With the change in weather has come a change in the city's atmosphere. Montevideo seems to be more alive, more colorful, and more vibrant. There are people swimming and kayaking just off the shore, people sunbathing, and live bands playing cumbia. I can imagine that what I've seen thus far is only a glimpse of the activity that takes place during the peak months of Montevideo's summer.
My work at both the elementary school and university is going well. I have given several presentations at the elementary school, and have led various games and activities. The children are very sweet, and have welcomed me with open arms into their soccer team(s). Compared to my students in Salto, the children in Montevideo are noticeably better off. The dirty tunics and deteriorating teeth I became accustomed to in Salto are not common at the school in Montevideo.
At the university, I have become more of an assistant than I had been at the university in Salto. Whereas in Salto I regularly led discussions or lectures, in Montevideo I find myself instead observing the classes of other professors. On the positive side, I've learned a lot about the history of the English language. (Did anyone else know that in England "jail" is spelled "gaol"?)
A couple weeks ago I was fortunate enough to visit my family in Medellín, Colombia. As always, I had a wonderful time there. The lush, green mountains were a stark contrast to Montevideo's flatter terrain, and it was especially interesting to hear the differences in Colombian Spanish. People will argue to no end over which Spanish dialect or accent is the more correct, or more appealing. In my humble opinion, both the Colombian and Rioplatense accents are two of the more beautiful ones I've heard.
Until next time, here are a few photos from Medellín:
