For example, our housekeeper told us once, “There is nothing nicer in the world than eating at home together as a family.” This statement speaks volumes about the traditional values of Uruguay. When I thought about it, I realized that it is rare to see someone snacking on the bus, grabbing a packet of chips to eat on the way to work. In Uruguay, we wait to eat at home. Although the silver trailers selling hamburgers and italian sausage would beg to differ, on the whole, there is very little snacking that goes on.

And why would I appreciate that? Well, in the U.S., the daily average number of calories consumed in snacks has risen at an overwhelming rate. In the 1970’s, Americans consumed about 200 calories in out-of-mealtime snacks. Now, in 2010, that number of daily calories has risen to almost 700. There are no rules about when and where a person can eat. Restaurants and drive-ins are open 24 hours a day and people are inundated with advertisements about single serving pre-packaged junk. Family time and sensible eating habits have all but evaporated in North America

Now let’s not say that junk doesn’t exist here in Uruguay. The “torta frita” could be thought of as the epitome of junk food, and indeed it is marketed by well-meaning grandmothers and aunties as the panacea for rain. “Oh dear, it is raining and you can’t go outside. How about a chunk of bread dough fried in lard and sprinkled with sugar to make you feel better?” Churros are miniature examples of hardening arteries. They are also deep fried dough, crunchy on the outside and sticky, sweet, and slow-moving on the inside.

Yes, there is junk food in Uruguay but it exists with less, what can we say, aggression. There is not the constant bombardment of advertisements, there are fewer flashing lights, and less marketing dollars spent on trying to find a way to get us to buy and to eat the newest fad. In the supermarket, you may find a whole aisle devoted to yerba mate but there is never a whole aisle devoted to different types of potato chip snacks like you’d see in the U.S.

I think about a recent trip to a drugstore in the U.S. I anticipated just buying a few headache tablets, but in the process, I had to walk past the snack foods, breakfast items, milk, frozen novelties, electronics, toys, school supplies, and cosmetics. Here in Montevideo, other than a few candies or chewing gum at the counter, I can walk right in, speak with the druggist and purchase what I want without the temptation of so many trinkets and diet-breakers. More is not better. I like the simple things.

First, there was the send off: President Jose Mujica hosted the team for a farewell dinner and presented them with a gift of a hand painted soccer ball made by the artist, Pablo Villaro. One would recognize his work from his picturesque hotel and museum at Punta Ballena on the coast between Piriapolis and Punta Del Este. A heart-felt gift.

Next, Mujica gave a pep talk, and although he had expressed interest in travelling with the team, his health would not allow it. The news had reported that the 13 years he had spent incarcerated under the dictatorship’s reign had been detrimental to his health. He bid them adieu as the team boarded a charter flight for South Africa.

One must remember that, in the last 10 World Cups, Uruguay has qualified in only five, and moved past the second round only once, in 1970. They arrived at the tournament as the underdogs but through their success in their opening round group and then again, against South Korea and Ghana, the team’s popularity has soared.

The Uruguayans became the darlings of the tournament. Then Luis Suarez in an obviously intentful manner, blocked the ball with his hand in the last second of the overtime game against Ghana. While many condemned him, others welcomed his kamikaze action as the ultimate in self-sacrifice. Although the red card he received for his actions prevented him from playing in the semi-final against Holland, his actions gave the team a chance to qualify for the semi-final game. Without him, the team would have been expulsed. All of Latin America and much of world were rooting for the underdog.

Indeed, in the game against Holland, Suarez’ absence, along with double yellow carded Jorge Fucili and that of injured teammate, Diego Lugano, were clearly evident, yet the players fused into a unified presence and dominated much of the game. The team’s defeat was mitigated by the spectacular teamwork demonstrated by the players. Well-wishers who gathered on 18 de Julio Street in Montevideo, celebrated the game despite Uruguay’s loss because of the dignity and sportsmanship of the players. “They played so well,” was the most common comment.

