At 3:00 p.m., my flight landed in Santiago, Chile. In a continent where traveling is a bit less accessible than in Europe, I was thrilled to discover what Chile had to offer, other than much cheaper shopping and a way to prepare myself for a midterm on Chilean history. Stepping out of the taxi for the first time, I was shocked to see that the capital of Chile could not be more different from my current home of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Buenos Aires, known for its arrogance and difficult Spanish accent, teems with European influence on every street corner.
During the early 1900s, Argentina received a huge influx of immigrants from Europe, most notably Italy and Spain. This influence continues to dominate Argentinian culture in its architecture, cuisine, and fashion. When asked to poll our host families on their ancestry, every student in my class had parents with either Italian or Spanish roots. This manifests itself predominantly through architecture. Peeking my head out of the window of my apartment complex, I can glimpse European architecture without even leaving the sanctity of my home. Cathedrals also tell the tale of Argentinian’s mass European immigration. Steeped in tradition, the Metropolitan Cathedral (la Catedral Metropolitana) boasts a unique architectural style with some elements of Greek design. For my Spanish: Oral Production Workshop class, I was tasked with a photo assignment, capturing images that portrayed the immense Spanish and Italian influence in Buenos Aires. Between polo stadiums, churches, and apartment complexes, the class discovered how deeply European architecture had transformed Argentinian society.
Chilean architecture, on the other hand, portrays a more stereotypical South American style. Outside of the business district of Santiago, one can find storefronts and homes that tend to be shorter and less decorative. By comparing the Chilean and Argentinian equivalents of the White House, the Palacio de la Moneda and the Casa Rosada, respectively, the difference in architectural style becomes obvious. El Palacio, while reminiscent of the Italian neoclassical style, lacks the ornate exterior design found in the Casa Rosada. This existence of elaborate detail differentiates Argentinean and Chilean architectural styles.
Popular cuisine and fashion styles also differ greatly between the two countries. While Argentina continues its European influence by eating mostly Italian food, such as gnocchi and pizza, Chilean corners boast of many Peruvian restaurants and chorrillana (a traditional Chilean dish). At home, my host mom cooks a different form of pasta almost every night for dinner! In terms of fashion, everyday Chilean fashion tends to be more laid-back and casual, while Argentinians are always dressed to the nines in turtlenecks, shawls, and platform heels.
Another clear distinction between Santiago and Buenos Aires is the amount of racial diversity. One of the most glaring differences that I noticed when I first landed in Argentina is the complete lack of racial diversity; the culture is entirely whitewashed. Here in Buenos Aires, the only thing that identifies me as American is my blonde hair and (lack of a) Spanish accent. In Chile, however, there are many more people of color. This stark contrast is due to the mass European migration that took place in Argentina, leaving behind a population of people that all looked the same. While it is not my place to speak directly to their experiences, there are a few people of color in my program that have definitely been treated differently in Buenos Aires because of their skin color, receiving catcalls such as “china” or “negra.”
How can two neighboring countries be so distinctly different? Throughout my journey in Buenos Aires and throughout South America, Argentina’s overwhelming European influence has become more evident, separating the country from the rest of South America and resulting in its stereotype of arrogance and superiority.