Llueve y llueve y llueve y llueve....

At first I had wanted to explore la Ciudad Vieja at downtown Montevideo, but it started raining last night and would not stop. I wanted to visit the famed parilladas and have lunch there; tomorrow won't work because it has the same forecast, and it is doubtful that it is going to stop raining. As such, I spent the entire day and night working on my Uruguayan Spanish, gradually changing my Mexican accent and grammar, by playing with the kids. They are like the little brother and sister that I never had. Even when I go into my room to start to do some work, I can expect a silent knock 5 minutes after I close the door with an invitation to play. Too bad I don't understand them half the time - but that's the good thing about learning Spanish from little kids. They don't necessarily expect an intelligent response when they ask a question, and most of their comments can be passed by with a well-timed "Si" and a nod. But I find myself using more and more Spanish with them as the night went on. It is actually very mentally taxing to accompany these energetic kids who love to talk, but they're hard to say no to, especially when they say "me divierte cuando jugás conmigo".

Random story. I was playing Clue with Santi and a lot of the words for the Rooms they keep as the English original (i.e. the game is in Spanish, but some rooms like Living Room, they call it el Living). So, we were playing and on one turn he said "Señora Pavorreal con el Cuchijo en el Haj". I understood everything except for Haj and so I looked for where he was at. Turns out he was at the Hall. In Uruguayan Spanish the double LL makes a J sound. So to him, it was only natural to call it the Haj. Random.

As of now, it has been raining a complete 24 hours, and still going at it. My mentor comes back from Piriápolis tomorrow so I don't know if there is anything planned. Either way, gotta get work done and figure out my money situation... I hope it stops raining soon...

Y otro día pasa...

Today I was the only one in lab, since everyone else had went to the congreso which is also for the Semana de las Ciencias. I took the liberty to take some fotos of my experiments and to try out a couple of functions of my camera. Using verbal guidelines I received from my mentor yesterday, I performed another dissection. In the first picture, there is the fish in the anesthetizing bath prior to encephalectomy. Without any supervision, I finally achieved a good prep and took a couple pictures to prove it.

Afterwards, without people there and without internet throughout the Instituto, I decided to take an afternoon excursion to the Plaza a la Bandera. I've gotten relatively used to juggling different bus routes to get where I want to go, as long as its along the Avenida Italia. I took a couple of pictures and asked a couple  people to take some pictures. Right next to it, I went to visit the Tres Cruces Mall, which like the name implies has a couple of giant crosses next to it. This is the mall that I would go to if I wanted to go to Buenos Aires by bus. I ate a milanesa at the mall, it wasn't that good, but the server looked like the lab manager of my old lab! As if she was a twin. Her voice was about the same as well. Afterwards I didn't spend too much time in the mall. Instead, I walked around the mall and visited the street side shops. Then I took the long bus home, which went through some of the more sketchier neighborhoods where there were wild horses, and randomly a Mormon church. And that's that.

Reflection on International Issues

In Uruguay, the first thing you notice in Uruguay is the lack of clocks. Whereas Americans put a clock in almost every room and you constantly hear someone asking about the time, over here in Uruguay, it is hard to find a clock and I feel that I annoy people when I ask them what time it is (This doesn't explain the fact, however, that for some reason my mentor is always more punctual to lab than I am...).

In a lab that works in a language that you are not familiar with, it is obvious that there will be inefficiencies. Lately, I feel like, perhaps due to the language barrier and the fact that my mentor had been completely occupied  by the Semana de las Ciencias, I don't get much done here. Back in the states, I have the ability to think rapidly and to muster all of the necessary ideas/materials with quick verbal exchanges. But over here, I feel that sometimes when I speak Spanish, my mentor is very reluctant to reply. Either because he is busy or something is wrong with my Spanish. As such, in order to not outstay my welcome with him and his family, I choose to talk a little bit less - and as such, think a little bit less. For me, this inefficiency is very bothersome and counterproductive to what I hope to achieve. So I am hoping that as my Spanish improves, I can carry more personal and professional conversations. Also, I hope that I will actually be able to do a complete prep soon!

Uruguay! Uruguay! Uruguay!

Yesterday I had a free day because my mentor was busy with talks he gave for the Semana de Ciencias. I decided to spend the day trying out my international credit card by buying some sandals and to hopefully find a place to exchange my mf travelers checks. I went to Portones Shopping, where I had went on the first day to exchange money, to see if I could find me any good and cheap pairs. With the language barrier, I spent probably 50% of my time being confused. Apparently the Mexican word for sandals is not the same as the Uruguyan word. I soon gave up this search once I realized that most of the stores only carry shoes for the winter... so I tried out my credit card buying a drink at la Tienda Inglesa... and I went to the beach.

The part of the beach that I went to was nice, but void of people as it is winter down here. It was mildly disappointing as the one time I am actually by the ocean, there was nothing to see other than the calmness of the ocean waves. Not as touristy as other Uruguayan beaches as I was told. I asked an old Uruguyan couple to take a picture of me in Spanish, and they immediately responded in English. Behind me is the historical Hotel Carrasco, which is currently being renovated. It was a pain trying to get back home because it was getting dark, and I honestly didn't know where I was (I knew to ask for Avenida Italia, that's it). I found a bunch of banks and exchanges and tried to exchange my travelers checks. This experience will remind me never to bring them anymore. They are almost inconvertible, if only at usurious rates.

