Our emigration: four things that hit a Ukrainian woman in Argentina

Roksolana Gnatyuk lives in Buenos Aires with her husband and three children, writes scientific and popular articles and books. Ukrainka told Voice of America about the features of life in Argentina and their impressions of the country.

Photo: Roksolana Gnatyuk personal archive

I never even dreamed of traveling to Argentina, and certainly did not know that I would live here. But I have been living for some time, and I want to share with you my thoughts and interesting facts about this country. This will be my personal opinion, and it may, of course, be somewhat different from the thoughts of other people who live here or have ever come to Argentina.

New Year - in the middle of summer

From geography lessons I knew that Argentina is located in the Southern Hemisphere, but it is very difficult to get used to the fact that summer here is from December to February. For me it’s just summer, and when I start to remember what month it is, my brain tries to say something like “it’s mid-July,” but it turns out that it’s January.

Фото: Depositphotos

I'm more used to celebrating Christmas and New Year with frost and snow, but here you can combine it with swimming in the pool. You enter a shopping center, feel the pleasant cold from the air conditioners, see festively decorated trees and New Year’s garlands and think: “the holiday is coming to us.” You go outside - the sun is shining in your eyes, the heat is intense, and the Christmas and New Year mood quickly disappears, like a genie in a bottle. It seems to me that Christmas has a special and unique spirit in winter, which is very difficult to feel in summer.

Accordingly, the first day of school in Argentina is not the first of September, but the first days of March. Elementary and high school students have different start dates for the school year. It’s my birthday at the beginning of September, and it’s hard for me to understand that this is not the beginning of autumn, but the last days of the Argentine winter.

Photo: Roksolana Gnatyuk personal archive

When I first arrived in Argentina, I encountered a “geographical nuisance.” We were going on a trip to the Iguazu Falls, which are located in the north of the country. It wasn’t too warm in Buenos Aires yet, and I took the things I was wearing at that time - jeans, a jacket. Already on the spot, I realized that it was hotter in the north of Argentina than in the south, and I had to buy more shorts.

Argentina is a hot country. But due to the high humidity, the temperature sensations here are completely different than in Ukraine. For example, +25°C is quite warm for Ukraine; you can wear shorts, T-shirts, and dresses. But for Argentina this is not enough - you still need to throw a light blouse or jacket over the dress. In winter I get very cold here. Argentinean acquaintances, as soon as the temperature drops, usually ask me: “But are you used to this cold?”... It’s difficult to explain that I’m used to a completely “different” cold. And that windless -2-3°C with snow look much warmer than above-zero temperatures with high humidity.

Hugs and compliments are not only for loved ones

When meeting, Argentines do not limit themselves to just saying “hello” (Hola - Spanish) or “good afternoon” (buenas días). They definitely hug and kiss. And they maintain a fairly small distance when talking. At first, it was incredibly difficult for me to get used to hugs from strangers and strangers, especially at crowded parties. But Argentines may mistake an attempt to avoid tactile contact as bad manners.

Local residents are extroverts - open to communication; in everyday life they always say “my love” (mi amor), “my queen” (mi reina), “beauty” (hermosa). But these are just nice words. The guy who says “my queen” to you doesn’t necessarily have any serious thoughts about you. Even the words “I love you” are also generally considered a sign of friendly affection.

Argentines also often call the other person “fat” (gordo) or “thin” (flaco), but no one is offended by these words. It is rather an appeal, rather than a description of a person’s appearance.

Men on the streets are actively paying attention to women. They can say beautiful words, look around, whistle after ... Everything that in North America would be regarded as sexual harassment.

Photo: Roksolana Gnatyuk personal archive

Family dinner ... at midnight

Argentines dine very late. The rule is not "after six in the evening" is not working here. Restaurants open not earlier than eight in the evening, and even at nine.

One day, when we were leaving the restaurant at midnight, a family with a one-year-old baby just came in. This is a very typical situation in Argentina, especially on a Friday or Saturday evening. No one here will condemn parents for violating the baby’s routine. Children are taken with them almost everywhere, many cafes have playrooms, and high chairs are everywhere - from an expensive restaurant to a simple eatery.

Photo: Roksolana Gnatyuk personal archive

A birthday at 15 is cooler than a wedding

Unlike the USA, where they celebrate sweet sixteen, Argentine girls celebrate their fifteenth birthday (Fiesta de cince). I was lucky enough to attend several Fiestas de cince and was amazed by their scope.

Parents rent the most beautiful salons, create incredible decorations for the celebration, and sew fantastic dresses. The significance and expense of this party are equal to a wedding, and sometimes even exceed weddings in the number of guests and scope. And at the end of such parties, all guests are given keepsakes. Often these are cute little gifts, but friends said that a wealthy classmate of their son gave laptops to her classmates.

Sometimes fifteen-year-old girls go on a trip with their friends, for example, to Disneyland. Once, at the US Embassy, ​​I saw a kilometer long queue that consisted only of teenage girls 14-15 for years.

Фото: Depositphotos

Argentina is a friendly and very interesting country. It is quite difficult for emigration, especially now, during the economic crisis, but it is extremely attractive for tourists. It is here that one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world is located - Iguazu; the incredibly picturesque road of the “seven lakes” in the province of Neuquén; the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia; Los Glaciares Glacier National Park; the resort of San Carlos de Bariloche, which is called “Argentine Switzerland”... And these are just a few names from a large list of interesting places that you can visit in this beautiful country. Therefore, if you are still thinking about where to spend your next vacation, fly to Argentina.

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