Home Stretch

With hours remaining in my study abroad experience I would like to recount my last few days in Uruguay which went a little like this:

Exams were done for me on Friday morning and, man, it felt great. I mostly spent the weekend packing and hanging out with as many people as I could and especially my host family. I had my farewell dinner on Saturday which was fun and Sunday night I made barbecue meatballs with rice as a thank you to Analia and Mary for dealing with me and my intermediate Spanish for 10 months. And, being the nostalgic person I am, I made sure to eat at all my favorite places and see my favorite sites before now.

I even managed to finally work up the nerve to go see the ashes of Artigas in Plaza de Independencia and that was unexpectedly scary. I happened to be the only person in that dark, spacious room along with two statues, or rather Uruguayan soliders. Apparently, they can't move, talk or anything as they guard the ashes and it was pretty scary since I knew nothing of this and with their spiffy uniforms they looked like very well constructed soliders like the nutcracker statues. It scared the crap out of me when I realized they were watching me taking pictures and that they had rifles on them. The light on the stairs that kept flashing on and off didn't make the situation any better either.

Also, I took out money before going to the Tristan Narvanja outdoor market and just went crazy buying things I've always been eyeing and doing my souvenir/ Christmas shopping. It was cool because the venders were actually being chatty with me so I got to talk to some of them and observe my further progress with Spanish as they hardly gave me any confused looks as I used English syntax for a Spanish sentence. I seriously love those moments where you can see what kind of progress you're making with Spanish.

I am super tired and this post is all crazy. I'll edit later. I just wanted to get it out because obviously tomorrow I'll be feeling much different.

Christmas isn't Suppose to be Hot

I feel like I'm in an alternate universe with it being so HOT around Christmas time. Not to be gross, but my hands are actually sweating as I type this. That is not suppose to happen. I'm suppose to be walking around in a jacket and all times and stealing my mom's heating blanket. In fact, I'm usually home from school right now. Its. so. weird. But nice. Apparently its snowing up there in NC already which is usually doesn't do until late winter which means it has to be freezing up there. Nothing makes you appreciate the heat like knowing you will be going home in a few days where its in the 40s.

Another bizarre thing about the holiday season here, for me, is the lack of Christmas spirit and decoration. Its definitely there, but I'm used to being bombarded by Christmas commercials galore and gaudy decorations all over the place. Its a lot more chill. Tres Cruces knows how to get Christmas poppin' though. Unfortunately, I wasn't paying attention to the music to see if they were playing Christmas songs, but there were definitely a lot of discounts going on and whole lot of people there for a Thursday.

Even though I'm more than ready to go home and celebrate with my family a small part of me kind of wants to stay here and see how they get their Christmas on. Its much different in that on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) they go out and party. Then they wake up late on Christmas day and open presents and just spend time with family. I think they also shoot off fireworks as I saw someone today selling them on the street, but then again those could be for New Year's. And, since families usually live pretty close together airports aren't packed (said the American Airlines lady) in Latin America. I found that interesting.

Here's our Christmas tree. I think it makes it seem like we live in the desert, haha. Its made of twigs and has colored rocks in the glass vase.

For those feeling a bit miffed after I failed to do 31 posts in October I hope to make it up in the next few days with a bunch of blogs I've been meaning to write. If anyone has any suggestions or something else they want to know about life in Uruguay let me know asap.

Speaking of heat, here's a link to my Beach Week photo album. Click around and you can find my other albums as well.

Being an Introverted Language Learner

'I speak Spanish, I'm just introverted.' This label should be sharpied on to my forehead. I've met so many people who assume I don't speak a lick of Spanish despite being here for ten months and its just not true. A prime example is when a friend of mine, Rodrigo, took me to a music studio to take a class with him. The instructor sensed I wasn't talking very much and interpreted that as me not being able to under him began unnecessarily whipping out every English word he had ever learned while he tried to explain how to create a song on the computer. Every time he asked if I was understanding I would nod my head enthusiastically and insist that I did, but he still had Rodrigo translate just about everything for me until I finally told him that I can understand Spanish perfectly fine.

My thing is I'm not a fan of small talk and I get to the point when I speak. These are not great qualities in a language learner and I'm sure its the reason why my speaking skills still aren't amazing albeit they are SO much better than they used to be. I can't be too bothered by it though as I plan to speak Spanish for the rest of my life which means I'll get plenty of opportunities to keep improving and keep using it. It just kind of sucks though because so many people people probably think I don't like them when in all honesty I just don't know what to say.

I do have to say , however, that what I lack for in speaking skills is made up in my writing skills. Oh, yeah. So, just email me instead.... hah.

So, that was a little bit about me there. If you happen to be an introverted language learner I'd love to hear about it. I think I'm the only one ever I've met and I know there are more people like me out there.

Beach Week: Part 2

Gah, I don't want to write this post but a part one needs a part two, so here we go....

