Coming from the USA I can absolutely say many people are friendly but also deeply superficial. I found many similarities to my home country traveling through Argentina and Brazil as people would smile and asking how I was when entered any establishment.

This would never happen in Asia or Europe and I even found when I would smile at a stranger they were confused.

People in Brazil are especially warm and friendly to the point I remember drinking at São Paulo Pride with a lady who at the end told me “you’re welcome in my home whenever”. Same thing goes for Argentinian strangers sharing mate with me or the Chilean taxi drivers taking me around a city and taking photos.

Maybe my experiences have been exceptional in LATAM and this is a cultural shock since other countries I have encountered very mean spirited people.