Ask TheMetetron about living in or visiting Buenos Aires, Argentina

[cmoke]

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Shooting down 17 year old girls is dumb. That's so legal here it isn't even funny. Especially if they looked older I don't see the objection to casual sex.

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I was 26 and dating her English teacher. She also had a barbacoa party later and I saw the N'Sync posters in her room. There are too many options available to be nailing high schoolers and hookers.
That said, given the jealousy factor, a guy there by himself could hire an escort to go out with him for the social proof. Didn't try it, but having a cute girl on your arm attracts lots of female attention, whereas being alone doesn't.

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Trying to level us???????

[TheMetetron]

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Were there any vaccinations or shots you had to get before moving? Or anything medically related you had to do before you left?

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Yes, there is a rampant malaria problem here.

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Found this related website, although it describes the malaria problem as in the more rural areas.
http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destin...argentina.html

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Yeah I was actually kidding. There are no special vaccines you need to come to Argentina.

[gmblpdam]

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Were there any vaccinations or shots you had to get before moving? Or anything medically related you had to do before you left?

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Yes, there is a rampant malaria problem here.

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Found this related website, although it describes the malaria problem as in the more rural areas.
http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destin...argentina.html

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Yeah I was actually kidding. There are no special vaccines you need to come to Argentina.

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I thought you were being sarcastic, Buenos Aires doesn't exactly sound like malaria central.

[nimajneb]

This post is awesome. Thanks.

Some questions:
1) Kissing cheeks - one or two?
2) How's the coffee (availability/strength/etc.)?
3) What are attitudes regarding smoking?
4) What's phone service like (cell reception/expense/etc.)?

[TheMetetron]

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This post is awesome. Thanks.

Some questions:
1) Kissing cheeks - one or two?

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One, seems like kissing their right cheek is the standard.

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2) How's the coffee (availability/strength/etc.)?

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Porteños love their coffee. Available pretty much at every cafe. Espresso is a bit harder to come by but not overly so. Just not as common as cafe con leche.

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3) What are attitudes regarding smoking?

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They all smoke. It's even worse than Denmark/Sweden which I thought was bad. However, they recently passed a law that except for all but the largest places you are no longer allowed to smoke inside a building. It is working very well so far.

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4) What's phone service like (cell reception/expense/etc.)?

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Reception is good like any big city. I use prepaid service from Movistar and have never had an area of not getting reception. I pay around 90 centavos (30 cents) for a minute of calls outgoing. Incoming is free. Text messages are even cheaper though I don't have an exact price. Incoming text messages are free as well.

[Roma Norgy]

Wow, best thread ever. I just read all 25 pages in one sitting.

I'd love to relocate there, but state-side responsibilities preclude my doing so. I would still love to visit though, but would definitely want my stay to feel more like an expat than touristy. Anyway, I have a few (read: many) questions that haven't yet bet answered in the thread.

1) Would 2-3 months time be enough to soak up a decent portion of the BsAs culture; even if I planned on playing 30-40 hours a week of poker?

2) Can you get a <=3 month lease on an apartment down there?

3) I’m aiming for a Sep-Nov. visit if I decide to go, anything I should know about what I’m gaining/missing by going around that time of year?

4) From a poker playing standpoint, does a move/extended vacation to someplace like like this have a negative or positive impact on level of play? I’d imagine it varies, but is there anything one should take into consideration prior to deciding to go?

5) Would bringing in a 30" 26 lb. monitor be hard to swing past customs?

6) What is the culture like in terms of drinking? Do people just binge drink beyond reproach or is it more of a “Sip wine slowly and savor life” kind of attitude? Varies by occasion?

7) Earlier someone asked about being a Vegetarian/Vegan in BsAs, but the answer was geared primarily to Vegetarians. How prevalent are dairy products in the average restaurant dish? I'm from Wisconsin where near everything has cheese, butter or sour cream in it, and have learned to make due when I have to by not going out often. But in BsAs I would definitely want to go out to eat with regularity, especially with some of the prices quoted in above posts.

8) If I wanted to visit some of the more touristy places, including ones outside BsAs that Chairman Wood has been recommending, would it be hard to Shanghai a local, expat, or even fellow 2+2er to go on a trip with me?

9) How far is this address:

Quintana 161
Buenos Aires, 1000, Argentina

From the Recoleta area? Is it in Recoleta?

10) If I wanted to brush up on Spanish prior to leaving, would I be best off buying products that teach Latin American or traditional Spain versions of Spanish?

