winter adventures

Final exam status: all completed minus one and that pesky little fella is scheduled for the 23 of this month. Making a jab at the accommodating planning of the professor, my classmates told me we should all take the final in the airport as we wait for my flight. (My flight leaves July 24th.)

After finishing the majority of my finals, I have felt quite free. Friday after the final a few friends and I went to a classy little café to celebrate our newfound freedom. In my free time, I´ve been dining with friends, cooking breakfast, exploring, going for runs, and enjoying living a few blocks from the beach. I never understood the fun to be had at a beach in the winter. I´ve spent at least a few hours at the beach each day, reading, watching the waves, talking with friends, walking til my heart is content, writing, and simply enjoying the sun when it shines. Sunday afternoon I walked back to the apartment from the flea market via the beach, a marvelous 3 hours in the salty wind and sunshine. I will miss living near the beach.

Tuesday I´m off to Buenos Aires to renew my visa.

sunshine and thunderstorms!

Saturday, after Grandma saw me walking about the apartment wearing my scarf wrapped tightly around my neck, she slid her rocking chair into the sunshine by the large window that overlooks the street below. Saturday was a gorgeous day with the sun shining like the world depended on it. So I studied the afternoon away rocking in the warm sunshine and watching the activity in the street below me. As I write this little update, I'm once again rocking in Grandma's chair by the front window, but this time to the sound of raindrops against the glass and cars splish splashing through puddles. Every so often I can watch the flashes of lightning reflecting on my computer screen. I think every time there was a thunderstorm at home, my mom would tell me to stay away from the big front window. Apparently, there is some danger in being too close to a window during a lightning storm. I'm not sure. Grandma hasn't called me stupid or warned me away from the large window here. Maybe the same rules don't apply here in Uruguay. I will let you know if anything happens.

Today marks the beginning of finals month at the university. 5 exciting, studies-filled days ahead of me then relaxation to follow. The week after I will be traveling in Buenos Aires with two friends from Mississippi and then heading to northern Argentina (Mendoza y Córdoba) for a few days to meet up with two different friends. After which I will be back in Montevideo for some time with my friends here, before I leave on the 24th. Oh how the time is flying!

Every Monday morning as I'm eating breakfast in the kitchen, Grandpa slips through the kitchen and out the door, mumbling a few good-byes and see you laters. A few weeks ago, Grandma shared the secret with me: Grandpa is taking computer classes. He doesn't like for it to be a big deal, and he still doesn't know that I know. But I can tell he likes them and is learning quite a big for a 70-something fellow. Just the other week when I was in the kitchen, I spied Grandpa on the computer showing Grandma what he had learned. She was ooo-ing and aaah-ing over what he had learned. It was cute.

That last rumble of thunder shook my heart I think, it felt like the bass you can feel at a concert. I like me a good storm!


Above are the kids that 3 friends and I worked with each Wednesday. We were helping them practice their English through songs, games and dances. Always a good time!

Cru friends after the graduation of Leticia (the one with the flower) I think Juan and Maycol fell over after pretending to propose to Leticia.

Besos

Month 4 and still going strong

A collection of short stories from the past week:

Thursday night my friend Leticia graduated from college. She is now officially a nutritionist! I had the chance to attend her graduation ceremony and the celebration that ensued. She had her hair done at a hair dresser for the special event and it looked gorgeous. So of course my shaggy do with curls sticking out at all angles received the brunt of the jokes for the night.

When I was a young girl I loved reading The Little House on the Prairie. I always thought it was so cool that in the winter the girls would warm bricks by the fire and then put the bricks under the covers by their feet. Now I understand. Last Thursday I bought a hot water bag. It cost me only $2.50, it is a lovely color of red and it has my name on it! Now every night before I go to bed I boil a pot of water and fill the trusty little hot water bag. I’ve been sleeping better lately and I’m down to only 3 quilts. I don’t know why I never thought of this before.

In general, I’ve been feeling more confident with my Spanish. There are still the days when I feel as if I can’t express myself, but in general I’m improving. I am far from fluency, but I’m making progress. On Monday, I have the opportunity to lead the weekly Cru meeting Bible study. I’ve never done such a thing, but I think you could classify my emotions as a healthy mix of excitement and nervousness.

Wednesday for dinner I ate Pasculina. This is the name of the spinach tort I’ve talked so passionately about in the past. Either something is wrong with me or we have proof that change is possible because I enjoyed it tonight. Believe me the spinach was just as plentiful and strong tasting as before, but I truly enjoyed it.

Malena (grandma) calls her husband Luis (grandpa) her besito, which in English is little kiss. I smile to myself each time I hear her pet names for him. The best is when she sings to him.

I entered my first casino. Haha but that is where the story ends. I had never been to a casino so Thursday night on the way to the bus stop my friend Juan and I walked in so I could see one in real life.

