I do think having real Argentine friends is hard here (in answer to the question above).But what I think is don't worry about it. Just realize the situation and enjoy the time here. I do think that friendships with Americans a good idea. They have not been as damaged--YET! I think it's coming but Argentines have been through it--over and over. I think part of the problem may be that the Argentines find it hard to trust and maybe that includes trusting you. They surely don't trust each other because they are the ones that tell me never trust anyone for 2 or 3 years at least. I have decided not to let it bother me a bit. I will like them and befriend them anyway, but I won't depend on them. I was at Starbucks one day with my cynical Argentina girlfriend, having a wonderful time practicing my spanish on the people behind the counter. We were all laughing and before I got my coffee, everyone was gathered sharing the "conversation" (my bad spanish). I had a great time waiting for my coffee. When I went back to the table, my cynical friend said in disgust, "They are ridiculing you and you don't even know it."
I said "I don't care if they are. I'm having a good time and if they are too, that's a good thing!" And that is how I feel. But I do have very good American friends in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. I wish they'd all go to the same place but they don't. Thanks to Skype and email, they're as close as my computer.
My Argentina friend who I am sure IS my friend, who tries so hard to educate me about maneuvering successfully in Argentina, tells me adamantly "I'm not Argentine. I'm German!" Never mind his parents were born in Bariloche, his grandparents in Bariloche, one side of his mother's family is definitely Argentine, but he isn't Argentine. He's GERMAN! Whatever he is he's a fantastic person. If I were not almost old enough to be his grandmother I'd be spinning my web!
This post was for Valentina regarding awful to try to make friends. It is my way to deal with it and I think it works. At least for me.
For International Guy, I think you may be right about the B.A. thing but I don't know. I'm basing it on a family in Viedma that has befriended me for at least 6 years and I would trust them with anything. However, they are German for sure, speak fluent German and are strong Christians (not Catholic, I think pentecostal) so that could be a factor as well. They have exceedingly strong beliefs in honesty. But still I have a suspicion the BA factor could be . . . well . . . a factor. Also my friends in Viedma tell me they hardly felt the crisis. They didn't have the crime that B.A. had, Viedma is a farming community so everyone was eating the same. I'm not sure. Just a thought.