Unfortunately the failed hitchhiking and hand written, probably really old bus schedule that had us all confused, meant I spent the better part of my day waiting for a bus we finally made it to Cabo Polonio. I was only there for three hours as I was running out of time in my trip and frankly didn't think I would have fun is the middle of nowhere but, boy, was I wrong. Cabo Polonio is a.w.e.s.o.m.e. You have to take a 30 minute caravan ride through the countryside and the beach just to get to it, the electricity turns off at 7pm, and they live in something like shacks. If I had the time I so would have stayed there for a few days. The vibe there is so chill and even though I'm a city girl I think I could enjoy that extreme. For a little while at least.

And, after Cabo came Punta del Diablo! I lovelovelove that place. It was a perfect mix of La Pedrera and Cabo Polonia in that it was still a chill place, but there was a little bit more going on in. I can tell its a huge hit for 20-somethings in the summer time. This is even where I got to try out surfing. I was so excited to do so and it was so fun. Its work too. I woke up the next day and definitely felt that workout in my shoulder muscles and my upper abs. I completely know understand why surfers are so ripped. Its completely worth it though. This is also where I met a really cool girl named Michelle from Scotland! We got along really well and she even invited me to stay with her in Scotland if I even made it up there which I hope to live there one day so we'll see.

----

And the moment you've all been waiting for... my stalker who really didn't stalk me (although it sounds better) so we'll call him a creeper. UGH. He grossed me out. OK, so I was in Rocha on my way to La Pedrera from Punta del Este when he walks by me with his friend and casually says 'hola' without breaking his stride. My guard was down after the dinner I just finished so I non-committedly uttered it back and turned my head when out of the corner of my eye I see dude stop and turn around. Oh my gosh. Before I know it he is sitting next to me telling me how beautiful I am and that he is going to go to sleep dreaming about me and how there aren't girls in Rocha that look like me and have my beauty. Puh-lease. I just did my best to fake like I didn't know Spanish very well, especially when he was talking about kissing me and coming to Cabo Polonia with me. Thank GOD my bus was arriving soon so I could get out of there.

Oh, you thought that was it?! Here is the best part. He kept on staring at me as I waited for my bus then as I chose my seat on the SAME SIDE as the park. Mistake. He ran up to the bus asking for a Uruguayan kiss-- heck no! Right as it was about to pull off he ran up to the door again still asking for a kiss. The bus driver assistant gave me the weirdest look ever and I just said adelante with a hand gesture that together meant don't-ask-just-freaking-go. And even better I had to go to Rocha TWICE after this incident as a lot of buses go through there and was thanking my lucky stars that I didn't see him again. No one in that park tried to help me out either. Thanks a lot, guys. END

Late Night List

Its almost 3am the night before an exam and am tired of studying. So, that means my mind likes to move on to more creative things and in about 16 mins I managed to come up with a great list for how to avoid taking an oral exam. Its relevant because I'm here for school anyway and some of these definitely couldn't happen if i wasn't here. Yeah. I'm tired. Here we go...

47 Ways to show up to an exam and still avoid taking it:

1) i could just walk in and say hi then leave
2) i'll get drunk and then ill go
3) or i'll get high
4) ill get lost in the streets
5) i'll show up at the wrong time
6) or the wrong classroom
7) or the next day
8) ill pretend i already left the country
9) ill write him a note, ball it up, and chuck it into the room as i run past
10) ill walk in point to the person leaving the room and say ditto and then leave
11) ill learn how to juggle and just do that until he tells me to go
12) ill sit down then abruptly start to cry
13) i'lll call my mom when i walk into the room and tell her to tell him i dont feel well
14) ill tell him i'm pregnant and too emotionally distressed
15) ill tell him id rather be at the beach
16) i will scream my answers hoping he wont hear them
17) ill just stand in the doorway and wave
18) ill pretend to lose my voice
19) i'll poor ketchup on my arm and act surprised when he points it out and act like i've been shot
20) i will suddenly forget how to speak spanish
21) ill tell him in my bad spanish how i was abducted by aliens and they use an anal probe
22) ill sing everything to him
23) ill suddenly get a bad case of diarrhea
24) ill tell him i have to go blow my nose and never come back
25) i'll perform a ritual in the room and explain that it will give me good luck
26) i'll heave like im going to throw up
27) wet my pants and pretend like i did it as i walked into the room
28) start break dancing
29) just stare at him as he talks to me and waits for my answer
30) develop a case of tourettes!
31) start using sign language
32) demand an interpreter be present
33) tell him its that time of the month
34) be so hyper that i can't pay attention
35) space out and never space back in
36) says its my birthday and i expect full marks
37) tell him obama is my uncle and will start a nuclear war if i get anything below an 8
38) take a sip of water and accidently spray it in his face when he starts to ask a question
39) talk about nonsense
40) explain that i cant think without wearing earrings and go back to get them
41) tell him my dog died and i'm really upset about it
42) just hug him and dont let go
43) mimic him
44) break my leg on the way to the exam
45) pretend to be on to be a millionaire and spend way too much time on the sound effects
46) put my head down when i sit down and fall asleep
47) hold up the number 10 throughout the whole thing

leavemealonenight.

