Seeing a Glacier with my own Ice

Hey everyone! Here’s Part II of my great adventure in Bariloche!

On Friday morning, we woke up at around 7:00 a.m. to head for the adventure center. There, we boarded a van and headed to the destination of our first excursion: San Martin de los Andes! San Martin is a city that lies on the foot of the Andes bordering Lácar Lake. Travelers take the National Route 40 to get to the city, passing seven lakes along the way.

As we began our journey, our guide, Mario, explained the route and what our day would look like. Before arriving at the first lake, we stopped at Villa la Angostura, known as “The Garden of Patagonia”. It was a cute village filled with coffee shops and markets where vendors sold hand-made crafts. We used the restroom and got coffee before stopping at the first lake to take pictures! I won’t name all the lakes that we went to, but my favorite was Lake Faulkner. As soon as we stepped out of the van, we could touch the sand and see an impeccable view of mountains dusted with snow. The lake is named after the Jesuit priest Thomas Faulkner who explored the Argentine landscape in the 18th century and collected a great deal of information about the indigenous peoples and geography. One recurring theme throughout each of the lakes was that the water was crystal clear. This is because the lakes sit in the Lanin National Park. As we were situated merely miles away from Chile, Mario explained how there were previous tensions between Chile and Argentina in terms of the boundaries in Patagonia and which areas of land belonged to which country; ultimately, the dispute was settled by the UK, who concluded that San Martin de los Andes pertained to Argentina. 

After about four hours, we arrived in San Martin and had a couple of hours to explore the city and have lunch. We ate our sandwiches and poked around in some shops. I’m not gonna lie, the city itself wasn’t my favorite because it was extremely touristy. There were literally stores that said “tourist shop”, and I was left confused about what residents do for a living besides tourism (the industries in Bariloche and San Martin are limited due to restrictions in place about cultivating and extracting resources in the national parks). Nevertheless, the view of the lake was spectacular, and we saw plenty of kayakers roaming the waters! We then drove three hours back to Bariloche. Before arriving, however, we made the same stop in Villa la Angostura, and I bought a sticker that said “Route 40” and a hot chocolate. Once we got back to the Centro at 6:30, we were starving, so we immediately headed to a pizza shop. We downed a couple of slices before heading to the Airbnb to rest up for the next day.

On our last day, we woke up early again to venture on our second excursion to Cerro Tronador and Ventisquero Negro! This was the outing that I was most excited about because our destination was a glacier! We once again rode in a van with Mario and made stops in lookout points before stopping to eat. My favorite spot was la Isla Pique Huapi; it felt like we were in the middle of the Amazon! About halfway through the trip, we stopped at a restaurant called “Los Vuriloches”, and I got milanesa de pollo and an alfajor, possibly the most Uruguayan/Argentine meal you can get. At about 3, we arrived at the glacier! Ventisquero Negro is one of the 14 glaciers that sits around the inactive volcano, Cerro Tronador. If you looked close enough, you could see distinct layers in the black ice where lava had flown through. While we were there, we also heard and saw a mini avalanche! Between that and getting a sunburn from the sun reflecting off the snow, I was ready to get back in the van after walking around the site.

On our way back to Bariloche, we all slept during the “hora internacional de la siesta”, or “international nap hour”, as Mario said. After getting back at 6:30, we made sure to stop by Mamuschka one more time to fill up on sweet treats. We the headed for a restaurant called “El Boliche de Alberto.” The night before, we had seen that there was a long line out the door, so we knew that the food must be good. The restaurant didn’t accept reservations, so we were the first people to stand in line at 7:15 to wait for the doors to open at 8:00. While in line, I chatted with this sweet Brazilian couple who were also there on vacation! They gave me recommendations for places to visit in Brasil, and they both talked to me in Portuguese to show how similar Spanish and Portuguese are to each other! We carried on a whole conversation speaking in two different languages. Muito bom!

When the doors opened at 8:00, we were seated and ordered a decadent meal to commemorate our last day. I ordered a glass of white wine, filet mignon, and a salad- all for $20! In the restaurant, you could see the cooks expertly cutting, seasoning, and throwing meat onto the grill. My mouth instantly started watering. When our food came out, we did a “cheers” with our glasses and tried not to devour our plates too quickly. With our hearts and bellies full, we headed back to the apartment to sleep for a few hours before getting up at 2:30 a.m. to catch our flight back to Buenos Aires.

We arrived back in Buenos Aires at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, and as you can imagine, we were exhausted. As all the cafes were closed until 8:00 a.m., we chilled in the airport and then booked Ubers to San Telmo. In San Telmo, we drank some much-needed coffee at Obrador. We then roamed around the Mercado of San Telmo, a market that spans several blocks with vendors selling hand-crafted souvenirs. In San Telmo, we took a picture with Mafalda (a famous Argentine cartoon character from the ‘60s and ‘70s), and we all bought friendship bracelets to commemorate the trip. At 1:00 p.m., we took the ferry and bus back to Montevideo.

The trip to Bariloche reminded me of why I adore Argentina – the people are beyond welcoming, the culture is lively, and the view of the Andes are incomparable. If there is one thing that I took away from this adventure, it’s that nature never fails to amaze me. I hope to come back to Bariloche in the winter and summer to ski in Patagonia, kayak in the 7 lakes, and most importantly, eat more chocolate!

Did Somebody Say "Chocolate"?

Hey everyone! This past week, I was in Argentina yet again! This time, my friends and I traveled south in Argentina to a town called Bariloche. Bariloche is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park and is the gateway to Patagonia. It is the perfect destination for those who love the outdoors, as the multiple ski resorts allow you to ski throughout the Andes, and the abundant lakes are key spots for fishing and kayaking. Bariloche also has a lively downtown area with architecture modeled after Switzerland. As you can imagine, I was beyond excited to go from the moment that my friends and I booked our plane tickets!

On Tuesday in the afternoon, my friends and I took the bus from Montevideo to Colonia and then rode the ferry to Buenos Aires. Upon arriving, we changed our dollars for Argentine pesos ($1 USD = 480 pesos), loaded our Sube cards (passes that you scan to use the metro and buses in Argentina), and then went to an Asian restaurant called Koi. There, we feasted on Miso ramen and dumplings. I ordered an iced tea, something that I’ve missed since being away from South Carolina! It really is astounding the diversity that Buenos Aires has in terms of gastronomy; any type of craving you might have, Buenos Aires has a restaurant to satisfy it. Because our flight was late at night, we killed some more time in another bar/bookstore called Backroom Bar. After enjoying our Passionfruit Punch drinks and chatting, we headed to the airport via Uber. Our flight left at 1:00 a.m., and we arrived in Bariloche at 3:30 a.m. Because the town doesn’t have Uber, we booked taxis in advance to take us from the airport to our Airbnb. Our host was there to give us the keys and show us around the apartment, and then we headed straight to bed to catch up on sleep.

Later that morning, Will, Karen, and I bundled up (it was about 39 ℉ outside) and roamed around the centro of Bariloche (our Airbnb was a 7-minute walk from downtown). Bariloche is set right along the lake of Nahuel Huapi, so we of course had to take pictures in front of the “Bariloche” letters with the stunning backdrop behind it. We then went to a confitería (chocolate shop) called Rapa Nui to have breakfast. Bariloche is known as the Chocolate Capitol of Argentina, so at Rapa Nui, I ordered a chocolatada (hot chocolate). Karen, Will, and I also shared a waffle topped with chocolate, banana, raspberry, and strawberry ice cream. Needless to say, I was sugared-out after breakfast, but it was worth every bite. We then went to the Center of Tourist Information to ask about the bus system and must-visit sites in Bariloche. The bus lines in the city are on a tightly set schedule, and some buses only arrive every hour. We therefore had to plan our activities around the schedule so we didn’t waste time waiting for the bus. The upside is that one bus ride is 100 pesos, or 20 cents. We definitely were traveling on a budget!

