A former participant in Bake Off Argentina left everything, went to Norway and talks about his incredible experience: “Everyone is rich here”

Marco Perrenone of the participants in the second edition of Cook Argentina (Telefe, 2020) most loved by the public, he left the country at the end of April with one goal: to get to know every corner of the world.

Designed by the unknown, the famous pastry chef and influencer he applied for a work visa and moved to one of the most magical places on the planet: the Lofoten Islandsin northern Norway, where average temperatures in winter are generally below freezing and in summer, for almost two months, there is sunshine 24 hours a day.

Far from what many of his friends or family believed, this young man was born and raised in the city of Florida, party of Vicente López, adapted very quickly to his new routine. And it is so good that he feels there that he does not rule out staying and also working as a pastry chef in the near future.

“Now I wanted to unpack some of the pasta but the second part of my year in Norway I want to go back to that. I think it will be a great experience “, begins Marcos in this relaxed speech, almost 13,000 kilometers away, with Clarione.

The entrepreneur recalled, that now he earns his living working as a bartender in one of the most exclusive hotels in Lofotenhe shares the accommodation with two other young people (one from Poland and the other from Portugal), who like him have left the comforts of their homes and have opted for a radical change of life.

– Why did you leave?

-Because my main goal has always been to travel. Prior to churn out I was backpacking around the country and came back for the show. My plan was to continue as soon as the reality show ended, but the pandemic didn’t allow me to. So in January 2021 I left again. I started in Córdoba, went to Esquel (Chubut) and then moved on to Las Grutas (Río Negro).

– Until you got the idea of ​​emigrating …

Yes, we all have the ability to be successful if we commit ourselves with effort and desire. Many people think that traveling is a very distant fact but today there are many tools to do it and also to spend as little money as possible.

-And how did you do it?

-First of all at the age of 15 I started working (making cakes which I then sold on Facebook) to save money. Secondly, I signed up to apply for a work visa. And the truth is, the procedure is super simple and was faster than I expected.

-When did you start?

-I started collecting papers at the end of February and traveled on April 26th. In a month and a half I did everything. It’s all about sitting down, reading the requirements and filling out the forms. From what I have read, the Norwegian visa is the easiest to apply for, for example they do not ask for an English test, nor a return ticket. The only thing, you need the money to prove that you can afford the expenses: around $ 3,000.

And what did your parents tell you?

-I am lucky that they have always supported me and gave me independence from an early age. It’s something I’m very grateful for.

-Many young people decide to emigrate for lack of opportunities they see in Argentina, is this the case for you?

-No, my country is beautiful, it has an incredible culture and we have millions of opportunities that are not available in other countries, for example in terms of education.

Despite everything, Marcos left and of all the options he initially considered (from going to colorful German cities to the warmer regions of New Zealand) he was left with the least known.

“When I told my friends that I am going to Norway, the first thing that came to my mind was ‘you’re going to the ass of the world.’ And I have to admit it. Before traveling, I only knew that Oslo was the capital of the country and that the Vikings lived thousands of years ago.“, recognize.

Also, it’s your first trip out of the country alone … how were the first few weeks?

-The first month was very quiet, very quiet. I only worked about 30 hours a week (the summer season hadn’t started yet and the workload was less). With that I have already recovered all the money I had spent from my savings, because if Norway has something in its favor it is that the salaries are very high despite the fact that the taxes are expensive.

-How much does it cost?

-And the first month I paid around 800 euros in taxes, but you see that money on the streets.

-And what’s the rest of your salary? Do you have the ability to save?

-Yes, it is essential to get a job that includes housing. This is an advantage because if you have to rent, they ask you for the same requirements as Argentina: a sum of money to enter, a deposit, guarantees, there are millions of things. In my case there are three of us, they deduct about 300 euros a month each from our salary, plus about 150 euros that we spend a month on food.

-And how much do you earn?

-It is difficult to calculate how much money I will make this month (the summer season started in June and Marcos went from 30 hours a week to 60), but about 10,000 Norwegian kroner (NOK). That is, about a thousand euros.

“Holidays, overtime, if you work after 6pm and if you do it on Sundays, everything is paid double. There are many benefits and I understand that everyone here is rich. They drive AUDI, BMW, have a stable economy and they don’t work a quarter of what we work therewhere many people work 14 hours straight and peel their backs to bring the mangoes home, “he says in this regard.

– Why do you think this happens?

-Because here the state helps a lot and all the tax money is distributed and returned to the people.

– So you plan to stay?

-The Work and Holiday visa allows me to stay for a year but after these first months of work I want to take a vacation to go to the World Cup in Qatar. The idea is to go as a volunteer, because they offer you accommodation and food. I’ve already had an interview. We have to see if they accept me or not, and if not, I’ll spend the savings but I’ll go anyway.

-And after the World Cup would you like to return to Lofoten or do you prefer to tour Norway?

-The north of Norway (where the Lofoten Islands are located) is beautiful and I do not regret at all having chosen it as a destination. I am very happy and people have welcomed me very well and I adapted very quickly.

– Did you also quickly adapt to bad weather?

-Yes, when I arrived it was all snow, but here the cold is dry, very different from that of Buenos Aires, and when it was 3 degrees below zero I was walking down the street in a T-shirt. The difference is that it’s cold here 9 months a year.

-What do you miss most about Argentina?

-Boca (is a staunch fan of xeneize). And the joke: here the bars close at 3 in the morning and then you continue home, but it’s not the same thing.

-And don’t you miss cooking?

-No, because I cook a lot here. I have a nice oven and these days I prepare alfajores to take to my colleagues. At the moment just that, but my idea is over the summer season, looking for a job as a pastry chef. First, because it pays a lot more than bartending, and second, because I have a lot of experience.

-If you like it so much and pay so well, why did you stop doing it?

-The pastry business is a lot of fun, but when the business is on its own, like the one I’ve had for four years, you don’t have 100% fun. churn out It gave me the opportunity to enjoy pastry as I wanted: to teach, to transmit joy and knowledge on the networks. It was a before and after in my life because of the exhibition.

And how did it affect you?

– From one day to the next I had the responsibility of knowing that everything that went on social networks could have an influence on my followers. I have matured a lot and have become strong in front of the media. I liked it.

HAS