I have spent 2 months here looking for work and as I don’t speak spanish very well this has been really difficult as I couldn’t just get a job in my profession as it had been relatively easy to do in New Zealand.

I also found as soon as I stopped traveling I became really homesick for my friends, family and the familiar. About two weeks ago I started to really stress out because I couldn’t find a job and would wake up every morning with my heart racing at the thought of what I needed to do that day in order to find a job and the fact that my money supply was nearing 0. I started to question if I had made a huge mistake in deciding to stay in Buenos Aires and not return to New Zealand.

I now have three jobs, one in a hostel (La Rocca) one teaching english to a nice porteño (although he has a strange arm stroking habit) and another working for a call centre. And although it is probably not as lucrative or comfortable or sensible as what I could be doing in New Zealand, I am facing a whole new set of complications as well as learning a whole set of new skills and another language.

From this experience I think maybe it’s not going home that makes you think, but simply stopping. After having ever changing countries, scenery, beds, friends, etc. for 6 months the relative quiet of staying in the same place for more than a week gives you time to really think about what you’re doing and a chance to worry about the future, although I didn’t have to face the same issues around going home like friends who had changed, moved on etc.

I have tried to enjoy every moment of the experience and to keep in your mind that things are constantly changing. It has taken a while but I have managed to make La Rocca, even though it’s a hostel, feel something like a home, and also make new friends and find jobs. I’m now at the point where I feel like Buenos Aires is the place where I belong, well at this point in my life at least…
Suerte
Maria

Its interesting reading what you’ve been thinking. Some of your thoughts line up perfectly with mine, others are so very different.

I find Australia and Canada very alike, therefore the thoughts of “Big houses” and well maintained roads probably wont be such a shock. I think the thing im looking forward to the most are the people, and not having the quickly add 13% to everything i buy in order to know the total price including tax.

Things might not be identical, and groups might be a little odd…but Carl-master i’m going to need your help to bring everyone together and have a few rocking weekends. It might not be the same as old times, but lets try make it just like old times

Anyway…what fun would life be if things didnt change, right? In the last 6-7ish years i clearly remember thinking “wow 2 years ago i didnt see this coming”. I cant tell if i’m becoming a better person or not…in fact i’m pretty sure i’m not getting better or worse…but for sure fewer and fewer people are understanding how my head works haha.

I think the weirdest part is going to be missing the people i know since i left Australia, i sort of want to split myself in half and have two lives now.

I feel like a big social experiment…

The plan is to stay put for a while, depending on the job front of course. Hoping to have some work lined up soon, then the real fun begins!

I’ll shoot you an email now. I want stories

How long do you think you will stay in Melbourne?do you want to travel again soon or do you want to stay put for a while?

I’m still in india

Jay