different city, where I literally knew three people, but there was a guy next to my friends and I with a cup, and I asked if it was water, and he said yes, and gave me the cup. And guys I promise I smelled it first! I swear it was water, because I did take a sip. But I really think it's beautiful, like yes, boy I've never met, I will share a glass of water with you. (and also this same guy offered me half a piece of gum, but that was a little too suspicious for me jajajaja)

Another way I've seen this, love for sharing,  is by people just giving bites of their food, like if they want me to try something, I'll just get a stranger's sandwich shoved in my face. So then no one is a stranger anymore, because we've shared a sandwich.  And this is with clothes too, like I'm not the same size as my host sister, but she's lent me belts, jewelry and perfume. My host aunt also, last time we visited her, gave me three shirts and a sweater as hand me downs. Like I really feel like the concept of strangers doesn't exist in Argentina, the same way it does where I'm from.

But actually, obviously the biggest example of this is mate, which maybe I should have started with, but I actually didn't have mate until I'd been here for like three and a half weeks. But mate is the best example of the shared cup phenomenon, and maybe it is the reason why everyone is so comfortable sharing a cup, because it's such an ingrained part of Argentinian culture already. But basically with mate not only are like six people using one cup, everyone is also using the same straw, which feels even more intimate, because everyone's mouth is guaranteed to touch the exact same spot. And I feel like I should add I'm a recovering extreme germaphobe, so it's still a little awkward for me. 

Something else that really makes the concept of strangers very different here is how everyone greets everyone. With the like kiss on the cheek, and maybe a hug if you feel like it. And I've heard this is common in other countries too, but I feel like you're lucky to get a hand shake in the US. I feel like it's really beautiful as well, because you'll often do this greeting before officially introducing yourself, so it's like you're very opening yourself to someone who you don't know anything about. So you're forced to be very trusting of people, and same goes for sharing cups with mysterious boys, that takes trust as well. And actually what is my whole exchange if it's not completely trusting Argentinians? Which I have  done, and no one has done me wrong. One more thing that I think is so sweet about Argentinians, especially older women, is they will always greet me by saying Hola hermosa, bella, mi cielo, hija, and like I don't know who they are but its so lovely.  

So in all, Argentinians certainly do not fear cross contamination or being roofied, and I actually am not quite sure what Argentinians really fear in society. I have some guesses I will write about later. But I will end by saying that Argentinians have, in general, been so giving and open, which really is the perfect situation for a shy little exchange student who doesn't like to spend money on shampoo. Amo aca.

La plaza, en Rio Cuarto

The skyline, with the mountins in Cordoba, captial

MATE! (everyones mouth touches the straw)

Easy, accesible, public transport!!