Change in expat attitudes?

[AkBill]

Come learn from me clooz

$20 / hour

increasing 2 pesos per semana with inflation

 

[clooz]

... Yes Buenos Aires is hectic ... to dwell on the negative is a exercise in futility. ... Buenos Aires is a unique gorgeous city!

"dwell on the negative" - we all do it at times. Expats can get more stressed than when back home. Sometimes the energy from the frustration and stress can be focussed on externals - and that focus is what it takes to get someone ready for the change they want. How the brain responds to stress, anger and depression is not clear:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070804143623AAmsgXG

 

[A&A]

Well all I can say is it seems that life here is like the scene in Empire Strikes Back...(ahhhh). When Luke looks at the seemingly scary cave and turns to Yoda and asks:

L: "What's in there?"
Y: "Only what you take with you."

It's kind of like that.

It also reminds me of my grandfather who was raised on a small island in Italy and then ran away to the USA at 15. Years later he built a house back on the island and we would go visit every summer. And my Dad used to say how my grandfather used to be so pissed off because he always felt he was never getting "the island price" that all the locals got even though he and his whole family were from there.

Maybe its an Italian thing (which is pervasive here) maybe its the product of a "fend for yourself governmental attitude", maybe its just perception. But meanwhile we were on this beautiful Mediterranean Island...so who cares.....

 

[Gringoboy]

To use Brian Keenan's words "Between a rock and a hard place."
I've been living here for six years, run my own business, get paid in pesos, am in the afip radar, have permanent res/ dni etc etc.
My lady partner is Arg who has a son and we all live together in relative peace.
There are many things I like about Argentina and personally speaking, I have met very few Argentine assholes.
I have always found them to be polite in the extreme, although there are always exceptions just like anywhere.
Yes, we have been robbed, twice at gunpoint in our shop and several times our car has been turned over in leafy Olivos.
I don't think I could ever call BsAs home as such, but it's where I am now by choice and with the woman I love.
We've discussed moving to the UK and we would if we could do it. It's a hard call too, as then the entire picture changes. I'm 'home', she's not. We also have her son to think about.
I can put up with the crap on the pavements and shoddy service etc, son boludeses, but I can't take much more of the 'fear factor', if it should occur again. Especially as it's in my character to fight back.
I find that going back to your own country from time to time, puts a great deal into perspective. I can barely afford it, but I'm going later in the year. Eyes wide open.

 

[fifs2]

This is exactly the reason for the change in attitude... people used to come here because it was super cheap and they would always claim the reason they were here was for something different-- like tango, or french architecture or some crap. But you knew the truth was just because they liked that almost everything was free if you were earning foreign income.

Holden theres truth in that for many but not all...as prices were bargain based we tolerated imperfections as who can criticise or complain when the price is so low for everything..but once youre comparing like with like re quality of life, clothing etc with other countries the attitude to not accept substandard emerges. Its like Bsas in particlar wears gucchi to a club but says "hey dont charge me full price man Im just a bum" when it comes to paying the bill. Fur coat and no knickers as my grandmother used to say!

 

[LAtoBA]

\

About our arrogance: I feel that expats think that because they are not in Sweden people should be more humble. It is after all our country and it is not a bad country at all. I am sorry that we think of ourselves as (gasp!) equals to you, but as the joke goes "we are Italians that speak Spanish and think that we are French".

The problem is, it isn't just Europeans or Americans that think this--all of Latin American does too. Ask them.

 

[HenryNisental]

I am an argie, and I am waiting for the next Nov election. If Cristina stays I will leave for sure.
Could not stand four more years of bull shit.

 

[Lamb]

I am an argie, and I am waiting for the next Nov election. If Cristina stays I will leave for sure.
Could not stand four more years of bull shit.

She'll stay, and another wont come with less bullshit.

 

[Tangerine]

Many of......

I am sorry that we think of ourselves as (gasp!) equals to you, but as the joke goes "we are Italians that speak Spanish and think that we are French".

A little older version:
Portenos are Italians who speak Spanish and think of themselves as English but act more like the French.