Fiona Adams - CultureShock! Argentina

Culture shock is a state of disorientation that can come over anyone who has been thrust into unknown surroundings, away from ones comfort zone. CultureShock! is a series of trusted and reputed guides which has, for decades, been helping expatriates and long-term visitors to cushion the impact of culture shock whenever they move to a new country.

Written by people who have lived in the country and experienced culture shock themselves, the authors share all the information necessary for anyone to cope with these feelings of disorientation more effectively. The guides are written in a style that is easy to read and covers a range of topics that will arm readers with enough advice, hints and tips to make their lives as normal as possible again.

Each guide is structured in the same manner. It begins with the first impressions that visitors will have of that city or country. To understand a culture, one must first understand the peoplewhere they came from, who they are, the values and traditions they live by, as well as their customs and etiquette. This is covered in the first half of the guide.

Then on with the practical aspectshow to settle in with the greatest of ease. Authors walk readers through topics such as how to find accommodation, get the utilities and telecommunications up and running, enrol the children in school and keep in the pink of health. But thats not all. Once the essentials are out of the way, venture out and try the food, enjoy more of the culture and travel to other areas. Then be immersed in the language of the country before discovering more about the business side of things.

To round off, snippets of basic information are offered before readers are tested on customs and etiquette of the country. Useful words and phrases, a comprehensive resource guide and list of books for further research are also included for easy reference.

Fiona Adams was born in London in 1973 and has a degree in Archaeology and Anthropology and a Masters in Latin American Studies.

She worked as a journalist in Bolivia and Argentina and now lives in the Scottish Highlands with her husband Jamie and young son Tom.

My special thanks go to Jamie Grant for the wonderful photos and everything else. Also enormous thanks to Rodolfo Yoyo de Los Santos, Nico Busch, Santi Norris and Daniela Volker for patiently helping me with hours of research. Thanks as well to Charlie Froggatt for his insights on polo and Katya Lamerton Viegas for long discussions on the tango. Id also like to thank the gang in San TelmoUri, Anim, Diego, Fernando, Chino, Shannen and DJfor being such lovely flatmates; Federico and Veronica DAngelo in Ushuaia; Mark Cramer, Dan Buck, Dereck Foster, Richard Cunningham, Joe Oppenheimer and my parents, Jean and Roger, for their support and encouragement. And finally, many thanks to the hundreds of others who have helped along the way and without whom this book would not have been possible.

To my viejos, with love.

This 4th edition published in 2011 by:

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First published in 2000 by Times Media Pte Ltd; 2nd edition published in 2001; 3rd edition published by Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited in 2007, reprinted 2008.

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eISBN: 978 981 4346 77 1

All black and white photos by the author except original pages 18 (AFP); 3, 4, 9, 1213, 20, 34, 40, 44, 48, 67, 72, 87, 9293, 105, 117, 134, 137, 149, 162 (Photolibrary); page 5455 (Getty Images). All colour photos from Photolibrary except page p (Inmagine.com). Cover photo: Getty Images

All illustrations by TRIGG.

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Argentina has always been the odd one out in South America. Taking up practically the entire bottom half of that continent, it is second in size only to Brazil. It includes territories as diverse as the frozen lands of Tierra del Fuego, the fertile plains of the pampas, subtropical rainforest and the sweeping Atlantic coastline. But its the people and not just the fabulous geography that makes Argentina such an extraordinary country.

If you choose to stay or seek your fortune in Argentina, you wont be alone. The country is a nation of immigrants who have generated a fiery blend of European sophistication and Latin passion in the heart of South America. The happy result of this blend is that everyone has brought along their own slice of culture, be it dashing British polo or divine Italian pizza. Yet at the same time something unique has emerged in Argentina. You can hear it in the fast lunfardo slang spoken on the streets of Buenos Aires, you can see it in the erotic embrace of the tango dancers and you can taste it in the mouth-watering steaks.

Maybe the Argentines reputation for arrogance is well deserved. After all, when you think of it, they have an awful lot to be arrogant about. Steak and good looks aside, Argentina can boast a share of the worlds most spectacular waterfall, the highest mountain this side of the Himalayas and one of the most sophisticated cities on earth. Culturally, its a dream and continues to churn out writers of extraordinary calibre, cutting-edge cinema, lively theatre and of course the tango. There arent many other dances in the world that can make the bold claim of being the closest thing youll find to a vertical expression of horizontal desire.