Having a hard time adjusting to Argentina

There are 33 replies in this Thread which has previously been viewed 405 times. The latest Post () was by UK Man.

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    This year, it was one of my longest time spent outside of Argentina since I moved here - 46 days!

    And this year, it is the first time I really miss being abroad after coming back. Leaving Argentina couldn't come soon enough, and my trip abroad ended too quickly.


    Maybe I am being very superficial and exploitative - I was fine in Argentina as long as it was cheap, and now that it is no longer that cheap, I start getting itchy feelings - the dirty roads, the homeless people, the dog poo everywhere, the inconsiderate drivers, the disorganization, the workers that never show up, issues that take weeks to get solved... all of this is getting on my nerves.

    I can't complain too much at home since my husband is quite proud of his home country, albeit he too recognizes these shortfalls. As usual, you can criticize a country only if you are from there, otherwise you are a whiny foreigner who is welcome to get back where they come from.


    Perhaps my memories of Italy were stained with bitterness that had fade over the years. This time, I appreciated so much being able to pay something the same across my 46 days stay, cards being accepted everywhere, cars stopping to let me cross the street, even if there was no crosswalk. People engaging in chit-chatting, being able to park the car and take a walk without having to hide everything for fear of it being stolen, taking a walk after dinner time, even as late as midnight, with no sign of danger and no worries in my head, often with my mobile phone in one hand, listening to music on earphones.

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    Perfectly natural for you to have such feelings serafina. I get them as well quite regularly. We've been unable to travel back to the UK for years which hasn't helped.

    I try and put the negatives of living here to the back of my mind and concentrate on the many positives compared to the UK which helps. The missus is always moaning about thow things work here as well. ^^

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    Perhaps being away for so long helps, UK Man . One tend to forget also the positive of living abroad. What are the positives of living in Argentina, to you?

    I remember you moved here to be close to your wife's family. We moved for that and because of economical reasons (we were unemployed in Italy, and the cost of living was higher than in Argentina).

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    Quote from serafina

    Perhaps being away for so long helps, UK Man . One tend to forget also the positive of living abroad. What are the positives of living in Argentina, to you?

    I remember you moved here to be close to your wife's family. We moved for that and because of economical reasons (we were unemployed in Italy, and the cost of living was higher than in Argentina).

    Although I'm not one that likes to live the 'high life' the positives for us living here compared to the UK are definitely financial. We're very fortunate in that respect. However it comes at a price hassle wise especially for my wife. She'd love to sell everything off and get rid but that's impossible here until the economy settles down...which will take forever to happen.

    So it's just a case of making the best of it as I can't see us ever leaving now.

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    This homecoming to Argentina must be especially hard, serafina . I remember that the last couple of times you returned, you were favorably comparing living in Argentina to living in Italy, so the whole package of living in Argentina must have really taken a downturn for you, and I’m so sorry about that. Part of the comparison must be city life in BsAs vs small-town life in Italy, where safety and security would certainly be greater than in a big city.

    (Conversely, smaller towns have fewer cultural offerings, restaurants, and “things to do,” though those become less important with passing decades - -). And in the past, there was a much larger difference in the cost of living, as you mention.


    But I suspect The hardest thing about returning is that in Italy, you had a break from the things that can make ordinary living and working so difficult in Argentina, and now you’re again faced with the constantly increasing prices, the problems on all levels caused by the poor work ethic, the insane system around foreign vs local credit card charges, dealing with bureaucratic delays, having to think about the perpetually changing exchange rates, etc etc etc.


    When we are in Argentina, enjoying the break we are getting from North American often-impersonal efficiencies and speed of life, our experience is so different from that of all our friends who live there, and we thoroughly understand. It is one thing to be in BsAs for a few months at a time, but an entirely different thing to be worn down year in and year out, by the many difficulties of daily living.


    Let’s hope that life under Milei will, before too long, start to be better and easier than it is now, and has been under previous presidents. 🤞🙏😵‍💫

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    Quote from Rice

    Part of the comparison must be city life in BsAs vs small-town life in Italy, where safety and security would certainly be greater than in a big city.

