El fin

Ahoy, floggers. That's my new name for those that follow blogs -- Lest we forget my affinity for creating new words, à la Dr. Seuss.

So yeah, it has been a while since I've updated. Mostly because -- SURPRISE! -- there hasn't been much to update on. Except, of course, for my recent revelation: I am incredibly homesick. Little by little I have felt my enthusiasm for all things Uruguay ebb while I simultaneously started to feel the pressures of living abroad close in around me. When push came to shove, I had to admit to myself that I've had enough time here in Uruguay and that all I really want to do is reenter U.S. society. Nothing against this charming little South American secret-of-a-country, but home is home.

Now that that is out of the way, I thought I would conclude this travel blog by providing you, my dear readers, with a list of the things that I will and will not miss upon touching down on American soil. Lets do this:

I will miss...

-The rambla/beach:

Living by the coast is a luxury that I'm sure I will not fully appreciate until it is gone. Being able to walk 15 minutes to the beach has undoubtedly spoiled me, while having miles and miles of rambla to run on everyday will also be sorely missed. The path in Princeton alongside Lake Carnegie just can't compare.

-Cheap fruits/vegetables:

A shiny red bell pepper here costs a fraction of what it costs in the US. And I love me some red bell peppers. The same can be said for almost all other produce down here.

-Beautiful men:

Though I can't really communicate with them beyond awkward, staccato small talk, the men down here are damn nice to look at. Sure, they may be shirtless and sporting a mullet or rat tail, but their bronzed skin, twinkly eyes, and insane muscular definition (90% of the young men here have perfectly chiseled bodies. I don't know why, it's both disturbing and wonderful) make for some good eye candy.

-Warm weather:

I love sunshine and being going for walks in mild temperatures. Missing out on the glacial winter in the U.S. has been amazing.

-Great steak:

It's a quarter of the price of the steak in the U.S., and tastier.

-The distinctiveness of my name:

I derive a sick pleasure out of people down here stumbling over my name and squinting their eyes in mild confusion. Back I go to the Land of Emilys-A-Plenty.

-Dulce de leche and faína:

Self explanatory. Both delicious.

-Children speaking Spanish with teeny weeny vocal chords:

Kids are always cuter when they're bitching and whining in a language you don't really understand.

-Sun-dried laundry:

Almost no one owns driers here, instead allowing the sun to parch their clothes. I don't know why, but my clothes seem cleaner to me this way.

-My tan:

Though my color has faded in recent weeks, I have definitely been the tannest here that I have ever been in my lifetime. Intelligently, I made sure to take photographic evidence.

-Yerba mate:

An excellent source of caffeine, a refreshing drink, and a nice way to pass the time with friends. I'm not too worried though, as I've purchased my own mate/bombilla/thermos and plan to bring this custom back with me to the U.S.

Just lovely. And now, in the spirit of my departure, things I will be able to do without:

I will not miss...

-Public Displays of Affection:

They take it to a whole other level here. Full-on make-out seshs on the rambla, gentle caresses on the omnibus, tender embraces in McDonalds -- it is way too much for me to take. Blame it on my cold puritanical American heritage, but I find it nauseating. Good riddance.

-Lack of Pandora Radio:

I have a slight addiction to pandora.com, which doesn't work abroad. It's been a tough adjustment, and one I'm anxious to reverse.

-Uruguayan TV:

No surprise here. I miss trashy US television -- and magazines!

-Lack of efficiency:

I'm a northeast girl through and through. Time is money, people! And why are Uruguayans so fond of taking numbers for everything? It's one thing at the butcher shop, it's quite another when I'm shopping for a bikini.

-The coffee sitch:

I miss ordering a coffee, toting it over to the milk station, and fixing it up exactly how I like it. Here, it's all Cafe con Leche and sitting down to take a minute and enjoy your cup of joe. To me, coffee is meant to be enjoyed in a fit of sloshy chaos while trying to make the 8:47 subway.

-The leers, my god, the leers!:

Women in the U.S. are no stranger to cat calls and whistles, but the men down here go above and beyond. Before you think I'm flattering myself, I assure you that they don't discriminate. Anything with hips merits the same attention and expressive sound effects. No estoy interesada, gracias.

-Lack of street signs:

I suspect I will never get lost in a U.S. city again, after living somewhere where street signs have to be desperately sought out and are often nonexistent.

-Language barrier:

This is not fault of Uruguay's, but I am happy to be going back to a place where I can be myself, in all my snide and sarcastic glory. Struggling to express yourself in even the most basic sense for four months really starts to take a toll on your morale.

So I think that about wraps it up. Who knows if I will return to blogging after this...it is something I enjoy, but I think it will depend on what kind of adventure rolls around next. My plans for the future (short term, at least) include scouring the internet for employment. Let the fun begin.

Thanks to all my loyal followers.

Que pasen bien!

Un beso,

Emily