Moving to and living in...Argentina

American Expat Offers Driver Services in Buenos Aires

I always want to support expat businesses as much as possible so I wanted to pass on some information that I think would be very valuable, particularly for those of you who don't speak much Spanish.

Fred B. is an American living in Buenos Aires who provides Lincoln Town car service for reasonable prices, (ie:  $35US to/from EZE).

His cell is 15 3338 6635 and you can see pics of the car here

Don't hesitate to comment here on the service you receive from Fred!

Working two continents with Miami Offshore Services

We are now working two different continents with our offshore company business. Splitting our time between Miami and Buenos Aires allows us to run our business Miamioffshoreservices.com and keep close ties to our daughter's birth country. Keeping our U.S. base in Miami allows us easy access to flights to our other home and when the smell of meat cooking on a wood fire assails the senses and our ears ache for the Porteno accent, the Argentine community is close by. But still nothing can replace our closest friends in BA or the ache in our hearts when we're so far from our other home (although the warm ocean breezes do help :)) It's a tough thing when your heart is split between two places...

Buenos Aires Argentina Chile 2009 Dakar Rally

The Paris Dakar Rally is this year the Argentina Chile 2009 Dakar Rally! With all of the problems that were occurring in Africa, the organizers decided to move it to South America, more specifically to Argentina and Chile.

Starting out in Buenos Aires, the drivers will traverse to the south to Santa Rosa and then onto Puerto Madryn, then turn west to Jacobacci then north to Neuquen, onto San Rafael and Mendoza before heading west across the border into Valparaiso Chile, north to the Atacama Desert, and then back east to La Rioja and Cordoba before ending January 17 back where they started in Buenos Aires.

It's such a great opportunity to at least check them out when they return to Buenos Aires whether you live in Buenos Aires or will simply be visiting.

For more details on the Rally, visit their website at www.dakar.com

Bilingual Doula services in Buenos Aires

I've been meaning to post this for awhile for those of you who are looking for a doula. Maria Nogues was our doula when our daughter was born and is a fabulous resource in Buenos Aires. Here's information on her and her services. Please contact Maria DIRECTLY if you are interested in her services.

If you're not interested in reading about parenting information don't read any further :)

As an American/Argentine (my parents are Argentine but I was born and raised in the US) doula and lactation consultant, I work with foreign families during the perinatal period, to help them fully enjoy the pregnancy, birth & early days with their new baby. As a doula my job is to strive to create a nurturing environment for the mother, father, and baby and provide non-medical support- "mothering the mother" during these exciting and challenging times.

As a lactation consultant I work as a member of the healthcare team specializing in the
clinical management of breastfeeding. At a lactation visit, I’ll spend 1.5 to 2 hours with you and your baby. If your need is for a simple breastfeeding check-up, I evaluate how breastfeeding is going and provide you with all the information you need.
If you are having a breastfeeding problem, I will determine the cause of your problem, contact your pediatrician or obstetrician (depending on the cause) and leave you with a personalized lactation plan that we all agree on. We’ll stay communicated via unlimited phone follow-ups and if another visit is necessary we’ll arrange for it.
If necessary I will also teach you techniques to make breastfeeding more comfortable and provides you with an overview of normal breastfeeding.
There is not much support or knowledge about breastfeeding in the healthcare system in Argentina. And when faced with a difficulty Dr.'s usually indicate formula, instead of solving the problem to continue breastfeeding taking advantage of all it's benefits.
That's why I suggest a check up once baby is born to avoid any problems that could arise.

I am an American/ Argentine, totally bilingual/ bi cultural and this helps during the very vulnerable pregnancy/ postpartum time for expat families!

Motherhood is a major life transition and the adjustment period feels less overwhelming when your questions and concerns are addressed and you feel supported. It is for this reason that women and their families value the help a Doula offers. Doulas differ greatly from baby nurses as they are not there solely to tend to the baby’s needs; but to encourage and teach families to care for their own newborn and on the families bonding needs, more importantly, Mother's recovery. I'm flexible to the needs of each family.