Today is Grandparents' Day as well as the birthday of Uruguay's national hero, José Gervasio Artigas. For the sake of his birthday there are no classes today. My plans include possibly making pancakes, studying for upcoming finals, and baking chocolate chip cookies for the students of the English club I help with.

Icicles Anonymous

In recent news, I’ve added a fourth quilt to my bed—without it I am cold. Whenever I’m in the apartment, I find that I’m magnetically drawn to my bed. It is one of the few places that I can truly be comfortably warm. Even though this doesn’t sound too fun, I’m doing fine and adjusting to the humid cold. And while classmates and locals alike are falling prey to the flu and weather-related illnesses, I’m determined to elude both. We shall see how I hold up when winter arrives.

The time is passing oh so quickly and I simply cannot believe that it is the second week of June. I have only 2 more weeks of classes, one additional week of finals and then my semester in Uruguay will be complete. The next three weeks will be challenging as I study for finals, prepare several culminating presentations and continue with all my strength to improve my speaking abilities.

Since I’ve last written, my apologies for the break, several exciting things have happened. Well more than several, but I will only share a few. Instead of traveling extraordinary places I’ve been spending more time in Montevideo and I love it. I love that I can explore new places and still know the city well enough to not get lost. I like that there are individual stores for your every need (meat store, fruit market, yarn store, bakery). I’m learning how to make Grandpa laugh. I like that I only eat freshly baked bread. I enjoy bundling up in June. I like being an adult. I like talking about Jesus. I like when it is just my Uruguayan friends and I, drinking mate and talking late into the evening. I like eating dinner at 11pm or later.

My friendships are becoming stronger.

I turned 21.

My friend Leticia and I are teaching a 4-week English conversation class.

I met my niece Lydia via Skype!

I learned how to play handball and kicked butt.

I rode my friend Maycol’s motorcycle.

I attended a 15th century organ music concert.

I make new friends often.

Some recent photos...

Juan and Maycol, two of my friends from Cru, helped me teach my friend Erika to ride motorcycle for her 21st birthday. I was the photographer and helped with the explanations, Maycol was the real teacher and Juan was the entertainment.

My new red shoes

This is what today looked like in Montevideo. I snapped this picture on my walk home from the university.

The neighborhood dog walker. He doesn't mess around.


The United Nations Buddy Bears are currently installed in Montevideo
Uruguayan bear and I

"21 is so young!"

With time I’ve realized nearly all of my neighbors in the apartment building are over the age of 60. And I love it! Unless Grandma is cracking up with a friend on the telephone, it is always quiet, especially after 9pm when they are all in bed. And I’m quite certain if I were sick; I would receive more love, care and tasty recovery food than necessary.

“21 is so young!” This was the response one of my grandma neighbors gave when I told her I was turning 21 years old on Sunday. This is the same lady that is standing on the balcony in the following picture. Please enjoy her expression-I laugh every time I look at it. I snapped the picture last week when the city was tree trimming/tree destroying outside of our apartment building. She was not very happy with them and decided to let them know.




I wish this were my car. Oh how it would enjoy the roads of PA. I just know it. Seriously, rust spots, worn tires included, I want to bring this car home with me.



I gave in. I cut my hair. I'm so weak. A change was necessary and the good thing is now I have confidence that if I ever do wish to grow my hair out, it is possible without as many awkward stages as I previously thought. Here's the scoop... I sought out a trendy little hair joint about 15 minutes from the apartment. It took me a few weeks of detective work to find a suitable establishment because I've had my fair share of grandma styled cuts and I am done with that. I took a picture of one of my past haircuts, not too short, not too long. I showed the girl the picture and told her that if she could cut it more or less like the picture, it would be great. Snip snip snip, away she went. I think if it had been a race, she would have won. She did a great job and is truly talented. However, she purposely gave me a mullet. Remember how I said trendy hair joint? Well to be trendy here in Uruguay is to have a mullet. I was so tempted to keep the mullet, just for one day. It was priceless. Instead my pride took over and I asked her to cut it shorter in the back, more like the picture. Confused as to why I didn't want to look cool, she cut the mullet off. I'm happy with my Uruguayan haircut. It isn't what I asked for, but I'm okay with a little adventure.

Gauchos and hypothermia

This is going to be short and sweet because I have schoolwork to do. But here are two small stories from this past weekend.

A friend and I went to a Uruguayan horse competition on Sunday and I had a billion flashbacks of when I was the one in the event. Dad, I took this video so you could enjoy what I was enjoying. The horses were beautiful and the different types of competitions very interesting.