After returning from the Information Center, our other friends, Joe and Cleo, joined us to take the bus to Cerro Campanario. There, we took the ski lift to arrive at a lookout point where you could see majestic views of Southern Bariloche. The mountains reminded me of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado where I used to live, except the Andes are encapsulated by lakes and islands. Bariloche’s climate is unique in that in the winter, temperatures can drop to -30℉, and in the summer, you can expect the temperature to climb to 75℉. As I was standing at the top looking out at the islands, I could only imagine what it would be like in December to lay out on the sand and take a dip in the crystal-clear lake. I also noticed that the mountains were pretty barren in terms of snow. A local told us that Bariloche gets the most snow in July and August, so that explained why the ski resorts were closed when we went. After taking the lift down and the bus back, we bought groceries in the supermarket and made lentil soup and peppers stuffed with rice, perfect for our cozy movie night that we had that evening.

On Thursday morning, Karen and I woke up early to scout the tourist agencies to see what excursions were available. We picked up a lot of brochures, compared prices, and explained our options to the others at breakfast. I had coffee and tostados at ChimiDeli, a restaurant that one of the tourist agents had recommended. All five of us then shared a chocolate mousse cake adorned with strawberries. Here arise my two tips when traveling: 1. If you don’t know where to eat, ask a local! They are guaranteed to have good recommendations, and it saves a lot of time instead of poking around on Google Maps and peering at reviews of restaurants. 2. If you want to try different types of cuisine, order multiple dishes and share with your friends! This way, you can have a bite of everything without feeling confined to ordering one meal.

After breakfast, we headed to the Chocolate Museum at Havanna and went on a tour! The guide explained to us that pure chocolate comes from the cacao bean, and in the early centuries, pure chocolate was exchanged by indigenous groups as a form of currency. It was also served as offerings to the gods, or high-ranking authorities in the communities. In Europe, people began to mix cacao with sugar and milk, transforming the cacao chocolate into the milk chocolate that we know today. After World War II, a large surge of Italians immigrated to Bariloche, including a man named Alfred Fenoglio. The so called “pioneer of chocolate in Bariloche” started the first chocolatería in Patagonia, and he is known to be the source of the boom of chocolaterías in Southern Argentina that generate millions of dollars in revenue annually. Who would’ve thought! As we strolled through the museum, we drank our samples of hot chocolate and saw life-sized animals pertaining to Bariloche that were carved entirely out of chocolate! Count how many times I wrote “chocolate” in this post 😉

The gang and I then went to Cerro Otto to take the gondola up to another lookout point. The view was once again spectacular, and we got our fair share of group selfies before heading down to catch the bus back to the center. When we were in line for the bus, there was a man that was playing the bandoneon, an instrument similar to the accordion that is found in most tango music (tango was born in Argentina and Uruguay). Playing the bandoneon is one of the main ways that Argentines connect to their roots and keep the culture alive, so I gave him a tip and enjoyed the tunes before boarding the bus. Once in the centro, we went to another chocolate shop called Mamuschka! Mamuschka is iconic for its rotating Russian dolls on the outside of the building and its wrapping paper being adorned with the colorful Russian doll logo. I couldn’t help myself and filled a box with different chocolate assortments, including ositos- little bears that are filled with dulce de leche. I also got chocolate bars for friends and family and immediately put them away when I got home so as not to be tempted to sneak a bite! After Mamuschka, my friends and I stopped in a supermarket to get ingredients to make sandwiches for our full-day excursion the next day. Then, we had dinner in a cervecería called Bachmann! I had passed by the restaurant earlier that day, and I made it a priority to dine there, as my last name is Bachmann! At the restaurant, we had burgers and beer from Patagonia, and the waitress gave me some coasters with the “Bachmann” logo on it. I kept cracking jokes that it was the family restaurant in Bariloche. We spent several hours there laughing and enjoying each other’s company before heading home to rest for another big adventure the next day.

Part II coming soon! Ciao!

Last Day, Best Day! + Some Updates (Part III)

Hey everyone! Here is Part III of the camping trip, what you all have been anxiously waiting for 😉 On Friday, the last day of the trip, we all woke up, packed up pour things, and had breakfast. The kids had hot chocolate and tostados (toasted bread with butter and jam- a classic Uruguayan breakfast), and I drank some very-much needed coffee. The students then had the opportunity to refine their lyrics and choreography for their team song and dance so that the counselors could judge and award tokens to the group with the best performance. I helped the green group again, and I suggested that they add a more “complex” line in English to impress the judges. They thought of “we are win”, and I had to explain to them how it would be “we will win” because it’s in the future tense. This proved difficult for them to wrap their heads around because they had not learned the future tense in class yet. When they finally performed, they all forgot the phrase and instead cheered “we are win”, but I had to laugh.

The first activity of the day was called “Scavenger Hunt”. The students were given a sheet with things that they had to find and collect, such as an open pinecone, a smooth stone, etc. After gathering all the items, they had to ask me in English how old I am, where I’m from, and what my favorite food is. The first team to present all the items to a counselor and write down my answers to their questions would win tokens. They had the most trouble finding a four-leaf clover, so most of them just drew a four-leaf clover and showed me the drawing.

After the scavenger hunt, the students had free time. All of the boys rushed to the futból field, and the girls played four square. We then had a quick lunch before completing the last activity of the day, which was a group reflection. The kids passed around a large poster board and had to write a word or a phrase in English that described their favorite part of the camp. Most of the boys said “futból” which didn’t surprise me one bit, but I was surprised at how reflective a lot of them were. It was then time for what everyone had been waiting for… the final token ceremony! The counselors counted the tokens, and we announced the teams in third and fourth place before declaring the winner… it was the green group! They won a huge box of alfajores (like a whoopie pie), and the other groups each got a bag of sweets. We all then boarded the bus to head back to Montevideo, and I slept like an angelito that night.

Although it was challenging to counselor a bunch of fifth graders and encourage them to speak in English, by the end of the camp, I could tell that they were less timid about talking to me and that they lit up when they could get their point across. I’m glad that I could give back to the community in that way, and I hope that I left the students with the realization of how fun and enlightening it is to interact with people who come from distinct countries and speak different languages.

I also wanted to give some updates about what I’ve been up to recently:

Constantly going to the supermarket and buying water. In Uruguay, it’s generally safe to drink the tap water, but because there has been a historical lack of rain recently, the country is experiencing it’s first drought! Instead of distributing water from their reservoirs, providers are taking water from the Riverplate and adding salt to purify it. As a result, the tap water is extremely salty! Everyone has been buying gallons of water from the stores, but most stores have now placed a limit that one person can only buy at most 4 gallons of water at a time.

Playing voleibol! I joined ORT’s club volleyball team at the beginning of the semester, and I’ve been going to practice every Wednesday. It’s been a great way to meet locals and work out!

Checking things off the bucket list. In the past few weeks, I’ve been to the zoo, saw a movie, watched people dance tango in the street, and played pool with friends! I always try to do at least one new thing every weekend so that I take a break from studying and discover more about Montevideo.

That’s all for this post! Nos vemos pronto!

Hey Oli, Do You Like Starbucks? (Part II)

Hey everyone! Here’s part two of my English Camp counselor experience!

On Tuesday Morning, we woke up at around 8:00 to have breakfast at 8:30. I was wary of the day ahead because the kids were so rambunctious the day before, but luckily, they were behaved as they ate their tostados and drank hot chocolate. Afterwards, we had a token ceremony where we named students who had done something well the day before and handed them a token to put in their group’s jar. It was fun to see how excited and proud the kids were when they were called to receive a token. Then, for the next activity, us counselors handed out hats that the students could draw on! A lot of them wrote “English Camp”, but some of them signed their names, drew their favorite futból team, etc. We of course had to get a group picture of everyone wearing their hats.

