I went into a travel agency today, gave them a couple of dates, asked a few questions, and handed my credit card over. I'm flying to Buenos Aires in April.

As some may have noticed I've been thinking of this for some time, but now it's actually upon me and nigh-on unavoidable (the tickets are non refundable and I know I'm not going to be missing that flight) it's a very scary thought.

I've no idea how it's going to work out. No idea whether I'll actually get any more work than I've already got writing. In fact I'm more than 50% erring towards this being an extended holiday (call it a career break perhaps, because whatever happens I don't plan on going back into my current job when I return) at present.

I'm back in December, to have Christmas with my family and give me this first few months to evaluate it all and test the waters. Then if it's gone well, back out there in the new year, until further notice. But still. I feel I'm taking a fucking huge step, even if a holiday is essentially all that comes of it.

My girlfriend's taken this about as well as could be expected. She's not coming, but she's known this was happening since she first met me last summer. She's still totally heartbroken at the moment though. I know we'll both be fine in a few months, but it doesn't make it any more fun right now. I think that's why I've gone through today on autopilot since booking the tickets, whereas I should by rights have been bouncing off the walls with excitement.

OTF is, generally speaking, older and wiser than me, and not a few of you have more experience of having done this kind of thing before (I've even met two of you). So, am I doing the right thing?

Please say yes. I know I'll love it once I'm out there.

Good luck with the move Sam. Your HEGS posts at that time will be 'live from the scene' then?

Don't go doing owt daft like thinking you're Danny Dyer and getting involved with the proper nawtee barras bravas types...

Yes.

Unquestionably.

Carpe Diem, 'n' stuff

I left England in 1972 with £40 in my pocket, a one way charter ticket to Toronto and someone's name and address who I'd never met. I was scared to death but determined to go, somewhere — it didn't matter much where — so I went and I've never regretted it for a second.

To echo Amor, it's unquestionably the best thing I could have done - almost exactly two years ago - from the point of view of challenging my previously shy self.

Walking out of the airport on day zero, with nought but a work permit and two suitcases, with the thought "well, there's no-one else but you can do this" is quite a feeling.

I like it here and would happily stay longer term

Yes, you are absolutely doing the right thing, and would regret not having taken the chance for a very long time should you change your mind now.

Suerte.

Thanks, AdC [edit: and Ursus, and 47th Element]. I didn't realise you were English!

CTT don't worry, I'm not that stupid. There are Englishmen who could walk past a bunch of barras without attracting a second glance, but given my height and the amount of blond hair I've got I'm probably not one of them.

And yes, HEGS will finally be from Argentina. And I'll have no day job, and be that much closer to the two guys The Enganche was briefly started up with, which might even mean a regular podcast is possible, but I can't promise anything.

Buena suerte, Sam.

It sounds deep down that you know this is what you need to do. Nothing like that has ever come up for me, but if the opportunity comes up, grab it.

I didn't realise you were English!

Well I've been here longer than I've been there, so maybe I'm not. It's a question I find hard to answer TBH.

Thanks Inca, too. I need to get it out my system, yeah, and if it turns out I like it enough and get enough writing to stay there longer, I won't be complaining. Of late I've almost forgotten why that is, but it's been too long since I've been there.

And it's not so much an opportunity, as something I've explicitly planned my life around making happen for myself for the last three years (HEGS is three years old on Wednesday). I think that's probably why I'm bricking it. Everyone else I've known / met who lives away from their homeland is of the 'I came here and liked it so much I stayed' persuasion.

What Inca said. It sounds unbelievably exciting, Sam; I wish you all the best of luck.

And if you're transferring through Toronto again this time, let us know.

Good luck, Sam!

Unquestionably the right thing to do, if I get the right sense of what this means to you. It's one of those things that in the future you'd be kicking yourself you didn't do if you didn't (crap grammar!).

Speaking of which ... you could maybe get some bits of teaching down there to give you some supplementary dosh, couldn't you?

