Job Discussion Forums

galacticmisfit · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 8

Hey everyone,

I was reading through the macho thread and I'm curious to how Argentina compares to Spain in regards to machismo. I studied abroad in Madrid and reading the thread just reminded me of the daily catcalls walking to school and back every morning.

Also, if you have spent time both in Spain and Argentina - in general, what country did you like better?

veggieboy · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 32 Location: Buenos Aires

I was thinking the other day that guys seem to be more shameless here (compared to Spain) about staring at women and proclaiming their, uh, "love." Some are funny and harmless. Some are a little over the top, or worse.

I saw it in Spain, too, but not to the extent that I see it here. (For the record, I'm comparing Sevilla and Madrid to Buenos Aires.)

That's just my personal experience, as an observer (and as a guy who is not inclined to make catcalls at women, or inclined toward women, period).

As for comparing Spain and Argentina. . . I won't lie and say that I haven't done a bit of comparing in my head, but . . . I've spent about the same amount of time in both countries (1 1/2 years) and you're not going to get a lot out of me on this one. There are striking similarities. There are deep differences. Argentina has offered me things, shown me things and taught me things that Spain never could, and vice-versa.

I could tell you which country I liked better, but if you asked me again tomorrrow, you might get a different answer. And, more to the point, you would be asking me, and my answer might have more to do with me than with either of the countries in question.

Maria Kirby · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 56

ok, i won't ask you which country you liked better. as for me, i'm was in madrid first, then moved to buenos aires in aug so you could imagine the acclimitizing i had to go through! they do proclaim their love and stare shamelessly in Spain but Argentina?? definitely over the top !!

As far as which is better? Spain or Argentina. . . as an English teacher, from my perspective definitely more jobs and more money to earn in Spain, for the record, i'm talking madrid and to some extent bcn. life as a whole is cheaper in argentina but so are the wages lower. So i guess the word i'm looking for is ... relative.

People? ... both are friendly, fun loving and believers of the ma�ana system!

Wine? ... Certainly riojas for me.

Guys? ... Well... it changes depending on the "piropos", the stares, the proclamation of love, etc, etc, etc. Like veggieboy said ---

jovencito · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 46

Hey Maria!

I'm about to do the move to Buenos Aires, but also considering places lke Rosario, Cordoba, Mendoza ... but I know my savings won't last forever so I will have to work at one point! Sad

It's not that I have a lot of savings, it's just that coming from Spain, where I was teaching english , I do have a bit of savings to bring with me, I don't know how I did it though, save Razz

. ) Was it a big change? If I understand correctly you worked in Spain, then moved to Argentina. Aside from the money differences, I don't mean the currency, I meant the highs and lows of it, was it a big change? I've never been to South America, although Madrid has a big South American population, I guess its not the same, you know , best way to know a country is by actually living there, experiencing the local scene and all that stuff. Any advice from an ex Madrile�a is appreciated. hasta luego .

D Silverman · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 13

hi veggieboy, maria ....

you guys seem to know the score, you know the move from spain to argentina. i've done my TEFL certificate and i've taught in Madrid mainly and now i'd like to see other Spanish speaking countries, after looking at my options and what I've got as far as job networking stuff, resources, I chose Buenos Aires. Any advice from you guys?, are you both still in Buenos Aires? How is teaching english there as compared to Spain, Madrid and BCN more specifically. How are salaries, can you go out, have fun, on what you earn as a teacher?? how serious are the students, teaching hours, is there a lot of travel between company sites? How is life in general , from what I can read, there are lots of similarities but differences as well. Any advice from the SpainArgentina transplant is appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Damien

veggieboy · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 32 Location: Buenos Aires

Hey-

I didn't do any English-teaching in Spain, so I can't answer any comparison questions on doing it here vs. doing it there.

As for whether teaching salaries let you go out, have fun, etc., you can take a look at some of the other posts on this board. To summarize, it's possible to make a living, though it will probably take a while to get on your feet and it's not a get-rich-quick-scheme by any means.

There are a lot of posts on the board that tackle some of your questions. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

D Silverman · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 13

hi veggieboy,

thanks for the info and for the offer to PM for more of my questions.

Damien

Londoner · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 3

Hey
I would chose argentina. I have been to spain but the nightlife and food here is unbelievable.

As a girl the guys are really full on it has to be said but walking in the street as long as you are in a reasonably safe part of town is not really offensive and just funny to be honest. I just want to laugh when someone starts the chat and i have to look away because it is just so funny. It has never personally got to a point where i have felt threatened but that is just my experience. Also helps if you speak spanish so they don�t carry on too much but then again saying No Entiendo works wonders too.

Suerte!

vivaBarca · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 2:41 pm Post subject:

I personally wouldn't consider the food " unbelievable" (unless you have the budget to go out in Palermo every other night) - but I'll concede it's a huge upgrade from Spain, where even the potato chips (Crisps) are "jamon jamon" flavored. Though about the nightlife, I beg to differ...the BA nightlife is great, but I think Spain wins there too, and that's not even considering Ibiza. BA definitely beats, say Sevilla, or some other smaller town, but as compared to Madrid or Barcelona I really don't think it's better - but then again hearing " Dancing Queen" at 4 am at Bahrein or Roxy just isn't to my taste. On a one-to-one level I think Pacha Barcelona or Madrid beats Pacha here, though I suppose the 30 peso cover, as opposed to 30 euros, more than makes up for it.

carlos-england · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 12:09 pm Post subject:

Maria Kirby · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 56

i find it funny when my argentinian and spanish friends argue about .... education, culture, wine, better looking men, women, food, etc, etc, etc. you'll hear the funniest arguments why one is better than the other . i've been in madrid and bsas as an english teacher, (not your big bucks kind of job Wink

) and i think both have their good points. on the surface bsas seems european until you stay longer and then the latin bit hits you. so if you like the European feel, go for madrid, BCN, the Latin feel , it's gotta be BsAs. just a bit on Pacha ... Pacha Madrid rocks but yes, there is a big difference between 30 euros and 30 pesos!

hasta luegito,

maria