Beach Week: Part 1

What with classes having ended and a week and a half until exams, I decided it was the best time to finally visit the eastern coast of Uruguay for real. (The other trip to Punta del Este definitely didn't count). And this is where I would like to say that beach week was still with me two days later.... in the form of heat rash. They are these tiny, itchy, little bumps that you can hardly see but that I can definitely feel on my arms and neck. I really should've read my own post about wearing sunscreen. Maaaan. Anyways my trip went a little like this:

Punta del Este was my first stop and frankly I wasn't too impressed. Maybe its because of the serious budget I'm on and the fact that the high season doesn't kick in until January but I didn't see anything too appealing about it besides that its surrounded by beaches. However, I did find a great restaurant that sold the best medialunas I've ever had. Delish! A definite highlight and lowpoint was going to the Isla Gorriti which is just a 10 minute boat ride off the coast of Punta. We got nice views of the city and it was cool to be on a more secluded beach. Unfortunately with it being low season the boat didn't come every hour like the hostel told us and we were in the sun with little shade for a whole extra hour waiting for it. Sunburn number one.

The next stop was La Pedrera which I can just never say right. This hostel was fun because I arrived at about 9pm to this rural city and was walking along dirt roads trying to find it despite none of the streets having actual names except for the main street. Yeah, it was that rural. It was the most scared I've been since I've got here. But I got through it thanks to a guy who came out of his at just the right time to kind of help me out and at least assure me that someone would at least know what I looked like if a wolf jumped out of the woods and dragged me away. At least thats what my overactive imagination at the time was thinking. It was a quaint town though with two main beaches. And I might have rented a surfboard with a swedish guy and almost tried to surf but quit after getting a nasty bruise on my wrist as the choppy waves kept throwing the board about. This is always where I tried hitchhiking with an English guy and gave up after a few hours. This stop was just full of fail. And let's not even talk about the $(*^%&* mosquitoes. I'm sorry La Pedrera, but we just shouldn't even be friends.

Well, that's the end to the first half of my week at the beach. As you can see it wasn't really all that fabulous, but the second half definitely made up for it. Also, stay tuned to hear about my stalker in Rocha. *shudders*

Fire in the Hole!

About two nights go a popcorn machine exploded in the movie center in Punta Carretas Shopping and the mall was shut down for at least a full day while three cleaning crews worked to clean it up. None of the two thousand shoppers at the time were seriously hurt except for a few small injuries and some people who were effected emotionally by the scare. So, I won't be going to the movies on Saturday. Bummer.

But I mention this mostly because through this incident I found out that all the malls in the area (Punta Carretas, Montevideo, and Portones) have a night of discounts that is reminiscent of our black Friday. Its one night only and the earlier you come the bigger the discount. In fact, they are doing it tonight which is why its so good they managed to clean up and re-open that mall today as its the most pricey of them all.

For the news story and a short little video go here. The English and other language buttons are located on the top right of the page.

Thanksgiving

El Día de Acción de Gracias was my first big holiday away from home.

First off, it was a little strange for me to have two night classes that very day when I usually only have half a week off of school just because just to celebrate this particular holiday. And since we were eating so late and I didn't get out of class until 9:10 I had to get all the recipes together and let Marie and her friend Rafael make it happen. Its unfortunate that we didn't have enough space in the oven to cook more than one big dish and one small dish at a time but always what with me having late classes and Marie and everyone having to work till 5:00 it just all couldn't be done the way I wanted it. So, the meal ended up being different-- and definitely way more healthier-- than anticipated but dang it was still good.

Everyone invited friends over and we scourged up chairs from all over our tiny apartment to accomodate all the people. They insisted that I say the prayer... in English... and very slowly. Somewhere in there I might have gotten nervous and said Happy Thanksgiving to Canada as well... haha. It was nerve-wrecking. And for dessert Flo, my guest, and me attempted funnel cakes which was halfway successful meaning that we burned half of them. But, hey, the ones that did make it out unburned tasted pretty good. And, I know funnel cake is not typically eaten after Thanksgiving dinner, but pies and things need to be made from scratch for the most part here as crusts and things aren't pre-made and we just wouldn't have had the time nor patience to make them. I had secretly been wanting to make funnel cake for a while though so that worked out perfectly for me.

Then right before we started eating I actually got my parents on Skype to check out how I was spending my Thanksgiving. I was video chatting with them and they were able to meet my Uruguayan family who used what English they knew to speak to my family and showed them all the food and the other friends we had invited over. So, I did manage to involve my family a little in the festivities. But that was my Thanksgiving.

P.S. The US lost the bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup but now that just means we all get to travel all the way to Qatar to see it. And I'm googling Qatar right about now....