Photos of the parade! (and the car, haha!)

"ME ENCANTA DOLORES!"

Normally, as a joke, the second I arrive to a new city or town in the small country of Uruguay I exclaim "ME ENCANTA __________!" (I love _______). I did this in Punta del Este, Colonia del Sacramento, Carrasco...but for some reason I forgot to do it when I arrived to Dolores (as my friend reminded me). Maybe that was the first sign.

Dolores is a small town 4 hours north-west of Montevideo. One of my Uruguayan friends, Rafaela, has a good friend Jenny, who has a "friend" (or so I thought) who lives in this town. Perhaps the only thing Dolores is known for is it's "Fiesta de la Primavera" or, Spring Festival. So, Rafa and a couple of her friends decided it would be a perfect if we went to the spring festival and stayed in the house of Jenny's "friend." When the girls invited me and my two other friends, Shelley and Mel we were really excited -- who wouldn't want to go to a party to celebrate spring?!

So I packed my bags (and a sleeping bag) and headed to the bus stop to meet my friends. After about four hours the bus started to slow down in the middle of no where...and then the bus came to a halt in the middle of no where. No, we were not lost. We had arrived to Dolores. We were picked up by Jenny's "friend" in his 50 (at least) year old, small, red car (we backed five in the back). I had learned during the journey in bus that this wasn't really Jenny's friend. She is a member of couch surfing and on the couch surfing website Gabriel (her "friend") posted that he was open to having visitors for the special Fiesta de la Primavera weekend - and WE were the visitors. We arrived to his house, that the 30 year old shares with his Mom, Dad, sister, brother and niece, and settled in. Or rather, we put up two tents in the backyard, right in front of the fenced in area for the pigs. It smelled great.

After we got "settled in" we got a quick tour of the town of Dolores and passed by the street along the river PACKED with people of all ages partying. We joined in on the fun for a couple hours, and it was, well, interesting, before we headed to the town center to watch the Uruguay vs. Ecuador fútbol (soccer) game. The bar (the only one in town) was so full you couldn't move. When Uruguay won (gracias a dios) people were literally crying tears of joy.

The first nights scheduled festivities were a concert and a dance. After grabbing a quick bite to eat we headed to the concert. We waited outside until the band started to play, at 11:00, and then tried to barter the ticket counter woman down (I guess $10 concert tickets are really expensive in uruguay...) and finally gave in and paid the 250 pesos. There was barely anyone at the concert. Maybe because the tickets were so "expensive" or maybe because it looked like it was about to rain. And during the last song, did it ever. The rain came down so hard it took us about fifteen seconds before we were drenched. We ran back to Gabriel's house and sat down in the kitchen (where I saw the largest spider of my life). We had to be quiet in the stereotypical uruguayan country house because his parents were sleeping. Although his mother did come out of her room to serve us fresh salami...really fresh. It took us about five minutes to wind down from the mad dash to the house to realize all our stuff was in the tent, and consequently soaked. Thus a couple brave souls ran outside in the storm to bring everything inside and we set up a sleeping area on the dirty, cement/dirt kitchen floor. We layed newspaper down and then our sleeping bags.

I couldn't wait to get to sleep...NOT. So it then being 3:00 am I decided to go to the dance with three of the other girls. Still raining hard, we crammed back into the old red car (which barely started) and hit up the dance for a bit. No comment. Except that a couple days later I found out one of my students was also at the dance... I hope he didn't see me dancing on the table taking tequila shots...just kidding.

Arriving back to the house around 5 am in the still pouring rain I forgot about the dirty, spider-filled floor and went to sleep...for a full four hours before the alarm went off at 9:00 to get ready for the Spring parade that began at 10:00. But, due to light morning rain the parade didn't start as scheduled (as nothing does here in Uruguay). Instead, without any notification and after house of waiting around, it started at 1:30. Thankfully the sun came out (enough to allow me to get burnt, oh joy) and the parade was hilarious. It is made up of nine schools competing with floats and dances. My favorite theme was "Michael Jackson: el rey de pop."

As there was a parade again later at night, 10:30 pm, we had our return bus tickets for 2:30 in the morning. However, as we were exhausted and had seen enough of Dolores we switched our tickets to 6:00, allowing us just enough time to pack our pags and head to the bus station.

It was an interesting two days to say the least. One of those trips where in the end I am glad I went, but even more glad that it had come to an end...

The group! Jenny, me, Rafa, Shelley, Mel y Lalé
The concert...before the rain came!
Street party
A bit of charm...
"Roommates"

VAMMMOOOOOO PEPE!

