He was successful in his home country, but today he chooses to live and shine in Buenos Aires: "I'm surprised they don't know what the capital of Bolivia is."
Alejandro Rodríguez always enjoyed crossing borders, experiencing the daily life of places different from his own, learning from them, and returning home with the feeling of having grown in many aspects of his life. A lover of Latin American culture, he often embarked on experiences in other neighboring nations before returning to his home country of Bolivia, where he eventually settled and embraced the fast-paced lifestyle.
Alejandro was a sous chef, and the restaurant where he worked had opened another location where he held the position of executive chef alongside his previous position. He barely had one day off a week , which he spent cleaning his house, shopping, sharing something different with his girlfriend, and occasionally going out for drinks with friends. Still, within that routine, there was one thought (or rather, one destination) that crept into his busy life: Argentina, that country that called itself "the most European" in South America. He had longed to travel to the southern part of the world for a while and live another experience, and perhaps build a different future in that corner of the planet. But responsibilities overcame his dreams, and the journey was put on hold, something he decided to use to his advantage.
“I decided to work hard and build a financial cushion so I could fulfill my dream and survive in case things didn't work out in Buenos Aires,” Alejandro says. “Argentina had always caught my attention. I was always very interested in its cuisine, its soccer, its folklore. I really like the city, and I've always been drawn to its nightlife, especially that of Buenos Aires.”
There were Argentine customs that Alejandro had adopted since childhood on his own initiative, such as drinking mate. Then came a passion for soccer and later the discovery of other traditional drinks, such as Fernet, a surprise to many in his Bolivian environment. Each custom he adopted helped foster the growth of his dream, and as his life settled in his homeland, with a good life and a stable job, the question of whether he would ever dare to take the plunge and travel to Argentina grew.
One day, when he was already wondering whether to buy a house and settle down permanently, Alejandro realized he didn't want to live a life plagued by what-ifs, and decided it was time to leave his comfort zone, take the plunge, and live a different life, just as he had done briefly in the past, in other destinations. And so, the young man left his rising career and the predictable future behind, packed his bags, and pursued his Argentine dream.
“Those close to me weren't surprised,” she reveals. “Although there was no shortage of recommendations. A common theme among all those I told about coming to Buenos Aires was that they advised me to pay attention to the economic and political situation in Argentina. They told me that since I was well off, it was very risky and difficult to assimilate the change of life, and that I should take into account the very different situation in the country I wanted to invest in.”
Alejandro embarked with his girlfriend and his dog. From the start, starting over in Argentina brought its surprises. They crossed the border by land to ensure their pet's safety. The plan was to travel in stages, with the idea of alternating between various means of land transportation.
They first arrived in Salta, where they stayed for a few days, enjoying the scenery and the people, who welcomed them warmly. However, when they tried to continue on to Buenos Aires, they had their first shock: "They wouldn't let us travel with our dog on the bus," Alejandro reveals.
"We were intrigued by the Argentinian's openness and love of animals. This changed our plans, and we ended up taking a flight from Salta, which luckily was very peaceful."
The second surprise came as soon as they arrived at Ezeiza Airport at 1:00 a.m. Without warning, the accommodation they had booked was canceled, and there, in the middle of the night and confusion, they were stranded with no idea where to go: “With a lot of effort and exhaustive searching, we managed to find another Airbnb that accommodated us, our dog, and us, at 2:30 a.m.”
After the initial setbacks, and now more rested, Buenos Aires dawned warm. The imposing city revealed the kindness of its people in Alejandro's eyes, and he finally allowed himself to be enveloped in a state that swayed between joy and pride at a mission accomplished, also pierced by the adrenaline of starting over again, in a different environment.
Over time, his partner, Alejandro, and their dog found their place in the vast Buenos Aires, which to this day, he feels he's never fully understood. Now settled in a neighborhood where they feel safe, the young man soon found work in the culinary world and, with it, the opportunity to enjoy the city to its fullest.
“We really enjoy exploring, getting to know different areas, and sitting down to discover cafes and restaurants,” Alejandro says. “As for the impact, I'm surprised they don't know what Bolivia's capital is, but I understand it's because they're taught incorrectly in school; they're told it's La Paz, when it's Sucre. All my coworkers had the wrong information.”
“I'm also surprised by how people in Argentina try to maintain their afternoon snacks and siestas (the food industry, with its mostly nocturnal hours, allows for this),” Alejandro continues.
Alejandro had arrived in Argentina with extensive experience in gastronomy. Before Buenos Aires, he had worked in important positions in Peru and Ecuador, and, of course, in his own Bolivian homeland. He also worked closely with Pía Salazar, considered by many to be the best pastry chef in the world.
Thanks to his talent and background, the job soon came his way, and not only did he have the opportunity to pursue his passion, but he was soon promoted to head chef, giving him the opportunity to contribute to the menu and incorporate flavors from his homeland.
“It's great to be able to include other Latin American techniques, and for others to learn about that side of cooking,” Alejandro says thoughtfully. “The idea is to strengthen what we have at our fingertips.”
“Regarding the impact on employment, I was surprised by the double-day off issue. It's the first time I've heard of it. I was very struck by the fact that you can take two days off a week,” he continues. “On the other hand, I see how difficult it is to stay in the spotlight. A place can have an attractive and varied offering, but it's a business, and it's complex in the current climate. That's why it's important to find ways to stay on the radar. Everything is considered very temporary these days; everything follows a trend, but I think the important thing is to create an identity and continue to move forward from there.”
Alejandro was born in La Paz and raised in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, but he never stopped looking beyond his borders to soak up the richness of Latin America. Argentina seemed like a distant dream when his life in Bolivia seemed to tell him it was time to settle down. However, Buenos Aires called to him, perhaps as that ideal place in the world to merge his professional and personal experiences and take them to another level. Along the way, he had seen and tasted products and flavors he hadn't imagined long before: "From wild leaves, lemon ants, and culonas to coconut milk from the Colombian Pacific, wild coffee that no one cultivated, mollusks that must be consumed to combat the plague," he says.
Finally, his dream of Buenos Aires came to life, and he feels that this city is a fundamental part of a journey that today finds him in love with Argentine soil, with its chiaroscuros.
“This isn't the first time I've had to travel abroad. I travel to learn and to discover. To absorb all the tools that can be useful to me,” says Alejandro. “Argentina is a source of learning. It taught me, for example, to slow down, as they say here, to have a cooler head to analyze everyday life and situations, to be able to put things in order in my mind and then execute them little by little, something that didn't happen to me before.”
“On the other hand, I realized that we're not as different as people think we are. While Argentina and Buenos Aires have a very European flavor, we're always connected in some way: by the people who come here, by some ingredient, by some tradition, by some drink. By our passion for soccer! We have so much in common. Sometimes, people just forget it over time.”
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Unexpected Argentina is a section that explores the motives and feelings of foreigners who chose Argentina as their home. If you'd like to share your experience, please write to [email protected]. This email does NOT provide tourist, employment, or consular information; it is sent to the author of the article, not the subjects. The stories narrated in this section are life stories that reflect personal perceptions.
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