In other news, 5 friends and I went on a day road trip and then camped in Treinta y Tres, a small town in the interior of Uruguay. We found a free place to camp Friday night, so we decided to make it a party by purchasing hot dogs and chorizos, a popular Uruguayan sausage. It was a struggle at first, but we eventually fed ourselves. I think one of the chorizos fell in the dirt 4 times. However, that was only the beginning of the adventure because we were very unprepared for how cold it was. Two girls slept in our rental car while three of us slept in a small tent. Even though we were cozily packed in the tent, we were too cold to sleep. Or I should say Molly and Brittany were too cold to sleep. I have a gift of being able to sleep almost in any conditions. At 3 am we gave up, packed up the tent and had the other two girls drive us to a bus stop. By 4:45 we were on a bus back to Montevideo. Each of us spent Saturday in recovery in our beds, trying to warm up. Whoever said Uruguay doesn't get cold was wrong. Now we know not to camp in May-without enough blankets and warm clothing.

The month of may

My most sincere apologies to all of my curious friends and family for the lack of written entries in the last month. I’m alive and well and happy, but the season of midterms has arrived and has taken my free time by storm! So far I’ve survived three midterms, but I still am preparing for one additional written test and one more term paper.

¡Qué baile! : Every Wednesday, three of my friends and I teach an elementary class just outside of Montevideo in one of the poorer neighborhoods. La Universidad Católica organizes community service opportunities for any of its students that wish to participate. So it was through the university that my friends and I have the opportunity to spend time with 30 energy-filled 11-12 year olds during one of their breaks. We are allotted one hour for activities and games with the goal to help them practice and apply the English they are learning. That is background for the real story. It was our first Wednesday with the students and the class was sitting in a circle playing a game. I was seated between Lucas and María when Lucas leans over and asks me if I am a good dancer. I whispered back something about having two left feet. Hearing that he loudly whispers back “So you are a really good dancer?” Before I know what is going on, and in the middle of the game, all of the students sitting around me start whispering, Erica dance, just dance, Erica show us one of your steps, come on dance Erica, dance. Laughing at how much of an instigator Lucas is, I quiet them and explain that I really am not a good dancer. However, the rumor started and there was no way to stop it. By the end of the hour, the entire class sincerely believed that I was a great dancer who simply didn’t want to dance in front of them and all 30 students were chanting “¡Qué baile! ¡Qué baile! ¡Qué baile!” (Dance, dance, dance!) To add to the hysteria, my friends were doing nothing to help me, but with smiles and laughs chanted along with the students knowing that dancing is not a talent of mine. Two weeks later the students are still not convinced that I am a poor dancer and still repeatedly ask me to dance.

Salto, Uruguay: Last weekend I traveled with the Campus Crusade for Christ group from Montevideo to Salto, the second largest city in Uruguay. It is about 6 hours north and is known for its abundance of hot springs. We spent the weekend with a group of university students that want to start a Cru group in their city. The weekend was filled with a lot of good teaching and fellowship. It was encouraging to spend a lot of time getting to know everyone better as well as see the excitement and joy the students had for Jesus. The weekend away gave an obvious boost to my Spanish confidence and I loved spending time with only Uruguayans. Andrés, the National Director of Campus Crusade here in Uruguay, asked me to share how met Jesus and how I got involved with Cru. I ended up sharing my story at 2 church services and 1 of the teaching sessions. It was a challenge and an encouragement because I had never shared my testimony in Spanish in front of such large crowds. Not only did I get to work on my Spanish all weekend, but also I had the opportunity to do a lot of driving. Andrés let me drive the van as much as I wanted and even gave me the keys so some girls and I could go to a flea market on Sunday. The driving is more intense because the driving rules aren’t enforced nor followed. And so the defensive driving that I use when I ride motorcycle in the States was incredibly useful.

Two stories are sufficient for today because quite honestly, I have to think to write sensibly in English. I’m at a point where I’m not accustomed to writing or talking in English, but neither am I able to fully express myself in Spanish.

dear God

you are an artist.

Forest fire

This morning I made pancakes. Sundays are different in Montevideo. When I'm in Montevideo on the weekends I attend a church service at 7 in the evenings so my mornings are beautifully different than what I've grown accustomed to the the States. Saturday night I had promised a pancake breakfast to Greg and so when he woke up at 11 this morning he walked into my doorway and said, “Pancakes?”

Sadly, I couldn’t remember our family recipe so I had to find one online. After a few changes: less salt, more sugar, three dashes of cinnamon, an extra spoonful of vanilla, a touch of oil, I was ready to fry the pancakes.

1 1/2 coffee mugs of flour
2 baby spoons of salt
1/2 coffee mug of sugar
1 1/4 coffee mug of milk
1 egg
1/3 of the piece of butter from the refrigerator
2.5 baby spoons of vanilla
2 baby spoons of oil

In the apartment we have a gas stove/oven unit. I very much so prefer gas stoves to electric, so this is a joy for me. However, in relation to gas stoves and food, I have a reputation of burning the first two pancakes, or whatever food I’m preparing. That being said after my first pancake, the apartment looked like those smoke houses that the fire companies brought to the elementary schools. Instead of teaching fire safety and how to properly crawl to the nearest exit, all I wanted to do was make some darn pancakes.




















