So I’m sitting in Borders Books here on Long Island, NY, thinking about “trade-offs” while drinking a cup of coffee. In less than 2 weeks, I’m leaving to Montevideo, Uruguay. It’s a bit crazy, being that I recently returned from 9 months in Buenos Aires, Argentina… Now look at me, just over 3 months later I’m heading back to South America. I must have an itch to scratch or something, eh? Well… a lot of it has to do with wanting to continue learning Spanish and also exploring the prospect of starting seminars in South America. But this time, I’m leaving my country without much money at all — just rolling the dice and seeing what happens.
Ok, let’s get back on track here — Trade Offs! What’s a trade-off? Put simply, it’s when you give something up to gain something else. As a friend always puts it “When one door closes another opens.”
In Uruguay I will be WITHIN a new culture — language, food, experiences, new conversations, new sights, etc.. But I’ll equally be WITHOUT things like — my super-fast internet connection, all my amazing vegan restaurants that I frequent, my amazing bamboo and wildflower garden, my friends, and the safety and comfort of my home here in New York.
Such is life, a revolving door of opportunity and loss. When one hand grabs to reach something the other let’s something go. And I think this isn’t something to frown upon. Such a flow keeps life spicy and rich with growth. And though my mother recently reminded me that “a rolling stone never grows moss,” I’m not at all inclined to stop moving, growing, changing, and experiencing what life has to offer. If I settle down for any fixed thing, then, I, too, become just as fixed, rigged, and stuck. And who want’s to feel stuck?
For the past 2 years or so, I’ve been traveling. Almost a year in Northern California helping to save Redwood trees. A weekend in Rome speaking about my activism. Almost a year in Buenos Aires learning Spanish, and a weekend trip to Uruguay. Sure, I could have stayed in New York and earned a good salary these past 2 years, but I chose to travel, explore, and look under the rocks of life to find hidden treasures. And I don’t regret a thing. Having never made more than about $30,000 per year from my (extremely) small internet business, I have earned so, so much more in experiences.
These experiences have enriched my life in so many ways. Learning conversational Spanish, sharing cups of mate (tea) with strangers on the beach, riding scooters without helmets on cobblestones, talking about forest conservation in Rome, and climbing 150 feet in the air to the tops of giant trees. All experiences that will remain with me for a lifetime. Memories that I can conjure up instantly. And bonds between friends that will never fade.
I hope that you also recognize that only when you’re willing to give something up — perhaps everything — that you’ll gain something new. I’d love to hear from you and your life experiences.
I look forward to sharing my upcoming experiences with you all.
Peace,
David Askaripour
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Nice Post. I love the picture and the last sentence: “only when you’re willing to give something up — perhaps everything — that you’ll gain something new…” That is so absolutly right!
Thanks a lot. Appreciate you taking the time to read my little life tidbit. Many blessings
Fellow New Yorker here who’s interested in moving out to URU (my wife is from there)…just curious on your take on how a “hustle & bustle” NYC native would deal out there. How’s it going overall? Easy to find a job? Cost of living is amazingly cheaper than US/NY?
Hey Chris, My Fellow NYer!
Your wife speaks Castellano, entonces? Do you as well? I crave to hear that accent!! I speak often with my girlfriend from BA, but other that that…there aren’t many people here in NY that speak “castellano”…
Anyways… One word to describe URU: CHILL. It’s really laid back there. People spend a lot of time walking around and chatting amongst one another. The are tones of NYC hustle and bustle there, but it’s generally watered-down and more easygoing.
Finding a job there isn’t that easy since there are so many people trying to work and make a living. Knowing english and spanish very well will open MANY doors, though. Couple that with some good connections, and you will find a job there… but perhaps not a high paying one. One good enough to eat and have fun based upon their currency. If you can make dollars, then, well, you’re set! Even 30k USD there… and you’re living the “high life.”
Cost of living in Montevideo can go from very cheap to very typical NYC prices depending on the “barrio.” If you live in cuidad vieja, you can find a really nice place for $500 per month and live very well. If you want to step it up a notch, then look towards “pocitos” and “malvin” for really nice boardwalk spots… and you’re looking at $650 – $1000+ spots there. And, of course, if you live with others… you can get super nice “toursity” — but that’s another story.
Overall, it’s a lot cheaper the live there. But you will be lacking many things that are readily available to us in NYC — fast internet, Whole Foods, shit-free streets, etc…
So it really comes down to your goals and directions in life. I HIGHLY recommend that you go for a few months if you can and get your feet wet. Uruguay is magical, really! I plan on going back to that region soon!
Blessings.