Polite Porteños

Before coming to BA I was told by many other Argentinians that 'Portenos' (Spanish word referring to people from Buenos Aires - people from a 'port city') are 'stuck up'. However my experience here has shown me quite the opposite and I have encountered extremely welcoming and friendly people. 
People also show a lot of manners - for example, young teenagers on public transport offer their seat to women and the elderly far more often than I have seen in the UK. Sometimes men on the underground even offer me their seat , and I am a physically fit (that's a lie) 23 year old. I often decline however - being at crotch level in a rammed carriage during rush hour, makes for an uncomfortable journey.

In supermarkets, certain tills also give priority to pregnant women and old people. I found this out a slightly awkward way. Whilst standing in the queue, I was tapped on the shoulder by a man out of the queue who looked at me and pointing to a woman next to him, said 'she's pregnant'.
'Um...Ok' I said, confused (should I say congratulations?)
I just looked at him, smiling, so he continued... 'Are you pregnant?' 
'Um...no' (Oh great, a classic Bridget Jones moment, he thinks I look pregnant - why would he say that?)
He then pointed to a sign above the till which stated that pregnant women had priority.
'Oh, yes of course, go in front of me'.


A couple of days ago my friend Luke and I noted our frustrations on public transport. Like a lot of people we always try our best to be the first into the underground carriage or the bus, in order to get those much wanted seats. If we do get seats, the childish joy only lasts a couple of seconds. 
As all the seats start to get taken, we realise having seats is just not worth the effort. From that point on, the whole journey is spent eyeing up the door everytime a new passenger gets on, judging the demographic of the person and weighing up where they lie in the pecking order for seat priority.... 

'Young male - phew, seats mine.....'
'Young non-pregnant female - no worries, I can keep my seat for now.....'
'Old couple - damn it, both up.'

There is also that awkward line with older women - if I do offer her my seat will she be insulted and think that I think she's too old to handle the arduous task of standing up? 
As a woman, offering my seat to a man no matter what his age, often feels like I'm emasculating him. Most of the time I do offer an older man, I am declined with a 'don't be silly' Harold Bishop double-chin shake of the head, and I sit down a little embarrassed. 

Greeting people is also a lot easier out here. In the UK, there are just too many damn options.....handshake - too formal? hug - too informal? kiss - too pretentious? There is so much to think about that a lot of the time I just end up doing a hand up, salute, wave thing and looking a bit awkward. Out here it's easy - whoever you meet - old, young, male, female, it's always a kiss on the cheek - no awkwardness, straight in there, done. It is rarely even a proper kiss, just a cheek press and air kiss (far more hygienic than a germy handshake).
I have however come across a few frisky folk who adopt the 'two' method- this can confuse things a bit, especially when your caught off guard, do not move your head to the other side and nearly end up lip. on. lip.

In conclusion, not too shabby on the manners front Argentina, some of us Brits could definitely take a lesson.

Don't even bother