South America can only be described as a land of extremes. Containing the world’s highest navigable body of water, the world’s largest salt flat, the world’s most diverse ecosystems… the list goes on and on – but that’s not why I think South America is special.
South America is unique because of its people.
I could describe South Americans as hardworking, resilient, or chatty, but the adjective that makes the most sense is happy.
South American countries tend to be only 1 point below Finland (the world’s happiest country) on the Happiness Index scale.
Well… so what? There’s happy people all over the world, why does that make South America Special?
Simply said: happy South Americans are really fun to be around.
And this, I daresay, is what takes South American countries into a class of their own, beyond one designated by a happiness index.
South Americans live in the moment, with dance being a central part of their culture.
Dance samba in Brazil, tango in Argentina, cumbia in Colombia, and I guarantee you’ll have the best time of your life! This love of dance carries over into holidays and festivities. During my time in Bolivia, I felt like every day I would wake up to a pop rocket and sleep to the sound of my neighbors having a party. From Carnaval to Las Entradas, I could never catch a break!
This seems to represent a larger idea. South Americans are simply not as money motivated as people from, say, the U.S. Of course South Americans want money, as all humans, but it doesn’t seem to play such a big part in their culture. Just having enough and being happy is completely fine.
South American happiness can be seen even on the normal, boring days. In Bolivia (and most other South American countries) if you venture out at around 12:00, you can see parents in work clothes holding the hands of jumping kids, making their way home for a meal. I’ve always been surprised about how important eating together is. Schools end before lunch, making time for the whole family to get together.
Another peculiarity I found is that people walk much slower in South America. I’ve sometimes felt that I had been running down other people on sidewalks. The pace of life is very much: take your time and enjoy it.
South American culture, and consequently its people, are what makes the continent vibrate and pop. Although certainly not all good, South America is a special place on this earth – one I wish everyone could experience.