Another addition to the list: back to school edition. While I knew about the major differences in the education system (or somewhat) before getting here, like grading scales, there are obviously so many minor differences that I was unaware of until Monday.

11. Smoking. Only recently Argentina banned smoking in public buildings (a change that I'm quite a fan of), but this apparently does not apply to school buildings. Smoking appears to be completely acceptable through the "Facultad" (the shorthand for the building housing my falcultad of political science). Some even smoke within classrooms, although I've fortunately not seen this yet.

13. No silence. Now this was certainly one that I took for granted before coming to Argentina. We all have those kids in our class who whisper obnoxiously during class, or in big lecture halls we've all been guilty of talking to our friends sitting next to us. But there seems to be a different norm here - talking, quite audibly, among your friends in a class of 20 doesn't appear to raise any eyebrows. On the first day I was absolutely shocked! Girls were giggling and chattering away and the professor didn't even look their way. I'd also like to add that this doesn't help out the awkward exchange student straining for every word the professor mumbles.

14. Same goes for cell phones. I've sent texts during large lectures, of course, but never during a 30 person class, and always discreetly. As with the talking, there doesn't seem to be quite as strong of a norm here about texting. It appears to be perfectly acceptable to hold your cell phone out in front of you and compose long messages.

15. No textbooks! This is my favorite cultural difference in terms of school. Books in Argentina are considered very expensive (where aren't they?), so instead, each professor develops a sort of reading packet that they then send off to a specific photocopy kiosk. You simply walk up, tell them your professors name, and there they have all your readings conveniently compiled (with a syllabus and reading guide in front) for roughly 5 US dollars! Now this I could get used to.