We have now been in Treinta y Tres, Uruguay for two weeks and all I can say is WOW!!! There is so much I can write about, as there hasn't been a dull moment!
The Journey- We arrived in Montevideo October 5th after a very long journey. We left my father's house at a quarter to five in the morning (on the fourth of October). It took about an hour and a half to get to the Dulles International Airport, but we arrived without any problems and were first in line to check in. The Taca airport ticket agents didn't show up until around 8:30, but we figured since we were first in line we would have no problems making our 11:15 flight. Turns out they gave us a very difficult time- suggesting we needed to have either a visa for Uruguay or a return ticket (which they would gladly sell to us for $7,000 total) or they couldn't allow us to board the plane. Marc had not had any problems traveling before without a return ticket and argued with the agent until around 10:45. To make a long story short, Marc got his way and we were escorted onto the plane (since we were just about to miss takeoff) and I found myself exhausted before we had even left the country! The rest of our travels went well- landed in San Salvador (Rose left her Nintendo DS and ipod in the waiting area), boarded for Lima, took another connection to Montevideo- you get the picture. We arrived in Montevideo at 4 a.m. and waited for Marc's friend Raul to pick us up at 7 a.m.
To Treinta y Tres- Raul arrived and we shoved all of our luggage in his pickup bed and proceeded to load all eight of us into his truck (size of a ford ranger with the little seats in the back- like Dr. Scholes' truck). I asked Raul "how long until we reach Treinta y Tres?" and he replied "about 3 hours 45 minutes". Needless to say a very long day, but I was grateful that all of our luggage had arrived, my family was safe, and we got a ride to our rental house.
Treinta y Tres- is a small city with about 30,000 inhabitants. It is an agriculturally supported town with rice and beef as the main products. It feels like an ag town and Marc had described it before as "Buhl just 30 years ago". I agree.
When we arrived, Raul's wife, Maria, fed us a heavenly meal (especially after the airplane food) at their home and then we went over to our rental house. It is a very nice house and we were grateful at the time to simply have enough beds to lay down on! As soon as Marc worked out the details with the rental manager, we closed the doors, pulled down the shades, and slept for a really LONG time!!! The next morning we awoke, ate, and then went back to bed and slept some more!
First week- The first week was spent trying to navigate the town. We don't have a car or a bike, so we literally walked the streets trying to find super markets, bakeries, fruit stands, etc. I attempted to do some shopping and found I couldn't get by on the little spanish I knew. I realized I was in serious trouble. Our whole house had rosetta stone on and we were all scrambling to know more spanish. It is amazingly difficult and intimidating when you cannot communicate to even get basic daily needs accomplished. I felt very small, stupid, and insignificant. I definitely have a greater appreciation for immigrants who move to the United States. Luckily, Marc's spanish wasn't too shabby and he was able to get everything we needed- now I make him do everything.
Day Ten- Day ten is the day I remember very well. I admit everything was going reasonably well, much better than I had anticipated, BUT on day ten I fell apart. Some may call it "culture shock" and perhaps it was. I thought alot about Vivian, my German exchange student, who I watched the previous year struggle with adjusting to a new way of life. I found myself frustrated and crying and thinking about how everything was harder to do. I had thoughts of "I miss my car", "I just want some Starbucks", and "I just want to blend in". I basically cried the whole day and that night I prayed that God would just send me someone to help.
Day Eleven- GOD IS GREAT!!!! My doorbell rang and I opened my front door to this beautiful smiling young woman, named Gabby, who was speaking to me in English and saying "Do you need anything? Can I help you with anything?" Gabby had lived in Iowa for three years when she was young (around 7 or 8 yrs old) and had learned to speak English very well. She introduced herself and told me she was the girlfriend of the son whose mother owned the rental house. I told her "YES!!! Help me!"
We decided the most important thing to do was to get the girls into school. Happy kids, happy mom!So that afternoon, she drove me around to the local private schools. We had luck with one, which agreed to let Raye and Morgan attend. It was there local Catholic high school. Thank God I am Catholic!
The very next day, our doorbell rang throughout the day, with different people offering to help us. Gabby has a very large family and apparantly called them all and asked them to stop by and visit. All of them spoke very good English and offered to help me in numerous ways. I found having one person to open the door, had made my life significantly easier. I cannot thank her (Gabby) and her family enough for what they have done for me.
Trinity's first day of school in her public school uniform
Week Two- All the girls started school during week two, this week. The younger ones are now attending the local public schools and I have to say they welcomed the girls with open arms. The teachers and students have been warm and inviting and I amazed by the hospitality that the children are receiving. Now that the girls have started school, our door bell rings non-stop! Word has spread throughout town and I constantly have a group of young kids on my doorstep. Several groups of boys have brought the girls' homemade cakes that
they made and signs saying "Welcome". I have met so many young people that I can't remember anyone's names....alot of Juan Pablos and Juan Diegos and Marias.
In Uruguay, any time you greet someone you give them a kiss on the cheek and then another when you leave. I have never been kissed as much as I have in the last week. It is really funny too when they enter the house and give Marc a kiss as well (even the boys). It is such a different (but incredibly warm) culture. It is not hard to fall in love with the people, especially the children.
What impressed me most about the children of Uruguay, is that they are not only friendly, but they have a great desire to learn English. I believe that is the main reason they are all at my house everyday. They teach English in the schools ( I think it may be limited at the public schools) and many of the wealthier students get English tutoring, but they are all very eager to practice. All of the children understand that learning English is important for their future and are wanting to improve their English and be able to not only speak it, but speak it well. I have not seen this degree/level of ambition to learn in America. I am not trying to put our American kids down, but it is the truth. There is a hunger here I have not seen in a long time, if ever.
Mary and Rose before first day of school. School begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 5 p.m.
Funny things- Rose had a funny incident with the bidet and her face, enough said. I love to watch the mothers taking their kids to school on their motorcycles - so liberating! and it looks cool (I know it's not safe Dad)! Milk is in plastic bags, yogurt in cartons, there are no chocolate chips or brown sugar to be found, and I have unfortunately discovered dulce de leche (sweet of the milk) which I simply eat by the spoonfuls. Marc is now called the "Pan (bread) Man" and everyday goes down to the panaderia (bakery) to buy two loaves of amazing bread and cookies (that they call "ojiotos" because they look like an eye- we know them as jam thumbprints). There is no comparison with there food- it is simply better and fresher than ours...sorry my American amigos, but it is true. Come visit and see for yourself!
Marc's new love....yummm.
Oh, and before I forget...the weather is beautiful! It is spring right now and steadily getting warmer. The sun is very intense here (thus the reason noone is out at noontime) and I have a steady flow of sunscreen going on my girls. But it is warm and it feels really good.
What I miss- I miss my friends and meeting for coffee. I miss the mountains, the change of seasons, and Halloween. I miss large washing machines, dishwashers, and hot water at my kitchen sink. BUT my housekeeper starts work on Monday, so I think I will survive. Anyway, I hope I caught you all up on everything. Love to you all!!! Miss you much. Kristin
