Job Discussion Forums

[tinydizzy]

Hola chicos,

So, after nearly a year here in buenos aires, i'm off to the slightly warmer climate of Medellin to try and grab some work there.

First off, I know this isn't really the place for it, but I figured it can't hurt. I'm moving out of a nice (if small) 2 bedroom apartment in Belgrano, and my roommates are looking for someone to come in (they don't speak english but are quite friendly). It's in a great location near subtes and busses, but really quiet, and the price is pretty reasonable, so if anyone is interested send me a pm.

Final thoughts on Buenos Aires - The reason I'm leaving is because I'm looking for more fixed work (i.e not traveling all day) or possibly in a school. Quite honestly I have found that kind of work very hard to come by here. I've used connections, sent my resume out to schools in the newspaper, and even interviewed with an american school, but without much success since I don't have a work visa (or more importantly a CUIT or CUIL number). I'm sure there are some people here who have successfully found that kind of work, and I congratulate them on it, but nobody should come down here thinking that it's easy to get that. You have to get a bit lucky, or perhaps make your own luck through lots of knocking on doors and sifting through jobs in the newspaper. also, the inflation and the sheer idiocy of Christina's government has grown a bit wearisome. I've only been here 11 months and the prices for basics (empanadas for example) have skyrocketed (1.50 to 2.50 in most places). Plus the sheer locura of the campo-gobierno conflict, and blocked roads and lack of meat and dairy at different times (don't even get me started on the tren balo!), all of that just makes it harder to live in what is an otherwise AMAZING country.

that said, for anyone who is thinking of coming down here: You can make it work. There is always a ton of work down here in institutes, that don't pay well (20-25 an hour right now), but they will tide you over until you can find private classes where you can charge more (i normally charged 30-50 pesos an hour). You can EASILY make it work on that if you don't live like a gringo. that means not eating out everynight or going to Puerto Madero restaraunts every weekend, or taking cabs everywhere. I live in Belgrano, but if you are willing to get out of Barrio Norte/Palermo/Belgrano and San Telmo you can find cheaper accomodations. (live near a subway line - that's a key piece of advice). A lot of people on this board make it sound impossible to live down here, and it's not. I worked 20-25 hours a week normally, which when you think about it is nothing, and had a very comfortable life. Obviously it can take a while to build up a stable of private students, but it can be done, and the institute work can help fill in the gaps. (i would say avoid American Forum, as they are quite disorganized and have serious issues paying on time)

the cultural life down here is awesome. Theatre, bookstores, cinemas.... I'm a huge moviegoer and outside of New York this is a better city for cinema than almost any in the US. Public transportation is unbelievably cheap (even with the fare increase) and normally reliable. the buses run all night and I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes for one even at 3 in the morning. the air quality (outside the microcentro) is nowhere near as bad as the reputation - i'm a crazy runner and i have found it great to run down here (especially in the parks of palermo).

to sum it up - I�m going to miss a lot about the city, and if you're thinking of coming down here, i whole-heartedly recommend it.

mucha suerte a todos

dt

[parrothead]

Fantastic! Sorry I can't be of help to you finding a suitable roommate replacement. Thank you, however, for that informative post about your life in Buenos Aires. I hope things work out for you in Medellin!

[tinydizzy]

thanks... actually just last night i spent 20 f&%$ing minutes waiting in the cold fog for the 67. I have a hate-hate relationship with that piece of mierda disguised as a bus. I suppose it was karma getting back at me!

[Sabine11]

I sent you a pm.