Job Discussion Forums

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

My boyfriend's friend owns an apartment in Once, and he's offered to rent it to us. I really like Quilmes a lot, but I'm absolutely at the end of my rope from living in "student residences." I really can't stand Once, but I'd finally have a place of my own and some privacy ...

When I went to visit the apartment at 2:00 in the afternoon, I saw a guy attack a women and steal her necklace. Wonder what it's like at NIGHT? Sigh ...

Well, it's without a guarantee or a contract so if I don't like it, I can always leave after a month or so.

What do you guys think? Am I crazy to live one block from Plaza Miserere? Or was the robbery just bad luck?

tortuga · Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 51

I hope it was bad luck Yanqui. Ive only been in Once about 2 weeks, but I havent had any problems yet, including at night. Walking in Recoleta and Palermo, Ive felt that something could happen just as easily there.

carlos-england · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:17 pm Post subject:

I personally don't think Plaza Miserie is that
bad, but it is a bit rough and ready and you are about
half a mile away from the finest architecture in the whole
city. Also you knew when you went out there that this is
a poor country. Shit does happen. I feel a lot safer
in Plaza Miserie than I would be in parts of Liverpool and
Manchester.

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

I've been spending a lot more time in Capital recently now that I know I'm moving there in February. I like it more and more each time I go.

Once isn't Palermo, but it's not that bad ...

carlos-england · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 12:55 am Post subject:

It is about having a positive slant Johnny, instead
of thinking it is some dangerous dive and dirty you
could look at it that you are near the city centre and
you are near some nice parks and buildings. It will
be cheap and there are lots of amenities. Once and
Plaza Misiere are not brilliant but neither would I say they
are bad either. You are not going living in some slum in Lima.

You'll be fine, just perfect your 'don't mess with me' stare.
it goes something like this Evil or Very Mad

and Argies everywhere
run off!

I'm coming back to Capital Federal in 2007 and if I get
a nice flat in the working class and unglamourous Bodeo
barrio I won't complain... it'll be just like back home!

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

Witnessing the robbery at 2:00 in the afternoon was a shock for me. And the place where my boyfriend works was robbed at gun-point a few days before that. Plus I'd been here for 2 months at that point so I was really feeling the culture shock. I guess Once just kind of hit me hard the first time I went. I've been going back there ... just walking and stuff, and each time it becomes more and more tolerable. I'll be okay .......... :::sigh::: .... the things you do for love.

carlos-england · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 1:58 pm Post subject:

What people don't realize is when they get there
that the culture shock will kick in big time. Because
Argentina is meant to be more 'European' than Peru it doesn't mean
it is Western Europe or the United States and this is evident
when you get there.

Doesn't mean you will always feel lost though. One day you will
be sitting at a cafe watching the girls (or in your case blokes lol)
go by with a nice coffee or a 3/4 bottle of quilmes and you will
think, 'hmmm I like it here' but you got give it time and keep with
a busy routine. If you have too much time on your hands sitting in
your flat watching TV you don't understand or looking at the walls
you'll go nuts.

vivaBarca · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:39 pm Post subject:

YanquiQuilme�o · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Quilmes, Argentina

Yes, I definitely have way too much free time on my hands ... I should do something about that.

carlos-england · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:23 pm Post subject:

This is the thing moving to a new culture. If you have
too much time in your own country then it doesn't matter
because you can relax knowing what the score is and
knowing if you are in a rut you can change it with the minimum
of fuss.

Now if you are homesick, in a rut or bored best thing to do
is to join sports team, if you have never played football (sorry..
'saccer') then don't worry because there isn't many football teams
with mega talented players. Join a martial arts class. Or give free
English lessons at the local social club, every barrio has them. Just get into
a routine where you are out of the house in the evening
and you are not thinking about how bored or homesick you are because your head is going to get done in on a mega annoying basis if you are slumped on the couch watching sin codigo.

Join a gym, get some exercise. It gives you more energy and
you have a more positive empowered outlook. You might be thinking
here 'oh it is easy for you to say' but you know I have been there
too sitting on a couch watching people talking in tounges thinking
'what the hell have I landed myself into?' and it takes a hell of a lot
of effort to turn the shock of arriving in a new country round to a
point where you are in a comfort zone of acceptance.

vivaBarca · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject:

I�d actually love to join a saccer...er, f�tbol team...where can I join up?

carlos-england · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject:

vivaBarca · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:13 pm Post subject:

Por favor!

The thing is - I grew up idolizing Michael Jordan, not...uh... Roberto Baggio (did anyone idolize him anyway? I don�t really know)...so while I�m not as bad as a one-legged blind Argentine - whose most certainly better than his US peer - I�m not exactly Ronaldhino either. I�d love to play though...hook me up with the info!

carlos-england · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:16 am Post subject:

OK, don't worry about not playing the sport before
of playing very little. I'm going to help ya here.

First of all to kick a ball is like hitting a golf ball. Imagine
your foot as the club and hit the ball with the upper instep
not only will you hit the ball with pace but you will be able
to direct it to another player. You can 'toend' it (to boot the
ball with the fron of the foot) but it can go anywhere so try
and kick the ball using the upper instep of your foot.

Positions, you have goalkeeper (Aquero in Argentina)
the defence, the midfielders and the attackers. You have specialist
positions within these groups but they are the main positions. Midfield
is a specialist posiiton that requires a good technique in passing
the ball it is the part of the team in which is the communication between
the defence and the attack so they have to be able to tackle (unless
your name is Matt LeTisser) track back (Matt LeTisser ditto) as well
as being able to make gliding runs and deliver pinpoint crosses
(if you are on the wing)

So what I suggest is be a defender. strength, pace and the ability
to foul without being discovered is a bonus but remember this is
Argentina so you will be able to get away with a lot. You don't need
a lot of skill as such and if you hoof it away any means necessary
then you will be doing your job.

The attack (volante) is also a position you are either born for or you will
never be able to do it. It helps if you have pace though there are players
who can score lots of goals by being at the right place at the right time
(pre man utd Andy Cole and Jimmy Greaves was a classic example)
you might have the knack of scoring goals. You can do it or you
can't.

So what I suggest, especially if you are a solid fellow is become a
defender.

www.sitiosargentina.com.ar/deportes%20argentina/futbol/equipos/amateur.htm

There is a team there called 11 whisky dobles and they have
quite a few teams beased on ability so I would drop them a line
and you will be made very welcome, there are LOTS of teams
in the city and they usually play on the local municipal fields
on a Sunday.

There are amater teams in Buenos Aires and these have their
own websites, a lot of them are still online and teams are still playing and some are not but they are always looking for players and it is a
god way to meet people. Get invited to parties. These fellers
always have nice looking girlfriends who wash the teams kit and
they always have nice looking friends if you know what I mean Wink

PS: I'm sure you could ask Matt the Boy for some football skills advice but being a baggies fan he'll probably tell you to hoof it up the field at every opportunity Laughing

ATTORNEY · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:58 am Post subject:

Congratulations you got your own place!

I do think ONCE is dangerous, you wont get killed, but probably "robbed" so take precaucions....never leave money in the apartment (you will probably be spoted as the dollary foreigner in the building), dont use wrist watches, only carry necesary money and stuff.

Enjoy your new home!