The funny part of this story was when Grandpa came into the kitchen to see what was on fire. There is a fan above the stove to help with such circumstances and it was on the lowest setting. Grandpa promptly turned it on high and mumbled something about más fuerte (stronger). He then proceeded to look at the frying pan and made an hmmm-mmm noise. I laughed out loud and said, “Surely not this one, maybe the next few.”

As expected the first two pancakes looked like they were cooked in a forest fire and then run over by a truck. After turning down the heat and using a dab of butter in the frying pan instead of oil, I was doing fine and the pancakes looked decent. Grandma even called me a good cook. Holla.
















By noon, the pancake batter was all used and the pancakes were happily sitting on the table being eaten by Greg. I had invited Grandma to try one and she was standing in the kitchen chatting with Greg and I. I washed all the dishes and then grabbed a plate to test one of the pancakes. There were about 5 more to be eaten and so I told Greg that he could eat as many as he wanted. Grandma pipes up- “Oh no, you can’t eat them. Look at the hour, it’s almost time for lunch.” Greg and I smiled and nodded our agreement. When Grandma left the kitchen to go back to her solitaire game, I laughed and whispered to Greg, “I was 10 years old when I was last told not to eat before a meal.”

Grandma means well and we love her for it.

Easter Break-Semana Santa

This first picture describes our week rather well. We traveled a total of 9 nights and only stayed in hostels 5 of those nights. We spent more hours than I care to count in airplanes, taxis, buses, airports and bus terminals. I liked it.

















Ushuaia, Argentina -- The Southernmost City in the World

















Tierra del Fuego National Park -- Ushuaia, Argentina

















Sea lions.

















A day of hiking in Tierra del Fuego is good for the soul.

















Iguazú Falls, Argentina















Cristina, Laura, Molly, Martina and I

















It was surprisingly lovely and safe-feeling to return to Uruguay.

Recent likes of mine

I like the smell of night.
I like Grandma’s homemade tomato sauce.
I like Coca-cola that is made with real sugar and served in glass bottles.
I like that after each day my feet look like they’ve walked places.
I like (love) Uruguayan yarn, it is soft and inexpensive and all kinds of wonderful.
I like baking without the luxury of measuring utensils.
I like relaxing with Jesus.
I like the blessing of never suffering culture shock when living in Spanish-speaking countries.
I like it when Grandma is in her talkative/hyper moods.
I like public transportation.
I like how the laundry lady always takes her time when I desperately need clean clothing. (not)
I like knitting on buses, street corners, in plazas and parks, and wherever I find patch of sunlight.
I like telling stories that make Grandma laugh.
I like sharing headphones with people.
I like having friends from all over the world.
I like that I’m leaving today to travel to the end of the world (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina).
I like kissing on the cheek to greet friends and strangers alike.
I like how a different side of me emerges in each language.
I like not using textbooks for my classes.
I like the challenge of living as cheaply as I can.
I like when God helps me to see the world through his eyes.

"El fin del mundo" (The end of the world)

How to make a fútbol

I learned how to make a soccer ball yesterday. Yes, and my schooling did not come from Discovery channel’s How it’s Made, but from the vibrant streets of Montevideo.

My Uruguayan Culture class spent Tuesday afternoon walking the streets of a historic section of the city, and visiting museums and churches. When three friends and I had received all the “culture” we could withstand, we split. We walked 3 blocks to a lively plaza, bought ice cream and rested on a bench to talk. It was after this ice cream break and a little shopping that I found myself comfortably alone. I opted to stay in Ciudad Vieja instead of returning to Grandma’s apartment. I wandered to Plaza de Cagancha; it was there that I learned how to make a soccer ball.

I was sitting and writing 2 benches away from whom appeared to be three homeless siblings, two brothers and a sister. The oldest brother, whom throughout our interaction gained my respect, began constructing a soccer ball at the request of his younger brother. His materials included a plastic grocery bag and an old book. He was ripping the pages from the book, crumpling them up and stuffing them into the plastic bag. He packed the scrunched up pages very tightly into the small grocery bag, tied it shut and melted the plastic with a lighter to seal it. Meanwhile the younger brother was hunting for other plastic bags in the nearby trashcans. He returned after a few minutes, running and waving the bag over his head. The older brother placed the soccer ball inside the plastic bag, tied it and sealed it shut. They wrapped it and sealed it once more before the soccer ball was complete.

To my amazement, their technique worked marvelously. As I continued writing, they tested out their creation in front of me. I wanted so badly to ask them if I could join them in their game, but I chickened out when I saw how good they were. Nevertheless, I loved watching their game and was encouraged by their brotherly interaction.

This week I am going to try to make a soccer ball.

