Con Mas Personas

The other day we joined a nursery and field tour with a group of international forest productivity folks. After a "brief" office meeting (Uruguayans have an entirely different sense of time) we went to the nursery where we saw tiny eucalyptus cuttings being planted. Since their main planting seasons are May and November (and these cuttings will then be ready for the subsequent season in the following November or May), and we were a little ahead of their usual busy time, they set up a small operation that day mostly so we could watch the process. We crowded around this poor guy like a bunch of authentic tourists and snapped photos while he worked. Fortunately most of the group were South Americans, so they could speak fluently with everyone and ask questions, unlike some other fun tourist groups.

We then headed out to the field so these guys could see some of the hydrology research going on in the area. There is a group associated with us that is measuring water quality and quantity in plantation and unplanted areas to better understand the effects our plantation forests have on the typical water regime in Uruguay. The best part of this tour was trying to lead a humongous tour bus down the dirt road into the La Corona area, and then onto a "grass" road to one of the experimental sites.

Juan Pedro stayed clear of the bus driver after he parked, afraid he would be berated for making the driver go on these roads. Two of us were driving field trucks, and a minivan also made the trip, and we were all unscathed.

As you can see, some of these people were enthralled with the research...

The group was large, the discussion was in Spanish, and the meeting went on for a LONG time. I lost track of what was being discussed...

...so I decided to watch this guy down the hill from us instead...

Escuela Fiesta de la Familia

On Sunday night, after a very productive field day (woo hoo!), we ventured into town to attend a local school party, to celebrate the end of Luana’s school year. Each class had a different dance routine, and they took turns on stage to perform.

Preschoolers and small elementary schoolchildren started the night. The first adorable group wandered around on stage as Flinstones characters, complete with the Flinstone’s car. The funniest thing about the young kids is that they don’t actually have a routine; they wander on stage, walk around, possibly melt into a tantrum, and perhaps even wander off stage. I think the school administrators really just let loose and hope for the best.

The next young group was dressed as puppies, and had the odd combination of the Titanic theme song in the background. We couldn’t quite make sense of the relationship between a sinking ship disaster and adorable kids dressed as puppies, but whatever. They were cute anyway.

The night would not be complete without children dressed as the Disney “princesses,” including Belle and the Beast, Snow White, Jasmine and Aladdin, and Cinderella.

Speaking of Cinderella, the next group “acted” out the story of Cinderella…complete with the pumpkin carriage. Right after this photo, the horses and carriage became unglued from the backdrop, flopped on the stage, and left poor Cinderella stranded before her grand exit.

Luana’s class performed the Macarena, which I am surprised to say is just as catchy now as it was when it first became popular.

The older groups had more developed routines, including the entire routine of Thriller, You’re the One that I Want (from Grease), and this awesome guy who pretended to be John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Complete with pelvic thrusts. In front of all the parents. Awesome.

The closer for the show was a bunch of Uruguayan boys dressed as the Village People, dancing to YMCA. Sadly, I was so focused on taking videos of this routine I don’t have photos to share. I cannot express how hilarious it was to see a young Uruguayan boy in a huge motorcycle helmet and aviator sunglasses, dressed up as a hardcore bike rider. Or the adorable boy with a huge fake mustache and leather jacket, posing as a cop. I’m still giggling.

Iglesias Muertas

A little different post than the others…

Scattered throughout the countryside are crypts that honor the deceased. In asking Sonia about these, I described them as Iglesias muertas (church of the dead, or dead church), and she understood me instantly, albeit while giggling. 

Instead of large cemeteries, you can see small stone buildings that house the deceased, usually adorned with a cross and regularly decorated with flowers and other mementoes. The other day we spotted a huge crypt area: an open area, fenced off from livestock, with many stone buildings.

The individual crypts were in various stages of disrepair. Many had common family names on them, so I can only assume this area is for a large family, or for a family over a long period of time.

While these places are oddly beautiful and peaceful, the decrepit buildings and open doorways started feeling eerie. Then we started hearing bees, and found this on the outside corner of one of the crypts.

We didn’t stay long after that. Still, there’s something honorable and serene about these kind of places, I think.