la cantidad de amigos que visitaron como 'expats' y se terminaron quedando, teniendo la oportunidad de vivir en cualquier otro lugar, eso es Buenos Aires !
Im from Wilmette! I've been living here 2 years. I had to spend some months in the US this year, but right before the final world cup game I decided to come back here last minute bc it was making me sad being away during all of that!
100% agree that living in Buenos Aires teaches you how to roll with the punches. Lived in BA from 2006-11. As I was heading to the airport to fly back to London the taxi driver asked me where I was going. When I told him he said 'You will do well, Argentina prepares you for anything." It was the truest thing I ever heard.
This touched my heart. I'm Argentinean, from Misiones, and I've lived in Buenos Aires for a long time now (+10yrs). I've tried to leave a few times, (it gets exhausting, the country and its uncertainty) but I never went through with it. This year, I'm finally leaving for a year in Europe. Who knows how long it'll actually be until I come back, though, because Buenos Aires tiene ese no sé qué...
Thanks for sharing this! I did a study abroad program at UBA in 2010 and then married an Argentine. We live in Miami now. I love following your journey and love that you picked Buenos Aires as home! And especially happy to read your story today given the anti-Arg propaganda circulating online - just yuck to all of that
Hahaha, seriously... WTF is with all the anti-Argentina bullshit?! My favorite part has been my porteño friends not seeming to give a shit. I think I was more offended than they were.
Just want to share my appreciation for you and Pick up the Fork! I spent 6 month in BA in 2013. I came to learn Spanish and travel around. When I arrived, I found Pick up the Fork and it lead me on so many adventures! Thank you!
Recently I heard a report on NPR in the US about how many Argentinians of Italian descent are trying to get their Italian citizenship so they can move to Europe( I’m a Dual US Italian citizen of Italian descent, so my ears always perk up).
They were talking about how high crime is one of the reasons people are wanting to move, which really surprised me. I didn’t think of Argentina as a place with high crime?
Curious what the thoughts on the ground are there?
I grew up in Rogers Park, North side of Chicago. So many of us from that part of the world want to leave. I ended up in the Netherlands and now Maine. And thinking about moving to Europe a lot lately.
It's one of the contradictions I find most fascinating about Argentina. A lot of Argentines are surprised that foreigners choose to live here because so many dream of living abroad themselves. At the same time, they're incredibly patriotic and genuinely believe Argentina is the best country on earth. Both things somehow exist at once.
I think the unstable economy is the biggest factor, and like anywhere, people often romanticize what life will be like somewhere else. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Everything just works in the US," and I'm like... ummm have you seen our healthcare and education systems? 😂
As for crime, Buenos Aires is a big city, so of course you have to be street smart, but I'd guess there's a lot less gun violence than let's say.. Chicago. I also have friends with families who moved to places like Valencia, Spain or suburban US because they wanted more stability, a calmer pace of life, and to be closer to family (Argentina is so far away!).
Everyone weighs these things differently, I guess. And every place has trade-offs... it just depends on what matters most to you and your stage of life.
I don’t think Argentina is much farther away than Spain, for instance, from Chicago, but when I tried to book tickets to go for a visit a few years ago the plane fares were extortionate. Pretty much double what it cost me to go to Spain.
Maybe I’ll have to set up a price alert.
Anyway, one day I’ll check it out. Good to know about the crime.
Valuing relationships over work/job/career. This. I was so embraced by community in BaAs— more so than living in any other place. I couldn’t figure out how to stay at 23 after a fellowship— it was difficult to leave. Write a memoir @allie lazar!
We know it wasn't the lack of cottage cheese that made you stay in BA, but now that you've brought it back (elijo creer que your advocacy had something to do with it 😉), it might just have secured Buenos Aires another twenty years :).
What a fun read to learn about how you got to the place of being an Argentine born elsewhere. And that photo of the two men watching the old school tv sitting on a bucket in the park is everything. ❤️
I relate to so much of this as an expat in Italy - Italians never understand why I would choose there over the US. It’s definitely the question I’ve answered most too. Loved your take!
Te amo desde Cemento
<3 <3 <3
la cantidad de amigos que visitaron como 'expats' y se terminaron quedando, teniendo la oportunidad de vivir en cualquier otro lugar, eso es Buenos Aires !
