First of all, I did receive the package from my mom, including my camera's memory card. Unfortunately, it came up with a card error and I'm pretty sure the problem is the camera, not the card. So, for now, still no pictures. There should be another camera in the mail tomorrow so I can finally start taking pictures, a month into the trip...hahaha. Good thing I've got the memories.
This Wednesday I went to Punta Ballena and Punta del Este to see where I'll be teaching. My starting date has been delayed until next week because of a teachers' strike (if I understood right) and the Uruguayan independence day on Wednesday (more on this holiday later). So, I have the coming week to prepare more, which I think will help immensely. The area is quite beautiful. The bus stop, about 10 minutes walking from the school, overlooks the sea (or estuary/river; I believe the ocean officially starts right about there), where I have heard you can sometimes see whales, Ballena meaning whale. The view is absolutely beautiful and the town quite tranquil this time of year. It is very tourist-y in the summer, but I will probably miss the worst of it, which is in January and February. The population is a mix of classes. Nearby in Punta del Este are the vacation homes of rich Argentinians and Brazilians, mainly. In Punta Ballena, there seems to be a mix of the middle and lower classes. Many of the people work in the houses in nearby Punta del Este and similar tourist-related jobs. Some live in quite terrible conditions; some of the children at the school and their families occupy abandoned buildings. I did not meet many of the children while I was there, but I did see the school. There are two main rooms, one for the older children and one for the younger, as well as a kitchen and dining hall (literally a hall). There is a nice little greenhouse in the yard as well. I stayed in the house of Alejandra and Guillermo, who have two children at the school. They were very kind and helpful and I got to spend some time with their three kids. I also met my host whose house I will stay in while I am working. I don't think he speaks any English, but he seems very nice and his house is small but charming. I will have a sort of loft room, very nice. So, I have a lot of preparing to do before next week, but I think I will be receiving some materials from the previous English teacher, an old woman who has not given classes since a year or two ago. I think I will be taking some more Spanish classes this week, but not as many as previously.
This weekend was quite a fun but exhausting one. I am a bit sick and can't seem to get enough sleep to recover fully. On Saturday I had my first "drinking on the rambla" experience. It's totally allowed to drink on the street here, so since the weather was good a few of us went down to hang out on the rambla and have some beers. A game of "never have I ever" quickly turned when a mob of drunk 14-year-olds crashed our party. Quite funny but also very strange... On Sunday, I didn't make it to the feria...again. But apparently there is one on Tuesday, which I think I'm much more likely to make it to tomorrow. And I did make lunch for a few friends and went to play futbol again. Always fun, even if you take a shoulder to the jaw.
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