One of the biggest culture shocks I experienced since arriving in Argentina is how much people love to share here! In my first class, my teacher was drinking mate, a caffeinated hot drink made by steeping dried yerba leaves in hot water. It was served in a gourd with a single metal straw, called a bombilla, that has a tiny filter at the bottom. My teacher offered some to the class, and to my surprise, he did not give us a new cup. He passed us his own gourd to drink from.
I soon learned that mate circles are very common here and how it is considered impolite to drink mate in front of others without offering some. This spirit of sharing shows up in other traditions, too, such as Sunday asados and eating gnocchi on the 29th of each month.
Every Sunday in Argentina, there is a social ritual of slow-cooking meats, drinking wine, and conversing for hours. Asados usually begin around noon and will last until late at night. A part of the Asado are different cuts and parts of beef because Argentinians love their beef, cheeses, and different drinks. As part of the sharing culture, everyone brings something, and it is normal for everyone to share the food together.