Jajaja, si. La cantidad de gente que vino "por un rato" y sigue acá años después
Im from Wilmette! I've been living here 2 years. I had to spend some months in the US this year, but right before the final world cup game I decided to come back here last minute bc it was making me sad being away during all of that!
mmm Homer's peppermint ice cream
100% agree that living in Buenos Aires teaches you how to roll with the punches. Lived in BA from 2006-11. As I was heading to the airport to fly back to London the taxi driver asked me where I was going. When I told him he said 'You will do well, Argentina prepares you for anything." It was the truest thing I ever heard.
Taxista wisdom!
Siempre!
You made me appreciate food so much more, and now you made me fall in love even deeper with BA and Argentina
Don't give me too much credit... Buenos Aires did that ;)
This touched my heart. I'm Argentinean, from Misiones, and I've lived in Buenos Aires for a long time now (+10yrs). I've tried to leave a few times, (it gets exhausting, the country and its uncertainty) but I never went through with it. This year, I'm finally leaving for a year in Europe. Who knows how long it'll actually be until I come back, though, because Buenos Aires tiene ese no sé qué...
Buenos Aires isn't going anywhere! It will be here for you when you come back!
Thanks for sharing this! I did a study abroad program at UBA in 2010 and then married an Argentine. We live in Miami now. I love following your journey and love that you picked Buenos Aires as home! And especially happy to read your story today given the anti-Arg propaganda circulating online - just yuck to all of that
Hahaha, seriously... WTF is with all the anti-Argentina bullshit?! My favorite part has been my porteño friends not seeming to give a shit. I think I was more offended than they were.
♥♥♥ sos lo más!
Just want to share my appreciation for you and Pick up the Fork! I spent 6 month in BA in 2013. I came to learn Spanish and travel around. When I arrived, I found Pick up the Fork and it lead me on so many adventures! Thank you!
Very interesting and well written article.
Recently I heard a report on NPR in the US about how many Argentinians of Italian descent are trying to get their Italian citizenship so they can move to Europe( I’m a Dual US Italian citizen of Italian descent, so my ears always perk up).
They were talking about how high crime is one of the reasons people are wanting to move, which really surprised me. I didn’t think of Argentina as a place with high crime?
Curious what the thoughts on the ground are there?
I grew up in Rogers Park, North side of Chicago. So many of us from that part of the world want to leave. I ended up in the Netherlands and now Maine. And thinking about moving to Europe a lot lately.
It's one of the contradictions I find most fascinating about Argentina. A lot of Argentines are surprised that foreigners choose to live here because so many dream of living abroad themselves. At the same time, they're incredibly patriotic and genuinely believe Argentina is the best country on earth. Both things somehow exist at once.
I think the unstable economy is the biggest factor, and like anywhere, people often romanticize what life will be like somewhere else. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Everything just works in the US," and I'm like... ummm have you seen our healthcare and education systems? 😂
As for crime, Buenos Aires is a big city, so of course you have to be street smart, but I'd guess there's a lot less gun violence than let's say.. Chicago. I also have friends with families who moved to places like Valencia, Spain or suburban US because they wanted more stability, a calmer pace of life, and to be closer to family (Argentina is so far away!).
Everyone weighs these things differently, I guess. And every place has trade-offs... it just depends on what matters most to you and your stage of life.
I don’t think Argentina is much farther away than Spain, for instance, from Chicago, but when I tried to book tickets to go for a visit a few years ago the plane fares were extortionate. Pretty much double what it cost me to go to Spain.
Maybe I’ll have to set up a price alert.
Anyway, one day I’ll check it out. Good to know about the crime.
Valuing relationships over work/job/career. This. I was so embraced by community in BaAs— more so than living in any other place. I couldn’t figure out how to stay at 23 after a fellowship— it was difficult to leave. Write a memoir @allie lazar!
I think that's what kept me here too. My community. Sounds cheesy but I came for one reason... and stay because of the people.
Aprobado, sos Argentina (o Porteña) se gual!
elijo creer!
We know it wasn't the lack of cottage cheese that made you stay in BA, but now that you've brought it back (elijo creer que your advocacy had something to do with it 😉), it might just have secured Buenos Aires another twenty years :).
I'm totally gunna take credit for cottage cheese coming to BA!!
What a fun read to learn about how you got to the place of being an Argentine born elsewhere. And that photo of the two men watching the old school tv sitting on a bucket in the park is everything. ❤️
Thank you!
Beautiful piece!
Gracias!
I relate to so much of this as an expat in Italy - Italians never understand why I would choose there over the US. It’s definitely the question I’ve answered most too. Loved your take!
So why do you live there??
Maybe because Italians (especially in the south) act a lot like Argentinians? 🤣🤣🤣