Someone asked on my blog:

A lot of people say that argentinians are arrogant, lazy and slutty, how would you describe argentinians? – anónimo

“I actually just had conversations about one of these subjects today…

Arrogant: This is definitely a very popular Argentine stereotype, and to an extent it’s true – but just how it’s true with Americans.  They more so say, yeah this will be the best asado you’ll ever taste, or for sure Tango was discovered here and look where it is now, and  that fútbol players here are not like any you’ll find in any other country. But you can’t blame them. Maybe I don’t advocate much for their eating patterns but they do kind of rock at a lot of things. But it’s just like the Americans – we brag about having the best education system, being so united, and having such diversity in our country… and (to an extent) for both sides, we do have the right to brag.

Lazy: This subject was the one I went on a limb about. I just complained today about how Argentinians can be  so  disorganized. It’s almost unbearable. Especially as a student here, it would be really nice to know when my tests are ahead of time so I can plan for it, and not have to stress about going from one building to the next to the next just to attain a transcript. There are some things I would love for them to kind of organize into  discernible  piles (figuratively) making it easy for us and themselves, but I would definitely say they’re not  lazy.My host cousins are both in school for medicine and engineering, and they study all the time. They do this, and  always  seem to have time to party literally all night on the weekends. In a sense, they don’t value hard work as much as we do, but mostly because they think that stressing themselves out to much is not worth it. If they don’t like doing something, they don’t do it. Instead they would rather  disfrutar  their lives.

Slutty: I remember one of the first couple days here in Mendoza, one of the girls in my program asked our program  adviser  what someone would wear to a  boliche, a club. He said for girls they wear skirts, and maybe a nice shirt…
So yeah, they get kind of crazy at clubs,  but in la universidad, it’s disrespectful for a girl to wear shorts to class, while in the states a female college student (even though it is disrespectful and also kind of gross) can wear Daisy Dukes and not be told to go change.For guys, their idea of hitting on a girl is saying “Sos muy bonita” (but not in the most romantic way) and thinking that’s just enough to get away with having her as a girlfriend.  I’d also say they’re more affectionate than they are slutty.  This country is also filled with  piropos  and catcalls, but it’s just like most any Latin American country. It’s their way of “showing respect for the woman,” however disrespectful the catcall may be… but in general, they are never really “slutty.” They are more prone to getting into relationships and being seen making out in the park, but they’re actually normally very loyal to their significant other, and just want to show off that they love this person.

Just like any other stereotype, some Argentinians may present the stereotype well and proud, while for the most part it’s not very true.  I actually think they’re some of the nicest and good-hearted people I’ve ever met. The thing is when you’re walking on the street or paying at the grocery, they are very cold and kind of disheartening, but if you start a conversation with them, have a mate with them, ask them a question off the street, you can’t help but keep talking.”