Last week was fun-filled with a few different shows. It all started on Thursday night when a group of us went out to a concert porteño-style. Earlier in the week we found out about a Dante concert. For those of you that are confused as to who Dante is, I highly recommend checking out his music. Erik, the music guru, described him earlier in the week as being a cross between Jay-Z and Lady Gaga. That was enough convincing for us. The night was filled with amazing songs (some of which I had no idea what they were about) and it was a great show overall. Afterward, we stepped outside the venue only to be greeted by a documentary crew. If you know me and cameras, then you know I instantly gravitated toward it in order to get in a few minutes of fame. We screamed out the few Spanish phrases we could think of at the time (which translates to: “We LOOOOOVE music” and “Dante’s songs come from the heart!”). We joked that they’ll just play music over our kindergarten-level response in the actual video.
Because we just couldn’t get enough music in on Thursday night, the group set out for Bella y La Bestia (Beauty and the Beast) on Saturday evening. This was unlike any other performance I had seen before. The costuming, set, and overall talent was indescribable. Needless to say, I was floored by the performance (as my dorky theatre geek came out in full force this night) and I left with a grin from ear to ear and, of course, a shirt from the show.
We called it an early night, as we had to be up at the crack of dawn the following morning. It was time for Uruguay! I set out with a lack of sleep in hopes to sleep on the flight. I was wrong. By the time we lifted, we were already descending. Thank you, 30-minute flight. I arrived with bags under my eyes, but it was worth it. Montevideo, as big as it is, is nothing like Buenos Aires. I pleasantly enjoyed the sites, but most importantly the exchange rate. (1 USD=20 Uru Pesos).
Carolina, our program director, put together quite the trip. On Monday, we visited multiple media outlets including Monte Carlo Radio, El Observador newspaper, and Canal 10, the major TV network of Montevideo. It was amazing how similar and how different things can be run in different countries. We learned that much of the editing process at Canal 10 is the same as the United States, however we also found out that 98% of Uruguay listens to radio consistently, far from the numbers we reach in the U.S.
The following day we hopped on our van and set out for Universidad de Montevideo, a private university on the outskirts of town. Carolina had asked us a week or two prior to this visit to prepare a presentation about Mizzou and life in the U.S. Various group members chose topics such as Homecoming, Greek Life, Sports, and the J-School. Upon entering the building, we were slapped in the face with the biggest surprise yet. No, we weren’t going to be casually discussing these topics with other Uruguayan students. We will be questioned about OTHER (unprepared) topics. On the radio. Live. In Spanish. Talk about a heart attack. Remember how I said 98% of Uruguay actively listens to the radio?
After fumbling over our words and breaking a small sweat, we somehow managed to get through the interview. After a brief tour of the school (and amazing library), we headed to the school’s café in order to watch the game with some local students. Uruguay won, as they hoped, and a mass celebration broke out in the school, workplace, and streets. Nowhere has a heart for fútbol like Latin America.
On our final day in the city, we opted to go to ‘Punta del Este,’ a small, yet beautiful place about an hour and a half from Montevideo. We all agreed that this was one of our favorite places thus far. From bright sandy beaches and beautiful flowers, to breathtaking mountains and incredible sites, it was by far one of the prettiest places that I have seen. It was nice to feel slightly warmer weather and hang out in the sand for a bit. (Summer weather? I miss you!)
I have returned back to my internship and classes for the meanwhile, but tomorrow starts yet another adventure. Iguazú Falls, here I come!
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