Cabo Polonio

Friday and Saturday I was in Cabo Polonio, one of the most beautiful, tranquil places in Uruguay. To reach Cabo Polonio, it is necessary to backpack the 7km from the closest highway or catch a ride on the Jurassic Park 4WD trucks that make the trip linking the village and the highway. I backpacked into Cabo along with 2 girls, while the other 2 girls went ahead to search for house to rent for the weekend.

We walked along the path that the trucks take, through the sand dunes and scrub and then along the beach for a few kilometers. Along the walk we met three sweet dogs that accompanied us for a while, a herd of cows and horses grazing. The latter groups did not accompany us like the dogs.

The village is settled on a point of land that juts into the ocean, complete with a lighthouse, sea lions, sand dunes, and a mix of natural rock pools and sandy beaches. The land is absolutely breath taking. There is a small cluster of buildings by the beach: a few places to eat, a market and two hostels, in addition to small houses scattered over the rocky, grassy knoll of the point. This town has no electricity, no regular running water (only what you pump), and no streets.

The stars are unbelievable; remember no light pollution!! Friday night, Ela and I slept outside on a large rock by the house. I feel asleep speechless, watching the stars and awoke to the sunrise and to the sound of sea lions barking. I was very content. While watching the sunrise over the ocean I was reading my Bible. Never has “the Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge…” ever had such meaning and significance to me than after spending a night on a rock.

For those of you that want to know what is going on in my head, here is a glimpse… I’ve been contemplating this idea anew. It was shared with me shortly before leaving for Uruguay. –If I know Jesus and I truly believe my relationship with Him is the foundation of my life and also the determinate of where I will spend eternity, (putting aside whether Jesus is ultimately real or not) how much do I have to hate you, really hate you, not to tell you about the opportunity of Jesus and life with him? For if I believe it to be true and I withhold information from you, I am withholding from you, what I believe to be the source of life.

Exciting news: I have a niece! My brother and sister-in-law now have a beautiful daughter named Lydia Corinne. It is going to be very difficult waiting until August to meet her.

Sad news: I haven’t had very much time to knit, Grandma hasn’t bought figs recently and summer is disappearing.

As I post this, Grandma and Joaquin, her 4yr old grandson, are playing the piano together.

Pobrecito

This ad litters the city and can be seen at nearly every bus stop.


But did you know that guinea pigs are eaten in parts of South America?
Yes.
Then what is this poor little fella doing on a cell phone advertisement? I ponder this every time I see these ads.

Weekend in Montevideo

This weekend I took a break from traveling and stayed in the city. What a beautiful decision! I hit up not one, but two massive ferrias. I hesitate to compare them to flea markets because they are spectacularly better. (I know it is hard to believe, but trust me.) Blocks and blocks of the city shut down completely to host more vendors than you can imagine. You are able to find all types of fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, as well as food in general, either to eat on the spot or buy grocery store style. There are sections of art, books, YARN, clothing, technology, antiques, jewelry, crafts, little trinkets, and more. The one I visited on Sunday covers more than 15km which makes it impossible to see everything. My friend and I went on to the 15km one on Sunday with a friend we met at church that morning. We succeeded in hunting for a novel we have to read for our literature class.

More tidbits of Uruguayan life…
1. Ice cream is eaten out cones, but one must always use a tiny spoon. On Wednesday, I ate an ice cream cone and I’m not sure the spoon made my experience any cleaner.
2. Grandma made spinach pie two times last week (4 meals total!). I conquered the spinach pie by: buying provolone cheese, melting it over the pie and drinking a lot of water.
3. I now have some Uruguayan friends. Holla
4. I attended a soccer game Saturday night during a thunderstorm. I’ve never been so completely soaked in my life. When it would thunder, the crowd would cheer louder so the officials couldn’t hear the thunder. (Thunder and lightning = a postponed game)
5. Big news! Montevideo is hosting a World Cup qualifier game between Uruguay and Paraguay. I will for sure be in attendance!
6. I have never liked tomatoes. This weekend Grandpa and Grandma made a dish that consisted of fresh whole tomatoes stuffed with a mixture of rice and either ham or tuna. I ate 4 whole tomatoes in one day. I haven’t converted, but a girl has to eat.
7. Grandpa and Grandma are on a date tonight-they saw a movie. It’s precious. I love it.

Upcoming plans…

Weekend includes a possible trip to Cabo Polonio, Rocha, and La Paloma

For Semana Santa (we have a week of vacation for Easter) some friends and I are traveling to Tierra del Fuego, the southern most tip of South America. It’s practically Antarctica :) We are also going to visit Iguazu Falls. Iguazu Falls, which ranks 9 among the world's top wonders, is where Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay meet.

¡Feliz día de San Patricio!

Just livin' my life

Here is a glimpse of my daily Monday-Friday happenings, with which I am completely satisfied. I will recount with details for those of you that would like a taste of my minute-by-minute activities.

