Expat Report: Month 20 – Heat, Blackouts, and New Beginnings

The clock is ticking—soon enough, I’ll be officially starting college here in Argentina!

This summer has been pretty stressful. On top of dealing with a swarm of insects trying to invade my home, I’ve also had to deal with constant water pressure problems and frequent power outages. Both of these are pretty common around here. This is my second summer in Argentina, so I knew what to expect—but that doesn’t make it any easier to handle.

The heat index has been brutal, spiking as high as 40°C (104°F). There have been days when I couldn’t shower, wash dishes, or do laundry because the water pressure dropped to almost nothing. Aguas Cordobesas, the water company here in Córdoba, is utterly useless. I’ve requested several times for them to come by and check our water pressure, and they never showed up. Only after repeated complaints did they finally send someone, who then claimed there was nothing wrong with the water pressure. But that’s not the only utilities issue I’m dealing with.

To beat the heat, people crank up fans and air conditioners, which puts a huge strain on the power grid and causes intermittent blackouts across the province. Sadly, there’s not much I can do about that either.

At least I have something to look forward to. The Argentine fall season is just a few months away, and it will bring some much-needed relief from this relentless heat. I also have to admit, I look way more stylish in winter clothes than in summer gear.

In the meantime, I’ve been keeping busy writing articles for my freelance job. I’ve also been socializing with Sarah-Claire, Rosalia, and their Whovian friends. Yes, my ex is still in the picture, but strictly as a friend.

I’ve also started exercising at home to complement the positive effects of my antidepressant and anti-anxiety meds. It might sound like a hectic schedule, but honestly, it’s nothing compared to what I’ll be facing next week when I start school at the National University of Córdoba (UNC). I’ll admit, I’m a little nervous, but also pretty excited.

Oh, and someone recently sent me a personal message through social media asking how I’m handling single life. Hmm… that’s a tough one. I can’t say I’m happy about it. I was in a committed relationship for twelve years, and that’s not something you just get over in a couple of weeks. I’ve had moments where I cry myself to sleep or question what I’m still doing in Argentina, since I only came here to give my ex the advantage of free healthcare and a better life. It kind of seems pointless to give a sh*t about that now that he dumped me.

That said, I’m trying to see the positive side. Now I have more time to focus on myself, which, I’ll admit, hasn’t happened much in my life so far.

So, what about my ex?

Well, getting a divorce while living abroad isn’t easy, so it’ll be a while before everything is finalized. But just because our marriage ended doesn’t mean our love for each other has completely fizzled out. We still care about each other… in our own way. Right now, we’re slowly learning how to live our individual lives while sharing the same roof.

I feel like I’ve been reborn, and like any newborn, I’m learning how to live life all over again, one step at a time.