A Cultural Note to the Americans at Home

      Ok it has come to my attention that some of you readers have no idea what I'm talking about when it comes to some of the cultural aspects of Argentina. Instead of expecting you all to google everything i shall explain. I think i mentioned some of this earlier but take note there will be a quiz at the end.

1. Mate (pronounced Mah-te) is a type of herb/tea which is highly caffeinated, in most cases bitter, and is customarily drank out of a small cup through a special straw. Ok, now there are a billion different brands of mate which different flavors and it can be made with or without sugar (usually not).
2. Mate is hot. You put crushed mate leaves into your cup, stick the straw to the bottom, fill to the leave line with hot water and drink. The straw has a filter so the leaves do not travel up your straw. You must refill the water after each time you drink. Great OK so got that covered.
3. Sharing mate is a sign of friendship. You don't all get your own cup, you share. You all drink from the same cup with the same straw. Germs are not an issue, and refusal of sharing is well...kinda an insult.
4. Terere. Terere is a form of mate but it is made cold, with ice and the water is mixed with a....i guess koolaid is the closest thing to it. If you know Tang, they use that sometimes. But anyways, its fruit flavored and sweet and because its made cold the mate taste is much lighter. Terere is most popular with those of us young generations.

     Great now you all know what I've been drinking. Not alcohol, not juice, not soda, not water.
Also i would like to add its banned from campus, which is hilarious because no one cares. Its banned because of the caffeine but frankly we don't give a damn. But really, the Argentinians can't go a day without this stuff, no only is it a cultural thing for some people its an addiction. Their get crazy headaches without it I am told, much like coffee drinkers. But any morning/after/night of the week there are people lining the streets with their water containers and terere. At some point i'll take a few pictures so you guys can see what i'm talking about.

So now you are all educated. In approximately 8 months i shall be home and you can hunt me down and get a taste of mate and terere.