Tereré: "Foreign to Familiar"

This is a "book reflection" I wrote from my Cross-Cultural Communication class (it could also be called Missionary Anthropology). Instead of doing one of the other assignments, my professor lent me the book, let me do this paper, and even allowed me to write it in English. My writing is perhaps choppy, awkward, and/or shallow, but it’s about tereré, so I hope you find it interesting:

1 terere by Abriles_, on Flickr

As a means of reflecting on Sarah A. Lanier’s Foreign to Familiar, I’d like to contextualize her cultural analysis by applying her insights to the Paraguayan tradition of tereré. After the Guaraní language, tereré is perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of Paraguay, and as demonstrated in this reflection, it functions well as an icon of the general culture.

Beginning with the invitation to the drink, Lanier’s characteristics of hot-climate cultures are notable. When someone in Paraguay says that they want to tomar tereré with you, as much as they are inviting you to share the drink, they are actually initiating conversation. Here we can see Lanier’s classification of hot-culture climates as relationship-oriented. One of the highest cultural values for the Paraguayan is quality time spent together, and tereré is an economic, enjoyable means of realizing that end.

When invited to a drink of tereré, a Paraguayan will rarely deny the first one. Even if the person is not thirsty, he will usually take one drink and then kindly say "gracias." This polite acceptance illustrates the indirectness of communication, the second tendency Lanier uses to classify hot-climate cultures. As not to cause the other person to feel bad, it is better to drink the first time. Even then, the polite—and markedly indirect—manner of saying "I don’t want to drink any more" is by thanking them.

Moreover, Paraguayans are rarely willing to drink tereré alone. But if there’s a group of people drinking tereré, it’s generally acceptable to step into the group and join the conversation. Respectively, these two trends reflect Lanier’s principles of group orientation and inclusion. Except for the job of serving the drink, everything is shared: the yerba, the straw, opinions, and experiences. The value of the activity is founded on the fact that it is relational, and anyone is welcome to participate in the collectiveness.

Tereré is also an extremely appropriate symbol of Paraguayan hospitality. Upon entering someone’s yard for a visit, the first thing they offer will probably be a place to sit, which will quickly be followed by an invitation to drink tereré. The ease of preparation and common acceptance of tereré facilitate spontaneous hospitality, another characteristic described in the book as common among hot-culture climates.

A sixth distinction Lanier makes between hot and cold-climate cultures is whether they are high or low-context cultures. Although this categorization is not as precise as the others, there are certain customs that illustrate the importance of such protocols in Paraguay. For example, the power distance which the book mentions is seen in that children are not expected to drink tereré among adults. There is also certain etiquette that has been explained to me (passing the guampa with the right hand or rules about who should serve), but these customs have largely fallen out of practice.

Ultimately, tereré is an excellent representation of a hot-climate culture’s concept of time as explained by Lanier. The spirit of tereré is one of relaxation and refreshment, and the imposition of time impedes these concepts. Sure, things need to get done, but a quick tereré session is always justifiable. The community experience takes precedence over efficiency, and tereré will not be oppressed by the clock.

Lanier’s cultural analysis in Foreign to Familiar is a very helpful resource to understand Paraguayan culture, which—as illustrated above—exhibits most of the characteristics of what she classifies as hot-climate cultures. Its easy readability and congenial tone combine with excellent insights into generalized cultural differences to allow for a practical introduction to life in Paraguay. Upon reading it, the only thing left to do is get out the yerba and enjoy a refreshing tereré.