The main activity was “Photo Safari”, where the groups had to recreate pictures that were on a sheet of paper. I took pictures of the green group “sitting on a bus”, acting like animals, forming a period, etc. The pictures of the kids didn’t look much like those that were on the paper, but I gave them tokens for working together. After, the students had “Crafts Time”, so while the students picked up leaves and flowers that they found on the ground outside, we spread out construction paper of all different colors, markers, scissors, and tape. I loved what they came up with! The counselors told them to create a “collage”, a word which many of the students had never heard before, so one of them wrote “Colash” on their paper. I had to take a picture of that. I also created my own “Colash”, and it made me grin at how many of the kids complimented me on my handwriting and drawing abilities. It reminded me of when I was that age and thought that everything that an adult did was brilliant.

Afterwards, we had lunch of steak and mashed potatoes (I was thrilled to say the least). The girls of the class started to open up a lot more and asked me in English how old I am, if I had any siblings, where do I live in the United States, etc. One girl named Lisette asked me if I liked Starbucks, and we talked about what our favorite drinks are. I could see visions of frappucinos dancing in her head as she explained that her favorite flavor is cookies and cream. I was stunned that she knew what “cookies and cream” was in English, but then I realized that the Starbucks in Uruguay most likely has that flavor in English on the menu. Nevertheless, I was impressed at how well she could express herself. She also said that she loved Taco Bell and “Chicki-Fil-A” when she went to the U.S., and I admitted that I could also go for some chicken minis and waffle fries right about now.

The next activity was “Working Together”. Four stations were set up (one for each counselor), and the groups had to rotate and complete the task. At my station, the kids had to create the most elaborate tower with plastic cups, and the group that had the best tower (decided by the judges) would win tokens. The students immediately started stacking the cups, and if a part of the tower collapsed, they strategized how to make it more stable. I took a picture of each tower, and if they finished early, I would teach them a game in English. After the stations, the students had more free time. The boys were always asking when they could play futból, so they sprinted for the fields as soon as we said that they had an hour and a half to do whatever they wanted. Futból is such a big part of their lives; all the boys wore their soccer cleats, and many had on sweatsuits with their team’s logo (either Peñarol or Nacional). When one team lost after a game, there would always be at least two boys crying. It reminded me of how things like losing a game against your classmates is everything at that age and even more if you’re Uruguayan. At dinner, the boys talked my ear off about the history of Peñarol, the World Cup, and the players on the teams. Peñarol was playing that night, so they kept asking me what the score was. When I had told them that I had gone to a Peñarol match, Jeronimo turned to me and said, “You are genial” (“you are cool”). After dinner, the students were free to play board games in English or draw some more. I was shocked at the fact that games that I thought only existed in the U.S., such as Mafia and Operation, are the exact same in Uruguay! I played Uno with a group which is always a safe bet because 1. Almost everyone knows how to play, and 2. Little communication is required. We then had another token ceremony before setting up a bonfire! The kids sat around, and the counselors sang songs in English (“Wheels on the Bus” and “Old McDonald had a farm”) and played “I went to the market”, the game where you say, “I went to the market and got _”, and the next person repeats what you said and adds another item to the sentence. This proved to be especially challenging for the kids, so we ended up just enjoying the fire and trying not to fall asleep. Needless to say, I zonked out as soon as I hit the pillow that night.

That was Day 2! Part III coming soon!

Welcome to English Camp! (Part I)

Hey guys! I apologize again for another late post; I’ve been extremely busy as usual! School has been taking up most of my time, as ORT is known for their course grades being heavily weighted on midterms and group projects. I haven’t had a single homework assignment here, but I do have tons of Zoom Meetings and study sessions with classmates. Last week, I had a parcial (miderm) for my Business Law class, and I got an 83%! I was proud of myself because not only is the class taught in Spanish, but it also discusses business law specifically in Uruguay. I also had a parcial for Uruguayan Economy and Society, and fingers crossed that that went well also! Although studying was tedious for that course, I enjoyed doing research and reading articles because it gives context for a lot of the conversations that my classmates have here. This weekend, I’m heading to Buenos Aires to blow off some steam and explore more of such a lively city.

A few weeks ago, I worked as a camp counselor for an English camp! I got the job because the academic coordinator at ORT forwarded an email from the academic coordinator of Escuela Integral, an elementary school that is affiliated with ORT because they’re both Jewish! At Escuela, the students are taught English and Hebrew, and Escuela is one of the only Jewish elementary schools left in the country. After an interview with the head camp counselor, I was hired! The camp lasted for three days, Wednesday to Friday, and it was in Atlántida, about an hour from Montevideo. At 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, I arrived at Escuela with my things and met the other camp counselors. Two of them were Uruguayan, and one was American (from Boston). I also met the kids; they were fifth graders (10 years old), and they were already bouncing off the walls before we left, so I knew I was in for a long ride. We then boarded the bus and headed to Camp Floresta!

The site was your typical summer camp site. It was complete with a cabin with bunk beds, a bonfire area, and a soccer field. We got a tour of the site and the counselors explained the rules of the camp. The main rule was to only speak English. We then did several ice breaker challenges, including “Line Up”, where the students had to (in English) put themselves in order based on their birthday and name. It was pretty adorable because when they asked me for help, they would speak to me in Spanglish. For example, when I asked one kid what his birthday was, he said “eleven of Julio” (July 11th). Although their English was questionable, I was still impressed that we could carry little conversations and that they weren’t timid about speaking to a native speaker. They also played “Try to Stand Up” where they had to form pairs, intertwine their arms, and try to stand up together, and “Human Bingo”, where they had to get signatures from their classmates if they had done that activity on the Bingo Sheet. For example, if a student had gone on a plane before, they signed their name in that square.

After the icebreaker activities, we had lunch. I was asked to sit with the students so that they could practice their English, and it was hilarious to hear the types of conversations that 10-year-olds have. One kid named Jeronimo (love that name) told me that he has an 18-year-old girlfriend named Flavia. He had this mischievous grin on his face, and the girl next to me (Lisette) said that he met her across the street. I then realized that he was the one waving at people walking by the camp and asking them what their names were! Flavia must live in the neighborhood hahah. Most of them only spoke to me in Spanish in the beginning. A lot of them thought I was Uruguayan, and although that’s a big compliment to me, I assured them that I wasn’t and that I “only knew English”.

After lunch, the class was divided up into four groups, and each was assigned a color (green, yellow, red, and orange). The counselors then explained that throughout the camp, the students would receive tokens for things that they had done well, such as cleaning up after lunch or speaking in English. The team who had the most coins at the end of the camp would receive a prize! Each team then had to create a team flag and make up a song and dance to present to the class. I was in charge of helping the green group. I suggested that they come up with their team’s name first and then base their song around the name. At first, they wanted to be called the “Green Group”, but I told them to come up with something more creative. They decided to be called the Grinches! I helped them draw a crown on their flag with lightning bolts, and they made up the choreography and lyrics. I tried not to laugh when they were coming up with the lyrics. They went something like this:

We are the Grinch, Grinch, Grinch

The best of teams, teams, teams

We are a group, group, group

The best of group, group, group

We are Grinch!

