Las Diferencias culturales entre EEUU y la Argentina.

Soy un estadounidense que está viajando por tres meses en la Argentina para mejorar mi castellano y conocer la cultura de acá. Estoy en la Argentina hace un mes y medio y he visto muchas diferencias culturales entre este país y el mío.

Por un lado no hay barreras grandes entre personas no conocidas. Siempre la gente se esta saludando con un beso, incluso los hombres. Hay que saludar casi a cada persona que se encuentra como si fueran amigos viejos (pero me parece que es más difícil ofender a un Argentino que a un estadounidense, entonces si metes la pata, no pasa nada). También, especialmente en la Capital Federal, no hay mucho espacio en los colectivos porque son muy usados. Por eso, encuentras mucha gente en cada viaje, quieras o no. En mi país es un poco diferente. Normalmente, no es necesario dar la bienvenida a todas las personas que se vea. Casi nunca se besan personas desconocidas (especialmente los hombres no se besan) y (salvo en Nueva York, tal vez) hay mucho mas espacio en los transportes públicos y normalmente se puede sentar (aunque no hay tanto transporte público en mi país).

Por otro lado, los Argentinos no tienen nada de fe en su gobierno. Por supuesto, en EEUU (como en casi todos países) la gente se queja mucho sobre el gobierno y piensa que puede ser mejor. Pero en EEUU es más que la gente le gusta un partido en vez de otro, y sabe (más o menos) cuales cambios que quiere. Acá, en contrario, todas las personas que conocí me dijeron que todas las cosas están empeorando y piensan que el gobierno no puede cambiar nada. Muchas personas me dijeron que no les gusta ninguno de los candidatos para presidente y solamente están votando porque es obligatorio. Aunque la gente quiere un cambio, creo que es más difícil explicar exactamente cual cambios quiere. Parece que la gente se pone un poco nerviosa por la elección que viene y tal vez va a cambiar en poco tiempo.

Finalmente, los horarios en Argentina son muy distintos. En EEUU la gente come más temprano cada comida salvo el desayuno, que casi no existe en Argentina. Por ejemplo, una hora regular para cenar acá es diez de la noche. En EEUU la hora para comer es cerca de las siete y media. También, todos salen más tarde por la noche. Acá, es normal salir de la casa a las tres a un boliche y no regresar hasta el amanecer. En Argentina, a veces la gente trabaja a la mañana siguiente. No sé cuando duermen (tal vez en la siesta). En EEUU, los bares y clubs están cerrados después de las dos de la mañana!

Aunque la cultura es diferente, me gusta mucho. Estoy viajando para conocer otra cultura y tener una experiencia afuera de mi vida normal. Me encanta que existan tantas diferencias para disfrutar.

The Cultural Differences Between the USA and Argentina

I am a student from the USA who is in Argentina to improve my language skills and get to know the culture. I have been in Argentina for a month and a half so far and have seen many differences between the culture of this country and my own.

Initially, there are not very many barriers between people who do not know one another very well. People are always greeting each other with a kiss, including the men. Here, you have to greet every person you encounter as though you were old friends (though it has been my experience that it is very difficult to offend people in Argentina, so it probably won't be a problem if you do not act appropriately). Also, in Buenos Aires there isn't a lot of space on the busses, so you have to meet many people every trip you take, whether you want to or not. It is a little different in my country. People rarely, if ever, kiss each other hello (especially the men) and (save maybe in New York) there is generally a lot of space and you can generally have your own seat (though, really there isn't very much public transportation in the USA).

Additionally, the Argentineans do not appear to have a lot of faith in their government. Of course, in the USA (like almost every country) people generally complain about the government and think that things could be done better. However, in the USA, people generally side with one party over another and they seem to know more or less what changes they would like the government to make. Although the people there appear to want changes in the Argentinean government, it is difficult to explain exactly what changes they would like. It could just be that the people are concerned about the upcoming election and all of this will change shortly.

Finally, the daily schedule in Argentina is very distinct. In the USA, people generally eat earlier for every meal than people do in Argentina, except for breakfast, which basically does not exist in Argentina. For example, a regular time to eat dinner is ten o'clock at night. In the USA the typical time to eat is 7:30 or so. Furthermore, the people here go out later than those in the USA. It is normal to leave the house at three in the morning and not return until dawn. I the USA, the bars and clubs are closed before two at night. And, here, the people work the next day after going out for so long. I have no idea when they sleep.

