“I could tell it was fine”, he often thought to himself. He had his own car, he rented an apartment, his fixed salary was enough to live on and indulge in the occasional treat, and he also had time to go to the gym, play paddle tennis, and organize outings with friends.

Raised in a middle-class neighborhood in the province of San Juan, Dano Basso remembers a quiet childhood with his ex-combatant father from Malvinas, a housewife mother and two brothers, whom he defines as “his life”. He had started working at the Golden Arches company when he was 19 years old.. “I just wanted a little money of my own to go out and buy myself some pilcha. Then, with many hours of work, opportunities for promotion arose. It was a lot of sacrifice but it was worth it. First I worked as a coach, later as an area manager until finally I got to occupy the position of Human Resources manager”.

The experience was turning out to be absolutely enriching. Within the company, over the years, he had had the opportunity to acquire a lot of knowledge, attend different courses, and do floor work, so he lived hectic days with goals to meet.

But at a time in my life I realized that, due to habit, routine and other factors, I was postponing a dream: that of traveling the worldlearn about cultures, languages ​​and not be left alone with the images I saw on the web or on television”.

He was determined. He would leave the life he knew behind and go on an adventure. He made plans for a year, he wanted to leave Mc Donald’s well and consider a cycle closed. He did not want to leave debts either, so with his brother Fabricio and his sister Veronica he stood firm in the steps he had to take to advance towards his goal. He had to pay some credit cards, sell the car, get dollars -which at that time was easier than today-.

The chosen destination was Australia. “Maxi, a friend who had already been to New Zealand told me: you who have an Italian passport, you have to go to Australia and you pick it up. With that harangue I was ready to take off my tie and put on my gloves. Willing to take any jobs that come up. I swear I remember it like it was yesterday when I arrived in that country. It was all majestic and there was water everywhere, many beaches, forests and lakes”.

Dano arrived on September 19 and on the 22 he was already working. The following month he got a job at the Australia Post. “Work was from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and every day at 3:30 p.m. we were already on the beach having a mate, coffee or beer with friends. That country changed my life in terms of security and financial peace. I went from earning 30 thousand pesos in Argentina to 540 thousand per month according to the conversion of those years. All of this gave me the opportunity to travel around Europe.”

Italy, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, England, the United States, Germany and Denmark were some of the countries that Dano was able to visit. “I went to each one with my eyes wide open, wanting to know their cultures and verify some myths. Now I am settled in Denmark. I work in a covid test center. The quality of life in this country makes everything calm: security, walking quietly, financial peace is incredible. There is no worry about reaching the end of the monthyou earn enough to live well, save, buy gifts and most importantly travel!

However, Denmark has a side that Dano did not like very much. For example, the low temperatures for much of the year and the absence of sunlight – in winter it gets dark at 4:00 p.m. – mean that, at times, the days are a bit overwhelming. But he reflects on it: “getting out of my comfort zone opened my mind much more, being exposed to the new and different allowed me to learn and unlearn, get to know cultures, customs, experience more freedom and independence, be alone for everything, and that forces you to evolve and grow.”

For him, Argentina is a beautiful country, the house, the family, the friends, what he misses and never forgets is his origin. “Return? There is always the idea, to undertake something, but then you see the reality and current affairs and you don’t feel like doing it. For now it’s just a matter of coming back from time to time to enjoy family and friends. Today I choose to stay a couple more years here. Living in peace is priceless”.

If you had an experience that improved your well-being and quality of life (it can be medical, food, sports, a trip, sentimental, professional or of another nature), and you want to share it in this column, write to [email protected]