Hello travellers! The website is mostly for foreigners moving to Buenos Aires, but tourists may get a lot out of it, too. Enjoy!
NEWS FLASH!!ALL PHONE NUMBERS IN THE CITY MUST HAVE 4 DIALED FIRST IN ORDER TO CONNECT!!!! SO DON'T FORGET TO DIAL 4 BEFORE THE NUMBER!
In other news, the very quaint and touristy area of San Telmo is in crisis. It seems that the wonderfully bustling Sunday market has been indefinately shut down, as serveral vendors have been caught selling fake antiques, and without a vendor's licence at that! of course, local business folk are up in arms over the closure, as this has a profound impact on their business. Stay tuned for more news!Here are the basics on MOVING to BA:
HOUSING Next, find an estate agent(immobilaria) in your chosen barrio. These sharks will expect you to pay one month's rent as a deposit, one for the first month, and one months' rent for their commission. Unfortunately, this is a hard-to-avoid evil. They also usually require that you sign a contract of a one-year minimum, and have a guarantor to vouch for your financial responsibility. Your boss may do this for you, but if you are unemployed, you could try looking in the back of the Herald for guys who specialize in guarantor provision. (I'm not kidding!) Try calling 325-9857 or 15-051-0606.
Expect to pay about $300-500 for a one-bedroom apartment, and $600-800 for two bedrooms. Houses are scarce, and run about $800-up. Renters usually pay for all utilities and property taxes, as well as "expenses", or mysteriously high apartment-maintenance fees.
THE ARGENTINE HOUSING GOD
HEALTH CARE WORK SPANISH: INTERNET
First, you should choose a neighbourhood that you like. Myself, well, I prefer bird song to bus fumes, so I'd recommend Belgrano, Olivos, or Vincente Lopez. For those of you who can sleep through anything, try Barrio Norte, Palermo, San Telmo, or "el centro."
Although there are no Internation Youth Hostels as of yet,there is this guy, Juan Carlos Dima, who is absolutely in love with his city and is veeerrrryyy happy to inform all tourists/ex-pats as to its many virtues. He runs two guesthouses that permit long-term stays and only charges $350 per month. Room space is limited, so send him a fax at 541-432-4898 or 541-432-7101 or e-mail him at argyjuan@sion.com. He'll set you up with cheap tango lessons, Spanish classes, and may even find you a job. Trust me--you have no better pal in Argentina than JP!!
the first (and last) time I went to a public hospital, the woman waiting beside me had a smoke in one hand and a Pekinese in the other. The private hospitals are much cleaner, more modern, and less dingy. OSDE provides good care for $110 a month, as does Hosptial Aleman. Hospital Brittanica has several English services. (801-8000)All plans cover dental care and some drug coverage.
NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO LOOK FOR TEACHING JOBS!!!! Teaching English is the obvious choice for many who come here jobless, but more and more institutes require a CUIT, or official invoice. To get this, you need a promise of employment or working visa, so it's the typical Catch-22. Some places will still take you on, but for lower wages. Many jobs are advertised in the back of the Herald on Sunday. If you are stuck, be creative: masseuses, personal trainers and artisans all do pretty well here once they find their niche.
Of course, speaking the language is a BIG HELP in doing just about everything in Argentina. The Herald always has a good list of teachers in the classifieds, and UBA (Universidad de Buenos Aires)provides quality classes also. For provate classes, expect to pay between $15-25. Groups are around $8-10 per hour. Culture Bridge is a great institute with low prices. (701-8524)WOMEN TRAVELLERS
OTHER STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU MOVE TO BUENOS AIRES
Contact lens solution, magazines, books, tampons, electronics, batteries, razor blades, and CD's are all expensive. Bring lots of what you need!
While New York may be the city that never sleeps, Buenos Aires is the city that never shuts the hell up! Bring earplugs, and get used to dining anywhere from 9-12pm.
A cup of cafe latte costs about $2.50; a typical lunch, $5; a man's shirt, $35, a bus ticket, 70 cents; the subway, 50 cents; a newpaper, $1; beer, $1.50
People smoke everywhere!!!!At work, in banks,schools, hospitals, and even gyms! Asking them to butt out is like asking them not to breathe. Combined with bus fumes, you'd better bring Ventolin. Or a gas mask.
Your embassy probably has a party for you once a month. Call to find out when--it's a great way to meet people, and they usually have free or cheap drinks. See where your tax dollars go?
Summer gets really hot, so ignore whatever you read about shorts or mini skirts being inappropriate in Latin America. You'll die without them!
What do 100 Argentine men drinking beer in a single's bar have in common?---They are all MARRIED!
An Argentine guy bumps into a pal, who is reading a book. The guys asks what he is reading,and the pal tells him it's a book about logic. "What exactly is that?" asks the guy. "Well, it's kinda hard to explain." says the pal. "I'll give you an example. Do you have any fish at home?" "Yeah," they guy says. "a whole tank full." "Ah!"the friend goes on. "Then it is logical to assume that you enjoy the beach...?" "Yes, yes I do!"enthuses the guy. "I'm sure you do! The waves, the sand, the women..." "Oh yes! ESPECIALLY the women!"the guy says, drooling a bit. "Nice talking to you! I'm going to go out and get that book!"he says.
The next day, he sees another friend in the street. The friend asks him what he is reading. "Oh, a book a friend recommended. It's about logic." "What does that mean, exactly?" asks the friend. "Oh, it's kind of hard to explain, so I'll give you an example. Do you have any fish at home?" "No, I don't actually," the friend replies. "Well then, you must be gay." says the guy. ( I like that joke because little is logical here in Buenos Aires, and because the homophobia of Argentine men is just gross.)
What's the difference between God and an Argentine? ---God knows he's not an Argentine!
NOW FOR A BIT OF PSYCHOLOGY: WHO AM I???
I am a thirtyish journalist/translator living in Buenos Aires but moving soon to London. I hail from Toronto, Canada, a city I miss deeply and a country I miss even more. Damn, I love that place! Cheers to all of you Canadians reading this! Keep it going as one of the world's finest countries!
I am always looking for freelance writing, translating (Spanish/English), and editing assignments. I write mostly about the things I know best: travel, women's issues, the environment and entertainment.
If you want to see my résumé, click on the hypertext.
IN YOUR TRAVELS, YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!
keep checking this website for more info--I'm adding to it as I learn more about the net! Last update: May 1999
Useful Links
Lonely Planet, of course!
Heavy stuff on the Dirty War
Jobs and news found here
Another travel link
Drop me a line, anytime!