The Grinches then performed in front of the class. I had to take a video because they were so into it and serious about making sure everything was perfect. After, the kids had free time, so I helped them with getting on and off the zipline! We then had tea as a group, and then there was another activity. Each group had to sit together, and the counselors would ask them trivia questions. Some of them were “name five countries in Asia”, “who is the president of Chile”, and “what is the capital of France”. The kids were out of control at this point. I think they were antsy after having free time and exhausted from getting up early to board the bus, but the trivia game that should’ve lasted 30 minutes ended up lasting two hours. It made me have a deeper appreciation for teachers, because I certainly don’t have the patience to deal with rowdy kids for that long. After finally finishing the game (the winner got a few tokens), we had a dinner of milanesa and French fries (a typical Uruguayan meal).

While the students were finishing up dinner, I helped the other counselors to put up a disco ball, hang up neon lights, and create a playlist with English songs for a Neon Party! Each student received a “VIP” ticket to admission for the party, and once they entered the dance floor, we encouraged them to dance with their friends and sing the English songs (“Dynamite, “Tik Tok”, “Party Rock Anthem”, basically the hits from the early 2000’s). I also did face paint on some of the kids, and they loved that the colors were neon! A lot of the students were beat after a packed day, so we went to bed as soon as the music cut out and the lights turned off.

That concludes my first day at the camp; stay tuned for Part II!

An Afternoon in Brazil (Part II)

Hey guys! Here’s Part II to my Uruguay road trip. My friend Karen and I woke up early on Saturday morning and started to make a breakfast that consisted of a fruit salad, leftover chorizo, oatmeal, and coffee. As people woke up, they also helped out by making eggs, setting the table, etc. I went outside for a little bit and enjoyed the peaceful view of the countryside. There was a guy that came by riding his horse, clearly on his way to work, and I thought, “So this is the life of a gaucho (Latin-American cowboy). It was so peaceful, and I was grateful that I could relax and enjoy the morning without feeling rushed to get somewhere. After cleaning up, we went to the Quebrada de Los Cuervos National Park. We were able to swim in the lagoons there, and the water was freezing but refreshing! It truly felt like a little slice of heaven because we were away from everything, and we had the whole place to ourselves. We spent a few hours there, and then we hiked a little bit and saw some fantastic panoramic views of the whole park! I felt like I was in the Amazon; the forest was so lush and there were rivers flowing in and out of each other.

We then made the four-hour drive to Punta del Diablo, which is on the Uruguayan coast. As you can imagine, we listened to tons of music, including songs from each of our countries! My Uruguay Playlist grew a ton by the end of the trip. It’s interesting, however, that everyone knew the lyrics to several songs in English, including “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, “Africa” by Toto, and “Can’t Stop” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers. My friends explained to me that they learn to speak English as a second language at a very young age, and they consume lot of media (including movies, music, and social media posts) that is in English. It really goes to show that English is the universal language, and it made me thing about how the U.S. could do better in creating a firm foundation for students in a foreign language. As soon as we got to our Airbnb (a 7-minute walk from the beach!) we went straight to bed.

On Sunday morning, we woke up, made breakfast, this one including Uruguayan sweets that combine well with mate. My favorite Uruguayan treats are the ojitos (little cookies that have a mixture with egg yolk and sugar in the middle- they do look like little eyes!) and any type of cookie that has dulce de leche. After, we drove 30 minutes to a town called Chuí that is on the border of Uruguay and Brazil! I hadn’t realized how close we were to the border, but thankfully I had brought my passport. We didn’t have to stop in any sort of Customs (I suppose because people drive back and forth all the time), so when we got to Chuy, we parked the car and walked to Brazil! The street that we crossed was a two-lane road: on one side is the Avenida Uruguay, where all the shops are in Spanish, and on the other side is Avenida Brazil, where all the shops are in- you guessed it- Portuguese! We looked like such tourists taking videos of us stepping into Brazil. That was one of my favorite memories of the trip.

Once in Brazil, we walked around and peered into some of the shops. We didn’t spend a lot of time in time in Chuí because there wasn’t too much to see, but I did get an ice cream. I don’t know why I was so astounded by the fact that all the packaging was in Portuguese! When checking out, I said “obrigada”, which means “thank you” in Portuguese, to the cashier. I couldn’t help myself. After, we drove to the Barra de Chui, which is a section of the beach that has a rock barrier dividing Uruguay and Brazil! There were families with their young children, people fishing, etc. Again, I was blown away at how easily people can cross borders here! I think it’s such a crazy concept for me because it’s not as simple geographically to travel to other countries from the U.S.

After our outing in Brazil, we stopped in Santa Teresa National park, where we wandered and got panchos (hot dogs) and churros de dulce de leche. I enjoyed strolling through the Botanical Gardens and Greenhouses and watching the sun set! We then drove back home and had yet another fantastic dinner with our chorizo, again cooked over a wood-burning fire.

The next day was unfortunately the last day of our great Uruguayan adventure, so we made the most of it by spending time at the beach. Punta del Diablo, or Devil’s Point, got its name because of the plentitude of rocks that create massive waves. Many professional surfers come to surf at Devil’s Point. Because of this, the waves were alarmingly big, so we stayed close to the shoreline. We then packed up and made the 3-hour trek home without forgetting to stop at a carrito to get tortas fritas with dulce de leche. You can say that I felt a little ill after all the dulce de leche that I consumed this trip. In between naps, we sang classic Uruguayan songs and laughed all the way home.  

I loved everything about this trip- the sights that I saw, the food that I tried, and most of all, the people I went with. Everyone was up for everything, and we made a great time mapping places out, cooking most of our meals, etc. Though the interior of Uruguay is different from Montevideo in the fact that it’s mostly countryside, I appreciated its tranquil vibe and the natural landscapes. I now get why people are so proud to be from the interior. There are 19 departments in Uruguay, so I hope to check off the other 16!

Uruguay, Papá! (Part I)

Hey everyone! I apologize for the delay in blog posts; I’ve been sick this past week! Study abroad can really take a toll on you physically since you’re always on the go, so I took some time to reset and recover. That being said, I wanted to write about a road trip that I took a couple of weeks ago to visit the interior of Uruguay! The interior refers to all the departments (like the states in the U.S.) except Montevideo. The interior is rich with culture and nature, so I was glad I got to spend the long weekend there!

There were five of us that went (all international students studying abroad): one from France, two from two different parts in Mexico, and one from England but was born in Palestine! I loved that we were a mix of all different nationalities. On Thursday afternoon, we picked up our car rental and drove 3.5 hours to Minas, the capital of the department Lavalleja. We arrived late in the evening, so we went grocery shopping, arrived at the Airbnb, and cooked a delicious dinner of chorizo with homemade chimichurri, grilled potatoes, and Michelada, a traditional Mexican drink. We ate like kings and stayed up playing games and chatting.

The next morning, we made a breakfast of yogurt and fruit with honey and budin (sweet bread). We wanted to explore a little bit of Minas/Villa Serrana before heading to the department of Treinta y Tres, so we visited the Obelisco (Obelisk? It’s basically a tall skinny pyramid that most departments have). It was way smaller than we expected, but we had to laugh because we drove 15 minutes on bumpy roads in a stick-shift car to visit it. On the way, we also found a little free library where people could take and leave a book, write poetry, and give book suggestions! The books were in a refrigerator painted in all sorts of colors, so of course I had to take pics.

We then headed to the Salto del Penitente where we walked to a series of lagoons and waterfalls. I wanted to jump in, but it was impossible to get close enough to the lagoon without basically scaling the rocks/cliffs! We decided to play if safe and tan next to the waterfall. After soaking in the sun, we had a late lunch and tried croquettes (more like egg rolls) with jabaldi (warthog). It tasted just like regular pork, and I can say that that’s the most “exotic” thing I’ve ever tasted! We then decided to pack up and drive the three hours to Treinta y Tres. We passed by an olive orchard along the way, so we stopped and bought olive oil to cook with and fizzy wine in a can made from grapes grown in the area! There were also so many cats roaming around; we each wanted to steal one and take them back to Montevideo. When we were driving, we also drove past a fox that was sleeping on the side of the road! We slowed down and he sat up and just stared at us for a couple of minutes! He was clearly used to seeing humans because he just had this look of curiosity on his face. I wanted to steal him too but thought better of it 😉

Once we got to our Airbnb in Treinta y Tres, a few people went to the store while my friend Cleo and I started the fire! I was so proud of us that we got it going and that we could start cooking dinner right away. We had another delicious dinner of chorizo and grilled potatoes. The next day was Cleo’s birthday, so we stayed up to sing to her in Spanish, English, and Arabic! How neat is that?

