Comments on: The Downside to Being an Expat http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/the-down-side-to-being-an-expat Expat Life in Buenos Aires, Argentina Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:37:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jim http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/the-down-side-to-being-an-expat/comment-page-1#comment-1169 Jim Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:54:06 +0000 http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/?p=1240#comment-1169 Hey, this is my first weekend in BA and came down for a month by myself (working)....Any good places for meeting people? Hey, this is my first weekend in BA and came down for a month by myself (working)….Any good places for meeting people?

]]> By: ken grist http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/the-down-side-to-being-an-expat/comment-page-1#comment-1149 ken grist Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:54:15 +0000 http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/?p=1240#comment-1149 call when you are in town. kg call when you are in town. kg

]]> By: DaVe http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/the-down-side-to-being-an-expat/comment-page-1#comment-1148 DaVe Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:15:12 +0000 http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/?p=1240#comment-1148 Enjoy BA. I'm back in the States for awhile but hope to be back at some point soon! Enjoy BA. I'm back in the States for awhile but hope to be back at some point soon!

]]> By: ken grist http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/the-down-side-to-being-an-expat/comment-page-1#comment-1147 ken grist Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:49:34 +0000 http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/?p=1240#comment-1147 we just got here in ba for the second time and would enjoy meeting others. I have nothing against other xpats and we enjoy birding. So let us know! ken /mahara we just got here in ba for the second time and would enjoy meeting others. I have nothing against other xpats and we enjoy birding. So let us know! ken /mahara

]]> By: dmccombny http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/the-down-side-to-being-an-expat/comment-page-1#comment-1066 dmccombny Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:39:10 +0000 http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/?p=1240#comment-1066 I definitely understand what you're saying. Many extrañeros bond together for exactly those reasons: common language, no existing social ties, etc. I can understand that you're picky as well, not everyone is a good social match - just living in Buenos Aires does not make people friends. :) I definitely understand what you're saying. Many extrañeros bond together for exactly those reasons: common language, no existing social ties, etc. I can understand that you're picky as well, not everyone is a good social match – just living in Buenos Aires does not make people friends. :)

]]> By: Reed http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/the-down-side-to-being-an-expat/comment-page-1#comment-700 Reed Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:29:55 +0000 http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/?p=1240#comment-700 Just had to chime in here because this topic has come up a lot with friends both here and elsewhere lately. I have a roommate who's from LA and 8 years my junior. We're both here for a long time, but many, many people keep passing through for school, work or time off. When I'm in a foreign country, I rarely find myself seeking out other Americans. I want to get in touch with the culture of a place and that means hanging with the locals. But now I see why so many people end up banding with other extranjeros. Not just here, and not just Americans, but in any expat situation. First of all, they're looking for friends, too. Whereas when you meet a local, they're already completely settled into their lives. New friends are a luxury, one that's not even necessarily desired. For other extranjeros, it's a need. And when you meet one, especially the ones who struggle with the language, they are always all the more excited to make friends (even if you're more reluctant for the very same reason). I've been fortunate with work (all locals), sports (a mixed group), and in finding a girlfriend here. I tend to be more picky about which extranjeros I hang with now, depending if they have the same cultural attitude and desire to speak Spanish. I don't feel great about that sometimes, but there are so many Americans here, it's been a step I had to take. Just had to chime in here because this topic has come up a lot with friends both here and elsewhere lately. I have a roommate who's from LA and 8 years my junior. We're both here for a long time, but many, many people keep passing through for school, work or time off. When I'm in a foreign country, I rarely find myself seeking out other Americans. I want to get in touch with the culture of a place and that means hanging with the locals.

But now I see why so many people end up banding with other extranjeros. Not just here, and not just Americans, but in any expat situation. First of all, they're looking for friends, too. Whereas when you meet a local, they're already completely settled into their lives. New friends are a luxury, one that's not even necessarily desired. For other extranjeros, it's a need. And when you meet one, especially the ones who struggle with the language, they are always all the more excited to make friends (even if you're more reluctant for the very same reason).

