Culture Shocks When We Moved to Buenos Aires

For the most part, it has been pretty smooth since moving here. There have been a few culture shocks that I've experienced as an American moving to Argentina.

Culture Shocks When We Moved to Buenos Aires | Waiting in Lines

Argentines are really great at forming lines, staying in line and just waiting in line in general. This is a really great practice, but it was a little different the first time we experienced it. I love that they will not cut in line and they just understand that sometimes waiting in line is something you have to do.

Culture Shocks When We Moved to Buenos Aires | Specialized Stores

This might be a Buenos Aires thing, but there are so many stores that are JUST toy stores or plastic stores or plant stands or health food or couch stores or fruit and vegetable stores or baked goods. You have to go to a lot of different places to everything you need. You won't find things like Target/Walmart or even Home Depot.

Culture Shocks When We Moved to Buenos Aires | Price Differences

The prices of certain items vs what they are at home has been eye opening for me. if you want to get a Stanley cup here in Buenos Aires, it is over a hundred dollars as opposed to the $40 it would be in the US because of all the import fees. On the other hand, leather which they have in abundance because of all the beef consumed here, is incredibly inexpensive. I bought a good sized crossbody purse here in Buenos Aires and it's absolutely beautiful and 100 % leather. It only cost us about 80 USD. In the states this would be at least 2-3 times more expensive.

Culture Shocks When We Moved to Buenos Aires | Maté Culture

Maté is a tea people drink here. They drink it hot and share it in specialized cups. There are stores dedicated just to maté and the cups people carry their maté in. This is something my family has been drinking for years and years and years. It's not something I enjoy myself personally, but it is so much a part of the social culture here. I was very surprised by that.

Culture Shocks When We Moved to Buenos Aires | Bazaars

The last thing is the bazaars. There are all of these stores all over the city that have basically everything you could ever need and a ton of things that you didn't know you wanted. My husband calls these stores "the store of requirement”. If you know, you know, but that just means they have everything you could ever need.

I'm sure I will find some more things that are a bit of a culture shock as we explore more!