CatyBird23's Xanga

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Sat, 24 Sep 2005 21:12:52 GMT

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

Sunday, September 04, 2005

Sun, 04 Sep 2005 17:59:27 GMT

Hello All!!!

It seems that Sundays are the best days for summing up the week. Firstly, I am discovering that Culture Shock is definately a real experience. (trust me I just got online and read a journal on it, checking off my symptoms as I read them) I came here with much less experience in Spanish than many of the other students. In fact most every European student speaks at least two languages! Most speak Spanish, French and German as well as many speaking English. I admit to being slightly intimidated. While those of you that know me would not label me as shy, with my lower Spanish level I became very quiet. So I have created a lifestyle perfect for contemplation and reflection but I really I just need to keep biting the bullet and going out. Speaking of hitting the town...

We did have a fantastic Fiesta last Wednesday night. The day is called Día de Nostalgia. Essentially it is an excuse to go out and have an incredible party night!! The next day is a National Independance Day I think but that was never much concern. Well all the girls came over around 11Pm and we were lying around watching movies and I feel asleep...but not for long!! I was awoken at 1:30AM being told to get ready. We primped and hit the door at 2AM. We all went to a club along the Rambler. The Rambler is a long walking path that circles the city all along the ocean!! It is incredibly beautiful and I love running there on slightly cold days when the wind creates a turbulent ocean. The spray hits the wall and often sends sparkling droplets on me. Well the club had entirely glass walls overlooking the sea, but the place was sooo packed we never got close to admiring the view. Although my friend Ximana and I did run out at about 7AM to see the sunrise. The music here is entirely different from in the US. The music is often old US songs, I have heard Madonna "Like a Virgin" twice! Also they played the song from Grease - "You better shap up..." The dancing does not contain the obvious sexual overtones as in the states. The guys are very funny. As soon as they learn I am from the US they know one saying, "Give me a kiss."

We danced until 6AM when the club closed but since my friend is dating one of the guys in charge we stayed longer chatting. Then all seven girls piled into the boyfriend's car and he took us to McDonald's for breakfast. How impressive eh? There are three McDonald's in the city. The other major brand name that is here is Nike. They are very pricey! Clothing that I could buy in the states for $20 - $30 dollars is 2,000 pesos here = $80US! So that was a fantastic night. We used the entire day to stay in bed and watch movies and visit.

Last night my friend Stacy and I were leaving to see an independent film when we happened to walk right into Carnival de Niños!! Carnival is a huge celebration that happens every spring but it often involves lots of drinking and sex so this is the toned down version for the Kiddies. It would still be X rated at home. The entire street for 12 blocks was filled with dancers, clowns, drummers, mock protestors (b/c the politics here are very important they are often protests that shut down major roads - I took a very scenic tour of the city once when my bus was rerouted due to a march). Often the woman dancers were in nothing but a bikini type top and a tiny skirt or a thong. This was particularly humorous to me because it is winter. I was wearing a jacket and gloves, so the ladies must of been a bit cold. Well I was also delighted by the music and the crowds of people. Two clowns that were about my age took Stacy and I into the center of a drum circle. We were all dancing, laughing. One of the guys ran back to his friends and brought us the communal bottle of wine. We all had a sip. He raved about how the alcohol here is so much better than anywhere else! The dance groups were incredible, they had everything Salsa, Brazillian Dance, Tango.

Just thought I should give a little Latin Flavor to the sight since this country definately knows how to party!!

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Sun, 28 Aug 2005 14:41:46 GMT

Hello Everyone!!

Most of you have written with lots of curiosity about the culture of America de Sur. I kept putting off writing because it seems completely impossible to explain even the most common experiences here. For example, our shower has a tile floor which is completely flat so water cannot drain unless I sweep it down with our plastic shower broom after every use.

I live in Uruguay's capital city, Montevideo. To say it is the biggest city in the country is a huge understatement. The entire country is only 3 million people and 1 and 1/2 million live here.

My family here is incredible. I live in a romantic antique flat in the absolute center of downtown. Everynight outside the closed shutters of Vero´s and my window I hear buses and horses hooves clanking. The garbage is picked up by men in carts puled by horses! It is incredibly sad to see the animals with their matted hair, and no freedaom to run or to know a world without the confusion, noise and fumes of the city.

We all live on one floor. There are three bedrooms here, Vero and I share the first, her Mom has the second and her grandparents live right across from the kitchen. We have a living room, dining room, kitchen with gas stove and a small storage room that also has a bed where grandma sleeps during her midday nap. During the weekend days our grandparents sit in the dining room watvhing TV, with Grandpa planted in front of the gas stove for warmth. We also have a beautiful long brownish-red haired Irish Shepard named Molly. She and I like to sit on the balcony watching the buses and the people on our street.

The economic situation here is in sad shape. In 2001 there was a crisis when both Argentina and Brazil defaulted on their loans. All the Uruguayan banks shut down and people lost everything. Then inflation hit and prices doubled. The country is still reeling from the shock. My family lives well on the Mom´s accountant salary of $500 US a month. Also when the crisis hit many professional lost their jobs. Many of the high ranking adults are still unemployed because companies would rather hire the less experienced workers (mine and Vero´s age) who they can pay less.

Most of the University students here have studied abroad and almost everyone can speak a little English. Many of Vero's friends speak English almost perfectly. I am amazed by how much the people here know about the US's history, politics, etc. The whole year after Sept. 11th the students here wrote papers about the disaster, on its world effects and the our media's dicussion verses the rest of the world.

I am involved with a program through my University working with the truly impoverished in the country. Everyday in the city I see homeless people, often with deformities, lost legs, etc. and also single parent's with children. In the country where I work the poverty is a hundred times worse. When I initially drove there with my team we kept passing absolute shanty towns with no running water, no electricity. The children we serve rrecieve one free meal from us of warm chocolate milk and sweet bread. For almost all th kids it will be all they eat the entire day. Initally myself, Florencia, and Letitia were only supposed to work with 15 kids. When we went yesterday there were around 70!! children all running, playing and fighting in one large warehouse type room. The floor was concrete and all they had to play with was one basketball, a long rope for jump rope and the few books and markers and paper we had brought.

We are in a bind because every child needs attention and a chance to play and learn but we do not have the resources in people or materials or money to provide personal attention to 70 kids. Yet you cannot tell a family that only one of their children will eat today. My small group is working with another group of University students who are fixing up the floor, installing electrity to the small house. it is being made into a "community center" although don't picture anything you know in the US because the poverty is much much more intense.

I have been taking lots of pictures which I will hopefully upload soon!! Until then I promise to keep everyone better updated I miss you all and especially for all my friends begining entire new adventures, marriage, law school, jobs, new babies I am so exicted for you and look forward to hearing all about everything!