Looking Back...

[texxaslonghorn]

Today I am almost 50 years old weigh 184lbs my cholesterol is 119 I run 3 days week and go to the gym 4 days a week.

I seriously applaud you. That is awesome!!!!

 

[Zissou]

It depends on your perspective. You view the opposite of easy as hard or complicated. I view it as different or as an opportunity.

Who is talking about police bribes etc? Obviously that has nothing to do with me or most expats that I know who do not own the type of business that would incur this. Self-employed can come in many different forms. And needn't involve earning pesos, meaning inflation sucks but isn't so dramatic.

I'm not saying I'm a fan of the risk of theft - but as a woman, I am certainly much more comfortable with the fact that my possessions are at risk moreso than I am. I wouldn't walk around at home at night in certain neighbourhoods but the threat to me is more likely physical or sexual assault.

I also never said ppl who leave were weak or lacked strength. That's your own faulty logic. I was simply explaining why for many, easier isn't better.

And really - life here for me/many - is not tough. Home may be easier, but it's not exactly SO HARD here. Obviously. As someone said - pros outweigh the cons and the cons aren't dealbreakers. Easy as that ;-)

It seems some here are agreeing that life is easier in the north..west whichever you prefer. But they prefer things to be more difficult, complicated..life to be unpredictable. Really? Please do tell how the police closing down your business for a bribe makes life more interesting. Do tell how keeping your possessions always under lock and key...always under your own watchful eye makes life more enjoyable. How working your ass off to make try to make a better life for you and your family..only for inflation to be rising at a much faster rate than your income...
Please!!!
Why is it that so many ex-pats only last 1year..maybe 2? Because they are weak? Because they do not have the strength for challenges in life? I think not! Let us not forget..they packed up all their belongings and moved their asses down here.. (myself lived in Turkey for just over 6 years before coming here).. it was not easy either. I chose not to want to live a life, that needs to be more difficult than I can make/have. I am fortunate enough to have/make the opportunities to relocate myself.. I think many/most that don't move back/elsewhere don't have the finances anymore... or due to family reasons can't..
I do wonder if those that have a perspective, that a tough life will grow hair on their backs.. are going to say they really think that is attractive too...

 

[texxaslonghorn]

I did not mean to be the least bit sarcastic. But I don't see how you do it. I moved to BA at 220. When I visited the States a year later, I was at 255. Now I'm a little under 220, so I guess I do see how you do it. Anyway, keep up the good work.

 

[gouchobob]

quote: "Some other things that stick out in the US since I've been back is that everyone is fat. I mean, it's a real problem here (and one that has been talked about over and over, but just damn)."

Welcome back. See ya at McDonalds.

Actually if you look at the stats the U.S. comes in at number 9, Argentina isn't a whole lot better at 13th when it comes to fat people.

http://www.infoplease.com/world/statistics/obesity.html

 

[sesamosinsal]

I love the United States, and it will always be my home. I also have to agree that life is 1000 times easier in the U.S.

However, Argentina, for me, has presented a lot of opportunities. For whatever you think of the President and how she's handling the country's affairs, here you can at least talk about poverty, social inclusion, and equal rights without being labeled an anti-Argentina socialist pig.

In Argentina, this morning I went to the registro civil with my Argentine partner and completed the paperwork for marriage. As a gay man in the United States, I can't even dream of doing that. In my state, it is forbidden by the constitution.

In Argentina, I feel freer from oppressive social rules. Perhaps it's just because I'm foreign, but it seems that everything is forgiven in some way. It's hard to explain. In the U.S., it's all about making money, working, working, working...here, not so much. I don't feel that it's necessary for me to live up to the standards of U.S. life. I don't care to have a car. I don't care to have a huge house in a subdivision in a suburban area. I don't have the urge to have some amazing job that pays me 6-figures.

It all depends on what you're looking for. I've been all over Latin America for the past 3 years, including Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Ecuador. I've studied at schools, volunteered in the villas, worked for the U.S. government, etc. etc. I've learned a lot about the people and places I've been, but more importantly I've learned a lot about myself.

 

[starlucia]

I always go through a honeymoon period when I return to the U.S. So much space! Such clean streets! So many food options! Drivers that obey traffic signals, and strangers that smile at you! People who make plans in advance, confirm meeting times and actually show up when they said they would! It's a comfortable, easy lifestyle.

Then, after a couple of months, the honeymoon wears off and I remember why I didn't really like my country in the first place:

A population drowning in debt, enslaved to gastronomic car, house, and consumption expenses.

Pharmaceutical over-medication, food/alcohol self-medication, and conspicuous consumption.

A vicious and intolerant religious right that actively works to take away the civil rights of anyone "different."

A broken educational system that rejects creative development, critical thinking, and the possibility of a classroom being a safe forum to discuss sensitive topics.

An economy that has made it impossible to succeed without higher education, but has made higher education impossible to obtain without going into debt... and is now failing to provide college grads with any sort of job to start paying it off.

200+ cable channels at your disposal, but the same brainless reality shows and talking heads on 180 of them.

A monolingual population that knows or cares very little about foreign cultures other than their food.

