Looking for a life changing experience
Replies: 4 - Last Post: Oct 15, 2012 1:25 PM Last Post By: beerfree
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Looking for a life changing experience
My name is Nick and I'm currently a college student in the United States. I'm doing very well in school, but at this point in my life I'm not sure if it's what I want to do. I've been taking Spanish classes for 6 years and am fairly proficient. Luckily, my roommate is in the same boat. Due to our love of latin american culture and our thirst to explore, we think that South America is the perfect place to go off to. In some initial planning, we devised a loose plan of starting in Montevideo, Uruguay, moving across Buenos Aires, Argentina and through the Patagonia to the Chilean Andes. From there work our way north, stopping to ski at whatever resorts we can. We would then trek to Asuncion, Paraguay so we could meet up with an indigenous tribe that my roommate lived with for a few months. Finally, work back north east to Cuzco, Peru (obviously hitting Machu Pichu), and eventually returning to the US from Lima.It's a great sounding plan, but I just have no concept of how to bring it all together. Here are some of my questions:
What is the cheapest way to get there? Flying? Where would be the best place to start?
What are the best ways to get around? I know buses are prevalent, but would it be practical to find old dirt bikes and shred them around the continent?
How much does it cost to live everyday? Food basically, we can always throw up a tent.
Where are the best/cheapest places to ski?
What kind of available housing is there in the bigger cities?
Is it a possibility that we would be able to find work?
Any advise would be useful. Trying to escape America for a life-changing excursion. Thanks!
1
Ok nice try but you've overegged the omlette. If you are going to pull off a good troll, you'll need a lighter touch. Not even I'm convinced that US college students are quite this stupid or ill-informed, although it is line ball.I did like the line about visiting an indigenous tribe in Asuncion. Keep at it, you're on the right track but you need a little more work.
2
Lets assume this isn't a troll. I would seriously consider finishing your studies, unless you a very wealthy and don't need a good job in the future. South America will still be there.Clearly flying is your only practical option of getting to SA from the US. You have already said you are starting in Montevideo (flights will be cheaper to BsAs, probably) and leaving from Lima, so why ask the question?
Realistically it will cost you $1500 a month, less if you spend more time in Bolivia than Argentina and Chile.
Don't know about skiing.
Hostels and Hospedajes.
No you won't find any work, unless you are prepared to do some very unsavoury (and very illegal) things.
Edited by: Tryfan
3
To me it doesn't sound lik OP wants to quit college. A gap year maybe?Indgenous tribes in Paraguay? You'd have to look for them really hard. What did your buddy actually tell you? At best, you could experience life in the countryside, in rustic conditions that you're not used to.
For skiing you might try Las Leñas. But skiing in South America isn't cheap, it's a little bit like luxury sports.
4
Skiing in Ushuaia is better than in Las Leñas but it will be difficult to get down there with a bike in winter.ADVERTISEMENT
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