Part two is on its way! Stay tuned!

Bouncing Back After Burnout

Hey everyone! Back here with another post for your reading pleasure.

Ever since coming back from Argentina, life has been even more chaotic. I have a group project in each of my classes, so I’ve been spending a lot of time attending meetings and doing research outside of class. Because of this, I haven’t had much time to allow myself to relax. I know that I won’t be here forever, so I also often feel the need to pack everything that I can into the day: to visit a new place, to try a new dish, to learn a new phrase in Spanish, to talk to someone different every day, etc. All of this combined with the drastic change in temperature (it went from 80 to 60 degrees in one week!) has led me to feel physically and emotionally drained.

When I’m feeling exhausted and wishing nothing more than to be at home in the U.S. snuggled up with my cats, I remind myself to be kinder to myself. Yes, I am here to discover more about the culture and make the most out of my experience, but I am also living here, and that in itself is a way of learning how Uruguayans live too. I also know that not letting myself truly rest will lead to even more stress and burnout. Therefore, I strive to cook a good meal every day, go on a walk to decompress, do cross-stitch in my down time, or call a friend when I’m feeling lonely. In terms of studying, I realize that I am doing the best I can, but I also shouldn’t obsess over it. Overall, I do everything that I can to take care of my body physically and seek fun and relaxing outlets to calm my anxiety.

With all this to be said, I have had some incredible experiences in the past couple of weeks! 2 weeks ago, I went to Punta del Este with a few Uruguayan friends! Punta del Este is a beach town a little less than two hours from Montevideo where everyone in Uruguay goes to vacation over the summer! Here, it’s becoming fall, so nobody was there (ie we had the whole place to ourself!). We walked a lot, played card games, and enjoyed the beach views. This past Saturday, I celebrated my friend’s birthday. Several friends and I went to a pub called Montevideo Beer Company and enjoyed appetizers and drinks with my friend, Fabiana (she’s from Chile!). I gave her a little succulent, and the look on her face told me that it was the perfect gift. On Sunday night, I went to a soccer game! There are two major soccer teams in Uruguay: el club Nacional and Peñarol. I went to a Peñarol game vs. a small team in Colonia, and I had a blast! The atmosphere was incredible- there was a marching band in the middle of the bleachers, and they played the whole 90 minutes of the game! Everyone there knew the lyrics to every chant, and you could see true pain and frustration in their phrases when the other team advanced. The score was tied 1-1 for a while, until at the very last minute, a player from Peñaroldid an unbelievable bicycle kick and scored! As you can imagine, the crowd went wild. People climbed up on the fences, threw color smoke bombs, and sang the chants walking out of the stadium. To be honest, my favorite part was that the game was quick. I was fully expecting to settle in for a three-hour game like the football games at UofSC. To my surprise, I got into bed before 10 p.m.!

Studying abroad isn’t without its challenges, but I’m learning how to manage the stress and thrive in this unique environment. I now understand that it’s ok to put myself first and say “no” to things to rejuvenate myself and come back feeling more refreshed. And if all else fails, I know that a mate will always make my day better.

As the Uruguayans say, Vamoarriba! Hasta luego!

Mate: Uruguay's (Unofficial) National Drink

Hey everyone! This post is gonna be all about how to prepare a mate. For those that don’t know, mate is a type of tea that EVERYONE drinks in Uruguay. If you’re roaming the streets in Montevideo, you’ll see people carrying their thermos and their mate cup! Even my professors in class will be taking sips as they lecture. So here is a guide to prepare the perfect mate and be one step closer to looking like a true Uruguayo!

Things you’ll need:

Thermos

Mate leaves (the most popular brands here are Canarias, Baldo, and Moncayo. They vary by caffeine level and flavor, so look at the bags’ ingredients before buying!)

Mate cup and bombilla (metal straw)

Cold and hot water

Instructions:

Fill the cup a little over halfway with mate leaves

Put your hand over the top and tip the mate cup upside down. When you put it right side up, there should be some powder on your hand. Blow the dust off.

Tilt the mate cup so that the mate leaves form a slope and you can see the bottom of the cup on one side.

Put a little bit of cold water and warm water on the shallow side of the cup. This will make it so that the montañita or slope won’t collapse!

Put the bombilla into the hollow part of the mate.

Pour a little bit of hot water into the hollow part. It’s a good sign if little bubbles come up!

Enjoy!

If you need pictures step-by-step for reference, here’s a great article:

Step-by-step: how to prepare mate | Official English Website for the City of Buenos Aires

Here is the etiquette if you’re in a mate circle with friends:

There is one designated person that carries the thermos and pours the hot water. They’re called the cebador (the server). Once the cebador pours you the mate, you drink until there’s no more tea left. Then you give the mate back to the cebador to pour another round.

Respect the order of the circle! Do not drink out of turn.

Don’t hog the mate. If you’re chatting a lot and you have the mate in your hand, the Uruguayans will say you you’re hogging the mic!

Do not add anything to the mate! In some places, people add sugar or lemon, but in Uruguay, it’s strictly the mate.

If someone offers you mate and you say “gracias”, that really means that you’re ok for now.

Relax and enjoy chatting with friends! Having a mate is an activity here, and it dates back to when indigenous people in Uruguay would drink mate as they were working.

Mate is full of health benefits, including:

Minerals such as zinc, potassium, and iron

Anti-inflammatory properties

Antioxidants

Boosts for bone strength. It also has 8 grams of protein!

I hope this inspires you to make your own mate! Salud!

So When Can I Go Back?

What you’ve all been waiting for, Part III!

We woke up early on Friday to catch a flight back to Buenos Aires. Once we arrived, we were starving, so my friend and I went to an Italian restaurant called Los Inmortales! My friend from Argentina recommended the restaurant to me, and it lived up to the hype. Argentina has a lot of Italian influence, so it’s known for its delicious pizzas and pastas. I ordered a pizza that was loaded with mozzarella and olives, and I devoured it in seconds.

Later, we caught up with some other exchange students who happened to be in Buenos Aires too! We stopped by the Floralis Generica, la Universidad de Buenos Aires, and el Museo de Bellas Artes. All the national museums are free in B.A. I was shocked to see several Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, and Jackson Pollack paintings in the museum! They weren’t even enclosed by glass or anything; I was scared that I would accidentally brush into them. That night, the girls and I had a relaxing night in watching Mafalda, a famous animated movie in Argentina, like Charlie Brown in the U.S.

The next day, I woke up and went to this super hip café called Café Martinez, one of the top-rated cafes in B.A. There, I got a waffle loaded with pecans, banana, and Nutella. I always like to order something on the menu that I’ve never tried before, so I got an orange cold brew, or coffee with a few splashes of orange juice. It sounds gross, but it hit the spot. I then decided to get my miles in and walk through the Teatro Colon, La Catedral Metropolitana, and the Casa Rosada where the president lives. It’s like the White House but it’s the Pink House! I also walked by the Obelisco, where everyone flooded the streets after Argentina won the World Cup. After, I stopped by Puerto Madero, a scenic and tranquil part of B.A. where boats used to come into port. There is the Puente de la Mujer which is shaped like the spine of a woman’s back when dancing tango! Fun fact: tango was born in Uruguay and Argentina at the same time. In Puerto Madero I got a choripan, which is like a hot dog but with grilled chorizo. Can you tell that I’m eating my way through Argentina?