The strong national team has restored Uruguay’s pride and put the tiny country back on the map. Uruguay may be a mouse in terms of its size, but we are able to roar. Even those who are not soccer fans will take time out of their schedules to welcome the returning team this week when they arrive home.

Auctions are a longstanding tradition throughout Montevideo and the rest of the country. Cattle and other livestock are bought and sold at them, as is almost everything else. Mercado Libre, www.mercadolibre.com.uy, and Gallito Luis, www.gallito.com, the Sunday supplement of the nation’s largest paper, are relatively recent online additions.

Inheritance laws in Uruguay state that each sibling must receive an equal portion of their parents inheritance and to simplify things, the contents of entire houses are often auctioned off and the proceeds divided.

There is a rather steep learning curve when it comes to auctions and if you can, learn from someone who attends regularly. If that is not possible, stop in at a few before you make a bid. The first auction that I went to, I saw a lovely wooden high-backed bench and accompanying chair. I wanted to bid on it but my friend dissuaded me. Indeed, these were common items that I would have paid too much for in my naive enthusiasm.

The primer is simply this:

1. Check out the goods the day before. Make notes of the number of the “lot”, item, or groups of items you’d like to bid upon, and then, mark the highest price that you are willing to pay for the lot. You may want to research online what a similar new item would cost.

2. Be sure to inspect your desired items thoroughly. Wooden furniture could have termites that weaken the wood, but worse, will migrate to other wooden pieces in your home. Check for their little tell tale holes, and failing that, tap on the wood gently. If a powdery dust falls out, this is a certain sign of termites, though this shouldn’t necessarily put you off. A friend of mine spent $100 on an oak dining room set that came with six chairs. She sent the items to a workshop to rid them of the bugs and to be refinished. The result was beautiful and cheap. But let your final bid reflect the extra trouble and cost it will take to debug and refinish the wood.

3. Ask in advance what you are paying for. I know a guy who thought he was bidding on a box of lovely Italian tiles, but the final price was for each tile in the box. You could imagine his surprise when he realized that the final bid price was for each tile in a box of 50. This is where your advance investigation pays off. The auction workers have lots of time before the auction, and will even give you an estimate of what a similar item usually sells for.

4. You don’t need to register or have a number to bid. Anyone can walk in and be included. Indeed, the items are auctioned off in numerical order. The auctioneer may be able to give you an idea of the time your lot will be auctioned and you can arrive just beforehand. This can save considerable waiting time.

5. When it comes time to bid, you can expect your adrenalin to run. Catch the eye of the auctioneer by lifting your hand or nodding. Watch how others do it first. Apparently one must not seem too eager or enthusiastic. If the auctioneer taps his gavel and you win the bid, you must be ready to give a cash deposit. (If you don’t have time to attend in person, you can leave a bid with the auctioneer. You simply tell them the amount you are willing to pay for the item, and if the highest auction bid is lower than your bid, you will pay an amount slightly higher than the highest bid.)

6. When you leave the auction, you will have received several slips of paper with the lot numbers of the items you have purchased and the deposit amounts that you have paid. Keep those and submit them to the auction office on the day you pick up your things.

There are two main auction houses in Montevideo, Castells y Castells and Bavastro. Both of them operate in the Old City, and each hold several weekly auctions.

Castells y Castells (www.castells.com.uy) is by far the largest auction house with four regular auctions: tools, building supplies and equipment; lower-end furniture and manufactured goods; quality furniture; and, by far my favorite, antiques, including beaver skin top hats, fine china, and gilded harps. Auctions of the furniture and antiques take place each Tuesday afternoon.

Bavastro (www.bavastro.com/in), located on Missiones, was founded in 1917. Goods begin to arrive early each week, and by Wednesday afternoon, everything is ready for viewing. The regular auction on the main floor starts at around 4 o’clock on Thursday. The goods are divided by quality. Upstairs, at roughly the same time, another auction starts where lower-priced goods are sold. On occasion, they offer special auctions of very high-quality jewelry, china, and the like. Even if you choose not to purchase anything, a visit is worth it just to see the finery that was typical in Uruguayan homes in times gone by.

