An inquisitive old fart with a camera
Migración, despachantes de aduana, trying to find quality household goods and tools, anything vehicular, no-show plumbers – electricians – albeñiles – jardineros, looking at yet another house with miniscule rooms and mold. Just like climbing a tree. A certain type of tree.
Recently received:
“My name is__________________ and I’m casting an international travel show about expats moving abroad. We’d love to film in Uruguay and wanted to know if you could help us find expats who have moved there within the last 1-2 years or have been there for 3-4 years, but recently moved into a new home. The show documents their move to a new country and will place the country in fabulous light. I wanted to know if you could help spread the word to expats living there or are close to moving. If you’d like more information, please give me a call at ____________ or skype me at ____________. You can also email me at_______@leopardusa.com. Looking forward to hearing from you.”
(Leopard USA turns out to be House Hunters International.)
My reply:
“Hi ______,
I personally have no interest in promoting “unreality” shows. I was asked to participate in an International Living presentation on Uruguay, and dropped out when tipped off by a previous interviewee (I should have figured) that they always hype a location as “paradise,” or as you say, “in a fabulous light.” By the time that the DVD was produced, I personally knew 80+% of the people featured, and most of those singing the praises of the place had either left or only lived here part time.
In addition to glossing over the realities of Uruguay, I would hate to contribute to another “happy faces in an exotic sunny local” piece that inspires people to move here (or anywhere) without heavy emphasis on “do your own due diligence” or the reminder that “adversity breeds character.” I regularly read postings from people who have never been to Uruguay but want to move here because of something they read online: yes, the beaches are beautiful, and the people are friendly (though you’ll almost never be invited into their homes). Which is not to bash Uruguay — I’m in my sixth year here, haven’t left, and I’m a naturalized citizen, and despite being expensive at present Uruguay has a lot to recommend it. However, it’s the fifth country I’ve lived in outside the USA, my wife’s ninth. If you were to tell me your show emphasizes curiosity, the importance of acceptance, and (the key to salvation!) a sense of humor, I’d be much more enthusiastic.
Regardless, I am copying this to several people here with connections to the local expat community, some with regular mailing lists, whom I encourage to contact you or pass this on if interested.
For the record, based on my experience, “expats moving abroad” does not constitute a subset of “international travel.” Visiting a place and moving/living there are two memes best not commingled!
Best regards,
What some of those others have to say:
Sorry, _________ from Househunters International!
Don’t mean to get all Instagram-y. Wife said oh take a picture of casual desert with friends, and I like the artificial and natural reflection highlights. The simple things 😉
I think some friends recommended this “Chinese“ restaurant in Carrasco. Well, the friendly purveyor appeared Chinese, and spoke Rioplatense Spanish so fluently that obviously she knew that real Chinese food would hold no appeal for the Uruguayan palate. Unfortunately, that expounded to no taste other than soy sauce, and food that seemed to be leftovers, especially believable considering we were the only diners.
Consider this a “must miss” when in Montevideo. Oh, did I mention ridiculously expensive?
I used to taunt expats in Uruguay: what‘s your favorite Thai restaurant in Montevideo? It was a Schrödinger‘s-cat kind of thing, except that the cat was metaphorically dead. In reality nonexistent. Ditto Chinese.
I took these images from a back-to-school promotion from Géant, a large Wal-Marty place near the airport. All the other images of kids shared this same, most un-Uruguayan characteristic.
Is it as obvious to you as it is to me?
OK, red herring. Actually, I think I must have said “hell no” at some point when a web site asked to see where I was located. So this was the result when I looked for the distance to the closest branch of Scotia Bank, whose debit cards are replacing the Tienda Inglesa points cards.
Hint: we’re only about 40 km away.
But presumably I know now the geographic center of Uruguay, which is here:
So naturally, rather than do something productive, I switched to satellite view to find out where I “was.” Looks pretty remote:
But wait a minute! What are those shapes?
Why, L-shaped and triangular patches of forest, of course.
You can find all sorts of fun tree patterns on Google Earth in Uruguay, which apparently takes the growing of Eucalyptus trees more seriously than its neighbor to the northeast, Brazil.
But triangles … why triangles?
Squinting at coffee packages in the supermarket the other day triggered this train of thought.
Feel free to add to the list. I expect I will.
Ah, America:
the visual jingoism of
omnipresent flapping flags.
Shiny cars, beseeching churches;
smooth roads and ads for shiny
vehicles, tank-like or claustrophobic:
sometimes both.
My people: fun to help, make laugh,
cheer along. That I can do so easily,
waitress or Walmart Greeter.
Casually conversational, easygoing,
but so must I bear
the oppressive banality
of overheard conversations.
And not indulge intellect, perception,
nor reveal observation, awareness.
My son says they’re stupid:
given two days, I cannot disagree.
Triscuits, flavor rosemary
and olive oil; cheese a combo:
monterrey jack and cheddar.
Chardonnays not Southern Cone:
cheap good California Barefoot;
Onduraga from Oz. Not special,
just not Southern Cone.
In the hotel, we offer to leave
carry-on unfriendly corkscrew
for future guests. Two wine glasses and
real — not-plastic — knife appear
to carry upstairs
for our evening snack.
(from November 2014)
Today is voting day #1 — a runoff election will occur in a month if no one gets a clear majority today.
An Uruguayan friend explained to me yesterday that if, instead of putting the list from one party in your voting envelope, you put a blank piece of paper, your vote goes to whoever gets the most. You also have the option of annulling your vote (voting is required by law). One way is to put two lists (“votes”) in your envelope. I suggested she do this so that if her father, who votes Colorado, asked her who she voted for, she could say Colorado, and answer her mother that she voted like her, for the Frente Amplio.
I’ll be eligible to vote in 2019, and though I generally have little interest in politics, I do find it inspiring to live in a place where they actually offer choices, unlike voting for one or the other half of the Rich Lawyers Party in the United States.