Around the World in 80 Days!!
Summer break has officially arrived in Southern Maryland. Over the next 80 days (ending on Labor Day), we’ll discuss different cultural things each day! From general country info to cultural norms to recipes and more!!
Let’s focus on global awareness and share some cultural experiences! Most importantly, share your culture with your host family. Incorporate games, books, songs, language, foods, etc into your host family’s lives. Cooking a dish from your home country is a great way to share. Discuss similar traditions and ones unique to your family or culture.
First up, let’s learn about Argentina!
ARGENTINA
South America 
Capital: Buenos Aires
Languages: Spanish
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity
(Roman Catholic)
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:
- Independent, mature, responsible, trustworthy.
- Open to share their ideas or thoughts.
- Open minded, flexible, ready to have a good experience abroad.
FUN FACTS:
- Young people in Argentina love technology – they can’t understand how their grandparents survived without cell phones!
- Argentine beef is famous around the world, so naturally Argentineans love barbeques!
- The Argentine city of Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world!
USEFUL PHRASES:
- How are you? Como estas?
- Fine, thanks. Bien, gracias.
- My name is… Mi nombre es…
- Nice to meet you. Encantada de conocerte.
- Thank you. Gracias.
There are twenty languages spoken in Argentina, most of them by small groups of indigenous people. The primary language in the country is Spanish.
Try some Spanish language activities. This site includes an on-line English-Spanish picture dictionary and an on-line Spanish-English dictionary, as well as information, quizzes and pictures to color.
This website is available in both English and Spanish. There are activities to download, stories to listen to, and much more!
Do you know any words in English that came from Spanish words? You can find the answer to this question and many other facts about our world at Infoplease.
Recipe:
Argentine Mashed Potato Pie 
Ingredients –
- 6-8 potatoes
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 onion
- 1 red pepper
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2-3 eggs
- 1/2 cup green pitted olives
- shredded cheese
- 1 can tomato sauce
- paprika, salt and pepper
Instructions
- Peel and boil the potatoes until done.
- Boil eggs for 15 min.
- Halve, peel and chop onion and pepper.
- Sauté onion and pepper until tender.Add beef to onion and brown well.
- Add paprika, salt and pepper.
- Add tomato sauce to beef, stir, and remove from heat.
- Add eggs, olives to beef mixture.
- Mash potatoes, add butter, milk and salt.
- Use half mashed potatoes to line a lasagna pan or other large baking pan.
- Pour in beef mixture.
- Top with remaining mashed potatoes.
- Sprinkle with shredded cheese on top.
- Bake at 350°F for 30-40 minutes.
Submitted by Betiana Turteltaub, au pair in Villanova, Pennsylvania, 2004-2005
Photo: Jesus Dehesa {flickr}