Between 8:00 and 9:00, I wake up naturally to either construction noises from the apartment below or to Grandma cooking and rattling pots in the kitchen. I have finally adjusted to Uruguayan time, so waking up between 8 or 9 is leisurely and comfortable. Immediately, I migrate to the kitchen where Grandma is always cooking the meal for the day. I dance around Grandma in the small kitchen to boil water for my instant coffee and cut a few slices off of the loaf of bread for my daily breakfast of bread and fig marmalade. Each morning Grandma walks to the grocery store 1.5 blocks away to buy our fresh bread and whatever meats and veggies she needs for the daily meal. If I use yesterday’s bread for my breakfast, she scolds me for not eating today’s fresh bread. She loves me :) I love eating my breakfast and watching Grandma cook; she is a master in the kitchen.

After breakfast, I generally find myself in the living room doing the following: journaling, knitting, reading, homework and spending time with Jesus. I love the slower start of Uruguayan mornings. So far my earliest class begins at 13:30 (Uruguay uses the 24 hour clock) and I’m usually able to leave the university at 18:00.

This week was the first week of classes. After almost 3 months of vacation, I feel as if I’m readjusting to classes quite well. I’m taking a full course load while I’m here, but I’m able to understand all of the professors so I’m sure I will be fine. My courses, renamed in English, include Spanish language, Historical Process of Uruguay, Uruguayan Culture, Uruguayan Literature, Alternative Sports and lastly I’ll be volunteering/doing community service work.

After classes, Greg and I usually walk back to the apartment, hungry and tired. This week the evenings began with a snack and a nap, with dinner not eaten until 9:00 or 10:00.
















I ate this for dinner tonight. It is an eggplant cut in half, then stuff/topped with meat and melted cheese. Delectable! My love for eggplant is growing!

Punta del Diablo

I have countless tidbits about which I could share. So I’ll make a list (check it twice) and then follow up with a short summary of the past few days.

1. The dogs that live on the streets of Montevideo know to only cross the street when the red lights say to cross. They will literally stand beside you and wait to cross the street.
2. For the first time in my life my ear peeled from sunburn, but just the left ear.
3. I bought a pirated DVD of Bob Espoja (SpongeBob) in Brazil.
4. For the last two weeks I’ve been eating sweet potatoes and liking them a lot. This is new for me.
5. On Sunday, I came as close as I ever will to having a fro as a result of: humidity, intense ocean wind all day long and ocean water. (I laughed out loud at myself when I looked in a mirror halfway through the day.)
6. I love figs! On average I consume two figs a day and eat fig marmalade with toast and coffee each morning.
7. By Your Side- a song by Tenth Avenue North has really been a blessing to me during the past two weeks. Oh how God loves us and wants to do things for us. It’s not just about how much we can do for God, it’s what He has done and wants to do for us. Marvelous!!

Last Friday, Molly, Brittany and I left class a few hours early to catch a bus to Rocha and then to Punta del Diablo. The interesting thing about taking buses is when I get on the bus it is rare that I know where to get off. It is always a nice mix of question asking, nerves and hoping that we get it right. We, and some other international students, spent the weekend in a hostel named El diablo tranquilo; a pretty little hostel a few blocks from the beach complete with areas to sit and get to know the other travelers and hammocks to take siestas in. The hostel was run by a young couple from the States and was filled with Canadians and Europeans.

On Saturday, 5 of us took a bus to Chuy, a border town of Brazil and Uruguay. One of our language professors advised us to visit Chuy because it is an unpatrolled border town (you can enter Brazil without papers or visas... regularly/legally visas cost $100 for US citizens and this rule was created because of the lack of hospitality of the US) We ate lunch in Brazil and spent a few hours wandering the streets and looking through the shops. Uruguayans flock to Chuy to buy clothes and supplies because everything is cheaper than most areas of Uruguay.

The rest of the weekend included an amazing meal of fish, incredible live music steps away from the beach, a day of relaxation on the beach, sharing a meal of crackers with a mama dog, and a 5-hour bus ride back to Montevideo.

Tons of pictures: El Diablo Tranquilo, map of eastern Uruguayan bus routes, Punta del Diablo, Brazil, my canine friend

This is not a funny entry

As I write this, I can hear dogs howling, laughter and loud conversations in Spanish outside my 3rd floor apartment window. I love it! The other day I woke up to a small girl yelling “Abuela, abuela, abuela!!!! Apparently she couldn’t locate her grandmother. How nice it is to hear Spanish all the time. I can’t explain my love for this language, but I’m okay with that. Oh how I wish to attain fluency in the next 5 months!


