Expat Report: 26 months Later

I'd like to start by thanking the readers who have shown their love and support for my expat blog. And if you haven’t yet—don’t worry, there’s still time to join the journey.

I'm nearly two months late writing this, but I felt it was important to reflect on and honor the past two years of my life in Argentina.

One of the things that has helped us cope with homesickness is food. For instance, I'm happy to report that McDonald’s here recently started offering a more American-style breakfast: bacon, scrambled eggs, and two pieces of bread that come surprisingly close to the texture of a bagel—minus the shape and the hole in the middle.

Walmart stores in Argentina now sell bacon that tastes just like the kind back home. Zach was kind enough to make some for me—thankfully, since I have absolutely no talent for cooking.

The public hospital in Córdoba no longer charges the already minimal outpatient fee, which is great—but on the downside, getting an appointment with a doctor has become much more difficult. I’ll talk more about that in a future post.

Some of you already know that I’ve struggled with social anxiety and depression. Thankfully, I’ve been able to get treatment through Argentina’s free healthcare system. As my 37th birthday approached, I decided to try managing my condition on my own—without therapy or anti-anxiety medication. It’s been two months, and I’ve had my ups and downs. I wasn’t fully prepared for the mood swings or the unexpected anxiety attacks. These days, I find myself staying indoors a lot more. To compensate, I try to invite friends over—when there’s enough money for snacks and drinks.

A lot of people have asked how college is going, so let me rip off the band-aid: I quit. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I didn’t feel the university was the right fit for me. I could go on about the reasons why, but I’ve already covered that in a previous entry—and this post is about something else.

Before anyone judges me for stepping away from school, there’s more to the story. When Zach and I first arrived, my family did their best to support us. But they have their own struggles, and the last thing we wanted was to become a financial burden. So, we made the difficult choice to cut the proverbial umbilical cord.

Now, my time is fully devoted to freelance writing. My income depends entirely on how consistently I get assignments—which, unfortunately, is out of my control. I currently work with two freelance handlers who provide just enough articles each month to make ends meet… but just barely.

Zach has also joined the freelance writing team, though his true passion has always been in the kitchen. He recently launched his own website where people can order some of his incredible pastries. You can check it out at:
Zach’s Bake Shop – http://darkecloude.wix.com/zachsbakeshop

Here are some photos of the amazing things he bakes.

In addition, Zach created a group called English & Muffins, where expats and Argentinians gather at a hostel to play fun and lively games. It’s a great way for non-native English speakers to practice their language skills while enjoying delicious muffins and cakes.

I also celebrated my 37th birthday in July with Zach and two new friends who surprised me with a party. Usually, I’m the one organizing surprise parties for others, so it was rare—and wonderful—to be the center of attention. They decorated the house with themes from some of my favorite shows like Supernatural and Star Trek, along with zombies and Superman. Suffice it to say, it was an awesome celebration.

It feels like a lifetime ago since Zach and I stepped off that plane in Córdoba, yet not a day goes by that I don’t think about our old lives back in the States.

My friends back home have experienced moments I wish I could have been there for. One friend lost her son in a terrible accident. Another recently remarried and is expecting her first child. I used to tease her about when I’d become an uncle—now I won’t be there for those milestones. Sometimes, I wonder if the choice Zach and I made to leave New York was the right one. Would we have stayed together if we hadn’t moved?

Still, we’ve made some friends and are slowly building a life here, and so far, it seems to be working out.

Fortunately, Zach and I remain as close as ever. Married or not, we’ve got each other’s backs—no matter where life takes us.