The first and most obvious key to leave behind is the one to the office. Many expats here have their office in their home and can enjoy the comforts and all the associated savings associated with working from home. They have secured contracts with foreign companies where their work is done completely by computer. No office wardrobe to add to the budget. No daily lunch out, no transport costs, and no extra time spent in a daily commute.

Next, you can cut out the key to the car. When you arrive in Uruguay, especially if you live in Montevideo or one of the larger cities, you can rely on public transport and the occasional taxi to get around. (See Syd’s article last week.) It is much easier to flag down a taxi to drive you to your destination, than to deal with all the costs and headaches that involve owning a car in the city.

When it comes time to move furniture or large items, you can simply call a “fletes” who will come with their truck at a moment’s notice, charge very moderate prices and even take you along. If you want to have the use of a car for a full day, or if you would like to do sightseeing with visiting relatives, you could consider hiring a car or a van with a driver. These are called “remises” and are normally very well kept autos with polite drivers. The cost is by the hour. Not only are you relieved of all the stress of navigating in the big city, the driver will take you where you want to go, and wait for you until you are finished. One friend of ours uses this service when she has a long list of things to do and wants to save time looking for parking and searching for the proper addresses.

If you live outside the capital, taxis and buses are more sparse and harder to access, so you may want to think about the benefits of a bicycle. For example, in Piriapolis, a moderate sized town, there is a “bike gang” of expats who do all of their errands on bicycles. They shop at the weekly market, attend parties, and go to the beach. This even has the added health benefit—they can cycle to the icecream parlour in the evening and not worry about the extra calories. Although I wouldn’t recommend a bicycle for daily transport in Montevideo because of the sheer volume of traffic, outlying areas are perfect for two wheelers.

Finally, you will be left with your house key, and with all the interesting and characterful properties available in Uruguay, finding you own perfect nest here is a delight. A simpler life without the attachments of so many things, especially keys, leaves you time and energy to focus on the good things of life.

In or near Montevideo

The Club de Golf del Uruguay offers an excellent 73 par, 6,635 yard, 18-hole course just minutes from downtown Montevideo. The club is situated in the middle of the beautiful residential area of Punta Carretas. The course offers sweeping views of the Rio de la Plata. The clubhouse offers yoga, swimming, and tennis classes. Membership allows you access to 24 other golf clubs in South America, Spain, and England. Club de Golf del Uruguay, Br. Artigas 379, Montevideo, Uruguay; tel. (598)2-710-1721 ext 25; website: http://www.cgu.com.uy.

The Club de Golf del Cerro is the oldest golf club in Montevideo. It was built around 1910 by the Swift cold-storage plant (USA) and named Chimont (Chicago-Montevideo). It was later redesigned by Allister McKenzie in the 30’s, and renamed “Club de Golf del Cerro” in the 1950’s. Its 18-hole course has beautiful views of the bay and Cerro fortress, as well as excellent drainage. Club de Golf del Cerro, Punta de Lobos, Montevideo, Uruguay; website: http://www.cgcerro.com.uy.

Located just 9K from the Carrasco airport and 45 minutes from Montevideo, La Tahona Golf Club offers an 18-hole course easily within reach of the city center. There is a golf school, as well as tennis courts, male and female gyms, and yoga classes. There are also hourly shuttles to the Carrasco neighborhood in Montevideo. La Tahona Golf Club, Camino de los Horneros 220 in Ciudad de la Costa, Canelones, tel. (598)2-684-0004.