Food story: Up until Monday’s lunch I loved everything dear Grandma cooked for Greg and I. Monday was when things took a brief, but disheartening turn for the worst because Grandma cooked empanadas (perfect, delicious, dream-like) and a spinach pie (death). I never had eaten enough spinach to know that I really don’t like it. So when I saw the pie I felt no fear at all, especially because I didn’t know it was spinach. Haha It was Greg who kindly shared with me that it was espinaca. Never in my life have I ever struggled so hard to finish what was on my plate. Please let me remind you that what we eat for lunch is what we also eat for dinner. This spinach pie had a very thin crust on the bottom and the inside of the pie was a thick inch of spinach with cooked eggs floating on top. It was then covered with a thin crust. I am certain that I ate more spinach for lunch and dinner than I have or will eat in my entire life. Then freakin Greg, who also didn’t like it, told Grandma he did. So we will most likely have it again in the near future. Thanks Greg.


It is hard to imagine that I’ve been in Uruguay for 2 weeks. This week has passed quickly because I am in my pre-semester language class most of the day. On Wednesday the remaining international students arrived and we are 77 strong. The large majority is from Spain and other European countries. The students from the US and Latin America are the minority. I’ve been talking to two girls from Colombia. How reassuring it was that they also struggled with the Uruguayan dialect and Spanish is their native language.


On Wednesday it rained heavily all day long. How thankful I am that I spent money on a good raincoat. It made walking through the city and standing at the bus stop enjoyable. After class, even though the sky was dark with clouds, I decided to make the 45-minute walk back to the apartment. I love rain, thunder, wind, all things storm related. I love walking through the city (rain or not). I feel like I belong here. I’m not an outsider, although others may stamp me as one. Living in a city gives me a strong feeling of being part of humanity, interacting with people, riding the buses, walking the streets, being friends with the doorman. I strive to be a part of humanity/community; it is innate.


Once again, I plan on leaving the city for a weekend of backpacking/hostel hopping. Two other girls (Molly and Brittany) and I are going to spend Friday and Saturday in Punta del Diablo and then catch a bus to Cabo Polonio on Sunday. These are two very small fishing villages along the eastern coast of Uruguay, close to Brazil. Pictures and stories to follow.


No longer striving to earn grace, Erica

Dancing with Miss Universe-Uruguay

Friday night we took a bus to Punta del Este, a touristy peninsula town filled with Europeans and Argentineans. Thankfully we were able to score some beds in a hostel not far from the beach and the bus terminal. The reason why Punta del Este is a go-to place is because it is the point at which the waters of Río de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean meet. So our hostel was on the Río side of the peninsula but if we walked three blocks we were at the Atlantic Ocean beaches.

Saturday we spent the day on one of the Ocean side beaches and now we all pretty sun burned. We can’t seem to learn that the sun is much stronger when you’re this far south. Where we were swimming was apparently a risk zone for rip tides or undertows, I’m not sure what they are called. Anyway, two of the guys were pulled out farther than they wanted and had to be rescued by some lifeguards. Not a big deal, but it made for a funny story. Oh and sadly the waves weren’t large enough to surf. Maybe some other time in March I’ll have a chance to try surfing. How sad that summer here only lasts for one more month.

Saturday night a few of us decided to go dancing at one of the hot spots. The Uruguayan nightlife is intense. Here is how it works down here… If you go out to a club or a bar before 2am, you’re not cool and you’ve just committed social suicide. And because the parties start at 2am or 3am, Uruguayans usually say out until 8am. That way they don’t have to walk home or travel home in the dark. I’m too old for this. So we arrived at Mambo, this supposedly nice club at 2am to find that the dancing didn’t start until 3am. Great, less sleep for grandma Erica. So we sat outside for a while and listened to the live music only to find that we were hanging out at the same club as Miss Universe-Uruguay. Apparently she was making an appearance with her posse-crown, gown and all. So there we were just dancing up in the same club as Miss Uruguay. To her credit, she’s a good dancer. Oh and a Rihanna song was played at the club along with some other random, old English music. Rihanna and her music seem to follow me everywhere.

Hostels are a bad place to sleep in if you so desire. There always seems to be people making noise. So this morning 5 of us packed up our bags and decided to check out one more sight before taking a bus back to Montevideo. We walked/bused to Casapueblo, which is one of a kind summer mansion built by Carlos Páez Vilaró, a Uruguayan artist.

It was a fun weekend, but certainly not very restful. It was surprisingly nice to come back to the apartment in Montevideo and see Grandma again. One more week of the pre-semester class and orientation before the semester officially begins. I’m looking forward to a steady schedule.

Here are some pictures of the weekend.
The hostel, the infamous hand reaching out of the sand in Punta del Este, two shots of Casapueblo

Grandma to Erica, “You’re pale.”

It is summer here in the south and so for me that means humidity and 80-degree temperatures and beach time! The apartment I live in is about 6 blocks from the beach and so Greg and I go as often as possible. Tuesday was the first day we went to the beach and before leaving the apartment Grandma had some wisdom to share. This is how the conversation went.


