la educacion

i feel compelled to write tonight about the amazing people in buenos aires and their educacion, or what we americans would refer to as "politeness" or "etiquette." to us, it's too formal and unnecessary to our daily lives. but for argentines, la educacion is simple, natural and expected.

i've already told you about riding the subte and the buses, where everyone gives up a seat for the elderly or pregnant women. when you go to the stores here, people are overly helpful, they aren't annoyed when you ask them a question and they will downright accompany you to the aisle you're looking for whilst chatting about the weather. everyone wants to know where you're from and what you're doing in buenos aires, and they are always so pleased to have you.

but the reason i felt so obliged to write home about argentine courtesy is because i recently joined a gym in my neighborhood and i am pleasantly overwhelmed about how comfortable and amiable an environment exists at a place that in the states is usually the last place you are nice to someone. when you walk into a spin class, the instructor looks around the room, finds the new person in the room, introduces themselves and everyone in the class, then asks your name and gives you a kiss. tonight, i took a class called "functional training" and the instructor kissed everyone hello and made routines where we all worked as a team. by the end of the class, we were old friends--and naturally, we all got a kiss goodbye. you can just tell that everyone that takes classes in the gym knows each other and it's such a warm environment. which to me, is pretty much the complete and polar opposite of the feeling you get at american gyms. you feel like everyone is staring at you, you feel self-conscious, and no one wants to talk to anyone and groan when they have to wait for a machine.

i just think these experiences i've had at the gym say so much about the culture of being courteous in buenos aires, of opening yourself up and engaging other people; even complete strangers. every argentine person i meet wants to be my best friend. compare this to the american why-are-you-talking-to-me attitude (especially in miami!) and it makes me wonder why we don't take a note from our south american friends and adopt some educacion. because the only effect it has is to make people SMILE, and at the end of the day that's far more important than saving a minute or two of your "precious" time.