USA: more like latin or germanic Europe? (people) (public schools, mold)
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Where in the US did you go? I think even though they're equally American New Yorkers will be very different to Minnesotans. A lot of Latin influence there, both Italians, Puerto Ricans.etc, and Jews also have a similar sort of temperament. If you went to Minneapolis things might be different.
Love when people talk about us Latin Americans and southern Europeans and our "temperament" lol. Like we're some guinea pigs or pet lol
My question is for all these United Statians in the forum, especially the ones who have travelled to Europe or who know European people, Do you feel you have more similarities with North Europeans or with South Europeans??
I'm American and i don't have anything in common with any of those people....
I'm not sure its possible to live in Minnesota and not have at least some connection to German and Scandinavian immigrant culture.
Just like me. I'm Black American and until 3 weeks ago, lived in California my whole life so I have a connection to some Mexican culture even though I am not Mexican at all.
I fear many people here tend to confuse "culture" with "personality" or "character".
I do not think that the fact that many people seem to be extraverted in the USA makes them of a latin culture. I've heard that Danish people are said to be famous for their extraversion, they keept are typically northern European and quintessentially Germanic. Many people from latin cultures are not neceserally that much extraverted. Also there are variations, I never felt the Spanish to be as extraverted the way many Italians are, that doesn't makes them less latin. The serious, tragicness (even somehow rigid in the case of Castillan personality) about "spanish personality" does not make them less "latin".
What exist in latin culture vs germanic ones is a more physical approach in social contacts, less physical distance, lots of kissing attitudes, etc. and maybe on average a more "family" attitude (maybe due to the catholic context, while Protestant cultures seem more individualistic (well there might even be exceptions). Also the relation to money and business activities seem to be different. On those aspects the USA seem to me very un-latin.
this post is very good and i think it sums it up perfectly
Its very true what you say about physical contact. The other day in a linguistic class we were talking about the personal space limits in different socities, and the teacher put out society (argentina) and confronted it with the personal space in USA. Of course the limits of personal space are wider in USA. So if an American came here he might find people here, for example, get too close to eachother to talk, stand too close to eachother, etc.
Dont even get me started on the kissing, i lived in USA and i know people dont kiss there everytime they enter a place. Here, everytime you get to a place you kiss people in the cheek. Yeah, everytime. Even if you go to a birthday reunion and there are 15 people there . You have to kiss each and everyone in the cheek cause thats how the culture is here.
And the showing of affection is much more open here, its very normal to be kissing (in the mouth i mean) your SO in the streets, in a cafe, in a bar, in movies, you name it. Public display of affection is expected and normal here.
This isnt better or worse than how more formal they are in USA. Is just how it is. Living there, i found that if they came here and experience this Latin behaviour, they will be shocked.
Actually, an american friend came here shorter after i was there (when we were both 18) and she was disgusted at how guys looked at her in the street. She felt threathened or scared and it was very hard to explain to her thats just normal behaviour here. Every girl get looks everytime they go out. Actually, she should have consider herself lucky that they werent telling her "piropo", wich is guys mumbling sometimes nice, sometimes dirty stuff, to EVERY girl that walks by. This is the norm here.
The other day i was eating an ice cream while walking on the street and got all kind of dirty remarks from guys. This Latin personality can suck sometimes.
I think many of the interactions that are normal in Buenos Aires, would be considered assault in many other places of the world, like USA.
Dont even get me started on the kissing, i lived in USA and i know people dont kiss there everytime they enter a place. Here, everytime you get to a place you kiss people in the cheek. Yeah, everytime. Even if you go to a birthday reunion and there are 15 people there . You have to kiss each and everyone in the cheek cause thats how the culture is here.
Hehe, the kissing things is more common here than in USA but... don't overexaggerate, Sophie. There are many situations when you're not expected to kiss someone in the cheek when getting into a place: getting in the bus, the train, shops, bank, and so on. What you are saying is restricted to social gatherings among friends or friends of friends (it could be sometimes in working environments), and even in those situations some people don't kiss in the cheek. Although kissing in the cheek is the norm, yes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SophieLL
an american friend came here shorter after i was there (when we were both 18) and she was disgusted at how guys looked at her in the street. She felt threathened or scared and it was very hard to explain to her thats just normal behaviour here. Every girl get looks everytime they go out. Actually, she should have consider herself lucky that they werent telling her "piropo", wich is guys mumbling sometimes nice, sometimes dirty stuff, to EVERY girl that walks by. This is the norm here.
I would say it like this: Here guys in the street tend to compliment women more often than in other countries, but... that doesn't mean that every (not even most) guys do this. I'm a guy and don't do this BTW.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SophieLL
The other day i was eating an ice cream while walking on the street and got all kind of dirty remarks from guys. This Latin personality can suck sometimes.
Where were you walking really? Did you get looks or remarks? That isn't Latin personality, it's just tacky men that are everywhere, haha. But this doesn't happen so often to any girl in Buenos Aires, don't you agree?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SophieLL
I think many of the interactions that are normal in Buenos Aires, would be considered assault in many other places of the world, like USA.
It is expected, for a woman in BA, to get this looks or remarks EVERY TIME they are out. You probably dont see it cause you are a guy and you obviously dont get it.
I didnt mean to say that every men do it, i say that every girl gets it, wich is a completely different thing.
we should ask girl this. Actually, there are even feminist movements to stop this and its a very popular topic of discussion in society. Would you say piropo is not something typical of our culture?
Even malena pichot in cualca did a parody of how we girls get this kind of thing all the time:
It is expected, for a woman in BA, to get this looks or remarks EVERY TIME they are out. You probably dont see it cause you are a guy and you obviously dont get it.
I didnt mean to say that every men do it, i say that every girl gets it, wich is a completely different thing.
we should ask girl this. Actually, there are even feminist movements to stop this and its a very popular topic of discussion in society. Would you say piropo is not something typical of our culture?
Even malena pichot in cualca did a parody of how we girls get this kind of thing all the time:
Well one thing that isn't so different; seems like men, regardless of the society are not able to see things from the female perspective.
Some years back in San Diego, I had an Argentine friend. When she would see me, should would often kiss me on the cheek. One day she told me that if I were ever uncomfortable with it, to let her know. A guy doing it to me would be a different matter. I know in many Latin cultures men to this to other men as well. Italians and I believe French do it. Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong. Mexicans don't seem to do this from what I can tell but, they are much more physically affectionate in other ways it seems. I think this is what makes to the USA a much more Germanic culture overall. Americans for the most part are affectionate only when in a romantic situation or drunk. OK, that's a broad brush stereotype but those of you smarter than a third grader get my point. Personally, I tend to be very reserved before I know a person but once comfortable with them, I can be every bit as affectionate. Probably explains why most of my friends have been Mexican.
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. You have to kiss each and everyone in the cheek cause thats how the culture is here. 
. This Latin personality can suck sometimes.
