Nobody Talks About Why Americans Fail Abroad. Here’s the Part We Avoid

[Content Provider]

 

[MikeAnton]

It is incredible how many expats fail and end up moving back home. I met a lot of them. For one reason or another they can't seem to handle it.

 

[Content Provider]

It is incredible how many expats fail and end up moving back home. I met a lot of them. For one reason or another they can't seem to handle it.

It is true, I’ve met them too. Not in any grand or dramatic way, but over kitchen tables with chipped cups, or on park benches where the jacaranda blossoms were falling and sticking to the damp shoulders of a jacket not quite suited to this climate. At first they speak with a kind of bright stubbornness, as if the whole thing were an experiment they might yet master. Later, when the lease is ending or the visa delayed or the savings thinner than they admit, there is a change. They talk about home as if it were a person who has been waiting patiently, forgiving their absence.

But I have often wondered whether “failing” is the right word. Leaving one life for another has always seemed to me less a test of strength than a quiet rearrangement of the self. Some discover that what they meant to escape had followed them across oceans, tucked inside their habits and expectations. Others find that the small discomforts—a different sense of humor, a slower pace at the bank, the absence of old friendships—grow heavier than they expected. And so they go back, which can look like defeat from the outside, though inside it may feel like a return to something they never meant to lose.

Perhaps staying is not braver than leaving, or leaving braver than returning. Perhaps it is only that we each carry a private measure of how much strangeness we can live with, and when we have reached it, we know.

 

[MikeAnton]

It is true, I’ve met them too. Not in any grand or dramatic way, but over kitchen tables with chipped cups, or on park benches where the jacaranda blossoms were falling and sticking to the damp shoulders of a jacket not quite suited to this climate. At first they speak with a kind of bright stubbornness, as if the whole thing were an experiment they might yet master. Later, when the lease is ending or the visa delayed or the savings thinner than they admit, there is a change. They talk about home as if it were a person who has been waiting patiently, forgiving their absence.

But I have often wondered whether “failing” is the right word. Leaving one life for another has always seemed to me less a test of strength than a quiet rearrangement of the self. Some discover that what they meant to escape had followed them across oceans, tucked inside their habits and expectations. Others find that the small discomforts—a different sense of humor, a slower pace at the bank, the absence of old friendships—grow heavier than they expected. And so they go back, which can look like defeat from the outside, though inside it may feel like a return to something they never meant to lose.

Perhaps staying is not braver than leaving, or leaving braver than returning. Perhaps it is only that we each carry a private measure of how much strangeness we can live with, and when we have reached it, we know.

Beautiful words man. Are you a writer? Are you the author of what you posted?

 

[Betsy Ross]

It is true, I’ve met them too. Not in any grand or dramatic way, but over kitchen tables with chipped cups, or on park benches where the jacaranda blossoms were falling and sticking to the damp shoulders of a jacket not quite suited to this climate. At first they speak with a kind of bright stubbornness, as if the whole thing were an experiment they might yet master. Later, when the lease is ending or the visa delayed or the savings thinner than they admit, there is a change. They talk about home as if it were a person who has been waiting patiently, forgiving their absence.

But I have often wondered whether “failing” is the right word. Leaving one life for another has always seemed to me less a test of strength than a quiet rearrangement of the self. Some discover that what they meant to escape had followed them across oceans, tucked inside their habits and expectations. Others find that the small discomforts—a different sense of humor, a slower pace at the bank, the absence of old friendships—grow heavier than they expected. And so they go back, which can look like defeat from the outside, though inside it may feel like a return to something they never meant to lose.

Perhaps staying is not braver than leaving, or leaving braver than returning. Perhaps it is only that we each carry a private measure of how much strangeness we can live with, and when we have reached it, we know.

Very true. I have seen so many expats come and go during my time in BA. Probably the #`1 factor for many people leaving seem to be about cost of living. We go through so many ups and downs. The only ones that I see making it here long term are people that bought their own apartments and aren't forced to move out, deal with crazy rental increases, moving and other issues like that.

Some are just never able to adjust to the inefficiency here in Argentina. The lines, corruption, terrible banking system, no-trust, difficulty finding good people, lack of high quality things at the grocery store. I think you nailed it. I just signed up for the newsletter on the link you sent. Good stuff.

 

[SFM]

Do you

Very true. I have seen so many expats come and go during my time in BA. Probably the #`1 factor for many people leaving seem to be about cost of living. We go through so many ups and downs. The only ones that I see making it here long term are people that bought their own apartments and aren't forced to move out, deal with crazy rental increases, moving and other issues like that.

