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Patricia Munoz

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Would you share a straw with a stranger?

In my country, Argentina, we have the Mate, our national drink. In which you share a straw to drink the tea. It is an amazing feeling of community but in the US people find the idea repulsive. Here people put the names in the children cups at birthdays (the best part of the birthday is to drink from your friend's cups, remember?) Who would you share a straw with? Family? Friends? How about a strange?

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    Patricia Munoz 100+

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    Mar 17 2012: Yes, it is availble in the US, (and just for your info, in sudamerica you only count America as a whole continent, but that it is another conversation) where are you, in what coast?
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      Derek Young 30+

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      Mar 18 2012: Im on the west coast near mexico.
      I didn't know that, but american education (grades k-12) lacks emphasis of geography and ideologies of other nations though.
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    Patricia Munoz 100+

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    Mar 17 2012: see? You lost me at Ew. Share is not a bad word.
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    Derek Young 30+

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    Mar 17 2012: So Patricia, in as much detail as possible, what is the Mate?
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      Patricia Munoz 100+

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      Mar 17 2012: Is a drink based on "yerba mate" that you out in a container, pour hot water, drink and pass around. No es ew, you dont get sick, actually is a pretty bonding experience. Mate is cool. Love mate.
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        Derek Young 30+

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        Mar 17 2012: That sounds pretty cool. I would love to try it someday. Is this drink available in other continents, say the United States?

  • Rick Goss

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    Mar 17 2012: Hola Patricia,
    My first reaction is no strangers but then again, I used to drink out of the chalice at mass right after other people did and I did not know them. I guess I never thought about it because I was raised in the Catholic church so it was a "normal" thing to do. I guess had I been raised in Argentina I would drink the Mate too.
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    Sarah Timberman

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    Mar 16 2012: I would share with my mom and my daughter. I have shared with friends and other family, but only because I didn't want to be rude. By share, I mean taking a sip, not an actual shared drinking situation. Ew.
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    Derek Young 30+

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    Mar 16 2012: For me, it comes down to the question of "where has their mouth been throughout their life?", but I don't know if I would willingly share a straw with a complete stranger. I would be very interested to try another cultures customs though, but I would definitely judge the other person before I drink from the same straw, other than that I would say maybe I'll share a straw with someone I got to know though.
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    Xavier Belvemont 30+

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    Mar 15 2012: I have a noticable disliking for sharing a straw with *anyone* i'm not in a relationship with.
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      Linda Taylor 50+

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      Mar 15 2012: Gross, that's like someone sneezing in your mouth or something. Yuck!

      I would have Lucy's voice (from Peanuts) in the back of my mind screaming "Dog germs! Dog germs!"...

      I agree with Xavier. With one possible exception. If there is enough alcohol in the drink to sterilize the straw between participants:)
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