Multicultural Social Network for English Speakers in Uruguay to Celebrate 5th Anniversary
The internet is full of information
on all kinds of tropical, exotic places inspiring even the most limited
imagination with a captivating vision of paradise. Where is the line
between imagination and reality? One answer may come from a unique
meeting (social networking group) was formed in November 2005, called,
"The Montevideo English Speaking Expats Meeting." Learn what it has to
offer those seeking information on Uruguay.
Montevideo, Uruguay (PRWEB) ---- All over the Internet are websites and promotions for travel,
investing, high tech telecommuting and retirement in many tropical and
exotic places. These websites are designed to create a vision of
paradise where life is peaceful, safe and cheap. Some people are so
inspired by their visions, they pack their bags and move to their dream
paradise sight unseen.
Something different happened 5 five years ago, far away from the USA
in Uruguay, a small country hidden in South America, just below Brazil.
The small country isn't tropical or exotic, and gated communities are
almost unknown, but some call it paradise.
I
love the Sunday lunches! It is a great opportunity to get up to date
with friends and meet new friends! And the food is delicious!
There is not much information about Uruguay available and many have
questions: Is it tropical? Is it cheap? Is it safe? How do they handle
Real Estate Investments? And many more. Some say it is the San Tropez or
the Switzerland of South America. Or that it has the Architecture of
Barcelona.
To help answer these and many more questions, a social networking
group was formed in November 2005, called, "The Montevideo English
Speaking Expat Meeting". On November 21st, the Group will be celebrating
it's Fifth Anniversary of meeting for lunch every single Sunday without
fail since 2005!
The group was the brainchild of Glen Roberts, who had moved to
Uruguay a few months earlier from Costa Rica. He had started the
website, TotalUruguay.com just before he moved. However, the website was
just that--a website. It lacked the human element ? so Roberts decided
to bring out the human side by announcing a time and place for people to
meet. The weekly meeting has since grown into a multinational,
multicultural social networking event and social support group.
It started with only North Americans, but soon included other
English-speaking foreigners, as well as local Uruguayans. The locals
attend in order to enhance their English-speaking skills because it is
hard to find native speakers to converse with. They also contribute
their in-depth knowledge of the area and the rich history of their
Uruguayan culture. Today the group is truly international. There is
hardly a Sunday that goes by without people from three or four different
countries attending. The luncheons are informal social gatherings with
no business agenda.
Yet people in the group have found jobs, social support, business
contacts, romantic partners and more. The wide range of backgrounds,
experiences, cultures and dreams of attendees always keeps things
interesting. There is no mailing list or sales agenda, however many
notes with phone numbers, web pages and other information exchange hands
every Sunday.
Unlike many of the international relocation web sites or groups, this
meeting takes no position on the benefits of moving to Uruguay. It is
simply a social environment for people to share their experiences and
information. The allure of Uruguay hasn't been just for baby boomers and
others those looking to retire, but also for some who are high tech
telecommuters who can chose to live anyplace that suits them.
One of the informal group's attendees, Pete remarked, ?When people
like us, all over the world, find themselves in a position to travel or
even emigrate to a new country, we're met with a host of surprising
changes. Sometimes those changes can be brutal.?
Many don't know what to do in a foreign country, end up sitting in
their hotel room on social networking sites searching for information.
There are lots of people to talk to online but it can be difficult to
connect at a deep level. TotalUruguay.com brought social networking to
life five years ago in Uruguay, by putting the human element back in.
At the TotalUruguay.com Sunday luncheons total strangers sit down
and within moments discover they have become friends. A room full of
strangers start sharing their experiences and perspectives and often
find surprising connections to others. Also in attendance are Uruguayans
who will openly share their thoughts and suggestions.
Some of the things which are often shared include differences in the
legal system, how much cars cost, how to get residency, housing, and
lots of other neat stuff. For those who need specific help to find some
products or services, there is bound to be someone that can help or give
a good referral. The conversations are hardly limited to talk about
Uruguay, and most anything may come up.
From world travelers just touching down for a week or two, long term
expat residents, retirees seeking safe harbor, college age people in
search of Samba and Tango, or any other myriad of people... they can all
be found socializing. At one meeting or another, most all cultural,
religious and economic backgrounds have been present openly sharing.
Roberts highlights the interesting backgrounds of many attendees by
asking ?Where are you from?? He says, "that question may well stump
them. It can mean so many different things: Where were you born? Where
did you live last? Where do you live now? Or, What travels brought you
to Uruguay?" Often the complete answer is a long interesting commentary
on ones life, all the different places they've lived, their experiences
in those places and why they're thinking about Uruguay.
One couple stopped by while picking up supplies on the way back to
the tropics after a skiing trip in the pristine mountains of Chile.
Another rather lost but friendly fellow said, "My company transferred me
here. I've never heard of the place, and I don't speak Spanish at all."
Many people come here to retire because of the mild climate, great
beaches, and beautiful surroundings.
There is no RSVP or registration so each meeting comes as a surprise
to all the attendees. No two weekends are the same. One native English
speaker, living in Uruguay and speaking only Castellano for 9 years,
said that after his first visit with the group he realized that he
really did need to get back in touch with his native language. Europeans
come by to share things on a number of topics. Asians, Africans and
other South Americans often attend the meetings as well.
Another regular attendee, Karin, told us, ?I love the Sunday lunches!
It is a great opportunity to get up to date with friends and meet new
friends! And the food is delicious!? To further quote North American
ex-pat, Pete, said, ?In the group we met a whole bunch of new friends.
The people who had been here for a while help make the transition a
smooth one. It truly is a pleasure to have friends help take the edges
off of things like the cultural changes and legal differences that
always exist in a new country. They knew the ins and outs of everything
from what you can buy, where, and what you can't, to how to settle in,
become a resident, and begin to assimilate. Really, I don't know how
hard it might have been if it were not for all the help these kind
people so willingly gave. I can't say it too strongly. If you are coming
down here to live, or even just to sample the place to see if you'll
fit in, you simply must come on by to hang out with us!?
No reservation is needed and everyone in Montevideo is welcome. The
lunch is scheduled every Sunday at 12:00 Noon. It is held at Fellini?s
Restaurant (corner of Benito Blanco and Jose Marti streets), in the
Pocitos neighborhood of Montevideo. Fellini's is a cozy Italian
restaurant with a great dessert menu and wine selection. Please refer to
our website for a map and any updates.
About TotalUruguay.com: The web site Total Uruguay
is an online community focused on Uruguay where people can share
information and experiences and where people who are considering a move
or travel to Uruguay can meet residents of Uruguay and others
considering relocation. Total Uruguay also publishes ?Expat Guide to
Uruguay? available as a free PDF download or for 99 cents on Amazon
Kindle.
Those who aren't able to attend the Sunday lunches are welcome to
participate on the web site and dream about the gentle little paradise
called Uruguay, tucked far away from the pressures of the world.
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