Some are just never able to adjust to the inefficiency here in Argentina. The lines, corruption, terrible banking system, no-trust, difficulty finding good people, lack of high quality things at the grocery store. I think you nailed it. I just signed up for the newsletter on the link you sent. Good stuff.

Do you think things are getting better here (in terms of corruption, lines and banking) or its just the same?

 

[ben]

Do you

Do you think things are getting better here (in terms of corruption, lines and banking) or its just the same?

Are you joking? Corruption is as bad as it always has been. Milei and his sister are probably at Cristina type levels already. They have already got caught a few times now in their short term in office.

Banking has slightly improved but not much and no one really trusts the banks at all. Supposedly they are supposed to allow people to buy USD more easily but all my friends still are having red tape doing that. Transparency International actually has Argentina moving down a few places with Milei which tells you everything.

M

Thread 'Argentina more Corrupt with Milei - In Milei's second year, Argentina worsened its rating in the world ranking that measures corruption'

Yesterday at 1:22 PM

Things are getting worse not better with the corruption. Argentina is actually going backwards with International corruption organizations.

The country fell back five places on the Transparency International list, compared to the previous report. The data became known after the prosecution of the former head of ANDIS, Diego Spagnuolo, for irregularities.​

Argentina fell five places in the ranking of the Perception of Corruption index carried out by the organization Transparency International, which year after year analyzes the performance of countries at a global...

• MikeYoung
• corruption milei ranking transparency international
• Replies: 7
• Forum: ExPat Life

• 
• 
• 

 

[julia_en_ruta]

Do you

Do you think things are getting better here (in terms of corruption, lines and banking) or its just the same?

Do you really think things are getting better? Besides higher prices on everything, my insurance premium skyrocketing, kids school going up tremendously, utility bills exploding upwards what has improved? Honestly? Sure I can buy a few more things online. But people that say inflation has slowed are lying to themselves. Cost of most things are 4x more now.

Banking is terrible still. I tried to buy official dollars just like I always do each week. Milei said it was supposed to get better and easier. BBVA said I needed to contact my account executive. When I contacted her she provided me with a long list to verify the origin of the funds. This government always says one thing and does another.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Do you really think things are getting better? Besides higher prices on everything, my insurance premium skyrocketing, kids school going up tremendously, utility bills exploding upwards what has improved? Honestly? Sure I can buy a few more things online. But people that say inflation has slowed are lying to themselves. Cost of most things are 4x more now.

Banking is terrible still. I tried to buy official dollars just like I always do each week. Milei said it was supposed to get better and easier. BBVA said I needed to contact my account executive. When I contacted her she provided me with a long list to verify the origin of the funds. This government always says one thing and does another.

View attachment 10377

View attachment 10378

This has always been the problem Argentina has. Right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

 

[Will I Am]

How long have you lived in Argentina @Content Provider? Would be interesting to hear your story.

 

[SFM]

Are you joking? Corruption is as bad as it always has been. Milei and his sister are probably at Cristina type levels already. They have already got caught a few times now in their short term in office.

Banking has slightly improved but not much and no one really trusts the banks at all. Supposedly they are supposed to allow people to buy USD more easily but all my friends still are having red tape doing that. Transparency International actually has Argentina moving down a few places with Milei which tells you everything.

M

Thread 'Argentina more Corrupt with Milei - In Milei's second year, Argentina worsened its rating in the world ranking that measures corruption'

Yesterday at 1:22 PM

Things are getting worse not better with the corruption. Argentina is actually going backwards with International corruption organizations.

The country fell back five places on the Transparency International list, compared to the previous report. The data became known after the prosecution of the former head of ANDIS, Diego Spagnuolo, for irregularities.​

Argentina fell five places in the ranking of the Perception of Corruption index carried out by the organization Transparency International, which year after year analyzes the performance of countries at a global...

• MikeYoung
• corruption milei ranking transparency international
• Replies: 7
• Forum: ExPat Life

• 
• 
• 

I mean in day-to-day life..didn't want to get into politics..

 

[Will I Am]

I mean in day-to-day life..didn't want to get into politics..

I visited before for many years and it is remarkable how much costs have gone up. I am not sure about utility bills as I didn't have to deal with that but costs of dining out and even Ubers has jumped up alot over the past 2 years. Ubers are still reasonable compared to the States but dining out I can easily spend as much or more than I spend in the US.

The banks here still seem broken. Corruption seems as bad as always.

 

[Bettina]

Do you

Do you think things are getting better here (in terms of corruption, lines and banking) or its just the same?

The only improvement I can see is that it is easier to order stuff from outside Argentina and prices have gone a little on some electronics. Month to month prices at the store are more consistent now. But the cost on everything is much higher now. Many things are much more than Europe or US. I can't feel any change from service perspective on anything. It is as bad as always. Just more expensive.