Thanksgiving

My Thanksgiving this year was hardly traditional. I spent the morning and afternoon visiting a local private school with my mentor from IPA. This was the first time I stepped foot inside a private institution since arriving in Uruguay to work in the public education system. The difference was quite noticeable, even though many of the same teachers work in the both the public and private sector. I'm not sure whether to attribute this to management, funding, student background, or support. Clearly, Crandon, the school I visited, is getting it right.


I took advantage of my visit on Thursday to teach the students about Thanksgiving in the United States. I talked about the history, the idea of giving thanks, the time spent with family, the American football, and of course the turkey. But turkey is next to impossible to find in Uruguay! Nobody likes it! I was worried about celebrating Thanksgiving without a big fat juicy turkey, but then my problem was solved.


A friend of a friend us over to his house for big Thanksgiving feast that he spent two days preparing. And it showed. His food was delcious. And not to mention the view from his apartment was spectacular. People are very generous and caring here.

I am very thankful for my time spent in Uruguay and for the many great friends I have made.

Dia de los Muertos

Another federal holiday in Uruguay! Today is Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. The idea is to spend the day being respectful and honoring those who have passed away. The Uruguayans I've spoken to said they don't really take the day too seriously. It is more a day of relaxing without work.


They also said they don't really celebrate Halloween which was this weekend too, but I definitely saw some children out trick-or-treating...unless those skeletons and ghosts weren't really children in costumes. Hmmmm. For Halloween I attempted to have a little party for the teachers in my conversation class, but the only thing that turned out scary was my cooking.

Heritage Day

Dia del Patrimonio or "heritage day" celebrations in Uruguay were a lot of fun. We got to see various museums, parades, displays, music, dances, performances, and other assorted festivities.


The photos you see are of candombe groups who usually perform during carnaval. Candombe is a style of music and dance that originated in Uruguay. I will dedicate a future post to explaining it more.


It seemed like everyone came out to enjoy the traditions of Uruguay. There were people everywhere in Ciudad Vieja and Centro. Uruguayans seem to be proud to be Uruguayan.


And what celebration would be complete without a giant jar of dulce de leche? This is biggest jar of dulce that you've ever seen. I have to admit...I gave it a hug.

Dia del Patrimonio

Today and tomorrow (September 26th and 27th) the Dia del Patrimonio is being celebrated in Uruguay. If you are somewhere in Montevideo or the interior check here for a list of events in your city. Most government buildings are open to the public and there are to be celebrations of all types. I will report on what fun I get myself into these next couple of days.

Independence Day

As I mentioned in my last post, today, August 25th, is the Uruguay's Independence Day.


Like almost every other person in Uruguay, we danced our feet off last night for the Noche de la Nostalgia, so we didn't get home until after 5:30 AM--and that was early in Uruguayan terms. I must say that I didn't exactly know all of the songs they played, especially the ones in Spanish, but that doesn't mean that I didn't have fun. On a side note, I've been humming Rod Stewart's I Don't Want to Talk About It all day so I suppose la noche de la nostalgia lives on in my head.

Happy Independence Day Uruguay! On August 25, 1825 Uruguay declared independence from Brazil. Felicidades!

Noche de la Nostalgia

August 24th is apparently one of the biggest days in Uruguay's calendar. Deemed the "Nostalgia Night," both old and young, leave their houses to go dancing to oldies music, yes that's right hits from the 60s, 70s, 80s and more. And it is said to be the party of year. Originally, I think the party was intended to be on August 25th, Uruguay's Independence Day, but somehow nostalgia night has come to overshadow that official holiday.

A lot of places charge big covers (anywhere from 200 to 1000 pesos) to get in and get your groove on. We are going to wander around Ciudad Vieja until we find an appropriate place to dance to U2, the Beatles, Bon Jovi and The Police among many others. Hmmm, this all seems strange to me.

Fortunately, I have been informed that people do not dress the part. And I was going to wear tie dye...guess I dodged a bullet there.

Batalla de Las Piedras

Today was another holiday in the wonderful nation of Uruguay which meant no school or work. Today was a celebration of the Batalla de Las Piedras (Battle of the Rocks).

The Battle of Las Piedras was part of Uruguay's independence movement, led by none other than the national hero, Jose Artigas, whom I mentioned earlier. He led a group of revolutionaries from the Provincia Oriental del Río de la Plata (modern-day Uruguay) to defeat the Spanish in 1811. And it was on the 18th of May that he uttered one of his most famous phrases, "Clemencia para los vencidos" (Mercy on the vanquished).


Of course, in celebration of Batalla de Las Piedras, I took a trip to the hot springs. I had intended to go one I had never been to before, but oops, I got on the wrong bus and ended up at the Termas Dayman again. Oh well.


Estaba bien. It was fine. I had a great time. I love the termas.


Being there at night was great too. The hot springs are different after the sun sets. They seem more toasty--but that could just be the visible steam wafting into the night sky.

Mamá Mamá

Felices dia de la madre!
Happy mother's day!

I translated the song Mamá Mamá by Los Nocheros for my mother for Mother's Day since I am not exactly in the US to give her a present (sorry Mom). Hope she likes the translation though. You can hear the song here. Spanish lyrics here. They've been playing this song all weekend, and the students at Escuela 1 were practicing it on Friday to sing to their mothers. Awwww.

Mamá Mamá

Even now I feel your hand here on my forehead
It is the best cure for my pain.
When I need you, you are always present
My world is transformed by hearing your voice
It was this way since I was a child
At each question, your word in the end
Gives me a wise response.
Your light illuminated my soul
And doubts did not exist for me.

Mom, Mom
It is so much that you give me.
It's a tender debt, loving and eternal
Impossible to repay.

Mom, Mom
It is so much that you give me
That I would strive
To have ten lives
To love you more and more.

At times it seems to me that you have plenty of arms
To bring everyone into your heart.
You multiply so much without giving a thought.
Instead of one, you are a million.

Fortunately I have many mothers.
Her who makes me safe, her who gives value.
Her who works and leaves footprints.
The woman who is forever beautiful.
Her who illuminates us with love.

Mom, Mom
It is so much that you give me.
It's a tender debt, loving and eternal
Impossible to repay.

Mom, Mom
It is so much that you give me
That I would strive
To have ten lives
To love you more and more.

Dia de Trabajadores

May 1st. May Day. Labor Day.

Felices Dia de Trabajadores!
Happy International Worker's Day!

No work for me today. Today is a holiday. Today most of the world (that is, except for the US and Canada) celebrates the worker (which ironically can trace its origin back to the 1886 Haymarket Massacre in Chicago, begging the question why the United States' labor day in September...)

But anyway, International Worker's Day "is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. May Day commonly sees organized street demonstrations and street marches by millions of working people and their labour unions throughout most of the countries of the world."

I guess that explains all the honking in the streets today. Hoorah for the eight hour movement.