Buenos Aires is home to diverse cultural groups

Since the beginning of my study abroad semester in February, I have been continuously surprised by the diversity of Buenos Aires.  Not only does this city have a passionate and proud Argentine culture, but it also has a huge population of expats who call this cosmopolitan metropolis their home.  The combination of the rich history and culture along with the influences of many immigrants from all around the world creates an incredible melting pot where just about anyone can find their niche.

This week just about marks the halfway point of my study abroad semester in B.A. As I look back on all of the unique experiences I’ve had thus far, I see one major unifier to all of these different adventures — culture. Whether it has been places I have explored, food I have eaten or people I have encountered, all have revolved around culture.

Two distinct experiences this past weekend helped me see the different ways culture plays a role in this city. On Saturday, a Mexican cultural fair helped me see the importance of the immigrant communities in Argentina. The next day, a day-long visit to an “estancia,” a countryside estate or ranch,  showed me that while new influences continue to emerge in this city, the people of this country proudly preserve their heritage.

For the past several weekends there has been a rotation of different cultural fairs hosted by the city and the different cultural associations. This past Saturday my housemates and I attended “Buenos Aires Celebra México,” a Mexican cultural fair hosted by México en Argentina Asociación Civil. This event had booths lining the sidewalks with tons of different traditional Mexican dishes and artisanal crafts for sale, as well as a huge performance stage and seating area.  It was incredible to see the number of people in the crowd singing along to the mariachis and chanting, “Viva Mexico, viva Argentina!” at every opportunity.

After a little while of watching from behind the seating area, my friends and I couldn’t hold back, and we decided to join the crowd dancing in front of the stage. We were invited to join the crowd in traditional dances as we linked arms with strangers who encouraged us to chant and sing along. The MC introduced each new act by leading the crowd in a resounding, “Viva México, viva Argentina!”  Sharing in this celebration, it was instantly clear that everyone present not only had an immense appreciation and a sense of pride for their Mexican culture, but also loved their home, Argentina.

Then, on Sunday, after months of many different city tours and museum visits that covered the general history and cultural origins of Buenos Aires, I was able to get my own taste of what Argentine life might have been like more than 100 years ago.  My exchange program took me to an “estancia,” which is a word used to describe private landholdings and can be compared to a ranch.  These estates have a rich history in Argentina and are where many families established their wealth through raising livestock such as cattle and horses.  During my day at “Estancia La Mimosa,” the owner and his family shared with us their traditions that have been preserved and passed down since its founding in 1869.  We toured the grounds and the house and rode horses before seeing the amazing “asado” lunch, a barbecue social event traditional in Argentina, that they had prepared for us.  This led to a two-hour eating experience trying the home prepared “parrilla” or barbeque, which is a tradition that many Argentine families still regularly partake in on Sundays.

In addition to the incredible chorizo, chicken and steak prepared from their farm animals, the family shared their traditional dances with us while dressed in appropriate costume. The dances included the tango and other folk dances.  This was an incredible way to truly appreciate the origins of the infamous Argentine asado and experience a proper one for myself out in the countryside.

My experiences this weekend are just a few of the many distinct insights I’ve had to the incredible mix of cultures that exist in this city.  Buenos Aires is the second largest metropolitan city in South America after Greater Sao Paulo.  It is remarkable to see how many expats from all different nations have come to call B.A. their home.  This is not only apparent in people all over the city but also in the representation of different restaurants, shops and festivals that are all over the city. Not only do I get to experience the Argentine culture on a daily basis through interaction with my classmates, their families, professors and adventures in the city, but I am also learning about other cultures through my unique living situation.

When it comes to my living situation, I truly hit the jackpot. I live with 10 other students from 10 different countries, and I am constantly learning about the traditions and cultures of these many places. My housemates hail from England, France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Honduras, Venezuela, Brazil and Guatemala — in fact, I am the only American. Though I knew I would learn so much about Argentine culture from living in the city, I did not expect to be so lucky to have this insight as well.  My living situation has been one of the best and most unexpected parts of my abroad experience.  Simply by sharing stories about our families and home lives, as well as our universities and friends, I have gained insight to many new perspectives.

From Argentines, to expats, to exchange students, I have glimpsed many different cultures and seen what it can be like when they all come together. As I continue to have these encounters I think of my home, Los Angeles, knowing that we are also lucky to have a strong influence of many immigrants but also feeling that the potential and appreciation for it is not yet tapped.  My wish for the United States, and L.A. in particular, is that someday we can embrace the many cultural influences to a much greater degree than currently exists.  Not only should we celebrate and appreciate the different backgrounds of each community, but we should also take the time to learn and understand each other’s history and traditions.

This story is the first in a series about Trojans traveling internationally over the summer.