11) Would it be ill-advised for someone who’s never lived in a 100k+ population city to just jump right into a ~3 month vacation in a 10 Million+ population one? I’m not terribly fond of big cities, but I’ve only really spent time in Milwaukee and Chicago, and I’d imagine BsAs to a have a much, much different atmosphere.

12) How do taller guys seem to fair there with the ladies? I’m 6’4”, would that be a benefit or a detriment to me?

13) Argentinians are supposed to be some of the most self-analytical people in the world, and I’ve heard that down there it is much more common and socially acceptable to have a shrink than not. If I wanted to truly taste the Buenos Aires culture, should I make an effort to get one for my stay? How much would one cost?

14) For those of you who have lived down there, how true is this self-analytical stereo-type? Are deep conversations commonplace amongst the locals and expats?

Haha, OK this post has drawn out long enough. A curiosity MS Word scan of the document yielded that it contains 21 question marks.

Anyway, any and all answers appreciated, and try not to think of me as too crazy/random [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Chairman Wood]

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1) Would 2-3 months time be enough to soak up a decent portion of the BsAs culture; even if I planned on playing 30-40 hours a week of poker?



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Certainly, the more you stay the more you learn but I'm sure you can get a really good handle in that time. Also, I've advocated lots of times before to get out of Bs As as much as possible and take some vacations to other places. If it were me, I might try to plan one month in BsAs with the other two traveling.

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2) Can you get a <=3 month lease on an apartment down there?

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Yes. If you google Buenos Aires apartments you will find places that you can do this at. They tend to be overpriced by standards here though. I think this has been discussed a little in this thread and there may even be links.

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3) I’m aiming for a Sep-Nov. visit if I decide to go, anything I should know about what I’m gaining/missing by going around that time of year

[/ QUOTE ] That will be springtime here. In Buenos Aires there will always be stuff going on so you may miss something but there will be something else. Again, though considering seasons, I'd plan my trip around other things that I'd want to see in the country. For example, during that time would be a good time to go whale watching in Peninsula Valdes.

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4) From a poker playing standpoint, does a move/extended vacation to someplace like like this have a negative or positive impact on level of play? I’d imagine it varies, but is there anything one should take into consideration prior to deciding to go?


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Hmm... I don't know. If you are mostly an online player I can't really imagine why it would have much of an impact. The only thing I could think of is that we are probably in a different time zone then wherever you are ( we don't do Daylight Savings Time (actually this depends on the will of the government as well) so we float between EST +2 and +1) so there may be some consequences as far as adjusting your schedule to when you think games are good. Other then that, it might be detrimental to your live game as there just isn't much happening here as far as that goes.
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5) Would bringing in a 30" 26 lb. monitor be hard to swing past customs?

[/ QUOTE ] As long as it is not still in the box and it doesn't look brand new you shouldn't have a problem. If they ask questions just say it is yours and when you leave the country you are taking it with you.

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) What is the culture like in terms of drinking? Do people just binge drink beyond reproach or is it more of a “Sip wine slowly and savor life” kind of attitude? Varies by occasion?



[/ QUOTE ] Tends to be more of the "Sip wine slowly and savor life" type of things but that really depends on who you are with. Binge drinking I'm told is rampant in poorer barrios and I've also come to learn that a lot of football violence is fueled by box wine so it definately does occur. The wine (in bottles of course) here is delicious by the way.

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7) Earlier someone asked about being a Vegetarian/Vegan in BsAs, but the answer was geared primarily to Vegetarians. How prevalent are dairy products in the average restaurant dish? I'm from Wisconsin where near everything has cheese, butter or sour cream in it, and have learned to make due when I have to by not going out often. But in BsAs I would definitely want to go out to eat with regularity, especially with some of the prices quoted in above posts.


[/ QUOTE ] This I actually think could be really tough. I have a very good friend who is a vegetarian and she usually can find something to eat wherever we go but a lot of the alternatives that she eats is pastas with cream sauces and stuff like that. It is a big city with lots of ethnic food places. Perhaps those could suit you but I'm not really sure.

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8) If I wanted to visit some of the more touristy places, including ones outside BsAs that Chairman Wood has been recommending, would it be hard to Shanghai a local, expat, or even fellow 2+2er to go on a trip with me?


[/ QUOTE ] Unless I have something important to attend, I live for vacations. As far as others it all depends on who you meet. One thing though, is whenever I've stayed in a hostel I always meet someone who is going on a trip somewhere and looking for someone to join them or to tag a long. If you are looking for a buddy to leave the city with I'd suggest there.

