Ramblings

I've had this page open and have intended to post an entry for the last 4 or 5 hours but have been wasting away on the internet. Thinking lots of stuff, not gonna post it though. Was listening to Black Eyed Peas, but that wasn't really helping my mood, so I've switched over to Celtic tunes. In the meantime, I've been drinking mate and thinking about the fact that I only have 11 more days here before I return to the States. And I feel like crying. Tomorrow I'm going to the peluqueria (the hair dresser) with my Uruguayan mom to try to get a Uruguayan cut before I go home...that may sound really stupid, but I just want to have as many ways as possible to remember this place. I really don't know what to write because I don't feel like ruining anyone's day with an extremely emo post, so for now I'll just list some differences between American verses Uruguayan life.

1. Greetings. In Uruguay, you kiss everyone on the cheek. First time introductions, friends, family, the church congregation, the pastor, the professor, the students. Most kisses followed by a hug. In the US, it's hand shakes and hugs. And if you're extremely affectionate than a cheek kiss, normally followed by a surprised look on the other's face.

2. Jeans. Most women under the age of 30 wear the skinny jeans. And I've never, ever seen 2 people with the same pair of jeans that I can recall, whereas we're all familiar with that same Express, American Eagle pocket pattern that nearly every girl owns. The men's jeans here are very fashionable. Most American men wouldn't be caught dead in these jeans for the fear of being considered gay, but classy jeans are happening here for the straight men too!

3. Men who stare. In the States, if I look over at a man looking at me, he almost immediately looks away. Whereas here, if I make eye contact with a man staring, he won't break the stare. I have to look away immediately or else that means that I'm looking for something more. "But I'm a strong, independent woman, and I won't submit to the authority of a strange man...I can't let him win..." says my American liberal arts education voice. He takes a step closer and I break and walk speedily in the opposite direction, starting to understand a bit more as I live out the stereotype of the male-dominated society in South America.

4. Printed pornography. In the US, it's on the bottom, back shelf in the bookstore. In Uruguay, it's at eye level on the magazine stands on every street corner. If you're lucky, there's a big poster of the front cover blown up and on the stand as well. I think that was more common in Argentina. And there are little fliers for prostitutes in every public phone booth.

5. Houses. There's a big, locked gate in front of just about every house here. It's just how it is. And a roomy house of the upper/middle class here is about the size of the downstairs of my house in the States, which makes me feel filthy rich even though my house is a very modest size.

6. Food. It's amazing here. People cook, all the time. There is such thing as fast food bc there are a good number of McDonalds here, but that's even considered classy, to go and eat there, people dont really do the take out thing. I must confess though, I was surprised to come down here and find that quesadillas and chalupas were non-existent here. Yeah, that's called Mexican cuisine. Here we eat things like stuffed peppers, pastas, baked chicken, vegetable tort (i think thats the english word for it, we call it tarta here), etc.

7. Cell phones. There's no such thing as a monthly plan. You buy your minutes as you go. And ppl normally text, even the old ppl here, cuz its cheaper than calling.

8. Dog poop. Whenever I used to see ppl scooping up dog poop in the US or see little special trash cans in the park for it, I would just think "stuck up Americans just want to win the 'nicest yard' competition." But now, I'm pretty thankful for those new regulations bc its just disgusting here how often I have to watch where I'm walking so that I don't have to spend another afternoon scraping dog poop off of my Chacos.

9. Laundry. I have yet to see a drying machine. Everyone hangs their clothes outside to dry. I think we can learn a valuable lesson from that.

10. Transportation. Everyone takes the bus. Even the rich businesspeople. It costs 13 1/2 pesos to go anywhere in the city, which equals about $0.70. I don't know why, but taking the bus is so soothing for me. Granted, it can get a bit crazy at rush hour or in the city when people get on the bus to sell band aids, tissues, play guitar, or recite poetry for money. But just to sit, look out the window, listening to my music, looking at all the beautiful people, recognizing people, eavesdropping, gotta love it.

11. PDA. Couples of all ages freely express their emotions for each other. Making out on the bus, the street corner, while walking, in the plaza, across the table in a cafe....

Ok there's more I could type, but now, after this entry has taken me 4 hours to write because I've continued surfing the web and got to talk with a very good friend, I'm now in a much better mood and don't need to add to my long emo list. Mas luego. Que sueño que tengo!