How to meet other people...

[Goostacean]

We recently moved to Buenos Aires due to DH’s work. We’re here for a year, til March, and- as DH is staffed elsewhere in the region- it’s just me and DS (5 months) all week. I’ve been trying to make friends but it’s been really hard going... Any advice?

I made some expat mum friends but they’re busy as they’re living here for 10-15 years so have “proper” lives and roots here. When we do arrange something, people often flake at the last minute for child-related reasons. I’m waiting for the church I’ve started going to to get back to me about their small group meet ups. The sister of a friend of a friend sent me a courtesy message re settling in but wasn’t keen to meet up, which I understand- such a tenuous connection! I tried Meetups but there were no suitable groups. I’m under the impression the Embassy doesn’t run events (eg the US Embassy did a 4th of July event). I think my next poet of call will be mummy-and-baby classes, but the idea really doesn’t appeal... Not to drip feed- I’m 27 and have no childcare, but DS is very relaxed and just comes along with me everywhere.

What am I missing?? 😊

yoga classes, dance classes, poetry groups, french embassy always have cultural events. American have yoga classes probably... EU embassy other events.. American recreational centre..... Get involved with a local NGO involved in environmental or womens issues, volunteer. get into walking groups. and now you are an expat, start inviting people over for dinner...... yes, this is what expats do.... go for coffee, yoga, pilates, whatever your interests are. i took up ballet in uganda.... :)

Thanks for your reply :) I’m such an extrovert so this is proving tough!

The problem with all the classes is that I have nowhere to leave the baby :( I would LOVE to go back to zumba but even if they let him sit at the back of the class, he’d probably go deaf from the music...!

I’ve been visiting all the galleries and museums, but no one else seems to be too interested! I’ve floated the idea in the expat groups I belong to online. There’s a book club I could go to, although they meet in the evenings- but baby will have to suck it up and sleep in a corner. Volunteering is a good idea- any thoughts on how to find a suitable organisation?

Thanks again :)

You need to get some childcare. End of. Otherwise you'll go mad. And you need to put yourself out there. Find exisiting groups.

Internations:

Yoga groups can be good. Acro yoga often has quite a good social scene attached to it, and it's good for men and women :)
On FB: AcroYoga Buenos Aires, jam de acroyoga buenos aires,
Ashtanga yoga BA: On FB: Escuela de Ashtanga Yoga Buenos Aires,

Internatiosn ahve meet ups.. alot are for career lot, but there will be partners and people who just go for a drink and some fun, I went to a few in Rome. They were ok.. we went to dance and also a walking tour which was great and ended in bar.

www.internations.org/?&utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=internations&matchtype=e&utm_device=c&utm_content=Internations&utm_campaign=Brand_Country&msclkid=7339a3f0a897155bd41ff8dddd5904cc

ON FB: expats in buenos aires - social meetings,
ceramic classes: La Casita Taller de Cerámica

I don't know about volunteering options, but there will be lots. Questions for you to think about are: what are you good at, what can you help with, what are your interests, what did you do before kids, can this skill be utilised, what will you do after kid goes to school, will volunteering add to your skillset, how can it.... google a list of NGOs, since you do have kids it might be nice for you to do something . Caritas will have a few projects: www.caritas.org/where-caritas-work/latin-america/argentina/

Childcare is cheap in BA, find someone who would love your baby for oyu whislt you are out. You do not need isolation, homesickness... and learn spanish nd tango... woop woop.

If you are into vegetarian cooking you can go and meet from friend Ale.

You’re right, re the childcare @Mountainsoutofmolehills ... I think I’ve got PFB-syndrome, I have a big support network in the UK that I’d happily lean on, but out here I need to find someone that I trust and that’s hard! I was planning to send DS to a nursery a few mornings a week say, from 8 months or so, but maybe we need someone at our home sooner...

Thanks for the all the links! I’ll take a good look through them this week... many options would also help with my Spanish, I’m sure!😊