Culture Guide

In case you’d like to learn more about your internship site’s home country, we have prepared the following list of resources about Argentine and Uruguayan culture, language, history, and society.

Films, Series, Books ┃ Spanish Learning ┃ Argentina Context ┃ Uruguay Context ┃ How to Meet Locals? ┃ Generalized Cultural Differences

Films & Series from Argentina

Films & Series from Uruguay

Several of these films can be found in Retina Latina, a free streaming website that features movies from all over Latin America.

Books

Local Slang in Argentina

Local Slang in Uruguay

Uruguay shares a lot of slang with Argentina, however, while most expressions are used and understood, there is usually a more local alternative as well. There are also expressions that are unique to Uruguay and give Uruguayans away when visiting their Argentinian neighbors. 

Argentine and Uruguayan Spanish

In Argentina, and Uruguay you’ll quickly encounter a distinction that sets the local Spanish apart from what you may have learned elsewhere: the use of the pronoun “vos” instead of “tú.”

To conjugate “vos” in the present tense:

To conjugate “vos” in the affirmative command:

Resources on how to improve your Spanish:

• Gamified language learning apps such as Duolingo and Babbel

• Language exchange meetups

• Language Reactor to use with Netflix to have subtitles in Spanish and English at the same time

• Spanish courses with a local institution such as COINED, Academia Buenos Aires, or Academia Uruguay.

Resources TO MEET ARGENTINE AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:

• Buenos Aires International Students (BAIS)

• PALS

• Study BA

• Buenos Aires Fútbol Amigos (BAFA)

Resources TO MEET Uruguayan AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:

• Montevideo International Students (MIS)

Government

Economy

Argentina’s GDP is US$564.28 billion (2022), with a per capita GDP of US$12,190. Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, a diversified industrial base, and an export-oriented economy. Main destinations of exports in 2020 were Brazil (14.0%), China (9.9%) and U.S. (6.35%). Although one of the world’s wealthiest countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the 20th century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt, and capital flight. The most formidable challenge was a severe economic crisis in 2001 and 2002 that led to the resignation of several interim presidents.

The economy has recovered strongly since bottoming out in 2002. With the reemergence of double-digit inflation in 2005, the Kirchner administration pressured businesses into a series of agreements to hold down prices. The government renegotiated its public debt in 2005 and paid off its remaining obligations to the IMF in early 2006. Real GDP growth averaged 8.5% during the period 2003-2009, bolstering government revenues and keeping the budget in surplus. This trend has ended in the over the last few years, as growth has fluctuation between 20.1% (2021), -7.9% (2020), and 0.6% (2019). In 2018, Argentina took out a loan from International Monetary Fund (IMF) — the biggest loan in the IMF’s history at the time. Argentina’s unemployment rate hovers around 8%, with around 37% of the population below the poverty line (2021). In the past years, inflation has been consistently increasing.

Geography

Argentina is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Brazil, and Uruguay to the east, Paraguay and Bolivia to the north, Chile to the west, and Antarctica to the south. The vast Argentine territory has a diversity of landscapes, where ice fields contrast with arid zones; mountains (the Andes) with valleys or plateaus; fluvial streams and lakes with large oceans, broad grassy plains with woods and forests. The southern area is the Patagonia region. The climate is generally arid in north and west, Mediterranean-type climate in the center-east of the country, and damp and cool in the south.

Religion

There is complete religious freedom in Argentina, although the official religion is Roman Catholic. Other major religious populations include Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox.

Culture

There is popular folklore music and special mention should be made of the urban music typical of the River Plate area: the tango. Its idol, Carlos Gardel, is revered by millions. With regards to science and culture, Argentina has five Nobel Prize winners: Carlos Saavedra Lamas (1936) and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (1980) for peace; Bernardo Houssay (1947) and Cesar Milstein (1984) for medicine; and Luis Federico Leloir (1970) for chemistry.

Temperature

The temperature during the Argentine Winter (June, July, and August) ranges from about 45°F to about 60°F. There is often humidity which may make it feel even colder. Central heating is not as common in buildings, so be prepared with extra layers.

