Dinner, Creepers, and the TexasTango

Yesterday after moving into the room the Walkers took us out for dinner in the artisan market. The menu was incredibly difficult to understand because it was entirely in Spanish with no pictures. It was kind of scary to randomly trying to pick a dish that we would like from the menu. I finally made a decision but, then they ran out so I decided to get a Chivito which was a vocabulary word. According to our vocabulary list it was a meat sandwich. Instead I received a steak, with ham, bacon, cheese, and a partially cooked egg on top of a bed of lettuce, beets, potatoes, onions, carrots and a plate of fries. Overall it was good but, people who were around me were surprised as well by its appearance.

So some of you may be wondering why this post includes creepers…well it seems for some reason in every country I have gone I have met people who wanted to take a picture of me, followed me, stared really hard, or….did some other stuff. Uruguay is no exception. I met my first creeper today. While sitting eating dinner a man walked by with a camera tucked beneath his arm pit and took a picture. I didn't notice him at first cause his creeper skills were so pro. He took it to another level with the whole walking straight ahead, hiding it beneath his bulging jacket, backwards…but…he ruined it with his flash which blinded mea and let the people on my side of the table he was taking a picture. He then left the building only to return in 15 minutes later with a manila envelope, proceeded to walk by us again, spoke to the waitress and showed her what was in the envelopes. He then walked by us again and sat down at a small table and began to look through what appeared to be photos. Throughout the duration of dinner he walked by about 6 times. Although everyone got a good laugh after we got home and were out of danger. Honestly, I'm annoyed. I am annoyed I can't enjoy a decent meal without people staring at me. I am annoyed that he took a picture and didn't even ask. And am annoyed I felt scared and threatened by this guy I don't even know on my second day in Uruguay. There are days I seriously hate looking different and other days I love it. This was a day I hated it. Everyone keeps laughing and saying it's no big deal, but see when its happens over and over and over it doesn't become a fun first and only time in your lifetime cultural experience. It follows me around the globe. Well, I suppose in a few days I will begin to see the humor as well but until then. I'm stoic.

The evening improved as the night went on. Brandon and Lindsey demonstrated some amazing dance moves with the help of Tanner a student from LBC who played the fiddle like a pro. They all had some hardcore skills and kept us entertained for quite a while check it out!

Hello Montevideo

Tuesday night I spent reminiscing with many good friends and just chilling. Thank you to everyone who met with me and hung out my last few days. I spend so much time complaining about ACU sometimes I forget the amazing people God has blessed me with. Christina thank you for listening to me rant about EVERYTHING and giving me advice, its amazing knowing I can trust you for Godly wisdom. Amanda and your sports illustrated and your keys. CALM DOWN. Bryanna the new bean is tight haha breakfast is better than ever. Don't worry about chemistry God will work it out you are amazing. Rachel OMG how can I even begin to thank you! I owe you big for everything. J You have been awesome. Sung Ah you are beyond sweet. I am really going to miss you :(. Kelsey and house Thanks for letting me stay you guys were a tremendous blessing. I seriously don't know what I would have done. See Huang, you are always supportive in everything and made the best mushroom soup of my life! Tiffany, you are so strong. You will have a blast in Oxford. Thanks to everyone and I am going to miss all of you tons! Love you!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

We got on the bus and ready to roll to DFW around 10. After we loaded up our entire luggage and said goodbye to friends and family. Dr. Money came and said a blessing over us and our time in Oxford or Montevideo.

Oxford and Montevideo

Just Montevideo

The group going to Uruguay is much smaller but I think we are going to get a lot closer as well.

On the plane

Before we got on Jade and I asked the Lady working the desk if we could change our tickets. She was then nicest person I had met in an airport in my life. She smiled and asked us about where were going then she gave us 3 empty seats for two of us and wished us luck. The served us dinner and breakfast on the plane and I watch 21 after reading 7 more chapters out of Twilight

A must! Immigration…fun J bored after 10 hours chicken and Pasta

Around 9 am this morning we got in from the airport. We then went through customs which for most of was expedited. Jade's ticket agent asked another if Koreans needed a visa she responded with…."I don't know" the lady then shrugged her shoulders and stamped her passport. We all then met in the lobby of the airport and were met by the members of the household. After demonstrating the traditional Uruguayan way of greeting on another, which is a side kiss(even for men), we began to board the bus they would take us to Casa ACU.

We are now just getting settled Im exhausted so ima hit the sack.

Goodnight!

Goodbye Abilene

These past few days have been filled with events both exciting and new. I came into Abilene on Friday around 3 and Jade came to pick me up and then we took off to Sharkeys. I had been craving it for the past 3 months and got my favorite. We hung out until Jade dropped me off at Kelsey's house. Her house was absolutely gorgeous and her roommates were wonderful the whole time I was there. Saturday my dad came up from Austin and we ran a whole bunch of errands. That afternoon I went to the Spaghetti Warehouse with Tiffany her family and a few of her close friends including Jade and Amanda and then that evening we went to Chili's on Saturday ( Jade, Amanda, Rachel, Bryanna and our families). Then on Sunday we went to my Uncles church and out to lunch with the fam bam. Monday we began our debriefing before we went to study abroad. We took our test and turned in our portfolios. We mostly learned don't drink, don't dishonor the name of ACU, how to count money, lots of random last minute things maybe we should have packed or customs that they didn't tell us.

Don't pack a blow-dryer/straighter unless you are willing for it to blow out the sockets purchase one there

• Get Tabasco/ any hot sauce they don't sell spicy food down south.
  


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  YOU WILL need a converter AND adapter; they are not the same thing
  
  
  
  
  
  • You might need more than one….
    


• Gifts to bring to some of your new Uruguayan friends
  


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  3X5 cards
  
  
  

  
  

Packing

Well, I have never blogged before so...this is going to be interesting ahaha. I am still in San Diego and have spent the entire day running around looking for last minute items to pack for Uruguay. I have filled up two suitcases and have not yet even arrived in Abilene. I think I may have to go back through my items and decide on some things that I may not actually "need". Packing is definitely not my strong point I ALWAYS pack way too much and then wonders why days later. I finally finished my Travel Portfolio on Sunday but I still have to do the makeup work. This work consists of reading a 700 page book and writing a ten page paper. This is my "punishment" for missing a study abroad meeting for my best friend’s wedding (sigh). I am almost done with the book but the paper is a work in progress. I am hoping to be done by Wednesday so I can eat Korean food with Christine! I was on Amazon the other day for the first time and realized how cheap some things are so I bought ALL of the Twilight books to read while in Uruguay. I am super pumped and ready for what the next few days bring :)