Back in the USA

For anyone still reading this blog, this will be my last post, since my life just got a lot more normal. I moved back from Buenos Aires, after an amazing trip to Brazil. I am in Utah with my Dad and stepfamily for a few weeks. After that, I'll take a little road trip through southern California before ending up in Portland. Anyhow, thanks for following along on my adventure over these past 7 months. Hope everyone is doing well.
Brent

Countdown to good ol' USA

Well, my luck in easily finding jobs here in Buenos Aires finally ran out. My most recent job simply ran out of work for me, after just over a month, and had to let me go. Since my bosses felt bad, they kindly paid me for an extra 3 weeks, to give me time to find a new job. While I was looking for one, I had a lot of time to think (probably too much time), and started realizing how much I'd like to be closer to family, and how much I miss the little "conveniences" of the US. So... after some traveling, I'll be moving back Stateside by early September. Just that quickly. I hate to let finances play such a large factor in this decision, but that's life, huh? I've had a great 6-month experience already, met some great people who I plan to keep in touch with, and after seeing the Iguazu waterfalls and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I think I'll be ready.

So that's the latest. I'll have all kinds of pictures to show everyone after another few weeks, and maybe I can even show you in person instead of through this blog. Love and regards to everyone.

-Brent

Mom Visits, World Cup Madness

OK-

It had been a while since I blogged, so here goes... my mom came to visit me in Buenos Aires for about 10 days in June. My mom is the most fun, so it's no stretch to say that we had a blast together. Toured her around BsAs before hitting Mendoza wine country. Good times all around. After she left, my attention turned to the chaos of the World Cup. It would be an understatement to say that Argentinians are obsessed with futbol. After each win, public celebrations broke out in the streets. It was great to be witness to all of it. Alas, Diego Maradona and his boys fell to Germany in the quarterfinals, and the air was let out of the BsAs balloon. My new job was going well, mas o menos, as I was trying to get used to spending 8 hours a day seated in silence, writing reports. Anyone who knows me probably just said to themselves, "that's not a job for Brent," and they're right. My uber-extroverted self was struggling through each day, trying to fight through the urge to pick the job search back up. Well, today my boss did me a favor. Part of the reason why I was so bored at work is that the workload and new clients that the company was expecting fell through, and as a result, I've been "let go" for the first time in my life :) First emotion: relief! They're paying me through the end of July, but told me not to come into the office, but to spend these next 3 weeks finding a new job. They obviously feel guilty, even though I'm glad for what they did. Anyhow, back on the market, folks. We'll see what comes my way...

Saw Argentina's World Cup team

Hey all-

My friend Kenny visited from LA this past week, plus my friend Rem came to Buenos Aires from Patagonia, so the 3 of us had some fun. Argentina was celebrating the Bicentennial of the revolution that led to its independence, and there were an estimated 6 million people at this party over 4 days. Madness. We also got a chance to see Argentina's World Cup soccer team in a "friendly"/warmup match against Canada. More madness. I now understand how people get trampled and die at soccer games. Argentina's star, Lionel Messi, considered the best player in the world, was nursing a minor injury, so I was bummed that he didn't play. Still a cool experience, though. I got a goal on camera, with crowd reaction, so enjoy.

-Brent

Upgrade! New apartment

So after renting a room for my first 3 months, I decided, since it seems I'll be staying awhile, that I should get a place I could settle into long-term. I put up an ad on Craigslist and found a very nice roommate to share a great apartment in Palermo Soho with me. She's 23, from NY, and down here filming a documentary on a Fulbright Scholarship. She likes karaoke, too, so we're set. The location of this new place is perfectly wedged between the convenience of Ave Santa Fe, where I catch buses and subways to work, and the fun of Palermo Soho, Plaza Serrano... lots of social options.

So I look forward to staying here. Also got out and played paintball with some Argentinians last weekend, so there are pics of that too. Hope all is well elsewhere in the world.

-Brent

"Turn 30 In South America"

I guess I can cross that one off the list of random things to do in life. Yep, the big 3-0, or "treinta" in Spanish. Had a fun birthday weekend. Saturday, my friend from LA who lives in Patagonia rolled into town. He got in from the bus station just in time to go to our baseball game and play with us, and we needed him. Despite his presence, we lost...again. Saturday night we watched the Final Four basketball games, and I cheered for Duke for two reasons only: 1. Kyle Singler, their junior forward who won Final Four MOP honors, is from Medford, Oregon, and I got to know him and his family while I was sportscasting there, and 2. my LA friend went to Duke, so I had to adopt his team for the weekend. With my beloved Arizona Wildcats not even making the tournament for the first time in 26 years, I cut myself a little slack to cheer for others. Anyhow, Sunday night, we found a hostel bar that has karaoke, and a group of us went and did some singing and dancing with people from all over the world who were staying at the hostel. Good times. Then Monday night, which was my actual 30th, we watched Duke win the title. An exhausting but fun weekend of entertaining a guest, consuming a beer or two or three, and losing my voice between karaoke and screaming at TV screens.

So years from now, it won't be hard to remember what I did for my 30th birthday. I was living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, watching ma'boy Kyle Singler win a national title. Could've been worse.

