Taylor is studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina until Nov. 28.

Being abroad brings so many new experiences and customs; some you love, some you don’t. When it comes to amenities such as shaving cream and peanut butter, it really is true that distance makes the heart grow fonder. And despite having been here for more than two months, there are still some differences that I will never get used to:

1. Soap: Rather than pumping it out of a container, soap here comes in bar form. However, it is not always in nice rectangles like one might imagine. No, often it comes in ovals skewered on metal rods. The first time I came across these colored lumps, I assumed they were soap sacks and attempted to milk them. I quickly realized that nothing was going to come out, and that one merely had to stroke the oblong knobs to get a little suds going. It still weirds me out every time.

Yes, these oblong protrusions are bars of soap. Makes for an interesting hand-wash.”

2. Zero Floor: Sort of upsetting when you realize you have to walk up a set of stairs to get to floor one of a building. Super confusing in an elevator when you’re trying to find ground floor — why zero?

3. Gym attire: I typically go to the gym with greasy hair, a t-shirt from the laundry bin and a scraggly ponytail. Unfortunately, this is not customary in Argentina. Many women show up with full makeup, perfectly preened hairdos and stylish attire. One woman even participated in a “Latin Dance” class in jeans and wedge boots. This is a standard that I will just never live up to.

4. Naked mannequins: This is something you don’t see in the U.S. Generally, mannequins are clothed so as to show off the latest fashions. Here, clothing is optional, as sometimes they are only used to display a purse or a belt.

Clothing optional.

5. Playing music aloud on buses and planes: This can get extremely irritating, especially when someone decides to blast Reggaeton during an overnight bus ride. From what I figure, these self-proclaimed deejays are either a) too lazy to dig out their headphones, b) oblivious to the fact that everyone else can hear their music too, or c) think they are providing a service by sharing their tunes. (And, yes they do own headphones- I’ve seen them dangling out of backpacks and purses).

6. Lack of “to-go” culture: They do have delivery (and sometimes it comes on roller-skates), but for some reason the concept of eating on the go is perplexing for Argentines. Every morning, the apartment employee makes a comment about the fact that I’m eating my breakfast as I’m running out the door. And asking for tea, coffee, or a snack “to go” provokes a puzzled expression unless you are at one of the few cafes taking hold of this foreign custom.

7. Customer service: “The customer is always right.” Right? Wrong. In Argentina, the employee-shopper relationship is not quite the same. Waiters won’t ever come to your table unless you flag them down from across the room. Stores do not have change and will demand you surrender your small bills and coins if you want to make the purchase. Trust me, this is no small sacrifice. And clothing generally comes in one size- small. Which brings me to my next point.

8. The great weight paradox: The people here do everything a nutritionist would tell you not to. They don’t drink water. (It is considered extremely strange to order it at a restaurant or to drink it with a meal). They don’t sleep. (Nightlife doesn’t even start until 2 a.m., at which time there are still children on the playgrounds). They eat dinner late and consume mostly ham, beef, potatoes and dulce de leche; and salt everything (including salad). And yet — the majority of them are skeletally thin. (Note: From personal experience, I can attest to the fact that this magic formula does not apply to non-Argentines. Do not attempt).

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