I almost went to Chile. In fact that is where I had planned to go once I decided on the above stated program in the Southern Cone. So how did I end up in Montevideo? It turned out to be an easy choice. I knew something about Chile; Uruguay was unknown territory to me, much like Bolivia had been. My other option in this particular study abroad program would have been Argentina, but that is probably the most well known country in the Southern Cone of South America and being the adventurer that I am, that could not be an option for me. I wanted to go to a country that I knew nothing about. Again, that's exactly what I did. In the spring semester of my sophomore year, I went to study Anthropology and Spanish in the Spanish language in Montevideo for 6 months. I wasn't looking to learn Spanish because I already knew it; I was looking to improve and challenge myself.
One of the images that I distinctly remember that attracted me to Uruguay was the Casa Puebla in Punta Ballena (Punta del Este). Rest assured that I visited here. It truly is a breathtaking sight, especially at sunset. I'd say that this landmark attracted me to Uruguay much like the Teatro Amazonas later attracted me to Manaus.
I attended La Universidad Catolica del Uruguay in Montevideo where I studied a Portuguese language class (yeah! :), the History of Uruguay, Uruguayan Literature (very interesting and absolutely beautiful poetry, short stories, and novels), and an Anthropology class. Spanish and Anthropology were my majors in college. I did not want to miss out on my credits for my majors, as well as my minor in International Studies, so I made sure to keep myself on track in this aspect. Each of these classes was given in Spanish with the exception of the Portuguese class, taught by two Brazilian instructors, of which one still remains in contact with me today. My Spanish, which was already quite good, improved immensely and I even acquired the distinct Uruguayan accent. I had friendly, openhearted, and fun housemates. I made friends at school and with other international students, I dated a Uruguayan, and really got to travel like I never had before. It was an unforgettable, exciting time in my life.
I took a ceramics art class that I found through the university, I volunteered at a local English language institute (even participating in a workshop), I traveled to Buenos Aires a couple of times and around Uruguay with friends and housemates, and went shopping often. The exchange rate at the time was definitely in my favor, and as I had earned a scholarship prior to my departure, I think that my plane ticket only cost me $100. During my stay in Uruguay I visited Brazil twice - Porto Alegre and Rio de Janeiro - and this is where my love for that country grew. I learned how to make mate like a Uruguayan and my appetite for meat and Italian food also increased.
I will always hold a special place for Uruguay and its citizens in my heart. I believe that I became even more independent during my semester study abroad in the Southern Cone and on a personal note I know for a fact that I grew as an individual.
Uruguay, siempre te voy a querer mucho.
Finding a gorgeous, exemplary photograph of the city of Cochabamba was not an easy feat, considering there are numerous pictures that I found on-line that show what a majestic place this city is, which is tucked deep inside the Andes Mountains in South America.
I've briefly mentioned before about my stay in Cochabamba, but only in passing. I believe that the truth behind what this city can offer deserves it's own introduction. I can only hope that others will adventure off into the unknown like I did once I had graduated from high school. I know I cannot do it justice, but I can recommend for EVERYONE to adventure out and discover this gem of a city - well, a country. Everything was wonderful - the people!!, the food, the music, the culture, the ancient traditions, the languages, the dress, the weather in Cochabamba is considered the most perfect in the world (I'm not lying), the parties, and all the while the country will welcome you with open arms and take good care of you.
It all began in my junior year at my relatively large high school in upstate New York. Our school announcements were during 2nd period and I was used to listening to them, not paying too much attention once I had sat down after pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Until one day. I heard the question - would you be interested in being an exchange student in another country? The answer previous to that day had always been "no". Although I was attracted to foreign cultures and language, I had never thought about being an exchange student myself. In fact, I didn't even find the idea of anyone being an exchange student impressive or "cool". So what happened that morning? I don't know. I'm still unsure. Whatever it was, the announcement either made studying abroad sound attractive, or it was exactly what I needed at that time in my life; I like to think it was the latter. I needed to get out of that town in upstate NY and discover the world, or at least one country in one area of the world.
From what I remember, I had from the end of my junior year until the first semester of my senior year to make a decision as well as apply. I do remember really wanting to complete my application, but I was also applying to colleges, looking for scholarships, taking the SATs, and other responsibilities that high school upperclassmen on their way to college have to accomplish. I was really stressed out from my school load and other activities (and responsibilities) in the beginning of my senior year and I almost didn't apply. That would have been the mistake of a lifetime. With the help and support of my parents (my stepdad had been a drummer in a band that traveled with the Army and my mother had had the dream of being a flight attendant when she was younger) as well as a prominent judge in my town, who is a Rotarian, I did apply. I wanted to get a scholarship from the Rotary Club Exchange Student program. And I did.
I distinctly remember that we were asked at the time of completing our application which were our top ___ choices as to our destination, being reminded that we were not guaranteed to be sent to the country of our picking. Needless to say, Bolivia was at the bottom of my list; I didn't know anything about the country except that it was in South America and the official language (well, at least one of them I later found out) is Spanish. My first choice was Spain because as a 16-year-old studying high school Spanish, I knew for a fact that in Spain people speak Spanish. Somehow, NOT to my surprise, I was told I'd be studying abroad in Bolivia. I felt that I knew I was going to be sent there and I was not disappointed. Although I had not adventured farther than Canada, Texas, and Florida, I was up for the challenge. I accepted my scholarship and was on my way to Cochabamba in August of that year.