Although the culture here is different, I like it a lot. I am traveling in order to experience another culture and have a different type of experience from my normal daily life. I love that there are so many differences that I am able to enjoy.

Irina & Miguel

Estimada Verónica,

Estamos escribiendo para manifestar nuestra satisfacción sobre los días que pasamos en Bariloche, estudiando en la Spanish School.

Nosotros decidimos escribir en portugués, ingles y español (que ahora ya es parte de nuestras vidas!), así podríamos compartir nuestra opinión con todos los futuros alumnos.

Yo y mi novio Miguel hemos ido pasar vocaciones en Bariloche por tres semanas del mes de septiembre para aprovechar el fin de la temporada de esquí. Decidimos usar mejor nuestro tiempo, estudiando español. Como yo nunca he estudiado español antes, he optado por una clase básica y yo me quedé mucho satisfecha cuando percibí que mis clases fueran preparadas para mí, que hablo portugués como lengua nativa, que tiene muchas similitudes con español pero es muy distinto también. Mis clases fueran sendo modificadas e adaptadas de acuerdo con mi desarrollo e yo tuve un grande destaque para la gramática e las distinciones entre los dos idiomas de modo que yo puedo continuar a estudiar e ampliar mi vocabulario, mismo sola, después del termino del curso.

Como yo ya hablaba español, he optado por una clase de literatura argentina y empecé con Jorge Luis Borges. Después de estudiar la biografía del autor que yo elegí, he leído los cuentos más famosos y también leí los cuentos que tenían una comprensión mas simples. También tuve la oportunidad de conocer otros trabajos de otros autores argentinos contemporáneos tal como Osvaldo Soriano, Adolfo Bioy Casares y Julio Cortazar.

Nos quedamos muy satisfechos con las clases, especialmente por causa de nostras profesoras Adriana e Ani que estaban siempre interesadas no mejor aprovechamiento del tiempo con clases individuales e preparadas exactamente para nuestra necesidad, por el ambiente divertido que encontramos en la escuela, con horarios flexibles, de manera que fue posible hacer nostras programaciones de vacaciones.

Gracias Verónica, Adriana y Ani!

Dear Verónica,

We’re writing to tell our satisfaction about the days we spent in Bariloche, studying at the Spanish School.

We decide to write in Portuguese, English and Spanish (that now is part of our lives!), so we could share our opinion with all future students.

I and my boyfriend went to Bariloche for vocation for tree weeks, during September to enjoy the end of the ski season. Then we decide to spend our time better, studying Spanish. As I never had studied Spanish before, I made an option for a basic course and I got pretty satisfied when I realized that my classes were prepared for me, because I speak Portuguese as native language, that has a lot in common with Spanish but, also has a lot of differences. My classes were modified and adapted to me as I developed new skills in the language and I had a great emphasis in grammar and in the differences between Portuguese and Spanish, in such a way that I myself could continue to grow my vocabulary, even alone, after the end of the course.

Miguel: As I already knew how to speak Spanish, I opted for a course of Argentinean Literature and I began with Jorge Luis Borges. Beyond the studies of his biography, I read his most famous texts and read also some short stories that were easier to understand. I had also the opportunity to know some books of other contemporary Argentineans authors, such as Osvaldo Soriano, Adolfo Bioy Casares y Julio Cortazar.

We got pretty satisfied with the classes, specially because of our teachers Adriana e Ani, that were always interested in the best usage of our time with individual classes, prepared exactly to our needs, for the relaxing place of the school, with flexible classes time, in such a way it was possible for us to do everything we planned for our vocations.

Thank you Verónica, Adriana and Ani!



Querida Verónica,

Escrevemos para manifestar nossa satisfação nos dias que passamos em Bariloche estudando na Spanish School.

Decidimos escrever em português, inglês e espanhol (que agora já faz parte de nossas vidas!), assim poderíamos compartilhar nossa opinião com todos os futuros alunos.

Irina: Eu e meu namorado Miguel fomos passar férias em Bariloche por três semanas no mês de setembro para aproveitar o final da temporada de esqui. Decidimos então usar melhor o nosso tempo estudando espanhol. Como eu nunca havia estudado espanhol antes, optei por um curso básico e fiquei muito satisfeita em saber e perceber logo que o curso havia sido preparado para mim, que falo português, como língua nativa, que tem muitas semelhanças com o espanhol mas que também tem muitas diferenças. O curso foi sendo modificado e adaptado conforme o meu desenvolvimento, com uma grande ênfase na gramática e nas diferenças entre os dois idiomas de forma que eu pudesse continuar a ampliar meu vocabulário, mesmo sozinha, após o término do curso.

