Argentina May 2013 Vol 5 | Page 2

UP CLOSE Religion
Most Argentines are primarily of European descent , which separates them from other Latin American countries where European and Indian cultures are more mixed . Culturally and emotionally , Argentines often seem more European than Latin American . The family is the centre of Argentine life with extended families still having prominence . The heads of powerful families command widespread respect , but with this comes a responsibility to care for others in terms of security , jobs , etc and to maintain personal and family honor . It is impolite to rest your elbows on the table in Argentina , and the hands should always be visible to the chef while the person is eating their food out of respect to the chef .

Argentine Culture

In terms of business etiquette , it is very important to build relationships with other people because it is one of the most important aspects of Argentine life . If a favor is done for you , you are expected to repay the debt in some way . Argentines only do business with the people they trust . They like to meet in person instead of talking on the phone or emailing because those methods of communicating are very impersonal . Argentines prefer to look good in the eyes of other Argentines in the way they look and the way they act ; they are respected for the way they look to others . Once a relationship is formed , the person is loyal to the other , but not necessarily to their family . In all circumstances , Argentines try to avoid confrontation because they hate admitting that they are wrong or that they did something wrong in public . It is important to always show respect to authority and those above you in age or position in a job , but conversations with those above you do not always have to be formal . It is also important to make sure that when a business deal is being made that you and your colleagues all agree on the outcome .

UP CLOSE Religion

Roman Catholicism is the national religion and Argentina promotes freedom of religion . The Argentine Constitution states that the federal government " sustains the apostolic Roman Catholic faith ," and it provides the Catholic Church with a variety of subsidies . The Secretariat of Worship in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , International Trade , and Worship is responsible for the government ' s relations with the Catholic Church , all non- Catholic Christian churches , and other religious organizations in the country .

Argentine Food

The Argentine cuisine is known mainly for the high contents of proteins , mainly from beef and empanadas . Grilled beef from the asado , or barbecue , is the dish that most shows the identity of the cuisine in Argentina . The vast areas of Argentina do have different types of food , however , that differ from each other in many ways , including the spices or amount of spices .
Argentine people are known for their love of food , especially their own Argentine cuisine . Social gathering often consist of meeting for a meal , or social eating . Argentines make French fries and burger patties homemade to celebrate something or remember someone . Families always eat together on Sundays , for it is the most important day of the week in Argentina . During these Sunday dinners , pasta is one of the most common types of food eaten by the families in celebration of the new week ahead of them .
Restaurants in Argentina offer many different types of food at very affordable prices . The restaurants in the cities can range from high-end restaurants to small cafes on the corner , but they all offer very affordable , delicious Argentine cuisine .