I will admit I have never really been into politics. It's just not my thing. Am I wrong? It is, or rather, should it be, EVERYONE'S thing? I research the candidates/proposals enough to make an informed decision and basta/enough...I make it.

In Uruguay la gente/the people don't think that way...they are not just "voters" or normal everyday citizens who make a private decision and cast their vote on election day, they are FANATICS. Maybe it is because Uruguay is a small country and they feel more connected to political decisions and leadership, maybe it has something to do with the fact that voting is obligatory for every citizen over the age of 18...whatever the reason uruguayans are more passionate about their political stances than I have ever observed/read about in other countries.

For weeks now I have heard at all hours of the day the campaign songs for the three main political parties being blared on the streets, nearly every car has a flag taped in the window (or flying out the side of the window), faces are painted, everyone aged 2-89 is dressed in the colors of their chosen political party...and the list goes on. I am not kidding. EN SERIO. I think if the political party mascots in Uruguay were a donkey and elephant there would be donkeys and elephants tramping around the capital right this moment (without a doubt painted (with animal-safe paint, of course) and displaying banners). Who knows, maybe they would even be trained to sing the campaign songs?

Buenooo, sticking to the theme of "politics" this evening I headed to the rambla with my house sister Luciana and her novio Rodrigo. (The rambla is like the promenade, the boardwalk that borders el río de la plata...only 5 blocks from my house). There was a HUGE parade for Frente Amplio (my choice party...AND the party that is favored to win the election next Sunday). Being the last parade before elections and with the rumor that the candidate himself would make an appearance the street and the entire beach area was PACKED, llenooooo de gente. Singing, chanting, marching....people passed in cars, motos, bikes, in strollers, on leashes (dogs that is)....and everyone seemed so caught in the moment, displaying so much hope for their country -- a hope that for them lies in the election of Pepe Mujica (the candidate for Frente Amplio).

After checking out the parade for a bit, we finally got a chance to cross the street where the parade was taking place. We walked for a bit along the rambla. After about 30 minutes we decided to get in line to buy tortas fritas (kind of like elephant ears). The line was pretty long and we waited for about 15 minutes (well worth the wait, plus, they only cost 10 pesos which is like 30 cents....). When we were just about to the front we heard some screaming nearby "PEPE, PEPE" and a group congregating. I said "be right back..." and ran over to the now growing group. And there he was. Presidential candidate (and I believe soon-to-be president) Pepe Mujica. I was literally walking right next to him and snapped a shot of his funny little head. Everyone above on the street of the parade was patiently awaiting his arrival and here he was, right next to me...mingling with the people on the street. There were no helicopters hovering above, no cars following him, no bodyguards....just Pepe.

The same thing would happen in the U.S.A., right? Riiiiiiiiiight.

The shot...Pepe Mujica!
Torta Frita...half-eaten...whoops


the desfile/parade!

Just another day...

It is only 1:33, but having woken up at 6:30, I have already taught 3 classes and attended a spinning class. A couple highlights of the not-yet-over day:

1. A high-schooler that attends the school I work at, San Juan Bautista, told me that all of my ex-boyfriends/boyfriends/friends that are boys could quite easily be defined by what Uruguayan soccer player they are most like. (translated from Spanish): "May-gan, you know what I mean, like if the guy is strong and always pushing the limits but sometimes hangs back and just chills he is obviously the mid-fielder Jorge Rodriguez." Why did I not learn this theory in my intro. to psychology class?

2. Spin class. It is hilarious. I always go to the same class at 10:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays with my favorite instructor, Matías. Well, Matías isn't only my favorite instructor, he is the favorite instructor of every female (ages 2-88). He just gives really great, high-energy, challenging, classes. Oh, and he is HOT. (Not to mention half the time he is off his bike and dancing to the music, I am not kidding).

3. The entire "sexto año de liceo" or rather, senior class in high school, of San Juan Bautista has been trying to convince me to go to a party they organized for tomorrow night in a nearby club and to bring as many American girls as I can get a hold of that live in Montevideo. One of the boys told his teacher (who later told me), "Why wouldn't the American girls want to come? I mean, we are Latin lovers." Luckily, I already have plans for tomorrow night. And, I think I would be better off not clinking my fourth beer against that of my students.

Bueno, now off to buy more minutes for my cell phone (I heard a rumor there is a special offer for today, buy a certain amount of minutes and the service will double it...aka BOGO as my Dad would say), then I have Latin American literature from 3-6 followed by Education and the Uruguayan Society from 6-9. I will definitely be brining my mate (high caffeine, tea-like drink that EVERYONE drinks here).