    Good point. Although I like visiting Buenos Aires there's no way I could live there.

    When we go for a short walk around the streets of our neighbourhood we can see several horses munching grass on the side verges, hens pecking grain off the road and last Friday we even saw a sheep grazing on a spare building plot surrounded by houses.

    I said to my wife, you can see anything here. ^^

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    You hit the nail on the head, Rice.


    Living in Argentina had already worn me thin before leaving, and I hope that I won’t be the only one thinking so once my husband will return from his 2-month trip in Europe. Right now, we would be in the position to be able to move back to Europe, and work-wise, Italy would work very well as an option, too.


    Right now, I am trying to focus on my university career, and December 2025 (graduation) can’t come soon enough. However, I am having a hard time envisaging another decade in Argentina. Maybe Argentina was just meant to provide a relief and regroup moment in our life, and I am getting ready to go back to a less complicated life in Europe. I’ll be honest and add that coming from summer to winter doesn’t help, too.


    I think a lot about Splinter as he is also vocal about his frustration on life in Argentina. I’ll be curious to see if he will be able to readjust to life in Argentina in September. He has been here longer than I have, but he also lounges for his home country.


    Also, I think that part of my worry is because I have met a few people who, once retired, can’t afford to move back to Europe due to poor pensions from Argentina. I am afraid that if you stay here too long, it could actually hinder your chance to move back to the first world. I remember that some of the US expats that I met here in Argentina were able to live comfortably in Argentina, which is what attracted them here in the first place. But once things took a downturn (could be a very personal reason, like loss of a partner, health issues, desire to stay closer to grandchildren), they still found a way to leave and live in the US on their SSA benefits.


    Whereas, Argentinians with two passports, albeit able to live in Europe, cannot afford it on an Argentinian pension. I’d like to have a choice and not be stuck here endlessly.

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    I never even thought about the retirement angle, which as you say, is a big consideration. If you moved back to Italy, would you both be able to put in enough more contributing years to qualify for Italy’s retirement benefits? Would you be able to collect Argentina retirement benefits if you were living out of the country? Would you be able to use your new hard-won degree for translation work outside of Argentina?


    Many considerations to think about.

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    I know the feeling, especially since I'm writing this from Hereford.

    We were in Morrison's supermarket yesterday and my eyes were as big as plates for the incredible choice and quality, not to mention that everyone was quietly doing their shopping with seemingly not a care in the world and NOT rushing.

    On the other hand, walking down the high street, I was constantly worrying that my phone or wallet would be stolen, even though I knew they wouldn't be because everyone here walks around holding their phones. I feel safer yes, but hungover from the dire insecurity of Argentina.

    I'm enjoying the time here for the next month for exactly what it is - a break from the chaos and the absolute tranquillity of rural England, but I certainly won't be sad to go back. On the contrary; we'll hopefully go back refreshed. It is our home after all.

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    Indeed, the striking contrast between the chaos of a metropolitan city like Buenos Aires, with the tranquility (dullness?) of country life in Europe doesn't help. However, last year I was eager to come back to Buenos Aires and resume my business here, whereas this year I would have happily stayed in Italy longer. For the first time, I thought I had more opportunities in Italy than here.


    I was pushed back into the chaos of Argentina right from the moment I landed. School aside, our STR guest managed to lock herself out of the apartment, leaving the keys into the lock inside the apartment. Her question was if there is some trick to open the door... luckily, my husband was already out in Palermo by car, stopped by, unmounted the lock, slowly turned the indoor key and pushed it inward, so that it fell and he could open the door with the key from outside.

    Two days later, I was made aware that the elevator only runs from ground floor to floor 9, and has been doing so for a while. I don't understand why it is not getting fixed. For us, no big deal as our STR is on floor 7, but I would be annoyed to go down two floors by foot every single time. I can't really imagine what fix would take longer than a week, but it seems we can't get an answer from the building administrator and there is nothing we can do. Can we blackmail the administrator? Can we threat of not paying expenses? It would make any difference? I doubt it!