After lunch, at siesta time, I told Grandma that Greg and I were going to take our siestas at the beach. She replied by calling me pale and then telling Greg he has nice color. Thanks G-ma, haha! Then she adds, “If you don’t use sun protection you’ll peel like a fruit.”


So Greg and I spent the afternoon at the beach, enjoying the sun and waves. Now I am the owner of a sunburn, but I’m okay with that. Obviously the only way to cure sunburn is to spend more time in the sun. Duh. I felt like such a beach bum today when I was rushing around just to get some time in at the beach before class.


Speaking of class…Wednesday marked the first day of my pre-semester Spanish class; real classes don’t begin until the 9th. I needed this transition back to real student life. I’ve become so accustomed to the grandma lifestyle of cooking, knitting, reading and napping. Also not only has it given me an opportunity to meet some other international students, but it has been so helpful in teaching the Spanish that is spoken in Montevideo. Tonight the professor somehow got us tickets to the first ever guided tour of a very important cemetery in Montevideo. Somehow the TV stations found out “extranjeros” were going to be attending and so we were on TV.


I wanted to post one more update before this weekend. There are six of us internationals that are going to Punta del Este this weekend. It is another city that is about 2-3 hours away by bus. It is supposed to have great beaches (more sunburn). We will catch a bus after class on Friday and hopefully find a hostel to stay in when we arrive.


9 things I liked about my week…
1. Regular Siestas, sometimes more than one a day
2. The beach
3. Living with a grandma
4. The 5pm snack of toast, marmalade and coffee (Lunch is at 12 or 1 and Dinner is eaten between 10 and 11)
5. Walking: I walk everywhere.
6. Speaking Spanish all the time!
7. Dreaming about having a fro and another dream in which Brad Pitt and I fought off a bad guy in an apple orchard, Chuck Norris style
8. Meeting students from Germany, England and Slovakia
9. Having multiple chances to share about Venezuela


This is a picture of the beach where I spend my time. It's not from wikipedia.

My current knitting project: large scarf/blanket

I dreamt I had a fro

I live with a grandma! And for all of you that are pondering, “Will this influence Erica to become more grandma-like?” The answer is yes, without a doubt. I will tell you a few stories about my first 2 days in Montevideo. I arrived to the apartment rather tired on Saturday around noon. Immediately Malena or as I refer to her, Grandma, asked me if I was hungry. I said not really and she proceeded to make me three large pieces of chicken and 2 baked potatoes. Let the grandma hospitality begin!


That day I unpacked, we each took a nap, we went for a short walk, ate ham and cheese sandwiches at a café, (I don’t think either of us were hungry, but we stopped because she was tired of walking.) took another nap, walked to the Super, rested again, ate dinner and went to bed. Throw in some knitting and chatting and you have grandma-style day.


The second morning I woke to the sound of rain and I was immediately shocked to discover I didn’t have a fro. The humidity makes my hair curlier and I think this provoked the fro dream. It rained steadily all day and so even though I was all rested I had another day of knitting, naps, reading and chatting with Grandma. I’m knitting a blanket because I’m over scarves and I don’t know how to knit anything else. How fitting that Grandma keeps referring to my blanket as a huge scarf. I need to look up the word for blanket.


Also today, a great mystery was solved. Throughout our conversations Grandma often spoke of her husband. It sounds terrible, but I could never understand whether he was alive or deceased. Well, he walked in the door today. Luis is his name. I think he works and lives somewhere else and she decided to live closer to her children and grandchildren. We’ll see if this proves to be true in the coming days. Who knows, maybe I will be living with two grandparents.


For those of you that have heard me speak of Gregory, he arrives tomorrow morning. He is another student and he will share the apartment with Grandma and I. I look forward to the company.


I decided to write tonight while I have time because I hope to do some serious city exploring with Gregory in the coming days. Carnaval is tomorrow and Tuesday!


Grace and Peace

ETA: 13 days

I'm not a blogger, but I do not foresee myself having ample time to email everyone and their mother. And this way you can be sure that I have not been eaten by a sea lion or caught a rare Uruguayan plague. Nevertheless, there should be some laughs to be had as I share stories of learning Spanish and living in Montevideo.

Two weeks remain before I fly out of Philadelphia International and I have more packing to do than I wish to think about, but will you please check out Wikipedia's picture of where I'll be living? Holla. At times my heart seems to be pumping anxiety through my veins instead of blood, but I'm ready to go and excited for the comical adventures that will undoubtedly follow me. To add to my excitement, I just discovered that...

A substantial industry of hand-knit sweaters is built on the backs of Uruguayan sheep and the fluffy wool they produce. The wool yarns are hand-dyed then knit into sweaters in interesting styles and in nuanced colors not represented on a Pantone chart.

Knitting anyone? Anyway, here is my address if you desire to send love letters my way.

Av. Soca 1223 Ap. 301
Montevideo 11.300

Uruguay