Work Abroad but earn in USD

Friday, June 29, 2007

10 Questions for Ellen in Mendoza

EDITORS NOTE: This is a first in our series of Expat Interviews that we will frequently post. Let us know if you know someone who would be a good person to interview and we will try. Ellen is from the US and currently lives part of the year in her home in WV and part of the year in her Inn/B&B in Mendoza.

1. Where were you born, where else have you lived, and where are you living now?  Born in NY, grew up in Minneapolis, lived many yrs in Wash., DC, lived in Spain, based in a town in West Virginia now, within communting distance of DC

2. Who did you move to Argentina with? When? My partner RIccardo Accurso, bought our house in Mendoza three years ago. We are not full-time.

3. What made you pick Argentina? Friendly people, terrific climate, high quality of life, comfort with Spanish languge and Latin culture. For several years we'd been looking for a place outside of the US. Having lived in Spain and been fluent in Spanish helped us recognize Mendoza as a great place for us.

4. What is the best part about living in Argentina? The worst? The people are the best. Bureaucracy is the worst thing.

5. How do you make your living? I am a free-lance writer in the US and we operate a small business, Amazing Mendoza Tours, from our US base. Riccardo is a jewelry maker and designer, with a gallery in the US.

6. What is a typical day like for you? Shopping for excellent produce from neighborhood vendors, reading La Nacio'n and Los Andes newspapers every day, eating many meals outside on our terrace, with a view of the garden, taking in terrific new and classic movies for 5 pesos at the University Theater, joining friends for late supper at a sidewalk cafe, taking tour groups to bodegas, restaurants, the Andes, art studios, etc. and trying out new places for future tours.

7. How has living in Argentina changed your life? We have just opened a new 5-room inn, Posada De Rosas so now we will be hosting guests.

8. How does living in Argentina differ most from living in your home country? Everything moves more slowly.

9. What are your future plans in Argentina? When are you planning on leaving? We go back and forth as businesses here permit and as needed there. We have no specific schedule now and can't predict one for the future at this point.

10. What one tip would you pass on to a future expat moving to Argentina? Learn as much Spanish as you can before you  arrive, and take tutoring as soon as you get there. Your ability to function and your personal relationships will benefit immensely.

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3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey guys - thanks for your Blog - its been such a help to me as I've moved down to Argentina. A March 2005 post (old I know - sorry) mentioned "video converter so your projector works with Argentine TV" - I have a projector and I want to use it for TV. Where can I get one of these?? I'd much appreciate any help! kcarlton@winstead.com.

Thanks,

Big

7/08/2007 02:33:00 PM  
Blogger DC said...

Hey guys, just found your blog when searching for information regarding the use of electronics in Argentina. I'll be in South America for a month in August just to check things out. Moving there sounds so tempting.

Thanks for the electronics transformer advice. Now to read the rest of your entries...

7/31/2007 12:01:00 PM  
Blogger danielkarlin said...

i am an expat living in argentina and i think i would be perfect to interview. i am from the states and have lived here since 2004, bought and sold an apartment, started 2 businesses the second of which just launched 3 weeks ago, and i live with my argentine girlfriend. my email is info@anuvavinos.com. Anuva Vinos is my new company that ships exclusive Argentine wine to the US and EU in the form of a wine club.

10/21/2007 02:12:00 AM  

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