My services are individually  tailored to meet the unique needs of each client  and family. These could include any or all of the following:
-        Overview of options and routine procedures when giving birth in Buenos Aires.
-    Referrals / recommendations on finding the appropriate Obstetrician/ Neonatologist/ Pediatrician.
-    Pregnancy  Exhaustion Or Bedrest Care
-    "First  Night" Services  & "Night  Care" Services
-    Doula
-    Infant Nutrition Counseling & Education- As a Lactation Consultant I offer Individual sessions to answer questions and concerns and to give hands-on help in learning how to breastfeed. Inpatient visits during the hospital stay or outpatient consultations are available in my office or at the familys' home, when issues arise, or continue after discharge (difficult latch- on, sore nipples, breast refusal, slow weight gain, prematurity, breast infection, twins & triplets, incorporating solids and weaning, etc)
CONTACT MARIA
153-151-7687

Argentina implementing Tourist Fee beginning January 1 2009

Beginning January 9, 2009, Argentina will implement a reciprocal tourist fee. This fee will only be imposed on those foreigners whose country of residence charges Argentines a fee to enter their country. In the case of American tourists, that fee will be approximately $134 which is the same fee that Argentines are charged when they apply for a visa to visit the United States. There still won't be a "visa" requirement and the Argentine government simply considers it "fair" to charge American tourists the same way that the U.S. charges Argentines. The big question is whether this will cover tourist for a set amount of time, say five years. It looks like it will be that way. However, for expats living in Argentina we all want to make sure that we won't be charged each time we renew our tourist visa. As of now it doesn't look like we will.

This fee won't be reserved just for Americans, but also Australians, Canadians, and any other country that charges Argentines a fee to enter their country. 

Mothering Punto Communidad Mothering.com creates new Spanish forum

This is not specifically about Argentina but I wanted to share it anyway, since I know I have some Spanish readers who are natural mamas or know someone who is.

Mothering.com has just started a new Spanish forum Mothering Punto Communidad for natural mamas who want to post in Spanish, here's the link to the new site. 

TSA Goes Green Opens Family Lanes

The U.S. is finally catching on! Argentina has special lanes at airports (and banks, grocery stores, government offices etc) for families. Well finally the U.S. seems to be catching onto the idea, even if it is just for a short time. They will have special green lanes for families to get through security screening. Now they just need to implement that for ticketing as well...

Family/Special Needs Lanes Coming to All Airports in Time for Thanksgiving Travel

The Diamond Self Select Program [link] started back in February 2008 at Salt Lake City International Airport and is now operating in 48 airports. The program allows passengers to proceed through the security checkpoint at their own pace by selecting one of three lanes: Black Diamond (for Expert Travelers), Blue Square (for Casual Travelers), and Green Circle (for Families, those with special needs, and those unfamiliar with TSA procedures.)

Today, TSA announced that the Family/Special Needs Lane (Green Circle) will be implemented at every security checkpoint across the nation by November 20, 2008—just in time for the busy Thanksgiving travel season.

Read more here

Furniture and VW Gol for sale by expat in Buenos Aires

I have a good friend who is moving back to the States and is selling their VW Gol and some furniture. I know they bought the Gol brand new and have taken great care of it.

Here are the details on the Gol

2006 VW GOL COUNTRY TRENDLINE     (BOUGHT IN NOV. 2006)

52K KILOMETERS

$12,000 USD OBO

Call: 15-6712-9791

Tallo Verde - Nuestra Huerta Organica en Open Door, Lujan

INVITACION A NUESTRA HUERTA ORGANICA
	El día sábado 15 de noviembre realizaremos una visita a nuestra huerta ubicada en Open Door, Luján. La idea es abrirles las puertas de nuestra casa para que conozcan detalles sobre la producción de los alimentos orgánicos que llevan a su mesa. Pasaremos un medio día ameno enmarcado por un ambiente natural, guiados de manera didáctica por la Ingeniera Agrónoma Marcela Ablin. Habrá cupos limitados, por lo tanto, los interesados deberán enviar un e-mail para inscribirse a huerta@talloverde.com hasta el lunes 10 de noviembre inclusive, sin excepciones.

