On the go!

I'm determined to get in another post before the month is out, so here goes.  I've been traveling quite a bit this month it feels like.  I wanted to get in one more trip to Buenos Aires, plus I needed to renew my visa, so I took myself for a long weekend to BA.  I had the good fortune of staying with an Argentinian friend and her mother, who I met through a very beloved long-time friend from the states.  I had a lovely, relaxed weekend with them, clearing my head and trying to just enjoy these last adventures.  I also was able to have dinner with a friend from Vassar who is studying there abroad, which made it even more worthwhile. Another, although somewhat minor highlight, was getting to have my first soy-chai-latte in 6 months (thank you, Starbucks-Argentina!!!).  Soy milk is a lot harder to come by in Uruguay, and since I am lactose-intolerant, I usually have to drink my hot beverages black.

It was also the Jewish holidays, but for a variety of complications I wasn't able to attend synagogue, which was hard.  I felt a bit let-down about it, and like I was missing out on something that is genuinely important to me, since I always go.  But I felt like I tried to celebrate and reflect on the new year in my own way though.  In other news, I've been trying to run a lot on the rambla (boardwalk) now that the weather is getting better.  I'm up to about 5 miles, which for me is a lot.  I even went to a kick-boxing class at my gym with a co-worker, which was very fun, and really tough!  I've also been plugging away at applying for jobs, looking for some sort of work with women either in the social work field, or more international women's movements (like international health groups, or advocacy)... my fingers are crossed...

As for work here, I've been doing a lot of editing on a publication that the department is putting together, and having fun with my conversation groups.  For a while it seemed like the groups were dwindling, but after a bit of a party with home-cooked treats two weeks ago, I think we've revitalized things a bit.  I was also finally able to make contact with a women's domestic violence network, and I will be doing a small project with them in my remaining time, so that is exciting.  I'm continuing to go to hebrew class, and continuing to be surprised by how much knowledge I can actually manage to dredge up from my memories of hebrew class as a kid.  I guess Noam Chomsky was right (thank you, Professor Baird); we really do have the ability to retain language far better as children.

Then, although my office did not actually have the week off, last week was the vacation week for public schools here, so I went on a trip with the other female ETAs (Meara, Beth, and Elizabeth) way up into the northern interior.  We spent a day and stayed overnight in the city of Tacuarembo, taking fun pictures and seeking out all the places that we'd seen in the fabulously kitschy, tongue-in-cheek movie that came out earlier this year, 'Miss Tacuarembo.'  Then we continued on to stay at the posada Lunarejo (a rural inn) way out in the province of Rivera, closer to the city of Artigas, which is approaching the border of Uruguay and Brasil.  The posada was so lovely, and the landscape much more impressively varied (hills, mesetas, etc) than anywhere else I've seen in Uruguay.  And of course, we went horseback riding again; for the second time in a row now, horse-bite free.  The only downside was that I got really sick with some sort of flu-like virus.  We came back mid-week, and I spent the next few days resting, but finally took myself to the doctor when I developed a raging case of pink eye in both my eyes.  Now I'm doing a lot better though, and gearing up for my next trip; I leave Thursday morning to visit the waterfalls at Iguazu, on the Argentinian side.  So exciting!  I will post about that with pictures next.

Let the countdown begin

As usual, so much to catch up on! After my parents left, work got really busy... I helped run a country-wide training for primary school English teachers. I was also a presenter, and I gave an hour long presentation on using theater in the English classroom, which from the feedback I've been getting, was actually somewhat useful. I gave the speech twice, once to teachers from all over the country (which also gave me the opportunity to say hi to some teachers from Salto and Paysandu, in the interior, whom I had not seen in a long time!), and once to teachers from Montevideo. It is amazing how many of them I actually know now... I feel like I could at least recognize the majority of the English teachers associated with the department where I work, and that is a lot! Participating in this training made me really feel a part of things in my office, and definitely served as a turning point for solidifying my relationships and my role there. I also started visiting classes for my second Fulbright placement in Montevideo, which is a less involved role, but still gives me another perspective on education here.

In other news, we've just been trying to make the most of our time left here in Montevideo, and taking each adventure as it comes! We have gone to two concerts here in Montevideo so far, one which was Tabare Cardozo, who is a murga bordering on classic-rock singer, and then we went to an A Contramano concert, which was a traditional murga concert, complete with a male group of singers who dress up in elaborate costumes and sing/joke about Uruguayan society and politics. Most of it goes over my head, but it can be pretty funny when I catch on to something, and always entertaining. We also went out for 'Noche de Nostalgia,' which is the night before Uruguay's Independence Day. They throw huge parties and everyone goes out, and venues are obliged to play mostly 'oldies' music. Elizabeth and I went with our friends Yosanna (from Paysandu) and her boyfriend Emiliano (who lives in Montevideo) to basically the biggest party in the city. It was pretty crazy... it was at this huge entertainment complex on the outskirts of the city, with so many dance floors I don't even think we saw them all. I have to admit, I loved the music, and got a huge kick out of watching a room full of Uruguayans, most of whom don't speak a word of English, singing and dancing along to 'YMCA.' I had quite a few bar/bat mitzvah flashbacks. In true Uruguayan style, we didn't make it home until 7 am.

Then this past weekend, we took a whirlwind trip back up to Salto and Paysandu. First we went to spend the day in Chapicuy with a friend of the Fulbrighter's who lived in Salto. It was a small town in between the cities of Paysandu and Salto, and we spent the day with his lovely family, had lunch, went to the Meseta de Artigas (a cool natural monument to Uruguay's national hero, Artigas), and had a pleasant, truly Uruguayan day. Then we hopped on a bus to Paysandu, where due to some snafoos in our plans we found ourselves without a place to stay for the night. But we found a hotel room, ate in one of our old favorite restaurants, and stopped by our friend's birthday party, which was our main reason for coming in the first place. We also bumped into one of the teachers we used to work with, one who we were very close to, so that was awesome. The next day we just hung out around the city, reminiscing about old times, then met up with two of our mentors and their families for tea time. Seeing them and being with their families made the whole thing worthwhile, and reminded me of and made me nostalgic for the community I had there in the interior. Life in the city is more dynamic, but definitely more isolating.

Now, finding myself with 2.5 months left, I am scrambling to get everything done that I wanted to get done here, while also keeping one eye on the future (applying for jobs, etc). I'm trying to keep on top of everything I'm expected to do for work before I leave, as well as trying to find some volunteering work with a women's group to help out with in my remaining time. I also am planning the rest of my travels... trips in the works include going to Buenos Aires next weekend and visiting with friends, going to the waterfalls at Iguazu, having an amazing week when Al and Erbear come to visit in Oct (yay!!!), and one final trip to visit Chile before I leave, returning just in time for Thanksgiving.