At night, when I finally found my way, the family and I watched the finale of Lost (the only thing I remember thinking was que mierda fue). Afterwards my mentor had his buddies over to BBQ. In this group, I met El Comandante (alguien que parece como Che Guevarra), the Uruguayan Minister of Sanitation, and the CEO of a couple local companies. After a couple of drinks and smokes, it was clear that they were not used to seeing Asians. All Asians are affectionately called "chino", and it just so happens I am in fact Chinese. But once that culture shock for them went away, they talked about the usual things, screaming at each other while I tried to provide input while eating probably the best BBQ I ever had, all the way till 2 in the morning... too bad both my mentor and I had to wake up early the next day... o well, time to have my nightly chat with Raza.

Today, I woke up late since my alarm did not ring. But that is not too important because my mentor has been really busy with the graduating class of the University (he serves as the advisor for 2 other Uruguayan university students). All I did today was a completely-failed procedure on a fish. Being the second time I have ever even seen the fish, I know it will get easier with practice. I know now where to cut and where not to cut. I hope to receive all my research materials soon, and to actually make a good prep, and start the experiment soon.

But other than that, I explored the downtown area a little bit. Took secret photos where I'd look like I was doing something else, like crossing a street, with a camera in hand - that is how I got a picture of the horse wagon (which one sees everywhere on the streets). I also learned of the popular, yet somewhat un-PC word, mejicanear. Ojalá que nadie me mejicanee nunca.

Then came home, tired again realizing that I feel the most sick of using Spanish when I am tired and hungry, remedied that by eating Chop Suey that my mentor made, feeling good, watched the Uruguay vs Israel game that was going on at the Hipodromo, saw Uruguay kick ass 4 -1 (URUGUAY URUGUAY URUGUAY), to my surprise no fiesta riots here, and now here I am.

El Primer Dia

Today was the first day I had to wake up incredibly early in comparison to how early I had been waking up. But as it was the first day of work, I didn't want to look too lazy. When I arrived at the lab I was barraged with a bunch of cheek-touching kisses. Even when I extended my hand, they ignored it and proceeded with the kiss. I did half a prep, but had to stop because my mentor was busy with his other things.

There was a conference today about la Semana de Ciencias in the Institute, and to my great surprise, I was sitting right next to the new First Lady of Uruguay! I've never even met our state senator much less a national figure of a country. The talks were boring, and in Spanish, so I zoned out fast. But hey, at least I can say I sat right next to someone poderosa.

Today was also the that I began to feel a little bit of a language drag - I was growing tired of listening to a language that I had to concentrate so hard to speak and understand. Everyone was talking fast, and I couldn't give any input for fear of embarrassment in front of my many mentors. Coupled with having almost nothing to do at lab today (don't know where my materials are...), I started to get a little homesick. But then, after spending 11 hours in lab, I came back home to Santi screaming "Andriu SHENG". And that was enough to get me to speak Spanish again.

El Fin de Semana

Beside is a picture of the house I am living at in Uruguay. It is a comfortable house and have gotten to know it this past weekend. Because I live in a primarily residential area, I haven't really been out much (also due to the jetlag, which gives me only about 5 hours of daylight I spend awake). Mostly I have been getting used to the language, especially with the kids. Santi is 9 and Marí is 6, and like everyone else in the rest of the world, they are crazy about soccer. So I spend most of my afternoons playing soccer with the kids and learning Uruguayan Spanish, little by little. It's gotten to the point where they call for me outside the door of my room ("Andriu, Andriu!" me llaman). When their uncles came I thought I'd show them how to play a little American fútbol, and although I don't play well nor know all the rules, it was a fun way to pass time - I broke my only pair of sandals playing it. And I got to know some people using a different language.

In terms of cultural difference, the food they eat is pretty much meat, meat and meat, which is good. Something interesting is that they are less sensitive to racial issues than I am used to in the US. Whereas, in the US, I would become cautious, my mentor's relatives (who came to visit) treat it as if it was nothing. But other than that, I am still getting used to the weather and some physical amenities that I lack in Uruguay. But all-in-all, the family is great and I am ready to go to work!

Well, 'ta ja me voy pra dormir, porque el primer día de trabajo acerca....

First impressions

When I first saw an aerial view of Montevideo through Google Maps it looked very modern, and the tourist pictures gave me really high expectations of a first world country in a third world region. Don't get me wrong, the place I am staying is really nice and the people are friendly (my mentor's wife came up to give me the standard kiss that I had known about, but was caught by surprise; she saw my reaction and apologized). But it is different that what I am used to back in Phoenix.

It is winter down here and it is very moist. My Spanish is holding up even though sometimes they give up and use English around me. But so far, everything is going well.

Finalmente, bienvenidos a Uruguay!

After delays and certain airplane mishaps, I am finally in Uruguay and anxiously awaiting dinner when I will present my mountains of gifts to my mentor, his wife, his nanny and his two kids. But I will give you a couple highlights of my expedition to this cold and moist country.

My flight to Fort Worth, Texas was fine, spent the whole flight talking with an Alabama native about his trucks. And catching the next international airplane wasn't too difficult. When I got on the plane from Fort Worth to Buenos Aires, I was pretty much planning to see the States after 3 months. Being exhausted from the lack of sleep from the past couple of days, I went to sleep relatively quickly on the international flight. But I soon woke up to the above.

The only thought that went through my head was: what the...?

It turns out there was a medical emergency that forced us to turn back to Houston, Texas. I just could not seem to leave the country. But the subsequent flights went well, and it turns out my connecting flight to Montevideo was waiting for us. And now Montevideo, here I am:

First post

At the airport, testing out the new blog website.