Hi Everyone!!
Well it appears I have actual Uruguayans reading my sight so it should be interesting to hear the different ways we see the same city. So this weekend is Día del Patrimonio. It is a festival of national pride. Tours are given all over the city. As well all the famous buildings and museums are free to the public. My friend Ximena and I decided to check out Cuidad Vieja (the old city) because they have many historical places. The crowds were amazing. Everywhere there were vendors, craftpersons, little children, couples kissing, people posing as statues... They paint their entire bodies with a sort of shimmery substances and then stand upon boxes like statues. Although it may not sound very interesting they are amusing to see. I posed with one of the statues and then gave him a few pecos and he blew both Ximane and I kisses. Actually the first time I saw someone dressed as such I did not realize the stunt until she moved!
We walked through an incredible old Catholic Church. The priest was holding mass in one corner and there were decorations up for a wedding in the middle yet still they was room for all of us vistors. I am constintly amazed by the details and the love put into old churches. First we had visited a old mansion but the church's decorations: statues, wood carved alters, paintings, were more elaborate then any other buildings'. Ximane said she attended mass there when the Pope died. Also she is Catholic and she crossed herself upon entering and leaving. This is an interesting phenomenon I have noticed when riding the bus. When we pass the Catholic Church many people will silently and discreetly cross themselves. I find this both soothing and beautiful.
As we wandered toward the next building we noticed a large group of people watching something. We wandered around the outer edges until we found a spot to watch. I was amazed by what we saw...There was a group of dancers, about 5 men and 2 women doing a traditional Brazilian dance that mixes martial arts with dance. For my ETSU readers it is alot like what the guy does in front of the library sometimes, only watching two people do it is incredible! The partners literally jump, twist, kick, spin towards and away from one another. They move within inches of harm with grace and speed. Two dancers performed while others chanted and played some regional instruments. The effect was hypnotic and magical. While I was standing there I realized how much I missed having something beautiful and rhythmic in my soul. Their rhythm was deeper then simply music and it was obvious they were not only performing for us but experiencing an incredible part of themselves. I saw the peace they held. Often runs have helped me find such beauty and tranquility in the world. But here amid traffic, poverty and fear I will fail my classes I have not been too keen on finding the rhythm they were dancing with before my wonderstruck eyes.
Poverty...and so I will bring up something that I still do not entirely fathom nor understand and the rather off beat conclusion to my evening. Two days ago I decided to go for a walk along the ocean. Almost immediately I see a small tent set up next to one of the shipping companies. A huge sign across the top declares a hunger strike. I looked into the tent uneasily but with curiousity. Three men wore loose chains around their necks holding them together. These were the men on hunger strike. Initially I kept walking but I turned around twice because I really wanted to understand their situation. Finally I took my journal, turned around and went back to speak to the men. I told them I was a student who could not speak Spanish well but would they please write an explanation of thier strike. The man who took my journal looked about 30...When he handed it back I read his age...22!!! He is one year younger than me. Right now, on a Saturday night, he is chained to two other men, not having eaten in 5 days and sleeping on a matress.
The information he gave me said that the company was withholding 300 workers' pay and bonuses. There was a portion about withholding paperwork also but not being from here I do not know the importance of the documents he described. So now I have three men's full names, their ages and the company they are fighting but really I have no way to help. I cannot fathom the courage or the conviction it takes for a person to risk their health and their livlihood. Also I guess I cannot fathom the desperation (or do not want to?!) So today when I went running along the Rambla I spoke to them again. I saw they were taking donations from passing cars so I told them I would return with some money. So tonight after Ximena and I left the festival we walked to the tent. Ximena's family lives near the site and she was not happy about me giving them money. She would not come near the tent and told me afterwards those men to her are losers. She said it is easier for them to lay around and not work then to earn money. I explained that they were working but the company was not paying them. "Well Caitlin you are not the company!" We were both heated and we completely did not understand the others side. For Ximena the men were beggers. She said, "I know you are having a hard time because your country was hit by the hurricanes so it is hard for you to understand the truth about these men." I don't know exactly where the hurricanes came into play but we viewed the men entirely differently. I saw men willing to stand up to a company that is proably waiting with no concern for them to give up out of hunger and mental and emotional exhaustion. Matt asked, "Are they willing to die for this?" I hope they aren't actually and I suppose that is exactly what the company is betting on as well.
So for any one interested you can email me if you want more information. I am not putting the men's names or the company on this site because I am in South America and yeah I have seen too many Hollywood movies about this sort of thing...I want to come home in one piece and my Spanish isn't up for any investigations!
Hope all is well with everyone. For my wonderful friends who I have not responded to your emails Sorry  I am thinking about each of you...and smiling  | 
