A little tutorial on reading signs in Spanish, when you speak almost entirely English, while doing field work in Uruguay:
What you might think it means: The forests are going to a party, thanks to an online invitation!
What it actually means: We want you to conjure up Smokey the Bear, and prevent forest fires
What you might think it means: Yield to Snakes!
What it actually means: Get the hell out of the area if you see a big snake. Don’t even bother worrying about the little ones, since they’re too quick to be notice. Pray that your snake leggings are thick enough to prevent severely poisonous bites.
What you might think it means: There are no guns or fish in this plantation
What it actually means: Don’t try and shoot your own food – the cattle in the plantation are not for you to pillage. Also, don’t go fishing in the rivers, which you probably won’t want to do anyway in the fairly stagnant, muddy water.
What you might think it means: Wear your seatbelt so you can drive 45 kilometers per hour
What it actually means: Definitely wear your seatbelt, and good luck if you even can attempt to go 45. Usually the major ruts in the road, and the slippery dirt and mud make 30 feel like breakneck speed.
Hope you enjoyed your Uruguayan Spanish lesson. J
Thank you very much for this post. I just laughed out loud a little bit, especially about the online invitation for the forest party.
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