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9) How far is this address:

Quintana 161
Buenos Aires, 1000, Argentina


[/ QUOTE ] Not positve cause I don't know anything about that specific address but I believe Quintana is in the middle of Recoleta. I also have never seen an address that that says Buenos Aires, 1000 Argentina though. Usually they say Capital Federal, Buenos Aires and then they have a postal code with some letters and numbers.


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10) If I wanted to brush up on Spanish prior to leaving, would I be best off buying products that teach Latin American or traditional Spain versions of Spanish?


[/ QUOTE ] Latin American Spanish. Although, keep in mind that the Spanish spoken here is slightly different then most places within Latin America as previously noted in this thread.

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11) Would it be ill-advised for someone who’s never lived in a 100k+ population city to just jump right into a ~3 month vacation in a 10 Million+ population one? I’m not terribly fond of big cities, but I’ve only really spent time in Milwaukee and Chicago, and I’d imagine BsAs to a have a much, much different atmosphere.


[/ QUOTE ] This was my story as well. I adjusted well I think but every person is different. It really depends on yourself and knowing your own limitations. Just realize nearly everything is a trade off. You gain gain the convience of having things more accesible but you lose peace and quiet. You gain more things to do and enjoy but you have to deal with a lot of big city problems such as crime and pollution.

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12) How do taller guys seem to fair there with the ladies? I’m 6’4”, would that be a benefit or a detriment to me?


[/ QUOTE ] I've never known a place in the world where being tall has been a detriment with women. Even though people are shorter here you are not freakishly tall so I think you should be alright. If anything I think it would help you.

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13) Argentinians are supposed to be some of the most self-analytical people in the world, and I’ve heard that down there it is much more common and socially acceptable to have a shrink than not. If I wanted to truly taste the Buenos Aires culture, should I make an effort to get one for my stay? How much would one cost?


[/ QUOTE ] Yes you are correct that shrinks are much more common here then in the US but I don't know if it goes quite as far as being that it is more acceptable to have one then not to have one. I also don't really think it's a "cultural experience" as far as I know. It's not going to appear as a must-do in Fodor's or Lonely Planet. But if you would like one by all means do so. They shouldn't be hard to find. I looked around on Craig's List and the ones they have there didn't list a price.

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14) For those of you who have lived down there, how true is this self-analytical stereo-type? Are deep conversations commonplace amongst the locals and expats?

[/ QUOTE ] I'm not sure how to answer your question or if its even possible. This is definately not something that I see as being a completely overwhelming and very noticable Argentine trait. As far as deep conversations, that all depends on my relationship with that person. Yes I have lots of deep conversations with locals but I think that is more of a product of the fact that I'm good friends with that person then because he/she is Argentine.

[TheMetetron]

Chairman Wood answered all your questions well. I just wanted to add that I looked up your address and it is about 6-8 blocks south of the Recoleta Cemetery. You are only a few blocks from 9 de Julio. I've never really been in that specific area, but I believe it is technically Recoleta though it may be a bit nosier than other parts (comparable to Barrio Norte probably).

[Roma Norgy]

Chairman Wood: Thank you very much for the quick and thorough response. As far as the Shrinks go, I had read previous that they were rather prevalent down there and guess was further misinformed by quarks Cello teacher, who was quoted as saying, "You know, everyone in Argentina has a shrink, its good for you." in his carpal tunnel SSNL post. Yea, I take everything I read on the internet as gospel.

TheMetetron: That address is where the only Toastmasters group in Buenos Aires meets. I'm currently a member of two different groups here in WI, and I would definitely want to hit up the local club down there to meet some like-minded locals and expats as nearly everyone I've met through Toastmasters around here have turned out to be exceptionally good people.

[MrBlue]

I'm back in NY.

Great to meet you Met. Too bad all the chicas bailed at the last min claiming they didn't know us well enough. BAH. Maybe next time. Although the party on the 3rd floor was interesting. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Got some pics that my cousin took. I'll put up some general shots and PM you the group shots when I get them.

Excellent trip for me as usual. The steak is going downhill though. Montana can't make a steak. Even Cabelletiza can't make a damn steak. We didn't really find the great steak until we went to Cabanas las Lilas. Recoleta food is getting a bit disappointing.

Also didn't get a chance to hit Opera Bay. The lines were way too long. We did hit La Diosa and the place was great except for the 80s American music. They did switch to reggaeton and latin mixes after 4am. Gotta love all the bachelorette parties. Crazy girls I tell ya. Even the bride to be was deep throating guys left and right and her friends were taking pictures!