I envy you the 'new world/new life' excitement of it all, though. I left Blighty 28 years ago <gulp!> and really have never regretted it.

So yes.

[upside-down exclamation mark]Mucha suerte!

Definitely go for it -- sounds like a dream come true. You'll seriously kick yourself if you back out.

About 20 yrs. ago my wife and I quit our jobs to backpack in Europe for six months. When we got back to reality (?!) and had to look for work, the dread we feared telling potential bosses we spent the last six months traveling was unneeded as most employers were envious for having gone for it.

Stay safe once you get there!

AG - direct flight this time I'm afraid. Thanks to their seat sale (which I didn't realise ends today!) British Airways was the cheapest available fare. The one downside to this is that I'll be stopping to refuel in Rio de Janeiro - the city I've wanted to see for longer than any other - but won't be able to get off the plane. Sod's law!

And Erwin, I'll certainly be looking at helping out with teaching. One thing I'll definitely be doing is printing off a load of flyers and sticking them up in university language departments offering proof reading of English coursework, that kind of thing. But I've been living with my parents to save money for three years now, and rent in Buenos Aires is going to set me back somewhere in the region of £180 per month including bills and internet. Yes, I know. So if I don't get much more work than WSC and Soccernet already provide me, I really might just treat it like a big holiday.

Oh, and of course anyone thinking of visiting BA any time this year do get in touch.

Ask Kubelgog about the football there. Recent evidence is that he holds it in about as high a regard as stepping in dog crap. Alternatively, ask dalliance. He has watched it in the past ten years.

I moved somewhat against my will from Germany to South Africa almost 28 years ago. I still miss Germany sometimes, but if I left SA, I'd probably miss that place even more. In other words, if you make Argentina your home, not a temporary residence, taking the good with the bad, you'll be very much OK there. Of course, you might be OK also if you don't.

If you don't have friends there, the first few months might be lonely, especially if you leave your GF behind and maintain some kind of exclusivity. Giving Argentina only eight months notice to prove itself to you seems rather too short. Unless you really hate living there, or absolutely cannot assimilate or make a living, you shouldn't make any permanent decisions by next Christmas.

Living in different countries is ace - it's like a free world education, man. I've lived in Karachi, Beijing, Tirana, Kabul, Dubai - and I've applied for jobs in Manila, Hong Kong, Miami and Nairobi. The world's a much smaller place these days anyway, and the way we work means that one doesn't have to be rooted geographically to one location anymore. I read recently that it's not so long ago that 90% of the population in the UK lived within 25 miles of where they were born. I'd be interested to see what the figures are now since Norman Tebbit made everyone buy bicycles.

Good Luck Sam, tis a brilliant thing to do, only one thing i'll say is to make sure you have enough money should you need to get back. You'll have a great time, shame about the g/f but hey ho.

Enjoy yrself, you pass this way but once

Good luck from me, too, Sam.

You may be 'bricking' it, but that is likely to be from genuine excitement, more than fear. Make sure you have a back up plan, in case something goes tits up. Sort out an Argentine bank account (if you havent already), and, basicallly, enjoy the bejeezus out of it.

What a grand adventure. I miss the UK, especially family and friends, but you cannot be in two places at once.

Any doubts you have will diminish once the trip actually begins. The passion you have for the place flows through your writing and that will see you through any setbacks.

All the best with it.

Jealousy. Seething, seething jealousy.

You'll have such a great time! An adventure indeed. I really ought start thinking about getting the cajones to do something similar.

I hope you find the time to tell us all how it goes.

I was in a similar situation with a girlfriend once, and it's not all doom and gloom. We still have a great friendship, albeit a rather sporadic one. I think this is due to the fact that we were forced apart, rather than growing apart. We still have that fondness.

I still remember the difficulty in parting though. Autopilot is exactly how I felt. Hope it goes ok.