Well, maybe not to that extent, but in some respects, I have sold out a bit. This time last year I was starting my volunteer position at La Universidad de Cuenca in Ecuador. Teaching 20 hours a week, the hardest thing was often finding what to do with myself in the down time. And now, a year later, I am working in the business district of Buenos Aires, putting in almost 50 hours a week. Though if it’s any redeeming drawback, I’m hardly making anything. Yet I get dressed up and head in with the rest of the commuters, chugging along for most of the day. And by the time I get home, I wonder where the day went.
It’s not a terribly easy transition to make. I’m still kind of poor, but in a more expensive city, making less money than when I was a volunteer, and working twice as much. But office life is totally different from teaching, and in some ways it’s better. For example, if I don’t feel like talking in front of a group of people that day, no sweat. But I will say that it’s nice to have a break in between classes and be able to walk around, whereas with a one hour lunch break, you really don’t have that same opportunity to enjoy the day.
Life is most certainly different here in Argentina, and though it’s on the same continent as Ecuador, it’s like a different world. Those who haven’t been to other countries in Latin America refer to it in certain ways and think of how different it is. For me though, coming from a small city in Ecuador, this is like many other mechanical, metropolitan cities I’ve been to. And I’m now one of those cogs moving in the machine. But hey, at least I don’t have to wear a tie.
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