Miguel: Como eu já sabia falar espanhol, optei por um curso de literatura argentina com ênfase em Jorge Luis Borges inicialmente. Além de estudar a biografia do autor escolhido, li os textos mais famosos e também li contos que tinham uma compreensão mais simples. Também tive a oportunidade de conhecer algumas obras de outros autores argentinos contemporâneos, tal como Osvaldo Soriano, Adolfo Bioy Casares e Julio Cortazar.

Ficamos muito satisfeitos com as aulas, especialmente pelas nossas professoras Adriana e Ani, sempre interessadas no melhor aproveitamento possível do tempo, com aulas individuais e preparadas exatamente para a nossa necessidade, pelo ambiente descontraído encontrado na escola, com horários flexíveis, de forma a tornar possível fazermos as nossas programações de férias.

Obrigada Verónica, Adriana e Ani!

REASONS TO STUDY SPANISH IN BARILOCHE

SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE
Bariloche is a stunning tranquil town, situated in NW Patagonia by the Andes, in the heart of the lake district and within the Nahuel Huapi National Park. It has much to offer all year round: wonderful hiking in summer and autumn and fantastic skiing in the winter and spring. It is also a great place to find some nightlife or just relax in a cafe while sampling our famous delicious chocolate and cakes.
Bariloche was founded in 1902, and in the ’40 became a ski and tourism pole for celebrities from all around the world. The city was designed following the Alpine style, while many inmigrants from central Europa settled down in this area developing mountain sports and retaining many traditions.

THE SCHOOL
Our school is located in a quiet spot, but in the heart of the city, near internet cafes, restaurants, bus stops, pubs, and all the services you might need; next to Nahuel Huapi lake, just a few meters from the Tourist Information Office at Centro Civico, the main city square, where town hall and the most important museum in Patagonia is placed.
Students have plenty of time to communicate amongst themselves and often enjoy going out into the town together to practice their spanish language skills. Whether it is during one of the school activities or on their own amongst the friendly local people, students at our school will always find it easy to use the skills they have developed in the classroom. By keeping our courses to small-group lessons (maximum 4 students) or individual training, we avoid the problems of large group settings that students often experience in regular spanish schools. This allows students to feel free to ask questions at any time thus increasing communication and enhancing your learning experience.Our approach to teaching focuses on developing proficiency in the four basic communication skills (speaking, listening reading, and writing) and allows for emphasis on any one of these skills to meet each student's needs.

OUTDOOR AND WINTER ACTIVITIES IN BARILOCHE
Tourism is whole year round.
Bariloche is one of the main tourist destinations in Latin America, placed within the Patagonia region, in the south of Argentina. The Cerro Catedral is the most important ski resort in South America. In summer Bariloche offers nearly every kind of adventure tourism, such as trekking, climbing, rafting, kajaking, horseback riding, etc.

CULTURAL LIFE
Bariloche can offer a big variety of events, like theater plays, exhhibitions, cinemas and concerts. There are several interesting museums, and a big public library, near town hall. Centro Civico contentrates the most of them, as well as being the perfect space for open parties: concerts, parades, dances and other events.

BARILOCHE NIGHTLIFE
Bariloche is the capital of the night life in Patagonia. There are several well known discoteques, where you can meet argentinean football stars and artists. Restaurants and bars are open until early hours. At the ski resort, you can find more entertaiment, including ski parties, with fireworks.

SHOPPING AREAS
Mitre and Moreno concentrate the most important shops in Bariloche. All you need for outdoor activities or skiing is available. Chocolaterias and cafes are open all day for people to enjoy delicious specialities in chocolate and cakes.

SAFETY
Bariloche has about 120,000 inhabitants, is one of the safest cities in Argentina.

Bariloche Spanish School was a muy divertido place to learn the spanish we so desperately needed to travel around Sout America. The school staff are very friendly and a comfortable working environment.
Muchas gracias, hasta pronto.

Dave & Jimmy N.Z.

A better school is hard to come by!

Spanish in Bariloche provides very flexible and individualized class instruction at great prices with friendly teachers.

Kevin Clune - California, Estados Unidos