Later, I went to the Cementerio de la Recoleta where I saw the mausoleum of former Argentine president Domingo Sarmiento. It was amazing to see how big the mausoleums are for these prominent Argentine families! After, I got dulce de leche ice cream at Luccianos. It was so delicious but so rich that I felt a little sick afterward :/

After another relaxing night chatting with family and friends, I woke up the next day to get breakfast and go shopping at the Feria Artesenal Intendente de Recoleta. The market was filled with local artists and their creations, including jewelry, hand-made clothing, and custom mate cups! could have spent a fortune there, everything was so unique and specific to Argentina. I especially loved anything to do with Lionel Messi. It’s clear that he’s a national figure in the country. Then, I checked in at a hostel because I spent one more day in Argentina than the girls, and I walked through Avenida Corrientes and got three empanadas: jamon y queso, carne picante, and humitas. They were so tasty and even better with a cold Coke-Zero. I later met up with some other international student friends and we walked through the Jardin Japones! It was a gorgeous little sanctuary that had ponds with koi fish and plants native to Japan. There was also a spot where you could make origami and write a message, so the four of us made penguins and wrote where we were from. There was also a spot where you could write a wish and hang it up on a tree. I saw one message in scribbly handwriting that said “quiero ser futbolista”, or “I want to be a soccer player.” How precious! After, we walked an hour to the Barrio Chino, like China Town in New York. I loved looking at all the different types of sweets and drinks they sold. I didn’t realize how diverse B.A. is in terms of food and culture; it’s incredible!

My friend, Cleo, had studied abroad in Buenos Aires a few years ago, so she knew of a spot where people meet up to dance tango! We went there and we watched several couples dance around the plaza. They would often change partners and chat with each other as they were dancing. I loved how free and serene they looked; now I want to take tango classes! After, we went to a Mexican restaurant because one of my other friends, Karen, is Mexican! We had some delicious tacos, although I will say, they weren’t nearly as spicy as they should’ve been. After that, I headed back to the hostel and slept like a baby.

On Sunday, I took the ferry back to Uruguay and conclude my whirlwind of a trip. I’m so proud of how independent I was and that I got to visit some touristy spots as well as experience the authentic Argentine culture! Now, I understand why everyone in Uruguay spends their weekends in B.A. I came back to Uruguay a few pounds heavier to be sure but also with a reminder of why I love traveling so much. Argentina, tenés mi corazón!

A Tilcara Siempre Se Vuelve

I know y’all were anxiously waiting for Part II!

Upon waking up in Tilcara, the girls and I went to this adorable café called Cafecito Aldea where we had a delicious breakfast of café con leche, carrot cake, and medialunas. We then drove to the Salinas Grandes, or the Salt Flats! Located in Purmamarca, the Salt Flats are a series of pools carved out by locals to extract the salt and sell for revenue. It’s also quite a popular tourist attraction. I put on tons of sunscreen so that I wouldn’t get burned, and we walked upon the salt and took lots of fun pictures! Our tour guide told us that in Purmamarca, it only rains during three months of the year, so the locals’ houses are made of salt, and there is no risk of them falling apart! I noticed that I was taking deep breaths when walking around, and it was then that I realized that we were at 4,170 meters, or 13,681 feet! The U.S. should really switch to metric.

We had lunch in Purmamarca at yet another peña, and I had charquisillo, or goat meat that is salted and cooked in the sun! It was delicious. Many of the dishes here had llama meat, but I felt weird about eating it, especially because llamas look so precious. After, we stumbled upon a market that had every type of llama souvenir you could think of! Miniature llama statues made of salt, blankets made from llama wool, llama keychains, etc. I couldn’t resist and bought several llama trinkets.

We then visited the Cerro de Siete Colores, or the Hill of Seven Colors. It should really be called the Mountain of Seven Colors because we were right up in the Andes! The views were some of the most spectacular that I’ve ever seen. The colors were stacked up on each other like layers of cake! It makes you wonder how they got to be that way. After hitting one more peña (Recuerdo de Tilcara) and grabbing a bite to eat, we decided to hit the hay.

The next day, we woke up and had breakfast again at Cafecito Aldea (the same meal but this time with yogurt, fruit, and granola), and we drove to the Cerro de 14 Colores! We drove all the way up and arrived at an altitude of 4,350 meters (14,271 feet). Again, there aren’t words to describe how breathtaking the view was. There was one part where we could descend and get a closer view of the mountains, but the guide warned us that it was a struggle walking back up the hill. And boy, was he right! We were huffing and puffing on the way up, but it was worth it, and that was our cardio for the day.

After that, we had lunch in Humahuaca. I had a regional dish of tamales, which is masa, or a paste made from corn and meat, stuffed into a steamed corn husk. I enjoyed it because they also sell tamales in Mexico! Upon eating, however, two other travelers went up to us and asked us if we had asked for the prices of the dishes before ordering. The server had told us that each dish was between 1500-2000 pesos ($7-$9), but these people said that they’d been scammed and had to pay $10,000 pesos, or $50! After eating, we quickly left 2000 pesos each on the table and then left. It was a little disheartening to hear because although I understand that we’re tourists, we should also be treated with respect.

After that, we also had a little blip with our Airbnb. The Airbnb host wasn’t responding to us all day, so we started to think it was a scam. He finally sent us the address to the Airbnb, but the directions were unclear, and we had to search on Google Maps to find the right place. When we finally found the place, it was in the middle of nowhere, and the house looked nothing like in the pictures. We made a quick decision to turn around, and luckily, there was still a spot left at the Airbnb in Tilcara! When we got there, it was pouring, so we had a scrumptious dinner in the house of pasta very al dente, canned meat, and crackers. The cat that roams around the area stayed inside with us, so at least we had a kitty to cuddle with.

The next day was our last day in Tilcara before heading back to Salta! We visited a ranch right next to our Airbnb and got to see some llamas. There were three of them, including a baby! I’m jealous of their eyelashes. We hit up a market right before heading back and I got some apples, bananas, and a huge jug of water for the road, all less than $3!

Upon arriving back in Salta, I decided to take the Teléferico, or gondala, of San Bernardo to the top of Salta! I had to wait an hour and a half in line, but the trip was so worth it. I had gotten to the top when the sun was setting, so little by little the lights turned on and the town looked like a whole array of constellations. I decided to journal and soak in the view. When I got back down, I had a pancho (hot dog) and helado of Torrontes (the local wine that I mentioned in the last post). For some reason, my data turned off, so I had to use a map like in the old days to get back to the Airbnb (as sad as it sounds, I felt quite self-sufficient hahah). The girls and I went back to la Casona del Molino one last time and listened to an incredible guitar player. He wouldn’t play unless everyone sang along, so I tried to sing the chorus and watched the other diners belting the lyrics. One of my favorite songs was “La Noche Sin Ti” by Los Huayra. I got emotional after listening to it because it felt surreal that I was in northern Argentina, with my friends who I didn’t know just a month before, listening to songs that mean so much to the people of Argentina. With my belly and heart full, I went to bed to rest up for the flight back to Buenos Aires.

You’re just gonna have to wait for Part III! Nos vemos!

Argentina, Me Encantas

Hey friends! This past week and a half I had off for Semana de Turismo, like Spring Break in the U.S. All of the girls and I from my apartment decided to spend it in Argentina! There is so much to write about, so here is part one of my 10-day trip to Argentina.

