Saturday, March 29, 2008

Why are you moving to Buenos Aires? (part 1)

When I tell people that I'm moving to Buenos Aires, generally the responses are either "Why are you moving to Buenos Aires?" or "Why are you moving to Buenos Aires?"

Some of you that know me may laugh, but I pride myself on interpersonal communications. Still, at first I didn't hear the bolded difference in inflection.

The first is asking "why are you leaving Houston?" And if you know me and my love for Houston, then that's a good question. I was born here, and then I spent the next 15 years of my life waiting to move back. Since I graduated from college, I've chosen to leave Houston twice. Once was for career, and once was for romance. Two things I am a sucker for.

So why am I moving? I make a decent amount of money -- and I'll make more in Buenos Aires -- but I can do it from anywhere in the world. I've never been abroad, because in my middle class family, travel was practical. We go to place X -- never exotic -- so that we can visit relatives. We don't go abroad just to go abroad, because that's what rich people do.

Since I've never really gone abroad, now is my time. I'm single and I have money. Why not go?

It'll be hard to leave Houston. As a native Houstonian, I love this city dearly. But I don't go abroad now, then when?

The other angle is that I'd like to go to Harvard or Stanford for an MBA. Moving abroad and learning Spanish -- something I've wanted to do for 6 years or so -- is the sort of thing that will strengthen my application. Although I have the GMAT score, I'm still probably unlikely for admission, given my unusual resume. Yet, I'd like to do what I can to give myself the best chance possible to go to one of the top tier business schools. The opportunity to be peers with future titans of industry is one that should be pursued, even if it is a longshot.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

This blog will chronicle my move to Buenos Aires and my adventures there.