Ebook about Moving to and Living in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Just a reminder, if you find the information in my blog useful, then consider purchasing the ebook Moving to and Living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Whether you're preparing for a permanent move to Argentina as an expat or simply planning to stay for a long vacation, then my Ebook will be a valuable read for you. It's a more in-depth, organized continuation of this blog and is an invaluable source of information for everything from pre-preparation to what to expect in every day living.

100 pages chock full of information, not filled with fluff and photos.

The Paypal link to the book can be found on this blogs front page.

Apartment for Rent Palermo Buenos Aires, Argentina

From one of my readers, Julie Fortunato, Please contact her directly:

GREAT FUNKY PLACE TO MID LONG TERM RENTAL > PALERMO SOHO W/ BALCONY AND OPEN VIEW

AVAILABLE....... OCT 7 TO THE REST OF 2008 / AVAILABLE ALL 2009

DESCRIPTION
Strategic spot on Honduras Street and Scalabrini Ortiz Ave.

ROOMS 1w
PEOPLE 2 / 3
BALCONY YES
VIEW YES
BUILDING: 60s DECADE

>> A 5th floor with an amazing open view of Palermo´s landscape with no other buildings around

AMENITIES INCLUDED

45 mts2 total.
- 1 bedroom, Queen bed.
- Sunny balcony (A 5th floor with an amazing open view of Palermo´s landscape with no other buildings around).
- Walking distance from major Palermo attractions. Conveniently 1 block away from nightlife, bars, shops, Serrano Plaza & Tanguerías.
- Located on an Av fluid of local transportation: walking distance to Subtes D and B, and plenty of different bus lines stops right in front of the building.
- Located in a safe area.
- Very silent.
- Separated kitchen, living room, full bathroom
- DVD player included.
- Cable TV.
- 21" TV.
- ADSL Internet already installed. /// Wi Fi accesory.
- Phone line
- Towels, linen and kitchen wear.
- Main entrance Security Camera
- New leather sofa (it works as an extra bed in the living room)
- Microwave.

- * maid available on demand.

RATES * Varies depending on the lenght of your stay. Please feel free to place your question.
> 300 USD A WEEK
> 550 USD 15 DAYS
> 850 USD A MONTH.
- ALL SERVICES AND TAXES INCLUDED. Water, electricity, gas, local expenses, internet, cable TV.

- conditions to book it: 15% commission of the total of your stay. 1 month as security deposit fully retuned on check out. * welcome gift on check in: great bottle of argentine wine and some other cool stuff. ; )

A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE APARTMENT
It was my home for several years, and since 2003 Im renting it fully furnished to people looking for an inside look of the city, not a made-for-tourists fake facade. I was really lucky since the begining: my first tenants were great people. First, Danny Palmerlee (well known Lonely Planet´s guides Editor). He lived in my place for over a year during the process of writing Best of Buenos Aires, a book now available at Amazon. Then arrived Nadya S, NYU law student who not only was amazing to meet, also she quickly became my friend, and so far Nad is the most ironic, clever and funny English speaking I´ve met (despite the fact she wants to be a lawyer, I know). She fell in love with the place. And after her it began a new chapter in this story . I promise to post it.

CONTACT: juliefortunato@gmail.com
More images here

Expat Entrepreneurship

Isn't it amazing how expats are so entrepreneurial! There are so many expats out there who have had to find various means to support themselves, many of which are distance or Internet related businesses - writers, copywriters, editors, programmers, the list goes on. Then there are the businesses who manage to make it work on the ground in the country, dealing with all the headaches that come from doing business in a foreign country. But this all means that the possibilities are endless when it comes to finding a way to support yourself. Remember too that if you choose to work remotely you have so many means to accomplish it - virtual mailboxes, Vonage, Internet, etc.

If you really want to become an expat then tap into your creative side and think about how you could support yourself in a way OTHER than simply trying to teach English, because face it, everybody is already doing that.

Just a few businesses that come to mind. Be sure to give them your business!
Sugar and Spice (don't forget to visit Frank's blog too)
Oleada Juice Bar the brainchild of my good friend Kara
My friend's translation business (she's currently on a medical leave but I'll post the link later)