Due to the heavy immigration from Italy and Spain between 1880 and 1930, Argentina is considered to be the most European country in South America. It is no wonder that some of the big cities, especially Buenos Aires, make you wonder if you did not get stuck in a time machine in Italy or Spain back in the twenties.
Many Argentines still identify with their European ancestors. Being a nation strongly influenced by immigrants you will rapidly realize that this historic background has formed a special attitude and lifestyle: hospitality, generosity and their social and welcoming spirit sure are qualities that will not go unnoticed by any foreign visitor.
Unlike the nostalgic tunes of the melancholic tango, Argentines are hearty and joyful people. They like to have people around and evenings and weekends are preferably spent celebrating life: Having one of the famous “Asados” (barbecue), sitting together with friends while talking and laughing, singing and dancing!

Due to a ten-year linkage of the Argentine Peso to the US-Dollar, Argentina has been an attractive business market for European and American goods for a long time. For this reason, one still finds plenty of production facilities of international companies. Starting in 1998, this linkage has resulted in a 4-year recession and finally the currency parity was anulled.
Since the beginning of 2002, the moment of annulment, things have changed quite a bit: the Peso's value has drastically fallen, whereby imported goods have become more expensive while Argentine export goods have become cheaper abroad. Currently, the Argentine economy is recovering owing to import substitution and export production. This upward trend can be observed in the country's “Chinese” growth rates during the last four years.
You want to know more concerning economy?
You can find detailed reports on industrial activities, foreign commerce as well as the GDP (gross domestic product) on the website of the Secretariat of Economy Policy.

After Brazil, Argentina is the second largest country in South America. A vast stretch of 3700 km separates the most northern from the most southern Argentine city. As you can imagine, that gives room for all kinds of different vegetation zones and landscapes. And the scenic variety really is astonishing!
It ranges from tropical rainforest in the north with the impressive Iguazu waterfalls, to ice-blue glaciers in Patagonia.
From deserts full of cactuses and breathtaking coloured rock formations in the Andean highlands to the sunny and fertile wine-growing state of Mendoza. And not to forget, of course, the incredible vastness of the Pampa.
One of the major wonders of nature are the waterfalls of Iguazu. Here, in the border triangle of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, 275 unique waterfalls are plummeting brawly into a more than 70-meter deep ravine.
A main attraction in the North-West of Argentina is the legendary “train into the sky” running from Salta to the dried-up salt lakes on an altitude of 3000 meters, passing by dreamlike landscapes made up of cactuses and multicoloured mountains. But the “King of the Mountains” is the Aconcagua which is casting its shadow from a height of 6960 metres onto the city of Mendoza, being the highest mountain in America.
In Patagonia you will find the still growing glacier Perito Moreno. Scarce steppes cover the vast South of Argentina and on its shores penguins, elephant seals, dolphins, sea lions and daunting baleen whales have their habitat.
If you also want to travel instead of just working, take a glance at our link Travelling!

Let´s guess: The first thing which comes to your mind thinking about Argentine music is tango! This melancholic music, originally born in the poor districts of Buenos Aires, has been brought to world wide reputation by Argentine tango stars like Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazolla. Still today, tango is present, especially in Buenos Aires. 
However, it’s not only the tango that shapes Argentine music culture. At parties, people move their hips to the country’s own „Cuartetto“ or „Cumbia“ beats. At „Peñas“, jovial and poetic folklore music is being played and accompanied by traditional dance steps. Local rock and pop groups and of course tunes from all over the world dominate the daily radio program.
Argentines love music! During the summer, huge music festivals take place all over the country. Or people just pick up the guitar themselves after a nice dinner or asado with friends and sing and play the night away!

There are definitely a few goodies which are only to be found in Argentina, making the country's culinary uniqueness.
Above all: the Argentine „asado“ (=barbecue) which certainly is more than just a meal, it’s rather a basic need of every Argentine! An „asado“ is a happy get-together with friends, accompanied by great quantities of extraordinary Argentine meat, delicious wines, singing, laughing and high spirits.
Apart from that, you will quickly become aware that streets are lined with „Empanada“-places. Empanadas are little dough squares or triangles with all sorts of different fillings (vegetables, cheese, ham, beef, chicken, corn, ...) and are an indispensable snack in Argentine everyday life.
If you like it sweet, watch out for the so-called „Alfajores“! They are sweet cookies filled with “dulce de leche” (an Argentine cream caramel specialty) and often covered with chocolate. They certainly have a similar addictive effect as empanadas do.
To get the party started you will be offered Italian “fernet”-schnapps mixed with Coca Cola. Short: “Fernet-Coca”. You probably won’t find a single party without it!
And last but not least, the national drink: „Mate“-tea, which, similar to the already mentioned asado, is more than just a drink, but rather a lifestyle ingredient! Mate is a bitter tea, which is being served in a special „mate“-cup and drunken through a special „mate“-straw. It is always shared with friends, the mate being handed around in the group and everyone drinking alternately. Wherever you go, you will see Argentines carrying around their thermos flask and mate-equipment, always ready to sit down for a minute and chat with friends while sharing a mate!