    I needed to charge my SUBE card. The usual place with the machine/booth was out of order. I looked for the SUBE sign in a kiosko, entered and asked to charge the SUBE and they say they don't charge the SUBE. They just bought a second-hand LED sign that reads KIOSKO-SUBE. :098:


    The next one had the screen not working. I went in and asked "Is the screen working or not?" - the lady said "Oh no, it is not working". Couldn't she put a sign or turn off the device altogether? At least, she pointed at the kiosko on the other side of Av. Cordoba. This time the machine is working, but there is a big handwritten sign detailing which bank notes it will take and which it won't. Lucky enough, I had the correct 1000 bills (hornero - the bird, and not the newer San Martín). I slowly inserted 8500 ARS (a ride now costs around 400-600 and I take public transports daily to go to school). When it was time to load the money on my SUBE, the system crashed and showed a TCP/IP error. The machine gave me a paper receipt to ask for my money back inside. Which I did. The lady was quite upset about it, started babbling that there is a minimum amount and a maximum amount I can charge. I told her I knew - it is min. $200 max $9900, and in fact I was trying to top up my SUBE with $8500. She seemed to not care/notice it, and said "YOU CAN'T PLAY WITH IT" (no podes jugar con eso)

    Like it was a fun thing to do for me. I had already walked 1 km in search for a SUBE top up place! She gave me back $8500, which she took from the back of the kiosko (mind you, this is about 5 USD, not 100 USD).

    I asked "what if I load $1000 at time?", to which she barked "I have already refunded you once, I won't refund you again".

    Oh well, fuck off! And I left.


    So I tried in Almagro, but this time the machines took different bills - no $1000 altogether, no $10, no $20, only $100-200-500. I only had $500, and I know that people are too wary and won't exchange your money, so I won't even ask to exchange my $1000 bills for smaller denomination. As you know, we come swarming from Europe with fake 1000 pesos bills to scam kioskos in Argentina...

    So I only topped up $500, which left me with a balance of $300 since I already had a negative balance. Enough for a ride to another place where I could hit 2-3 more kioskos.


    Well, the day after I went to El Jevi kiosko on Av. Scalabrini, since the one in front of my house closed while I was away. They are known to charge SUBE cards. I had been there two hours before to buy some cigarettes and the door was open (at 7.50 AM). This time, at 10 AM the lady had locked herself inside, and I had to order from the small gate opening. I asked to charge 8000 on my SUBE and for some candies (I felt bad to go there only to charge my SUBE). She said "you can't do $2000". I didn't understand..., as it made no sense "no podés con $2000". Until she barked that I had given her a $2000 note instead of a $10.000 note, since these crappy banana-republic bills look the same.

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    • Helpful
    Quote from Splinter

    I'm enjoying the time here for the next month for exactly what it is - a break from the chaos and the absolute tranquillity of rural England, but I certainly won't be sad to go back. On the contrary; we'll hopefully go back refreshed. It is our home after all.

    Yes I think a break away from here is what I need. My missus has recently noticed my attitude to living here has been a bit negative. So much so she asked me if I'd like to go to the UK to see my family. I said impossible with 14 dogs a tortoise and two parakeets to care for. She said I meant on your own. I'm now seriously thinking about it. If I go it'll be during summer time here.

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    Quote from UK Man

    Have you ever been to Glasgow serafina?

    Indeed, I have. It was during my first trip to the UK. I wasn't expecting anything from Glasgow, and I couldn't understand the hype about it. I didn't even like Edinburgh. I found Stirling quaint, but my husband went last year and said that with chains having taken over the historical center of every city, they all look the same.

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    Quote from serafina

    Indeed, I have. It was during my first trip to the UK. I wasn't expecting anything from Glasgow, and I couldn't understand the hype about it.

    Glasgow hype? The pubs are good....the old ones that is not the yuppie ones.


    15 historic pubs in Glasgow that merit 'special local attention'
    These treasured watering holes all feature in CAMRA’s ‘Scotland’s True Heritage Pubs’ guide published earlier this year
    www.glasgowlive.co.uk