One of my classes at San Juan Bautista

YERBA MATE!

"A ver" mujer

Come one, come all. If you are about to turn 98, are pregnant with triplets, are 40 and just got your fifth divorce, are still a toddler (OK, maybe a bit of an exaggeration)... Universidad República is for you.

Oh, wait, you have to be Uruguayan. That probably eliminates the majority of you. No, who am I kidding, that eliminates all of you.

Founded in 1849, La Universidad República is Uruguay’s oldest and largest public university. Education at “República” is free and open to all Uruguayans with a bachillerato (high school diploma). A few decades ago, despite the free tuition, university education tended to be limited to children of middle and upper class families as the lower classes needed to work to support their family. However, recently there has been a surge in night classes, known as “horario nocturno” to enable more full time-workers to also be university students. (This would explain why my classes are from 6-9 pm and why on my original schedule I had a class 9-11 on Friday nights…which took me only one look at my schedule to change).

So, lets move away from the quick history blurb and turn to the make-up of my own classes at La Universidad República.

I counted today (during one of the many times in the course of the three hour class where the professor was talking about something completely off topic) and of the 35 people in my class, I figured that five were under the age of 30. I also figured (this is a complete guess) that at least 20 of the 35 students could care less about their final grade. No one has to pass here, what is the difference between a grade of 1 (fail) of 12 (the highest mark) when you are sixty and taking the class for something to do on Tuesday and Thursday nights?

One woman in my class known by most of my compañeros as the “a ver” mujer is a middle aged women who decided to take an education class because her daughter is a teacher in Miami. I know this because she told me. Well not just me, the whole class….along with every other little fact about her life and opinions of the education system in Uruguay. Staring every phrase with “A ver” or sometimes just sticking her little finger in the air and saying “a ver” to try to get a word in when someone else is speaking, every time her shrill voice is heard half the class cringes and the professor always gets a nice little grin on his face.

Both of my classes are lleno aka full of “a ver” mujeres and other choice personalities…but I can’t complain. I wanted something different, right?

SIDE NOTE: Although this blog is a tad sarcastic and implicative of a somewhat dreadful Latin American University experience I would like to mention that most of the time I enjoy my classes and of the select few younger students in my classes, have met some great new friends. No te preocupes…don’t you worry….

I have a blog?

Saludos to all family and friends and who knows, maybe some random desconocido interested in my travels (although I hope not...) who find themselves reading this blog. After six months abroad - both in the Dominican Republic and Uruguay (and future travels in Ecuador and beyond) I finally decided to start a blog.

You might find yourself asking, "Why?" Or maybe in the Spanish spirit you are asking yourself, "Por qué? -- Regardless, I will tell you:

1. I want to practice my English. After six months of Spanish, Spanish, y más Spanish, my English (especially in the written form) needs some work. In other words, excuse any Spanglish used in my blog entries.

2. In the past few months spent abroad I have had some amazing, even life changing

experiences - experiences without a doubt worthy of sharing.

3. It is much easier to keep everyone updated on my whereabouts via blog...Plus I have always secretly wanted to have a blog.

4. Maybe if I was half-way finished with my one semester abroad and nearing the end of my travels it wouldn't be worth it to start a blog so "late in the game"...However, I am not done with my travels (sorry Mom and Dad), not even close!

5. Blogs are a great and easy way to share photos, so stay posted for some great shots.

So, now you know why I have decided to create this lovely blog which I have named "M.M en A.L," which stands for "Megan Mishler en América Latina." Now I can't guarantee that this blog will be insightful, hilarious, free of errors, or have frequent updates, but I can guarantee that I will TRY to write once a week or so and that what I write will be honest and interesting (well, hopefully)!

To start off the blog I am going to post a few pictures that highlight my past five months abroad. Love to all!

In Punta Del Este, Uruguay. Eating waffles with my new favorite food staple, dulce de leche.
The end of a student-led march in Montevideo, Uruguay - known as "Líber Arce" (the name comes from the first and last name of the first student killed during the dictatorship in Uruguay in the 1970's-80's. The name said aloud sounds like "liberarse," the verb in Spanish which means "to liberate").
My goddaughter, Marialís, in Los Marranitos, Dominican Republic (where I spent the summer of '09 working as the teacher in a small community consisting of less than 150 people).
Some of the niños in Los Marranitos...
The view from my window...the highest mountain in the Caribbean "Pico Duarte."