During the month of June, Walker Atkinson (12) and I had the opportunity to live and work with a host in Buenos Aires, Argentina. While we learned much about real estate development, and specifically country club management, the knowledge we gained through working is undeniably dwarfed by what we learned from the people we met and the culture we immediately dove into.
The first lessons came long before we entered the workplace. They came around the dinner table, where we were introduced to some of the traditions that define Argentine life.
Firstly, the Argentine diet contains a shocking amount of beef and pizza. The love of beef is easily explained, considering that Argentina contains more cows than people, making beef extremely affordable and accessible. The emphasis on pizza, although more surprising, also has a logical explanation. Argentina is home to the largest Italian population outside of Italy, which explains the sheer volume of pizza restaurants in Buenos Aires. Argentinians have their own special style of pizza, which is heavy on cheese and crust and light on sauce.
While the food was our most immediate introduction to Argentine culture, it also reflected a broader philosophy that extended well beyond the dinner table.
Fruits and vegetables are uncommon in the Argentine diet, which is surprising considering that the average Argentinian lives 77.5 years. The long lifespan of the average Argentinian may be partially due to the healthy work-life balance that citizens maintain. Unlike the average American, who works to make as much money as possible, the average Argentinian works just enough to support himself, his family, and his hobbies, such as golf, tennis, or whatever he may enjoy. We experienced this firsthand as our host repeatedly worked his work schedule around his family and hobbies, not the other way around.
That same philosophy extends beyond work and into everyday relationships.
While this may leave a person poorer moneywise, it leads to a perpetual happiness that seems foreign to most Americans. One final notable culture shock from Argentina is the love and care with which people treated each other. Families and friends come together to share a meal or a drink multiple times a week, a concept long lost in America. This constant community leads to close-knit families and friendships, something that we as Americans should seek.
Looking back, the internship became less about real estate development and more about discovering a different way of living.
Americans have much to learn from Argentinian culture, and I would strongly recommend a trip to Buenos Aires to anybody with the opportunity.