In or near Colonia: The Four Seasons Golf Course is located in the charming town of Carmelo. It has a beautiful 18-hole course nestled amidst pine and eucalyptus trees along the Rio de la Plata. The course offers challenging white sand bunkers and expansive lakes. According to its website, the it “presents one of South America’s truest and purest tests for golfers for all categories.” It was designed by American Golf Course Design LTDA, South America’s most prestigious design firm. The Four Seasons Golf Course, Ruta 21, km 262, Carmelo, Departamento of Colonia; website: http://www.fourseasons.com/carmelo/golf.html.

The Sheraton Colonia Golf & Spa Resort is just minutes from the historical quarter of Colonia, and just 45 minutes from Buenos Aires. The hotel has a par-70 course, designed by Emilio Serra, with 13 spectacular holes positioned between eucalyptus trees, lakes, and incredibly beautiful countryside. The course also offers great views of Colonia’s gorgeous sunsets, and every hole has three different levels of tee offs. The Sheraton Colonia Golf & Spa Resort, located on the Rambla of Las Américas, Colonia Del Sacramento; Hotel tel. (598)5229-000; website: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1534.

Punta del Este: Punta del Este offers three great courses for the golf enthusiast, whether they are summering in the East or living there year-round. La Barra Golf Club has an 18-hole course with USGA regulation greens, few trees, and numerous water hazards. The course is playable all year round. La Barra Golf Club, Ruta 104 km. 2.500 Camino al Golf, Manantiales, Punta del Este, tel. (598)4-277-4440; website: http://www.labarragolfclub.com.

Cantegril Country Club of Uruguay is only five minutes from downtown Punta. The first nine holes were designed by Alex Philp in 1929, and the second nine were the work of Luther H Koonz in 1947. The 18-hole undulating course has numerous pine trees. Other activities include swimming and horseback riding. Cantegril Country Club of Uruguay, Avda. San Pablo s/n. – C.P. 20100 Punta del Este, Website: http://www.cantegrilcountryclub.com.uy.

Of all the golf clubs in the country, the most acclaimed is arguably the Club del Lago Golf located 14k outside of Punta del Este. This challenging course features long, narrow fairways and fast, elevated greens surrounded by deep bunkers. There are three circuits, for pros, males, and females, ranging from 5,945 yards to 7,065 yards. There are five artificial lakes. The course was the first in South American to meet the criteria of the standard ISO 14001 for the preservation of the environment. (Blue herons can be spotted fishing in the lake between holes 12 and 15). Visitors must contact the club one or two days in advance of the desired day of play. They also have a driving range. Club del Lago Golf, Ruta 93 Km 116.500, Punta del Este, tel. (598)42-578-423; website: http://www.lagogolf.com.

Please let us know if we have missed any courses that you know of, or have enjoyed playing.

Golf course information has been reproduced with the permission of http://www.golftoday.co.uk. For more information regarding membership pricing, tournaments, and available member services check individual course websites.

The most obvious place to begin is the Sunday junk market called Tristan Narvaja. This is the equivalent of the North American garage sale. Sellers do not need a permit and, if they do not use a municipal table in an assigned stall, they pay nothing to display their wares. The fun starts here. Early risers get the best pick of the bounty and can choose from automotives to housewares, from antiques to artwork.

This is the largest of this type of street market in South America and although the majority of the stall owners are regulars and form the social fabric of the market with their comradery and sharing of yerba mate, anyone can set up a stall, and you can find almost anything you could need here. One week, I purchased an antique embroidered postcard in pristine condition. Another, I found a leather bound English edition of Rumi’s poetry. But buyer beware. I also purchased a new, in the box hand mixer that when plugged in, failed to respond with even a faint whir. The vender was not there the next week to hear my complaint.

There are lesser-known markets in other parts of the city as well, such as Wednesdays in Malvin and Saturdays in the old City. Of course, many of these markets are not frequented by foreigners like the Tristan Narvaja market, and measures should be taken to be extra cautious. When I go, I dress down, keep my wallet with small bills in an inside pocket and sometimes, I even ask my Uruguayan friend who accompanies me to negotiate the prices.

