My second day started early with a long ass meeting with ISA. It was very informative and at the same time terrifying. Guillermo (pronounced Gui-jer-mo) told us horror story after horror story of kids being robbed, followed, mugged, stabbed, shot, hospitalized, and almost raped because they acted too American in public. Don't worry guys, here are some helpful tips to know to survive in BA that i picked up:
1. Never speak English loudly or at all if you can help it in public. You know how all Americans are loud, rude, and dumb? yeah don't do that.
2. Don't speak BAD spanish--that tips them off that you are a foreigner. so don't say "yooo abloo es-pann-oll" = dead give away. So right now your thinking, hmmm then i guess i can't talk at all? Yup, you got it. Be a mute. That was his best advice to us. It makes riding on subways w/ friends mighty awkward, but it can save you from a robbery or assault.
Our second lesson was about money. People in BA give out fake money alllllll the time. Its a common occurrence especially if they know you are an American. Taxi drivers have two wallets: one for fake money and one for real money. Its kind of funny but also a real issue that makes paying for things that much harder b/c Guillermo's advice was to pay everything in exact change. That way you don't get money back. Huh, easier said then done my friend, especially when the ATM gives you a wad of 100 peso bills. If you receive fake money and know its fake you are suppose to give it back, said "i am no idiot!" and demand real money. Nahhh just kidding, you just give it back and say real dinero por favor as politely as you can. If you are given fake coins (which is a huge problem in BA and is impossible to distinguish) you are just plain out of luck. Don't worry my friends! I have been highly trained as to how to distinguish between real and fake bills. It is incredibly difficult, but I have mastered the skill and will be happy to teach you in the future.
Third lesson: If you get attacked don't bother yelling help b/c nobody is gonna save you. People are to concerned about the whole cry wolf business and that if they try and help it is just a set up so once again, you are on your own. Okay horror story time: so this guy and his gf at ISA were walking through a park at night (red flag!!! don't walk anywhere at night, especially in a secluded park). Shockingly some man came up w/ a gun and demanded there belonging. The guy gave him his backpack and knew that he had a bottle of vodka in it and asked the robber if he could have it back b/s they were meeting up with friends later. The robber gave him the bottle and then the guy smashed it over the robbers head. The robber fell over and started bleeding, no surprise there. The guy and girl gathered up there belongings and decided to kick the robber a few times. They then looked at the gun and realized it was fake, so they got mad and kicked the guy some more. In shock and some what hystarical, the guy and girl then headed back home and tried to explain what happened to his house mom. The house mom saw the guy, covered and blood and holding a (fake) gun shouting and crying so she went CRAZY and called the police. haha The guy was so afraid that the robber had died and that he was wanted by the police that he refused to leave the house.... It turns out the robber survived and the guy didn't get in trouble and eventually his house mom convinced him to act normal again. Point of this crazy story: don't fight back it is only stuff. Oh and don't try to go all Jason Borne on anyone.
One lesson for guys: don't wear shorts with sandals and socks. Or a baseball cap w/ a college or some American logo on it. Again, dead give away that you are American and you are a target. So fellas leave the socks at home and if you are wearing sneakers keep the socks as low as possible por favor.
Last and most important lesson. This one is for all the ladies out there: Guillermo told us that guys in Argentina do not believe in relationships between girls and boys. There is no guy and girls that are friends. He insisted that any kind of date like activity or meeting up at a guy's place or yours for that matter, is basically saying that you agree to have sex with them. yeah so coming back to the apartment to hang out means sex, getting a cup of coffee together means sex, going to a movie means sex, ect... To sum up this lesson do not hangout with Argentine boys. Stick to the ladies.
This was interesting b/c i was introduced to a local through a friend but have yet to meet up with him in person, though we've been facebooking. He invited me to a futbol game and I agreed to it at first, but then found out i had this meeting and a tour during the game so i had to cancel. Now i am curious if i had attended the game w/ him, if he would then assume that i would sleep with him?!?!!?!?!!! hahaha umm I'm not sure how to address this topic to him, nor will I, but I'm gonna assume since he goes to school in the states that he knows how friendships and dating work there and does not "expect" anything from me. lol
Okay! you are now ready to travel to Argentina because you know what to expect and how to act. Bueno suerte! (good luck) :D
its good to be cautious but I wouldn't overly worry! And I think they're being a little extreme about the guy thing just to have to avoid any possible situations, but i agree with not going back someones place haha. I hope you still go and enjoy the good cafecitos down there!
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