cultural adjustments

• yes, I'm in a different time zone than NY! *~ just 2 hours into the future~*
• there's so much European architecture and influences in this city
• huge windows with huge shutters
• little balconies that house tons of green plants
• columns and arches 
• tall wooden doors with shiny brass knockers

• I feel like a porteño wearing my birks around because they're a huge trend here
• so are sky-high flatforms/chunky sandals...I really need to get my hands on a pair!
• dulce de leche is everywhere, it knows all, it sees all, and just when you think you know exactly what you got for dessert, there it is...what you thought was a plain churro is actually filled with it. 
• note to self: smuggle back to the US by the ton. I'm addicted. 
• don't get me started on the mouth-watering steak here
• bus/subway rides are less than $0.30 a piece
• you raise your arm to flag down a bus, and lower your arm to hail a cab 
• make sure they're radio taxis and not the skeezy cabs that slowly pull up to the curb like a predator

• kioscos are like NYC delis minus the lazy, idling cats 
• and minus the fact that by sunset the entrance is guarded by a gate so you can only make purchases through this tiny rectangular opening just wide enough to pass through your pesos and get your snacks
• dinner's at around 10PM, pregaming's at midnight-1AM, ya turn up from 2AM (any earlier and you really don't know how to party), and crawl into bed by 7AM as the rest of the city gets up for the day
• makes me wonder when children's bedtimes are if they're still out and about with their parents at midnight 

• there's a strong mate (pronounced ma-tay) tea and espresso culture to keep ya going 
• people carry around thermoses and sip mate in these special cups solely made for mate
• Buenos Aires' dripping AC water problem is like NYC's to the 10th degree (really can't tell if it's raining or if it's just city juice sometimes)
• DOGS, DOGS EVERYWHERE
• DOG POOP, DOG POOP EVERYWHERE

• like the architecture, so many of the people look extremely European
• I'm talking blonde hair, brown hair, blue eyes, green eyes
• everyone is tan AF (so sorry for all who had to see me fresh off the plane pale as a ghost)
• it's not tú, it's vos! Spanish across Latin American is NOT the same. 
• eating empanadas on a regular basis isn't a choice, it's a lifestyle

• everyone wants to pay with $100 bills, but no one ever has change
• coins are a rare commodity

• fernet y cola...it's an acquired taste
• Quilmes the national beer is meh

• drivers pretend they don't see you when you cross the street
• bus drivers are equally psychotic drivers 
• the number of cute cafes, beautiful storefronts, and fancy restaurants in the city astound me

• pizza is huge, it's on almost every menu I've seen 
• Argentines are generally so sweet and friendly 
• when you look a little lost, they break out their English 
• when you meet someone new, it's all about the kisses on the cheek (repeat for goodbyes)
• but some of them are creeps and a half (in and out of club settings)
• don't touch my hair
• stop with this "mi amor" nonsense
• no kisses!!!
• I'm not going anywhere with you
• bye
• forever

• Ariana Grande's top hits will accompany your black market currency exchanges located at "unassuming" storefronts that claim they're actually travel/tour agencies instead
• there's an official rate (1 USD = 8.7 Argentine pesos)
• and a black market rate (1 USD = 13 Argentine pesos)
• I miss free ice cold water at restaurants
• Poland Spring, I need you
• what I want to say whenever I go to street fairs/markets
• "shut up and take my money!!"
• Latin American street art is amazing 
• art is everywhere you go and everywhere you least expect it 
• there's beautiful graffiti on benches, murals on the sides of buildings, Banksy-esque sketches scattered around the city

• no matter how much I regret it afterwards, having ice cream at Freddo almost once a week is my guilty pleasure (ugh how can one ever resist the 2 for 1 deals here with a roommate who craves this stuff just as much as you do)
• porteños have a massive sweet tooth (which explains all the heladerias/panaderias/confiterias)
• don't get me started on the delicious alfajores sold on every street 
• tango, tango, and more tango (after my first milonga, my two left feet and I are going to have to pass)

• I feel the feels every time I realize university is gratis here 
• Frida Kahlo is on shirts, flip flops, posters, totes, magnets, you name it 
• restaurant service sucks ("1000 years later......")
• but, to be fair, dining/having coffee is a really drawn-out activity in Argentina (conversations can last hours)
• servers hardly scan the room and don't check up on you every 15 minutes 

• if you're on time, you're early...too early
• men are super forward and slightly aggressive in the pursuit of women, but at the same time, care about reflecting machismo and chivalry...
• there's no flip-flopping between bros at a bar, no hesitation, none of that "dude, should I go talk to her", but more like "HEY, I JUST MET YOU, AND THIS IS CRAZY, BUT HERE'S MY NUMBER, SO CALL ME MAYBE"
• and if you're clearly not from around here (being Asian has made me feel like I have my own unwanted spotlight sometimes), they'll stare at you for a second too long and/or make some moves STAT
• but, there are a lot of cute guys here ;) 

• PDA appears to be widely accepted and wildy rampant, especially in parks
• accidentally catching couples eating each other's faces once made me cringe, but now I just wonder if these people ever come up for air
• iced coffee does not exist here
• no sightings of peanut butter either (it's dulce de leche or bust)
• and of course, everyone's either a die-hard Boca Junior fan or a River Plate fan
• you can hear cheers ("GOOOOOOOOALLLLLL") and disappointments from everyone at home whenever fútbol game's on
• more to come as the semester continues!