This is simply a discussion post surrounding a current event in Argentina I was assigned to write for my LAN499 class while abroad. I want to share it here, because I think it may help to explain the economic situation I am living in while abroad in Argentina. 

Argentina has been in a seemingly constant state of inflation for the past 70 years or so, with their dollar constantly rising and falling in value. According to La Gaceta-Tucumán, the Argentine peso has fallen for the third time this week due to foreign exchange delays because of the objectives of the International Monetary Funds (IMF) and the Centrál de Republica Argentina (BCRA). I do not know much about stocks and foreign money exchange, but to resolve the current inflation issues, the IMF and BCRA are trying to relieve the Argentine peso reliance on the US dollar.  Yet, nearly everyone I have spoken with cannot remember a time when inflation was not normal. Today one US dollar is equivalent to 37.83 pesos and this amount drops and rises daily.

To repeat, inflation has been the “norm” for as long as many people can remember. The staggering difference and frequent economic collapse in the peso allows for the wealthy elite to keep the poor dependent on them and usually their policies, given the wealthy elite are usually politicians who are able to keep their money over seas.

Given that Argentina compares its inflation and peso value to the US dollar, I have been involved in some very awkward situations. A lot of students and strangers will say to me “you are so rich” or “you can buy whatever you want here and not have it effect you”. At first it made me feel very uncomfortable, but now I kind of just expect it whenever I tell people I am from the US because no one means any harm to me when they say this. Like the article “American Privilege” assigned to us, means “having American privilege means being on the stronger side of the power struggle”, so in many conversations instead of feeling awkward, I say yes there is an obvious difference between the value of our money, but I am here to live as similar to an Argentinian as I can. I also do not assume that because they say this to me, they want me to help them because I am from the US, I think they bring this up because it is just a part of their every day lives, but they are quite happy and content with the lives they live.

This experience has been very important and quite eye-opening. I have been able to realize my “American Privilege” but, because of this, I want to live with an ethnorelativism point of view (meaning I try to live with intercultural empathy and try to better understand a culture through its point of views and values, rather than what I am used to from growing up in the US) to better understand and learn the Argentinian culture and history, kind of like the article “To Hell with Good Intentions” eludes.  Argentinians love talking about their history and trying to explain it to me.  They suggest traveling to more providences to see the monetary difference that the East and the South have against the North and the West. The East and South providences are significantly wealthier than the North and West providences, given that there is a failure to redistribute wealth.

In all, living as a part of Argentina’s inflation has been eye-opening, although a bit difficult to accept at times. I enjoy learning about it through the people who live here and asking them how it effects their every-day lives. Most people say it does not really hurt them too much, because prices at stores adjust and so do their salaries. But, if inflation continues to rise, it can become a very interesting situation for Gen and myself, and we may have to become more careful. In the mean time, the best thing to do is to live as a part of it and try to understand what is happening here.

Here is a link to the current event article:

https://www.lagaceta.com.ar/nota/785584/actualidad/dolar-cayo-tercera-vez-hasta-alcanzar-3873.html

Here is a link to keep up with the dollar to peso equals:

https://www.investing.com/currencies/usd-ars

Here is an excellent article explaining Argentine inflation, in English:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanlewis/2018/06/13/whats-happening-to-the-argentine-peso/#4a03f1347b39