Government

The President is simultaneously Head of State and Government and is elected together with the Vice President. As well as the departmental governors and the members of the legislative bodies, they are chosen by the universal, secret, and compulsory vote of citizens of either sex above the age of 18. The President has a mandate of 5 years without the possibility of immediate re-election. In the event that no candidate obtains an absolute majority of the votes, a second round is held between the first two majorities. In said voting, the candidate that obtains the simple majority of the votes is the winner. 

The current president is Luis Lacalle Pou, the current vice president is Beatríz Argimón. They belong to a right-leaning party called Partido Nacional. 

Economy

Uruguay’s GDP is US$53.63 billion (2020), with a per capita GDP of US$15,438. Uruguay stands out for its egalitarian society, high per capita income, well-educated workforce, and low levels of poverty. More than 60% of the population identifies as middle class. The country enjoys an extensive social protection network, a strong health system with universal coverage, and comparatively favorable levels of labor formality and social welfare. The country has a history of advanced workers-right protection.

The country’s main industry is agriculture. Tourism, telecommunications, energy, software, and mining are also important industries in the Uruguayan economy. It is an export-oriented economy. By 2020, Uruguay´s top export destinations were China (27%), Brazil (15%), EU (14%), the United States (7%), Argentina (5%) and Mexico (3%). 

Geography

To the south, it also faces the Río de la Plata, a wide estuary that opens into the South Atlantic. Montevideo is approximately at the same latitude as Cape Town and Sydney. 

The country has a low altitude, with “Sierras” and “Cerros” instead of mountains. The highest peak is Cerro Catedral, with an altitude of 513.66 m / 1685.2 ft

Religion

Uruguay has no official religion. All public institutions are secular and religious freedom is considered very important for Uruguayans. Many Uruguayans describe themselves as atheists or agnostic. The most widespread religions include Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, Islamism, and Buddhism.

Culture

Uruguay has an immense national rock scene. Before the pandemic, Montevideo was home to the yearly Montevideo Rock festival, a two-day-long outdoors festival for national bands.

Candombe is an important part of Uruguayan culture and it highlights the impact of African descendants in the country’s cultural scene. 

Currently, visual arts are marked by new media such as photography, video, installations, and conceptual art. However, painting in Uruguay continues to have a strong presence.

Temperature

The temperature during the Uruguayan Winter (June, July, and August) ranges from about 40°F to about 55°F. There is often humidity which may make it feel even colder. Central heating is not as common in buildings, so be prepared with extra layers.

Argentines and Uruguayans are very sociable and love to go and hang out for hours.  Whether it’s for a coffee in the afternoon or drinks at night, locals find any possible excuse to celebrate and spend time with friends - or maybe with new people just like you!  Here are some ideas and tips on how to meet locals:

• Open up! Wherever you go, don’t stick with a large group of expat friends. If you go to a bar or to a boliche (night club), Locals will feel inhibited to join a large group. Some will feel shy about speaking in English, especially around large groups of foreigners, so maybe split into smaller groups, and invite them to come over and practice both Spanish and English.

• Take the initiative. Most locals will not go out of their way to meet foreigners. You will likely have to approach them and start a conversation. Ask them about fútbol, mate, history, family, and traditions.

• Try joining clubs for international students and travelers such as BAIS, PALS, or Study Buenos Aires in order to find our about multi-cultural events for locals and expats. You can also participate in a language exchange meet-up like Spanglish Exchange, Mundo Lingo, or Mate Club.

• ¡Vos podés! (You can do it!) Reduce your English as much as you can; locals will appreciate your effort to speak Spanish! It’s the best way to practice the language, and it’s a good excuse to talk to new people.

Argentines and Uruguayans tend to be less formal than people from the US in both social and professional settings. Being politically correct is not as heavily emphasized. Working hours and social gatherings tend to start and finish later, and timing is a bit looser. Plans are also more sponteanous and often made that same day. Professional and personal relationships blend more often.

Argentines and Uruguyans love to share, whether it be passing the mate around or ordering group plates at restaurants. The common greeting, no matter what gender you are or relationship you have, is a kiss on the cheek, and people may get physically closer to you while speaking.

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