I don't miss the U.S. itself very much, because there's not much of a culture TO miss. What I miss are certain conveniences of American living: being able to find any kind of food I want, no matter how exotic; using my debit card everywhere; high standards of customer service; walking around after dark with very little fear that I'll ever be pickpocketed. I miss Netflix, TJ Maxx, and Trader Joe's! But these are all things I can learn to live without (even if it makes me cranky in the process). I don't think Argentina is a place I want to live long-term, either, and I really don't think I want to raise a family here, but I somehow feel more balanced here. In Argentina, I read more, walk more, shop less, and have become less demanding. I've learned a lot about French and Italian music and film. I love that here, "focus on the family" is not a nutcase evangelical political group, but calling your mom every night. The bureaucracy, resignation, crime, and political propaganda can be infuriating, but overall, I think the priorities down here align more with what I consider important for a balanced life.

 

[fifs2]

Actually if you look at the stats the U.S. comes in at number 9, Argentina isn't a whole lot better at 13th when it comes to fat people.

http://www.infoplease.com/world/statistics/obesity.html

I wish my brain could accept these numbers but I cannot for the life of me compute such a high level of obesity in Argentina..are there fat provinces where no expat ever goes that are driving up these figures?

 

[MizzMarr]

I don't miss the U.S. itself very much, because there's not much of a culture TO miss. What I miss are certain conveniences of American living: being able to find any kind of food I want, no matter how exotic; using my debit card everywhere; high standards of customer service; walking around after dark with very little fear that I'll ever be pickpocketed. I miss Netflix, TJ Maxx, and Trader Joe's! But these are all things I can learn to live without (even if it makes me cranky in the process). I don't think Argentina is a place I want to live long-term, either, and I really don't think I want to raise a family here, but I somehow feel more balanced here. In Argentina, I read more, walk more, shop less, and have become less demanding. I've learned a lot about French and Italian music and film. I love that here, "focus on the family" is not a nutcase evangelical political group, but calling your mom every night. The bureaucracy, resignation, crime, and political propaganda can be infuriating, but overall, I think the priorities down here align more with what I consider important for a balanced life.

I'd tend to agree with you that much of mainstream America is what you describe and largely a cultural wasteland, but that's the beauty of the US is it's so much more than just what you see on the surface. In any major city you can start to dig and find a plethora of culture existing in the sub-culture groups, and there's so much diversity of expression and creative freedom that it's dizzying. So many different kids of music and art, etc. Although there is a thriving arts scene here, and certainly more of a sub-culture to be found than when I arrived 5 years ago, I miss a lot of that sheer diversity.

A lot of what you make of life in the States is how you choose to live it (and where), and what you immerse yourself in. Granted, there are many parts of the states that are straight up stripmall gross, and that is what I cringe at the idea of going back to, but there is a lot of beauty and really amazing people doing wonderful things that do compose a big portion of the populace. When I go back (and I will go back, but dream of doing it only part time, but we'll see) that's what I hope to immerse myself in.

 

[Condor]

Speaking for myself, Zissou said exactly what I would have said. I had lived just over 8 years in S America (Chile & Argentina) when I quit my job and left here for New Zealand in 2005. NZ is a lovely country, all very organised and clean but despite the good job I had, I ended up leaving that, and my family, to return to BsAs last year. Part of the attraction (and frustration) is that you never know what the day is going to throw at you. At present I am (I hope) coming towards the end of a prolonged job search and the big question may end up being, do I take a job in BsAs or Uruguay - when put like that, I'm having to consider all the pros and cons of living here...and it makes for an interesting analysis.

 

[starlucia]

I'd tend to agree with you that much of mainstream America is what you describe and largely a cultural wasteland, but that's the beauty of the US is it's so much more than just what you see on the surface. In any major city you can start to dig and find a plethora of culture existing in the sub-culture groups, and there's so much diversity of expression and creative freedom that it's dizzying. So many different kids of music and art, etc. Although there is a thriving arts scene here, and certainly more of a sub-culture to be found than when I arrived 5 years ago, I miss a lot of that sheer diversity.

A lot of what you make of life in the States is how you choose to live it (and where), and what you immerse yourself in. Granted, there are many parts of the states that are straight up stripmall gross, and that is what I cringe at the idea of going back to, but there is a lot of beauty and really amazing people doing wonderful things that do compose a big portion of the populace. When I go back (and I will go back, but dream of doing it only part time, but we'll see) that's what I hope to immerse myself in.

Excellent point. I lived in NYC for 10 years and was happy as a clam there, but even after I'd moved onto other cities, I was pleasantly surprised by some visibly progressive movements (hell, even Orlando, that former wasteland of theme parks and Jesus freaks, has started embracing arthouse cinema, the slow-food movement, and Pride Parades.) While almost every part of America has its judgmental and narrow-minded constituents, they also have a population of curious, interesting creative thinkers -- you just gotta seek them out. And the general diversity, compared to here, IS one of the things I miss about the U.S. -- just not enough for me to live within the same borders as the Tea Party, NRA, conservative-Christian, deport-all-the-brown-people, TSA-pony-show, movement of ignorance and hate.