After being here just over a week, I’ve already found a job in Buenos Aires. Of course, this is all just after yesterday afternoon. I had been on several interviews for various jobs in the last week–one to be an assistant, another as a teacher with barely any hours a week, another for an insurance company. It turns out that I’ll now be working with a travel agency, updating their Web site and writing reviews of places in English. This starts out as temporary, but could have the potential to go long term if things are right.
It’s a weight off of my shoulders to have a job nailed down now, for the time anyway. There is so much uncertainty arriving in a new city and new country, that to not have a job in hand at the same time only adds to the stress. Added onto that, my friend Kristine has been visiting this week and will be here until next week before heading back to Ecuador for another year of volunteering. Aside from running around town on interviews, we’ve been sightseeing as well, sometimes in my suit. We’re both pretty exhausted by this point, walking all over the city and not even really scratching the surface. Buenos Aires is just so big.
My first assignment starts tomorrow, because as it turns out we were already planning on going to Mendoza, Córdoba, and then Iguazú Falls. But since I’m now working with a travel agency, I’ll be checking out some places and compiling updated information, making sure everything is in order. It’s the kind of job a lot of people would love to have, though I know from experience on a previous press trip that it’s more work than vacation.
La Casa Rosada, Buenos Aires
As the week progressed I could see that I was figuring out the streets and getting more experience with the buses. It’s not exactly easy to become an expert on these parts overnight, and really I’ve only seen the eastern part of the city. Still, I feel like I’m getting settled in and ready to tackle my job. However, even with working at the travel agency, I’ll continue blogging and freelancing articles whenever the opportunities present themselves. I’ll probably have to look for a second opportunity as well to supplement my salary, as Buenos Aires is pretty expensive, especially in my eyes arriving so soon after Ecuador.
I now have to start making the very real transition from being a volunteer English teacher to having a steady job, working in an office and meeting deadlines. I don’t know exactly what the work environment will be like, but it seemed pretty relaxed and easygoing in the office. Using the skills I learned as a teacher in Ecuador, I’m sure I’ll be able to adapt.
Once I get back to the city and get settled into my job I’ll also be able to look into other volunteer opportunities here. As I’ve mentioned before, I’d be interested in working again with Un Techo Para Mi Pais (UTPMP), an organization that helps build emergency houses for those in serious need. Previously I worked with UTPMP in Montevideo, Uruguay, and it was a really rewarding experience. There are tons of opportunities for something like that in such a big city, and it will just be on me to find them.
Latest posts by jgbrandt8
- Not Too Far Gone - March 4th, 2010
- Mate Makes Amigos - January 15th, 2010
- Day in the Life: G to the R to the E in Bs to the As - December 18th, 2009
- Would It All Be Worth It If...? - December 1st, 2009
- New Doors Open, Finally - November 25th, 2009
- Putting Volunteering on Hold - November 3rd, 2009
- Romanticizing Ecuador, But Aware of It - October 27th, 2009
- Use Your Time Wisely - October 20th, 2009
- Going Abroad Alone or With a Group? - October 7th, 2009
- Keep Your Head Up, Champ! - September 29th, 2009
Congrats on your new job hope all goes well.