Seven months ago, I decided to move from London to Buenos
Aires. I have been in love with Latin America ever since I went to live in
Brazil in August 2000, and I’ve been back to the region many times since. I worked in São Paulo for a couple of
years in 2007-8 and, though I loved it, it was a lonely experience for a young
twenty-something female. I went back to live in London and vowed that if I ever
moved back to Latin America, I would go as part of a family, where I could
enjoy the sunshine, lavish living arrangements and incredible food and drink
opportunities with my husband and children. I also vowed that if I ever went
back to live, it would be to Buenos Aires, a city I simply fell in love with
when I visited in 2007 and 2008.
Alas, after two and a half years back in London, I found
myself 28 years old, still single and in a bit of a career rut. I’d been
working as a journalist covering Brazilian financial news for three years, and
there comes a point where there isn’t much more original material you can
produce about a country 5,000 miles away. My employer – a large, global
financial media company – had people in South America just begging me to move
back to the region, while their European counterparts seemed a little
indifferent to me. Moving to Buenos Aires, Mexico City or São Paulo could do
wonders for my career and I desperately wanted to continue working with the
region. So when the lovely, British editor out in Argentina mentioned there was
an opportunity coming up for a commodities and energy correspondent in Argentine, I didn’t need long to
think about it.
To Marry an Argentine Stallion?
The only question was my love life. I’d always reasoned that
I didn’t want to settle down with a Latin American man – let’s just say I’d
been there, done that and, though I have always been very attracted to the Latino type, I figured I’d be happier with a
nice, down-to-earth Yorkshire man, or at least someone who knew a bit more
about my childhood, background and culture. But, after three years of crappy
dates, men who didn’t call and, well, let’s just say a withering talent pool, I
figured I wasn’t getting anywhere in England and, anyway, love only comes when
you’re least expecting it. What difference would a few years in Buenos Aires
make? And maybe I would meet a nice, charming Argentine stallion along the way…
So, that was the decision made. I would move all my belongings to Argentina and make a proper life of it. I was desperately excited. Little did I know it would take an interminable seven months to get my business visa, and in that time I would meet the love of my life, a dashing Irish man, back on home territory. Typical – men are like buses! But I knew I’d be crazy to give up my big Argie opportunity for a man I’d only known for a couple of months, so I decided to move there for a shorter period before moving to Ireland for my man.
Marathon Training
I also decided a few months ago to run the Buenos Aires
marathon. Running the 26 miles has always been on my list of things to do
before I’m 30 and, since I’m 29 already and will probably be away for the
London marathon next April, I figured I better start soon. The marathon is October
9.
So, today, when I finally got my visa, I
booked my flight to Buenos Aires straight away. I’ll be arriving on October 5,
just in time to settle in for a few days before the big run. So… exactly one
week to go. Buenos Aires, here I come!
