NMH Magazine : Spring 2007

The Best World Ever

“After classes, the first I thing heard while walking toward our comparativa (apartment building) was the sound of my 19-year-old brother Matias playing his electric guitar. He’s a big fan of ACDC and the Ramones, so he’d put on their CDs and try to play along. I remember my parents always yelling at him because he’d turn up the amps too loud. One time Matias gave me a guitar lesson. I was absolutely horrible, but it was fun.” —Jensi Rovang ’08

This winter,
nine students traveled to Uruguay on a study abroad program.

Led by NMH Spanish teacher Bea Garcia and her husband, Roberto Irurueta, the group studied Spanish as well as Uruguayan culture, history, and literature. Each day after classes, students performed community service, either painting a neighborhood mural or helping at a local kindergarten. During their six-week stay, students lived in Montevideo, the capital city, with families who became their surrogate parents and siblings. On weekends, the group explored other regions of the country.

Asked to describe their most memorable experiences and favorite photos, students offered the following. All said their way of thinking had broadened, and they now have a newfound cultural awareness—not just of Uruguay, but of the United States and their own place in the global scheme of things. One student said simply of the trip, “It’s the best world I’ve ever been in.”

“Every day in Montevideo, homeless people came up to me asking for money. I just shook my head and kept walking as I would in New York. But one day was different. As I was about to go into my house, three kids stared at me from behind a tree. Two boys and a little girl, none older than nine, with dirty faces, dirty clothes, dirty shoes. I kept staring, and then the girl popped out. She had her hands out so I reached in my pock et to give her money. But when I did, she put her hands down and shook her head. She pointed to my lunch. Shocked, I reached in and gave her the leftover piece of milanesa. She smiled and ran back to the two boys. Slightly confused, I went into my house, sat down, and started to think. These kids were so poor they didn’t bother with money. All they wanted to do was survive. I thought I had it bad when I realized my life and future were based on scholarships. But these kids don’t even have a shot to make a future.” —Andrew Lassalle ’07

“We were staying at a campsite by the beach and decided we wanted some city time. When we asked the locals where to go, they all said, ‘Go to Rosario.’ So off we went—and found out there was nothing to do in Rosario. Actually, we, the Americans, ended up being the Saturday afternoon attraction. People waved at us, looked at our bus in astonishment, left their houses to find out the reasons for the noise (all of us were singing loudly), and we ended up having so much fun! This picture was taken when we were having a silly girls’ moment sitting on a bench in Rosario, just laughing for nothing.”
—Bea Garcia

“I have learned more about the Spanish language, Uruguayan culture, and myself than I could ever imagine. The things we take for granted—large houses, hot showers, Internet, cars, telephones, televisions—are novelties here. I never would have seen myself as capable of living without many of these things.” —Eli Pack ’07

“Once we arrived, we were no longer exchange students—we were daughters and brothers, cousins and friends. My family here has shown me a kindness I never knew existed among strangers. I can’t say they are an exception to Uruguayan culture…no matter the circumstance, you are greeted with a kiss on the cheek that immediately signifies friendship; the awkwardness of a handshake now seems absurd.” —Jen Bobe ’07

“Candombe drumming is a big part of Uruguayan culture—their talent for it is enormous and completely breathtaking. We took a couple of workshops with a local drummer named Diablo. He first taught us the beats, then how to march with the drums. After the workshops I had so much respect for these drummers! Not only did we have to concentrate on the beat as well as timing, but the drum was heavy and difficult to walk with.”—Christie Cushing ’08

“I loved going with my family to Carnival, which is an important event in the Uruguayan culture. It’s filled with candombe (Afro-Uruguayan drum-based music) and dancers of all kinds. Because I’m so interested in dance, it really caught my attention. Everyone who attended was dancing, clapping, singing, and having an amazing time.”—Meredith Carlton ’08

“On the last Saturday before we left, my host mother woke me up to make a big American breakfast. We cooked for an hour and made all the things I’d missed from home. Because my Spanish wasn’t up to par and no one in my family spoke English, I’d only recently become really close with them. I remember feeling sad to leave, but I was homesick at the same time.” —Harrison Abry ’07

“On our weekend trip to Colonia, I saw the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen in my life. I also saw the most beautiful night sky ever, and a comet that you can only see in the southern hemisphere.” —Amrita Acharya-Menon ’07

Top of Page