The girls and I left early on Friday, March 31st and took a bus ride to Colonia, Uruguay, where the port is located for passengers to take a ferry to Buenos Aires. We rode on the Colonia Express ferry and enjoyed the 45-minute ride. When traveling to and from Argentina, most Uruguayans take the ferry because it’s cheaper, more convenient, and fun!

We arrived in Buenos Aires that afternoon and spent the night there. Something I immediately noticed is that Buenos Aires is HUGE! It’s so full of life, and it seems like there is always something to do (great people watching too). My first objective was to change my dollars to Argentine pesos, and it was a startling to hear people in the street yelling “cambio, cambio!”. Luckily, my friend who’s from Argentina had told me that the cuevas are wanting to exchange your dollars for pesos under the “blue dollar.” Because the rate of inflation in Argentina is between 60-70%, the Argentine peso isn’t worth much, so Argentines like to “buy” the dollar because it’s a much more stable currency. And how does this help foreigners? Essentially, tourists can either can change their dollars for pesos under an official bank and receive 170 pesos for every dollar, or they can change under the dollar blue rate and get 350 pesos for every dollar. Fortunately, one of the girls’ cousins who is studying abroad in Argentina took me to a secure place to change my dollars, so I had money to burn!

After a night of munching on empanadas and trying some delicious helado (ice cream), the girls and I woke up early the next day to catch a flight to Salta, which is in northern Argentina! We headed straight to our Airbnb after arriving, which had a gorgeous view of the whole city! We then went to eat at la Vieja Estancia (recommended by our taxi driver) and tried a regional dish of locro! It’s basically a stew with cooked meat and vegetables. We also had a glass of white wine to go with it (Torrontes) because Salta is known for their local wines and brews. My entire meal was about $7. Can you believe it?! Everything was ridiculously cheap.

After that, we roamed the city and stopped upon some beautiful churches, including the Basílica Menor y Convento de San Francisco. I noticed that people are very reverent and respectful in the Catholic churches. Even if they are just stopping by to snap a picture, an Argentine will kneel and do the sign of the cross before leaving. The faith is an integral part of Argentines’ lives.

If you’re traveling to Salta, you must visit a peña. I had found through my research that peñas are restaurants in northern Argentina that have live folk music! I had asked the Airbnb host where the most local peña was, and she suggested La Casona del Molino. We decided to have dinner there at night! The line was long to get in and there was even some sort of security guard at the door with James Bond glasses, but once we finally got in, sat and watched a group of four play the guitar and tambourine and sing famous Argentine songs. There were several rooms in the Casona, each one with its own singer. I was most amazed by the fact that every Argentine knew the words to every song! The national anthem played at one point, and everyone stood and sang along. It was a special experience; I had goosebumps the whole time. Salta’s nickname is “Salta la Linda”, and for good reason.

The next morning, the girls and I rented a car to head to Tilcara-Jujuy! It was a struggle to rent the car because a lot of people had the same idea to travel to Tilcara during the break, and we couldn’t make reservations online. We finally lucked out and did the 3-hour drive through the foothills of the Andes. It was incredible to see loose horses, pigs, and lambs in the middle of the road!

We arrived and headed to our Airbnb (probably my favorite out of the 3 we stayed at). It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, but that’s what I liked about it. We had a gorgeous view of the mountains, and because we were so high up in altitude (11,000 feet), the clouds were right above us! We went to another peña that night and listened to an incredible guitar player. He gave us a book of songs in which we could request one for him to play, and the book probably had about 200 songs in it that he knew by heart! We asked him to play “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and “Love of my Life” by Queen. We were seated next to a group of five Argentine ladies, and at one point, they stood up and invited us to dance! We took each other’s hands and strutted around the restaurant, did the conga line, etc. Again, another experience I’ll never forget. They gave us their Instagram and told us that if we ever needed anything to let us know. Que linda!

Those were my first three days in Argentina. Stay tuned for Part Two!

Going Off the Grid

Hey everyone! Sunday marked one month since I arrived! Where has the time gone?

This past weekend, I took another trip to Cabo Polonio! Cabo is an off-grid community in Coastal Uruguay that is not connected to the nation’s supplies of electricity, gas, and running water. Despite this, many tourists come and visit to disconnect and embrace the peaceful atmosphere. Those that live in Cabo have a reverence for protecting the planet and living like their ancestors did. I thought it would be a great opportunity to turn off my phone for the weekend and enjoy quality time with friends!

Everyone from the house and I took a 4-hour bus ride to Cabo. You cannot drive to the little town of Cabo because there are no roads, so we rode on a mega 4X4 to get to our Airbnb! This was my favorite part because it felt like we were on a safari riding through the dunes. Our house in Cabo was rustic to say the least. It only had a charging station (no lights), and no running water. After using the bathroom, I had to pour water out of a bucket into the toilet for it to flush. Although 12 of us went, there were only 3 beds, so many people slept on the floor, in hammocks, and in chairs. Such is the life of traveling on a budget!

Cabo Polonio is known to be a great weekend trip to take with your friends because there isn’t much to do in terms of tourist attractions. We spent a lot of time at the beach (steps away from the house), looking at the Island of Leones Marinos (sea lions) from afar, and climbing the lighthouse to see the view. At night, we saw the abundance of stars (clearly visible because there’s no air pollution) and even the Milky Way! It poured the whole day on Saturday, so we played cards amidst the candlelight. You can imagine how long it took to explain a card game to exchange students who all have different native languages.

If I were to do it again, I would’ve done more research about places to visit nearby and how much cash to bring. Cabo has a national forest where you can camp, so I would’ve done that for a night. Almost no restaurants took card (again due to the lack of electricity), so I was rationing out my pesos and buying eggs and rice from the local tienda. That being said, I tried some amazing dishes such as milanesa de pescado (breaded and fried fish), pizza caprese, and el desayuno frances which included fresh mango and shredded coconut. Que rico!

Although I probably wouldn’t stay in Cabo Polonio again, I enjoyed discovering a more hippie and slower-paced side of Uruguay. That’s the beauty of traveling- even if you don’t fall in love with the place that you’re visiting, now you know and you discover more about yourself along the way.

Until next time, blog! Ciao!

Colonia Deserves all the Hype

Saludos! This past weekend I took my first trip outside of Montevideo to Colonia! The trip was put together by an organization here called MIS where the staff hosts events and weekend getaways for international students. All 40 of us boarded the bus on Saturday morning and rode 2 ½ hours to Colonia del Sacramento. First, we made a stop at a museum where they have the world’s largest and smallest pencil in the world! We also tried various marmalades and cheeses because that’s Colonia’s specialty.

After, we rode the rest of the way to Colonia and dropped off our things at the hostel before going on a walking tour! Colonia is rich with history, as it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s the only place in Latin America that was colonized by the Portuguese other than Brazil. Because of this, some streets have neatly arranged Spanish tiles, while others are unevenly laid out, characteristic of the Portuguese. Many people from Argentina come to Colonia for a weekend getaway, as it’s only a 45-minute ferry ride from Buenos Aires! Others who are traveling in Argentina go to Colonia to get an extra stamp on their passport, so clearly tourism is the primary form of revenue for Colonia.

            On the tour we saw the oldest church in Uruguay, preserved Portuguese houses, and various ruins. My favorite site was a street called “Calle de los Suspiros” – “Street of Sights”. There are many legends surrounding why the street has this name, but supposedly Colonia had many brothels in the 17th century, so you fill in the rest. After the tour, we visited several museums and climbed the 100 steps to see the view of Colonia from the lighthouse! It was beautiful, of course.

            After watching the sunset from the wharf and chatting with friends, we went to bed and woke up to have breakfast together and roam the streets some more. We went to the “beach”, although the “beach” is really the Rio de la Plata, the widest river in the world! We also had milanesa, a famous dish in Uruguay that’s basically breaded and fried meat (Uruguay’s primary export is carne). Finally, before heading home, we saw a bull ring where they still host events! It had gorgeous Moorish architecture which makes sense because that style of Islamic art flourished in Spain and Portugal.