Street markets may have more variety but they pose more risk, so considering my nature, I prefer a place called EMAUS. A non-governmental organization, EMAUS accepts donations, repairs the donated items, and sells them to fund their programs for children and youth.

Although the largest EMAUS location is in Nuevo Paris, I have always frequented the downtown location on 2064 Branzden. Not only do they offer two floors of treasures, every once in a while, a whole container full of goods arrives from France to spice up the mix.

EMAUS is popular with people in the film and theater industries, but everyone shops there. Some may be searching for props for a commercial, others may want antiques, while others just need furniture for their homes.

In EMAUS, I found my wedding dress, an exquisitely delicate 1920’s piece hand crocheted with a thin ivory cotton thread. It cost 10 dollars, though more important is that there is not another like it, anywhere. My hunter-gatherer senses feel no joy wandering through a mall in search of what I know I will find. I savor the hunt. Who knows what I will find next time.

Behind the Portones Mall in Montevideo, there is a conglomerate of schools, playing fields, and factories. Wedged between all these are the extreme paintball fields. Apparently, this is the biggest paintball club in South America with five fields where players can take part in highly energized capture-the-flag type games complete with body armor and a gun filled with lime green paint-filled pellets with which to peg their opponents. It was perfect.

First though, I was impressed with the safety measures that were taken. Each player was fitted with a helmet for eye protection, a padded vest and trousers. (We had asked them to come dressed in long sleeved t-shirts, long pants and running shoes.) They received an introduction and safety talk where the referee outlined the rules for the game, which included disqualification for anyone lifting their helmet on the playing field and other strict safety guidelines. The players were given “marcadores,” or paintball guns that use compressed air to shoot the balls of paint. Each gun was filled with about 150 little balls that had a biodegradable gelatin casing and were filled with a non-staining paint.

The group divided into two teams and were led onto a small field that was spotted with stumps and other obstacles for taking cover. Each team took some time to discuss their strategy and the game began. The goal is to capture the flag of the opposite team or, by staining them with paint, eliminate all the players from the opposite team. Unfortunately, for safety, the game of paintball is hardly a spectator sport. The viewing area is a netted square, which is separated from the playing field. We could catch sight of a few raids from one team against the other, the occasional player leaving the field once they had been paint splattered, and the regular sound of the referee’s whistle as he directed the game.

Some parents had wondered if the game was violent or if it simulated war. I can ensure that it was neither. It was a perfect scenario for having fun, burning off energy and interacting with peers. There were no hard feelings after the game nor did anyone complain about the referee, the rules, or their team mates. When our 25 birthday guests, both guys and gals, came off the field, paint covered and sweaty, the game had eliminated stress and tension and they were all smiling. It was really wonderful. The party ended with our guest drinking copious amounts of water and pop after their exertion, singing a quick round of “Happy Birthday”, and eating cake.

Before we left, I spoke with the manager. He said that the fields were becoming increasingly popular for big companies who used the game to develop leadership and teamwork among employees. Good idea.

For more information about the game, check out: http://www.paintball.com.uy/wcm/publishing.nsf

Gone are the days of yoga being the new age past time of dreadlocked hippies and flower children. More and more, it is becoming a mainstream recreational activity—prepping young moms, retired professionals, and all in between are increasingly practicing the ancient form of stretching and meditation. According to a 2008 study by the magazine, Yoga Journal, 15.8 million Americans practice yoga. That’s nearly 7% of the country! Aside from its mental and physical benefits, yoga is also quite the moneymaker in the U.S. Practitioners spend $5.7 billion on classes, products, apparel, and vacations. For hotels, yoga is becoming as necessary a service as free wi-fi. Big chains now offer yoga classes not only in their spas, but also on the on-demand channels in guests’ rooms. Others have mats and straps available upon request.

