10 Idiosyncrasies of life in Buenos Aires:

1) Language - Castellano.  Literally meaning Spanish like in Spain, but really a completely unique dialect.  New words, conjugations, and all.  Matched with hand movements and an accent not understood by anyone outside Argentina.

2) Meat - Imagine a grill the size of a twin bed, every inch covering in sizzling steaks and sausage.  Delicious.

3) Coins - Nobody's got them, everyone wants them.  Actually, since you need to pay with change every time you take a bus (the main mode of transport), the bus companies hoard the change.  Seriously, the police busted a bus company owned van the other week with millions of pesos stockpiled (literally).  Apparently they sell the coins to the Chinese supermarkets for a profit of 10-15 pesos on every hundred.  Shops often try to give candy as change instead of parting with valuable coinage.

4) Argentine Advertising - It's all about paper flyers.  They'll drop them through mail slots, over fences, shove them into your hands on the street, or simply stick them up anywhere possible.  To the end result that you never look at the words on a piece of paper ever again.

5) Mullets - everywhere. Why?

6) Telos - Love Hotels in English.  Argies young and old opt for 1-2 hour hotel room stays, complete with ancient Egypt or comic themed rooms, jacuzzis, erotic vending machines and more.  It's too expensive to move out of Mom and Dad's place so if you want to get laid, this is your option.  Also used by stereotypical executives and secretaries.

7) Futbol - You have to love my team.  If you root for the rival I'll kill you.  They're kidding, sort of... but my roommates from Salta do say this on occasion.

8) Chinese Supermarkets - At least that's what the locals refer to them as, because all Asians are Chinese.  Generally staffed by at least a few 20 something year olds whose main job is to look cool, never be seen without a cigarette dangling from the mouth, and have fabulous hair.  We saw one guy today slice up a couple of kilos of meat and cheese without ever removing his cigarette.  James Dean's got nothing on these guys.

9) Sidewalks - Don't look up at that beautiful 18th century building while walking down the street... Your next step will land on either a) dog shit b) a loose tile that will plunge your foot into sewage water or c) a hole that will cut a gash in your leg requiring stitches, a lifetime scar, and 2 tetanus shots (Meg Kenny, please stand up)

10) Pride - "Welcome to Buenos Aires, the best city in the world."