            It was a quick weekend getaway, but I loved every second of it. I got to make new friends on the trip and explore a more rural part of Uruguay! Colonia is a little slice of heaven that lives up to its acclaimed reviews and Insta-worthy pics. Ya quiero regresar.

Here’s a link to the history of Colonia del Sacramento if you want to learn more:

Historic Quarter of the City of Colonia del Sacramento - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

3 Curiosities about Uruguay

Hey friends! I can’t believe that I’ve already been here two weeks; I’m trying not to blink because I know that the time is going to fly by. Since I’ve been here, I’ve noticed a lot about Uruguay that I would’ve never found out if I weren’t studying here. So here are 3 curiosities about Uruguay that I think you should know too!

No salt! In 2015, the Uruguayan Ministry of Health stated that the national consumption of sodium in Uruguay is about 9 grams per person, which is double what the World Health Organization recommends. Over 30 percent of the population suffered from hypertension. Uruguay also had the largest percentage of obese children in the region. To combat this, the Ministry of Health set a law to ban saltshakers in restaurants and schools. Ketchup and mayo also aren’t provided unless you ask for it. I went to a McDonalds the other day, and there was even a decree in the restaurant that said something to the effect of “we prohibit the use of salt in our food to protect the health of our citizens”. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any updated statistics about the current overall health of the population, but here’s a link to the article I used for reference. It also covers the opinions of local chefs and restaurant owners.

Assault On Salt: Uruguay Bans Shakers In Restaurants And Schools : The Salt : NPR

2. Let’s take La Bondi. In Uruguay, the only type of public transportation is the bus, or La Bondi. Because my university is a 40-minute walk from my house, I take the Bondi to class. When I got here, I immediately bought an STM Card (bus pass) and loaded it. One trip is 42 pesos ($1 USD and some change), but if you take another route within the hour, the Bondi won’t charge you. There are a couple of different apps that I use to track the routes: Moovit and ComoIr. These send you push notifications about when your line is arriving and where to walk to once you get off at the stop. A weird thing that I like about the Bondi is that you have to hail it for the driver to make a stop. I feel like such a local when I stick my hand out in the street! My only bone to pick with the buses here is that they aren’t always reliable. I’ve been late to class a couple of times because the bus arrived 15 minutes later than expected. Overall, though, I enjoy taking it because it’s a change of pace compared to driving my car everywhere in the States.

3. El Derecho Laboral. I’m taking a class called “Derecho de Empresa”, or “Right of Business”, and I’ve learned so much about the federal laws in Uruguay that ensure that employees aren’t over-working, that they receive benefits and adequate vacation time, etc. To my understanding, Uruguay has laws written in their Constitution stating that employees can’t work more than 40 hours per week, and they have to have at least 2 weeks of vacation time no matter how long they’ve worked there. Also, employers are allowed to hire employees via a “trial contract”, where the employee works at a firm for 90 days, and if it’s not the right fit, the employer is allowed to “fire” them; the employer must give the employee severance if they let the employee go. This course is helping me learn more about the U.S. legal system and how Uruguay has more set laws that protect employees. Maybe the U.S. could learn a thing or two!

Happy FDOC!

I have sooooo much to write about after my last entry! To pick up from my last post, I arrived in Montevideo at around 12:45 p.m. and then was picked up by a driver who drove me to where I’m staying! I’m living in a house with 10 other international students (it’s called Myo). Besides it being in the center of everything (30 minute walk to the beach, 40 minute walk to my university), the house itself is gorgeous. It has authentic stained-glass windows, antique tapestries, and a terrace with ample seating and a grill! Already, my housemates and I have had several dinners together. I have a roommate named Laila who’s from Mexico! She’s super chill and I’m excited because I studied abroad in Mexico several years back (we know the same Mexican expressions jaja).

Because my classes didn’t start until yesterday, I spent the past week going to the beach and meeting other international students. There is an organization here called MIS (Montevideo International Students) that hosts events often, and they send out announcements about restaurant reservations, beach outings, and weekend trips. Already I’ve met several people from Latin America, including Chile, Colombia, and Brazil. Some of them go to my university with me, ORT Uruguay. It’s a small private school with two campuses: Campus Centro and Campus Pocitos. I go to Pocitos because they have the courses for the major in “International Studies and Social Sciences”. Yesterday I had four classes; the first two were from 8-9 a.m. and 9-11 a.m. Then, I have a break until 6:30 where I have one coursefor an hour and then my last one until 10:30 p.m. I was a little worried about having a class that ended so late, but the class itself is interesting. Here’s a list of all the courses I’m taking (all taught in Spanish):

Business Law

Spanish for Foreigners

Strategy and Management Control

International Business and Commercial Politics

Uruguayan Economy and Society

I’m most excited for my Uruguayan Economy and Society class because it interests me to know how they conduct business here. Already I’ve learned that they have a stable economy; everything’s a little more expensive here because the rate of inflation is at 8%, but it serves to provide clean streets, reliable transportation, and healthy food. Uruguay also gives a discount for people who pay with an international card because they want foreigners to invest in the country. I, for example, get a 20% discount every time I use my debit card, so you know I’m taking advantage of that.

There’s so much more that I want to write about, but I’ll save it for another post. I’ve loved my first week here and I’m excited to fully settle in and develop a routine. Ciao!

¡Vamos lá! ¡Allí vamos! Here we go!

Hey everyone! I’m currently writing to you from a Starbucks in the São Paulo Airport in Brazil!

Yesterday, I left my house in Greenville at around noon to catch a flight to Miami at 4:15 p.m. After I landed, I had a two-hour layover until I boarded my next flight to São Paulo. I’m not gonna lie, I was dreading the flight because it was eight hours, and I have a hard time sleeping on planes. When I boarded, however, I was pleasantly surprised that I had an aisle seat! In between our dinner and continental breakfast, I cross-stitched, watched a movie en español, and talked to the people next to me. Although they were Brazilian, they could still understand me when I spoke in Spanish (Spanish and Portuguese are quite similar). The seats were the same size as any domestic flight, so I unfortunately didn’t sleep at all.

The São Paulo airport is confusing to say the least. There are three terminals, and each contain gate numbers that start at the 200s. I also had to go through security again. Fortunately, I was able to ask flight attendants questions in Portuguese and I used their directions to find my gate. This leads me to my #1 tip when traveling in a foreign airport: know at least a few phrases in the foreign language. Before arriving in Sao Paulo, I looked up “Do you speak English?”, “Where is…” and “please” and “thank you” in Portuguese. This made the process a lot smoother, plus it builds up your courage to speak!

My final flight to Montevideo boards in 30 minutes. It’s a three-hour flight, so fingers crossed I’ll be able to take a nap on this leg before meeting my driver to take me to where I’m staying! I’m living in a house with ten other international students, so I’m beyond excited to meet everyone.

My essentials when traveling:

Printed boarding passes. I’ve noticed that more and more, passes can be downloaded to your Apple wallet, but I prefer to also have the passes printed just in case.

Adapter and portable charger. Sometimes the outlets are different in other countries, so these will come in clutch.

Empty Brita water bottle. Of course, it’s great to bring an empty water bottle and fill it up once you get past security. I recommend the Brita water bottle because it has a charcoal filter in the straw, so you don’t have to worry about the quality of water wherever you travel.

Journal written in your targeted language: I’ve started documenting my travels in Spanish so that I can improve in my writing skills. I did the same thing when I studied abroad in Mexico, and you can really see a difference in the quality of your writing as the months go by!

Extra pair of socks. It just makes you feel like a whole new person; I can’t explain it.