For expatriates who practice yoga and are thinking of moving to Uruguay, you will be relieved to know that there are lots of options for you. Maybe not as many as back home, but there are enough that you should be able to find a place to regularly practice. Most classes are 90 minutes, as they are in the states, though Ashtanga studios will have the traditional 120-minute options. Most institutes will offer per-class prices, in addition to unlimited month or 10-class passes. Prices range depending on the professor, but are surprisingly similar to prices in the U.S. For all of its mainstreaming, yoga remains a luxury in Uruguay compared to other physical activities. A monthly pass for two or three times a week is around US$50. A per class fee is usually around US$12.

One difference between yoga in the states and in Uruguay is that there are seldom early-morning classes (like the 6 a.m. classes my mother and I enjoyed in Seattle), and it’s difficult to find a weekend class.

Intensity varies based on location, and some classes tend to be “easier” than I was used to. Lots of stationary stretching, which is a far cry from my preferred Power Vinyasa Yoga. However, to others, it’s a nice break from the high-intensity of some American classes. I have not heard of any “hot yoga” studios in Montevideo, though they may exist. Another difference, which I enjoy, is that unlike my yoga studio in suburban Seattle, in Montevideo it is very rare to practice in a room full of brand name organic cotton yoga tanks and shorts. Most people do their sun salutations in linen, or a pajama-like alternative. Though yoga is increasingly practiced in Uruguay, it is not the fashion fad that it is in the U.S. Consequently, it has been spared extreme commercialization.

In Montevideo: The Satyananda Darshan School in Montevideo is located in Pocitos and offers a full schedule of 90-minute Satyananda Yoga classes Monday to Friday. In addition, each week they have one pregnant yoga class and one Satyananda meditation class. If you are a small business owner, they also offer a service called “Yoga in the office,” where their instructors come to your office twice a week and give 1.5-hour classes focusing on improved posture and stress management. The school’s site is well maintained and offers its schedules online. (Address: Obligado 1068; tel. +5982-706-6059; website: http://satyananda.org.uy/)

Casa Verde in Carrasco has been recommended to me many times, but because I live across town, I have never made the trek to try it. Like the Darshan School, Casa Verde offers Satyananda Yoga. Their current schedule is limited to Tuesday and Thursday from 14:00 to 15:15, Monday and Thursdays from 10:30 to 12:00, and Monday and Thursday from 12:00 to 13:15. Their website isn’t very easy to navigate. Consequently, you should call and double-check the schedule for the week, before heading over. (Address: Divina Comedia 1632; tel. +5982-600-5784; website: mbu.com.uy).

Alternatives is a wellness center located in Pocitos. Its services include Reike, massages, pilates, and yoga. Different teachers rent out the space and offer a range of classes and styles from Hatha to Tibetan yoga. Email for exact schedule. (Pedro Berro 835 – 839; tel.  +5982-711-9860; e-mail: alternativas@montevideo.com.uy; website: http://www.centrodealternativas.com/.

The Club de Golf del Uruguay situated in the Punta Carretas neighborhood also offers weekly yoga classes. On Mondays and Wednesday there are a variety of morning classes, and on Tuesday and Friday there is just one class from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Contact the club for prices. (Br. Artigas 379, Montevideo, Uruguay; tel. +5982-710-1721 ext 25; website: http://www.cgu.com.uy/).

Outside of Montevideo: La Brisas Boutique Hotel in La Pedrera is open from October 15th until April 30th. During the months of October, November, March, and April the hotel offers thematic retreats that include all meals and activities. One of their retreats is entitled “Well Being” and includes yoga classes, a special detox menu, and body treatments designed to reduce stress. (One block from La Rambla in La Pedrera; tel +598(0)479-2265; e-mail: brisasreserve@gmail.com; website: www.brisasdelapedrera.com).

