What is your name?Matt
Please enter the name of your Blog
Travels And Musings
What is your current age or age range?
23
What country are you native to?
United States of America
What area of Argentina do you current live (Providence, City, general area etc.)
Buenos Aires, San Telmo
How long have you lived in Argentina?
three months
When you moved to Argentina, did you bring your family? What do they think?
Traveled Alone
Did you leave your family behind? How do you handle the separation?
I left all of my family and friends behind. It's been difficult, but knowing I'll return is comforting, and I still keep contact with most everyone that's close to me.
What made you decide to relocate to a different country?
I just finished university, and I've been looking for some unique experiences. Living abroad seemed like a good idea.
Why did you choose Argentina, or what factors helped you to decide to choose Argentina?
Buenos Aires had a lot of work opportunities for English speakers, and is a fantastic city to live in.
What other countries did you consider? Why didn't you choose those?
Brazil and Spain. I wanted a really different cultural experience, but I also wanted to make sure I'd manage to find work. Buenos Aires was a perfect blend of those two needs.
Was it difficult to get the documents you needed to live and/or work there? (residency and/or working permit)
Yes, I'd prepare all of the documents before heading out.
What was the most difficult part of the transition?
Learning Spanish and communicating with locals.
What was the biggest mistake you made in the transition to living in Argentina?
Honestly everything went pretty smoothly. I'd say the biggest problem was scheduling return plans that I didn't follow, since I had to pay extra fees when canceling my flight.
What was the easiest part of making the transition?
Finding housing. (craigslist is very active in BA)
Do you plan on returning to your home country? Why or why not?
Yes. I don't plan on dealing with residency hassles, and I had always planned on going back.
Do you miss your family, friends or old home and habits?
yes, the lifestyle is pretty different in Argentina, and a lot of the convenience foods in the United States aren't available. Ethnic cooking ingredients are few and far between, and generally food in Argentina is very boring. If you enjoy flavorful food, be prepared to shop around and cook for yourself. And bring peanut butter, it's mostly unavailable.
What do you miss the most about your home country?
Variety in food.
Are there the same recreational activities in Argentina Expat and Travel?
Mostly yes, although they operate on a very different schedule.
How easy has it been to make new friends in Argentina Expat and Travel?
Very easy, there are both local and Expat bars all over the city. Lots of people in the younger crowd are very open and patient with foreigners. Like anywhere, however there are good and bad people.
Do you have many friends from your home country in Argentina Expat and Travel?
No
What are your favorite activities that are available?
Hosting/attending asados (barbeques), going to the bars/clubs, eating out, walking around town.
What are the top ten things you miss about the place you left behind?
1. Close Friends 2. Family 3. Communicating in my native language 4. Ethnic Food 5. Peanut Butter 6. Efficient Customer Service 7. Readily available outdoor recreation 8. Quiet (not hearing terrible reggaetone beats everywhere you go) 9. Good Live Music 10. Owning a Bike
What are the top ten things you DON'T miss about the place you left behind?
1. Boredom 2. Searching for work 3. Driving in general 4. The overly capitalist mentality 5. Conservative politics 6. Poorly informed people 7. Traffic 8. Popular music/tv 9. Fast food culture 10. Overly convenience leading to sloth.
Do you speak the language of Argentina?
Somewhat, when I arrived I didn't speak any.
Do you think it is crucial to know the language in Argentina, or can you get by with a handheld translation dictionary for a while?
No, you can get by with a minimal vocabulary.
Was medical insurance difficult to get before you went or after you first arrived?
None, they have socialized health care. It's not great, but I'm pretty healthy.
Did you move to your new location after retirement, or are you currently working or looking for work?
Working.
How do you earn your living in Argentina?
Working for an American start-up company and teaching English.
Do you generally earn your income the same way, or in the same profession, as in your home country?
No
How did you go about finding a job in Argentina? Was it easy or hard to locate work and get a job?
I did a lot of networking with other expats, and searched online. It was easy for me, but others sometimes have trouble.
What types of sources did you use to find a job there? (agency, newspaper, website?)
Internet and connections through friends I met there.
If you are telecommuting, what obstacles, if any, did you face in setting up your communication methods?
Internet is widely available and cellular service is available.
Are there local customs that would make it difficult for foreigners to fit in?
Unisex introductions involving kissing cheeks.
What are the top ten things you like about Argentina?
1. Freedom 2. Learning about places 3. Intelligent conversations with informed people 4. Inexpensive living 5. Meeting Locals 6. Going out in a new environment 7. Watching Football 8. Exploring the city 9. Ability to travel to other nearby places 10. Thinking about the nice things from home
What are the top ten things you DON'T like or find strange about Argentina Expat and Travel?
1. Bad local music 2. Bad local food 3. Rude people 4. Lack of convenience 5. Occasional communication barriers 6. Bad environmental regulations 7. Some bad smells 8. People trying to scam/take advantage of you 9. Impatient locals 10. Sometimes unpleasant public transportation
Do you have plans to move again or travel in the future or what are your future business plans?
I'll travel around after I finish working here. Then it's back to the states, who knows what the distant future holds.
Did you buy a new home or did you decide to rent?
Rent
What is the average cost for housing in your area?
$300 US/month
Was it difficult to find housing in your new country?
No
Is the cost of living comparable to what you experienced before? Explain the difference.
The cost of living is lower, but so are wages. I was able to live better here than in the states, but the lack of conveniences makes up for the difference. It was about equal.
List some things that are more expensive in Argentina Expat and Travel
Ethnic food and cooking ingredients, and electronics.
List some things that are less expensive in Argentina Expat and Travel
Just about everything else
How do you feel about the local people? Are they friendly?
Generally, people are okay. Some treat expats very badly in Argentina. Buenos Aires is not particularly welcoming by tradition.
What is the best thing about people in Argentina Expat and Travel?
A few of them are really fantastic, and they'll go far out of their way to help you.
Do you have any suggestions for people who are thinking about moving to Argentina Expat and Travel?
Don't bring too much stuff, just electronics and things you know you'll need. Everything is available here.
What are the good or bad things about living in Argentina?
It's really dynamic. It's not that convenient, but some things are really nice. Good steaks, good wine.
Do you think you will stay in Argentina Expat and Travel, or it is not suitable for the long run?
I think 3 months was plenty
If you are living there for the short term, what other countries are you considering?
I haven't considered living other places.
Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about Argentina for people living there?
www.baexpats.org www.craigslist.com
What else would you like to say?
Do it. Why the hell not?
Please the url of your Blog
Travels And Musings
