Rebecca: Denmark to Buenos Aires

## The Exchange That Never Ended

Rebecca came to Buenos Aires as part of her undergraduate degree in Denmark. She was supposed to stay six months.

Six months turned into seven years.

During that time, she earned two Master's degrees from Argentine universities, built a professional career as a project manager, and immersed herself deeply in Argentine culture. Then, in 2023, she left.

The Professional Journey

After graduating her undergraduate in Denmark in 2017, Rebecca started a Master's in Organizational Analysis at Universidad de Belgrano. In 2018, she added a Master's in Political Science focused on Latin American studies at Universidad Torcuato di Tella.

"Best decision ever! The courses were so interesting!"

She also started her professional career working with Argentine teams and US customers - a bridge between cultures she'd come to understand intimately.

Why She Left

"Truth be told, after almost seven years in Buenos Aires, I had also gotten enough of Argentina's unstable economic situation."

Rebecca moved back to Europe, specifically Barcelona, Spain. The economic volatility that had been a background hum for years had become a deafening roar.

The Economic Reality

Argentina's economy was Rebecca's biggest challenge. "Inflation in Argentina steadily increases the cost of living, meaning that prices on everything - from groceries to clothing - rise each month."

For expats earning in foreign currency, this created a complex dynamic. "When the Argentine peso devalues, you get more pesos for the same amount of foreign currency. This can help offset some of inflation's impact. But recently, Argentina has become quite expensive - even for expats!"

The Salary Problem

Local salaries in Argentina are low compared to Europe and the US. "An entry-level office job can earn you as low as the equivalent of $500 US, which won't go far after rent and groceries."

Even multinational companies typically pay local hires in pesos. "Being paid in Argentine pesos means your income is directly affected by the country's economic volatility."

What She Loved

Despite leaving, Rebecca's affection for Argentina remains:

**The Travel**: "Argentina is the eighth largest country in the World. You can find places equally as beautiful as Antelope Canyon in the US, but they're isolated. No masses of tourists ruining the experience."

**The Language**: "Argentina is a great place to go if you want to learn or improve your Spanish!"

**The Culture**: "Argentines are generally friendly towards foreigners and are happy to engage in small talk about everything from today's currency exchange rate to their European heritage."

The Danish Perspective

As a Dane, Rebecca found Argentine culture both fascinating and challenging. "Argentina's unpredictable and chaotic culture is very different from Danish control-freak culture. It definitely took some time for me to get used to it."

But she came to appreciate the spontaneity: "Going from not having any plans to meeting up drinking mate or being invited to an asado at somebody's house just because."

Her Honest Assessment

"You should move to Argentina if you want to improve your Spanish, travel around South America, learn about the region, and can live with the unpredictable nature of living in an unstable economy."

But she adds a warning: "If you are looking to move abroad to find a well-paying job and avoid headaches about an unstable economy, then Argentina is probably not your ideal destination."

The Final Word

"Argentina is a great country to live in if you want to immerse yourself in Argentina's culture or history. Personally for me, learning about Argentina's history was a fascinating journey. But you need to be prepared for the economic reality. It's not for everyone."