At the Diablo Tranquilo hostel in Punta del Diablo, instructor Molly, helps you relax and enjoy yourself through the practice of yoga. Walk with her to a special place overlooking the beach, and start your day refreshed after an hour of yoga in a picturesque setting. (Punta del Diablo’s entrance at km 298. Turn right and drive for about 5 km until you reach the coast; tel. +598-4772-647. Email: staff@eldiablotranquilo.com; website: http://eldiablotranquilo.com/)

Summering in Piriapolis? At the Hotel Tamariz you can practice chanting and meditation, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 to 10:30, 15:15 to 16:45, and 20:30 to 22:00. (Salta 933 entre Av. Fco. Piria y Uruguay; tel. +5989-877-1640).

Heading to the hot springs? There are Satyananda Yoga classes in Aryuna with Pablo Cabrera. (E-mail: aryunaom@adinet.com.uy; tel. +5982-364-8081.)

The Sheraton Colonia Golf & Spa Resort in Colonia del Sacramento, offers well-being treatments, including Zen Shiatzu, which is a passive yoga treatment where a series of stretches and digital therapy focused on pressure points helps release negative energy. For a 60-minute session, guests are charged $95. (Located on the Rambla of Las Américas, Colonia Del Sacramento; tel.  +598 52 29000; website: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1534).

If you know of any other places in or outside of Montevideo to practice yoga, let us know. Namaste!

First, eat traditionally. As foreigners, we might be used to boxed cereals, pancake syrup, and other processed foods that our taste buds have grown to like over the years, but here, a 400 gram box of name brand cereal could cost you more than $6 dollars. Find a Uruguayan equivalent. There are lots of healthy food stores here that pre-pack bulk cereal. In them you can usually find, among other snacks, a great brand called Granix that makes very good cereal. In particular, there is a whole grain oat cereal shaped like a pillow that is better than any I have tasted.

With sauces and other condiments, such as barbeque sauce or salad dressing, that cost an arm and a leg in the supermarket, you can often download a recipe from the net to make at home, or you can try other local sauces and condiments. I have grown to love a chimichurri sauce that is slightly pickled. I use it to marinate chicken, and it is wonderful.

Next, eat locally. Unlike the big North, where large chains have the monopoly on the market and can undercut the little guys, Urguayan “feriantes”, the stall owners at the feria, can often undercut supermarkets by as much as 33%. Make your local street market the place where you do most of your grocery shopping. The stall owners pay almost no rent or utilities and have small overheads, so they can afford a smaller markup than the supermarkets.

To ensure that you are saving money, go early before it gets too crowded. The stalls start setting up at about eight in the morning; some even earlier. In our area, we have ferias every day of the week except for Monday. Our two closest ferias are on Tuesday and Saturday. Although we have essentially the same stalls both days, I find that the Tuesday market is about 10% cheaper. You may find this in your area also. In addition, prices may vary based on your neighborhood. I have found that the Villa Biaritz market on Saturday is more expensive than our market in Cordon. The Sunday market at Tristan Narvaja is by far the cheapest, yet the produce is not always up to standard, and with so many shoppers, it can be hard to move through the crowds with bags of groceries. I also prefer our local feria where the feriantes greet me with, “Good day, neighbor.”

Becoming a regular is important. Choose a stall where the price and service are good and become a repeat customer. In the stall that I frequent, I go to the same great guy each week who gives an orange to my daughter to help her bide time as she waits. He carefully notes down my purchases and doesn’t mind that I take a minute to revise the list item-by-item to ensure there are no mistakes. They say that feriante can be sneaky, and on occasion, I have had found errors, but with a developed friendly relationship, the possibility is much less, and if something does happen, the feriantes are quick to right the error. Your repeat business means a lot to them. In addition, as a regular, you can ask that your produce be delivered to your door for the cost of a small tip.