My first Argentine vacation

So my new job is going well, and what's even better is that I got a chance to go to Patagonia last week. I left Thursday night on an overnight bus (with a scary view from the upper deck: SEE VIDEO) and arrived 22 hours later in San Martin de los Andes. Really cool town. Like one big outdoor apparel store. That's where I met my buddy Remington, from LA. He's been living there for the last 2 months. We did a hike that day, hung out for the night, and then went to Villa Angostura on Lago Nahuel Huapi, where we had a private fishing guide; a local Argentine who took us out on his boat and even put us up at his family's house. It was the REAL experience, with a rooster alarm clock and all. Fish weren't biting, but it was a lot of fun.

On Sunday, we cruised down to Bariloche, which many call "The Switzerland of South America". If you've been anywhere in Switzerland, like I have, you have to agree. Check out the video (coming soon) of the paraglider we saw from the highest point on the hill above the town.

Spent a day in Bariloche before the loooonnnggg bus ride back to Buenos Aires. Got back Tuesday afternoon, and now it's back to work :(

Great time, though. Enjoy the pics and videos, and I'd love to hear your comments.

-Brent

Got a sweet new job! No more teaching...

So I'm a TV journalist again, but this is definitely NOT sports! Press TV, a 24-hour English-speaking news channel which broadcasts in Iran, is opening a brand new bureau in Buenos Aires. I saw the job on Craigslist, then sent them a story I wrote in college, then some amateur video from my rooftop with a Flip camera, and boom, I got the job! My producer flew in from Belgium to help set up MY new office (I'll have pictures soon), and I started today. My cameraman is from Buenos Aires, so he knows his way around and has some good contacts. We'll need 'em, because, being that the bureau is brand new, we have no idea what we're doing... yet. I have no list of local contacts, and certainly no archived video to rely on. We'll have to generate all our own stories, which I will write, voice, and do my on-camera thing for. My cameraman, Adrian, will handle most of the editing.
I'm getting paid in Euros, which, if you don't know, is worth 1.35 dollars right now, so when I convert that to pesos down here, I can actually live comfortably and enjoy BA!!! Awesome. I don't know how this all worked out, and so quickly, but I'm glad it did. I'm committing to a year with Press TV, so I guess that's that.
First story on the horizon... the dramatic saga of the Argentine President vs. the Central Bank. Plenty of story there... I just need someone to interview!
No more teaching English, which I can't say I'll miss.
Well, once my stories are up on the Press TV website, and they will be, I'll let ya know.

Hope everyone's having good fortune like mine.
B.

America's Favorite Pastime, in South America

Hey all-

So one of the best things I've done for myself since I've been here is that I joined a baseball team called The Shankees. We're known as the American team, and for good reason. It's mostly US expats, from Jersey, Colorado, and anywhere else. Mix in a guy from Nicaragua and a few Venezuelans, and you've got yourself a "mediocre" ballclub. Yeah, we're admittedly not the best team in the league (proven by our 25-11 loss to a local team in our Opener last Saturday), but we have the most fun. Kinda like the Bad News Bears... we even call our manager "Buttermaker". It's just low-key, "hope to win" baseball, and it's been a blast so far. I've been playing centerfield mostly, and no errors YET. Check out the video of me ripping a standup, RBI double into the right-center gap last Saturday!

Love you all. Hope you're doing great.

Found a job!

Interviewed for my first job teaching English on Monday morning, and I got it! Even had a student assigned to me right away, and I started teaching him on Tuesday. He's a local guy who needs to learn English for his job. So we're off and running. Now all I need is about 10 more students before I can maybe pay my rent every month. I make 27 pesos/hour teaching 1-on-1, which is about $7.50, so as you can figure, one student won't make ends meet. I am also bar-backing at a cool place called Casa Bar ( www.casabarbuenosaires.com ) It's known as a USA-friendly bar because they broadcast a lot of US sports, including the Super Bowl last Sunday. I started that night as kind of an audition. I guess I passed, because they want me back 4 nights this week. Sounds like the owner, a US guy, would like to make me some kind of manager, so we'll see. I'd rather not fall back into a nighttime work schedule, but beggars can't be choosers, and if I'm making $7.50 an hour as a teacher, 3 hours a week so far, I am indeed begging for work. Plus, it's a good way to meet people. That's it for now. Hope all's well in the good ol' USA!

Puente de la Mujer bridge

My new home, although I'm switching to a less pink room in 2 weeks

Touchdown in Buenos Aires!

Hey all-
I'm here and getting settled. I met up with a former co-worker from LA, Remington, my first day, and we shared a hostel room Wednesday night, along with a cool guy from Lithuania that sat next to me on my plane from DC. We did some sightseeing... saw Evita's resting place at the Recoleta Cemetery, as well as some cathedrals, etc. Even took my first tango lesson yesterday! It's tough, but I think it'd be really fun to be good at it, so I'm sure I'll go again.
Found a room to rent, on the border of the Palermo and Barrio Norte neighborhoods. Living with a French guy who's here studying, and an American girl.
Two interviews for jobs teaching English next week, and hopefully more to come, if necessary.
Did my first grocery shopping today, and there was definitely some guessing going on as I pulled stuff off the shelves, despite my extensive Spanish.
Check out some videos that I've posted and I'll be updating more soon.
-Brent

Countdown to Argentina

Hey friends and family-
If you're looking at this site, it's because I sent you the URL and because I'd love to keep in touch with you and keep you updated on my adventures living in Buenos Aires.
I move down there on February 2nd, so keep an eye out for videos and tales of mischief and mayhem.
-Brent