Rotary was wonderful! Not only are they a worldwide organization working to make a difference through service and fellowship, they offer young people the opportunity of a lifetime. And that is exactly what it is. I absolutely LOVED my time abroad; it changed my life. I would not have changed my major from Speech Language Pathology (which is what I had planned to study at a particular SUNY school where I had deferred my entrance for a year) to Anthropology and Spanish at an even better, more prestigious SUNY school. I would not have gotten a minor in International Studies, or studied abroad in Uruguay, or worked abroad in Peru, or worked in Brazil as an EFL teacher - meaning I would never have chosen the profession I have today or have married the man I did. That one, seemingly small, decision affected everything I've done in my life. Amazing if you ask me.
And of course I had more fun in Bolivia than I knew what to do with. I won't go too much into details because it was a fabulously exciting ten months and I couldn't possibly put into words all that I saw or did, but I can try to sum it up....maybe...I lived with two open, kind families (5 months each - that's the Rotary way), I had an additional family to support me!, I went to a fantastic school where I was able to make lifelong friends and learn Spanish. I had graduated from high school by the time I went to Bolivia, so I just attended high school to attend (best decision ever - to go after high school versus during). Plus, with their school years being opposite ours in the North, I wasn't actually in school that much; but I still liked it. The teachers and students were unforgettable. I was given $50/month which was fantastic seeing as Bolivia is an extremely inexpensive country to live in, and of course my food/board/schooling was all paid for. I also had money saved up and my parents didn't even need to give me money until the end. I traveled all around the country, eating, sightseeing, smelling, experiencing a COMPLETELY different, exciting world. I even visited Machu Picchu and Cusco in Peru.
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| Tiwanaku, Bolivia |
If there is ANYONE out there who is considering this opportunity (I hope this gets to you, or send it to someone you know) then TAKE it. Don't hesitate. A friend of mine who graduated with me took advantage of this and studied in Argentina at the same time that I was in Bolivia and I know it changed his life, too. Rotary tells you at their numerous pre-departure workshops/weekend trips (which are well organized, informative, and exactly what a high school student needs) that you will mature in one year as much abroad as you would have one year in the U.S. This is true. When I returned I was ready to focus on my studies and take life much more seriously. I am grateful to my parents, to Judge Rose for his support and encouragement, to my family and friends, and especially to Rotary for this experience.
And of course, THANK YOU Bolivia for all of the memories and love that you have given me. I am a better person today because of you. I will always respect and love you,
Me (answering the phone): Hello?
Man: ochkochbogoshvendochkoshcarbogsh
Me: Excuse me?
Man: something along the line of, are you selling your car? (but this time I understood the language of the man to be Portuguese) how many miles does it have? is the price negotiable?
So I mumbled a response along the lines of, talk to my husband because he's the Brazilian, I gave him the price and answered that yes the price is negotiable. Really I didn't want to talk to the potential buyer because E knows how to negotiate, I had company over, and because my company are Spanish speakers and I had just spent who-knows-how-long speaking Spanish. I can't then be forced to switch languages, can I? And plus, he had a strange Brazilian Portuguese accent. Maybe he's from the Northeast? I know I always need to get used to the accent of a Brazilian who is from a region that I am unfamiliar with.
Have you ever tried speaking Spanish and then need to switch like a light being turned on to speak Portuguese? It's not easy.
I started studying Spanish as an exchange student Bolivia, right out of high school. I had studied Spanish in high school, but we all know that you don't learn to say much more than "Me llamo...." and "Tengo xx anhos [I don't have the accent mark so I cannot write this correctly]". I became quite fluent after returning from Bolivia as I majored in the language and studied and worked abroad. But then I went to Brazil after college. That's when my language skills got all messed up. I initially used Spanish in Brazil when I wasn't supposed to; but hey, it was an easier language to fall back on because people generally understood me. My neighbor once told me that I sounded like a Hispanic; that was a better compliment that being told I sounded like a gringa when I spoke Portuguese.
Now that I'm fluent in Portuguese and speak it on a daily basis, my Spanish has really suffered. In fact, I have difficulty creating a sentence in Spanish without mixing in Portuguese words. Or should I say throwing in? Either way, I speak portunhol very well. And yet I still try to speak Spanish Monday - Friday as I have a few students from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic who either don't speak English almost at all, or at least don't with me. This has forced me to be more confident and try to separate the two languages in my mind, but it's not been a walk in the park. I have to think before I speak and try to slow - that's the part I dislike the most. I want to speak quickly like I do in English and Portuguese.
That brings me back to my conversation today. I tried so hard to speak Spanish to my visitors this afternoon that stopped by because I know that my friend feels more confident speaking Spanish. Plus, her mother-in-law is visiting from Venezuela and I know she understands a great deal of what I say in English, but does not speak it. They're so patient, kind, and understanding, but I feel like a mumbling fool sometimes as I try to get my brain to transfer from English to Portuguese to Spanish.
God knows I spoke espaporinglish (a word a Colombian student of mine created as we used to speak a mixture of the 3 languages when we had get togethers with her family and Brazilians) to the my guests today and then spoke portunhol to the Brazilian on the phone. But I guess that's all part of being a trilingual. At least I can have fun with it sometimes. You gotta laugh at yourself once in awhile :).