Cheese and dairy products are also a better deal at the feria. The dairy stall owners purchase directly from the producers in most cases and always have a low priced cheese that is good for cooking. Of course, you can ask to try any cheese to ensure that it has the qualities you are looking for. Jams and other spreads are for purchase at the dairy stalls. Bring your own container to avoid having to transfer the sticky stuff from a plastic bag when you get home. Although you will not find a standard butcher shop, there are stalls that sell meat products. Try small amounts at first as the quality varies immensely. We purchase specialty meats on occasion but prefer the confidence that we have with our local butcher. Fish is always a good choice. Dry goods and paper products are also much cheaper at the feria. Some of them have been brought in illegally from Brazil but their quality is okay. You can find Brazilian copies of some of your favorite sauces. Just be sure to check the expiry date on sensitive items.

Another good tip: Eat what is in season. All “feriantes” purchase their produce from the same huge market at four in the morning on the day of the feria. They choose between different qualities and varieties of produce based on what is available that day. Again, with so much grown locally, prices vary based on the season. When I shop, I think about the concept of the Hundred Mile Diet, which purports that one can be healthier, eating food from within 100 miles of their residence. Most produce is grown within 100 miles of Montevideo and, because of import taxes, local, in-season produce is always most reasonable. Our family eats what is in season. When it’s tomatoes, they find it in everything—soups, salads, sandwiches… I sometimes even freeze some to use later when the price rises.

I usually spend about 1,000 pesos a week at the feria, and supplement our basic diet with meat from the butchers, bread from the bakery, and milk from the corner store. I love to think that we are eating a diet that is based on an abundance of fresh seasonal produce. I think we are much healthier, lighter, and we do not miss the starchy factory flavors of processed food from the north.

First of all, you should look at how the school coincides with your values in terms of religion, method of teaching, sports, and art opportunities. Next, consider the academic values and reputation of the school. Then, the schedule and program, and how it suits your child and family schedule. Do you want your child in school full-time for eight to 10 hours a day, or would a four-hour schedule fit? How many children are at each grade level? Are the class sizes reasonable? Is it religious or “laica”: without religious afiliation? What are the institute facilities? Is there a swimming program? A sports field? Science labs? A school library? Is there a playground?  These are the obvious questions to ask, but to delve deeper, here are some other issues for you to consider when choosing a school.

The vast majority of private schools are bilingual. This poses different issues for foreign kids as the method for learning English here often involves learning grammar and some tedious bookwork. For example, our native speaking son, at age 10, knew about countable and uncountable nouns, yet, there was never really a risk that he would ask for more “rices” at the dinner table. How will the teachers approach working with a native speaker? Will your child be required to work through the grammar with his peers? What strategies will they use to maintain his interest in class? In addition, what level of proficiency do his instructors have? What should your child do if he notices that his teacher makes a mistake? How open are the instructors to discussing the differences between, for example, North American English and the British English that they speak? These are important issues to consider and to discuss with the school.

Although you are choosng the school for your child, your level of comfort and integraton in the school is also important. First and foremost, how do you connect with the director? Is she/he receptive to you and understanding of your concerns? You will be communicating with the director through the school year to discuss any problems or concerns you will have. How is the director’s ability to communicate with you? Do you feel comfortable approaching him or her?

Is the school used to accepting foreigners? Uruguayan schools are often institutions with long-standing traditions that rely on word-of-mouth to communicate information about school life, in particular the calendar. As a new-comer, it may be difficult to become informed of new developments. In our son’s first year here, I didn’t know what to send when the children had to bring food to school for a shared snack, nor the proper protocol about a wide range of things from birthday party details to seasonal uniform options. A neighbor and fellow parent in the school was a huge help to me in this respect. Do you know the parents of any other students who attend the school? Are there opportunities for the parents to integrate such as Father Soccer in the evenings, Mommy Volleyball, or the like? Are their parental advisory councils or volunteer positions for you to get to know other parents? Is there effort put into integrating the family? Are there family sports days or family events?

In the end, you must simply consider how you feel about the personal connections that you have made. No school is perfect. After all the facts have been considered, choosing a school is rather like friendship. Although there are many people with good qualities in the world, we choose from among those with matching values and a shared understanding of something that goes beyond than words.