I've been fortunate with work (all locals), sports (a mixed group), and in finding a girlfriend here. I tend to be more picky about which extranjeros I hang with now, depending if they have the same cultural attitude and desire to speak Spanish. I don't feel great about that sometimes, but there are so many Americans here, it's been a step I had to take.

]]> By: Peter Gent http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/the-down-side-to-being-an-expat/comment-page-1#comment-675 Peter Gent Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:30:39 +0000 http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/?p=1240#comment-675 From my experience of working in frankfurt, I had pretty much the same thing. Most people didn't want to stay there forever because it's so 5/10 in a manner of speaking and you'd end up going out with the so called work-mates time after time and not really getting into the local life style. of course language is a big barrier but the company I was working at just didn't really care about giving language courses most of the time, and when they did it was during a full on software crunch. Living in another world... I swear. Maybe the best thing you an do is pack yourself off to the Antarctic. Then at least you've got realistic expectations *scoff* From my experience of working in frankfurt, I had pretty much the same thing. Most people didn't want to stay there forever because it's so 5/10 in a manner of speaking and you'd end up going out with the so called work-mates time after time and not really getting into the local life style.

of course language is a big barrier but the company I was working at just didn't really care about giving language courses most of the time, and when they did it was during a full on software crunch. Living in another world… I swear.

Maybe the best thing you an do is pack yourself off to the Antarctic. Then at least you've got realistic expectations *scoff*

]]> By: Wade http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/the-down-side-to-being-an-expat/comment-page-1#comment-673 Wade Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:52:12 +0000 http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/?p=1240#comment-673 i can relate to this. i have lived in argentina off and on for the past ten years (currently in mendoza). i know we will not be here too much longer, but our closest friends are local argentines, and it breaks our hearts to bid them farewell eventually (i experienced the same tristeza when leaving salta after two years). there is a huge expat community here in mendoza, but some are starting to pack it up and head north. i also have clients visit, and it's hard to see them come and go (i had a special picnic yesterday at the foot of aconcagua with a group of 20). life can be turbulent and ever-changing, but at least technology can alleviate the dolor. i have not personally met 99% of those members of banewcomers...but i will miss you all just the same when it is time to leave. dave - let's link up our blogs amigo. i can relate to this. i have lived in argentina off and on for the past ten years (currently in mendoza). i know we will not be here too much longer, but our closest friends are local argentines, and it breaks our hearts to bid them farewell eventually (i experienced the same tristeza when leaving salta after two years). there is a huge expat community here in mendoza, but some are starting to pack it up and head north. i also have clients visit, and it's hard to see them come and go (i had a special picnic yesterday at the foot of aconcagua with a group of 20). life can be turbulent and ever-changing, but at least technology can alleviate the dolor. i have not personally met 99% of those members of banewcomers…but i will miss you all just the same when it is time to leave.

dave – let's link up our blogs amigo.

]]> By: DaVe http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/the-down-side-to-being-an-expat/comment-page-1#comment-665 DaVe Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:26:47 +0000 http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/?p=1240#comment-665 That is one of the positive aspects. And like I said, with Facebook, I can see what they're up to across the world. That is one of the positive aspects. And like I said, with Facebook, I can see what they're up to across the world.

]]> By: DaVe http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/the-down-side-to-being-an-expat/comment-page-1#comment-664 DaVe Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:25:55 +0000 http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/?p=1240#comment-664 As Cherie says, with the language and cultural differences, the easiest people to meet initially are other expats. i would think that as time went on, it would become easier to meet other people, but when you first arrive, you often want to stick with what you are most comfortable with. For example, Sugar Bar in Palermo is owned by expats and has become the de-facto expat hangout. As Cherie says, with the language and cultural differences, the easiest people to meet initially are other expats. i would think that as time went on, it would become easier to meet other people, but when you first arrive, you often want to stick with what you are most comfortable with. For example, Sugar Bar in Palermo is owned by expats and has become the de-facto expat hangout.

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