Where Is Rhonda?

The Team Members

2008-12-18T16:46:00.006-06:00

Well, let me introduce some folks to you.

This is the CUT Team - Criollo Uruguayan Team
This is the team I’m on and we are focused on the interior of Uruguay.

In the picture from the left is Earl and Patti Quick who live in Colonia and have been in Uruguay about 12 years, Chris and Claudia Ingram live in Mercedes and have been here around 23 years, (the couple in the middle left the field before I arrived), Claren and Lyle Dease - team leader, live in San Jose and have been here 15 years, and Teresa and Michael Browning live in Triente y Tres and are on state-side assignment (furlough) after their first 4 years in Uruguay.

These are some of the members of the Urban team – which is focused on the city of Montevideo.

On the left is Arnold and Lucy Pessoa – a unique story – he is Brazilian and she is Cuban and, yes, they are IMB personal. They have been here about 20 years. That’s me hanging out in the background – since I live in the city I’m included in a lot of the Urban team’s get-togethers (this happens to be my birthday party so they thought it would be the right thing to do to invite me). Then there is Ron and Carla Roy – he’s the Urban team leader, and they have been here 25 years. On the far right is Annette Racey – her husband Mike is taking the pic – they actually serve in Chile, where they are known as the “southern most Southern Baptist Missionaries” – a far down south as you can go is where they live – they can have it – way to cold for me. Because of a new law in Chile about taxes and stuff, they had to leave for a 6 month time frame, so they joined us for that period. On December 2nd, they returned to Chile.

I don’t have pictures of 3 other couples on the Urban team: Charles and Mary Swanner, who have been here over 20 years; Charles and Karen Clark – 5 years: and Paul and Pam Shaeffer, who are on state-side after their first 4 years.

2008-12-13T12:14:00.015-06:00

So I arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay on April 24^th.

My place was ready and waiting – good thing since I arrived at 4:00 a.m., I was ready for a nap.

While security is a priority here, it’s not quite as obsessive as it was in Costa Rica.

The fun thing here is all the keys. I have 5 keys just to get into my house. The keys are similar to the old skeleton key, but with a head on both sides, so 5 fills up your pocket!

My backyard is huge and, as with all homes here, it comes with its own Parrilla – which is a big grill type cooker, but no charcoal here – it’s all wood! Hmm umm good!

Uruguay is quite unique in its culture and architecture. Even though

it’s in South America, it’s very European in culture; it’s the only South American country that does not have indigenous tribes.

The population is about 3.5 million for the country and 1.5 million live in the capital city of Montevideo.

The architecture reflects the many contributions to the culture – Italian, Spaniard, German.

It’s never boring to go for a walk.

Antique car collectors in the states would go absolutely crazy if they could see some of the vehicles that are used here.

Because of the European culture, until I open my mouth no one knows I’m not from around here.

Observations from my first few months n Uruguay:

*the Spanish here is a lot different than what we were learning in Costa Rica

*everyone here loves dogs and just about everybody has a dog – there are no laws about dogs pooping on the sidewalks.

*smoking is one of the 'in' things although you cannot smoke in buildings or on public transportation

*the beef is wonderful

*this is cheese heaven - I have never seen, or heard of, this many different kinds of cheese - some good - others not so much, but they put cheese on everything

*Boiled egg is also put on everything, including the pizza

*you cannot find real peanut butter

*Ziplock bags, plastic containers, and hangers are expensive here (hangers are about $1 a piece)

*name brand athletic shoes are very expensive here - a pair that you'd pay around $50 in the US will cost you about $80-$90 here

*most of the young people where Chuck Taylors (canvas Converse)

*Montevideo is one of the safest cities in the world with a population over 1,000,000

*the ground coffee you buy in the store has sugar already mixed in -- not good -- there are some that don't but I have to be careful -- found some Rey Express (Costa Rican coffee) the other day - $24 a bag - ouch.

*McDonald's, Burger King and Subway are the only American restaurants

*weddings start around 8:30pm or later and the receptions will go to around 4:30am

*this is also one of the 'make-out' capitals of the world, in broad daylight - at the bus stops, on the buses, in the malls, on the sidewalks, everywhere and it's not just the teenagers

*public transportation is really popular here, buses mainly, but there are a bunch of taxis too

*Oh yeah, gas is over $6 a gallon

Leaving Costa Rica

2008-09-10T20:31:00.003-05:00

Well it’s been awhile, so let me see it I can get everything caught up.

I finished my time in Costa Rica in late April. During my time there, besides attending language school, I had some really great experiences and opportunities.

Besides meeting some really neat “Ticos”, which is what they call the national’s, I was able to see lots of what makes Costa Rica so special. One of those special places was a live volcano – Arenal. During the night you could see the lava shoot out of the top and flow down the side.

I also had the thrill of going zip-lining – flying through the canopy’s of trees along a series of cables about 100-150 ft in the air.

Yee-Haw!!!!!!!!

The most exciting thing was the SCUBA class. I’ve always wanted to SCUBA dive, but living in Arkansas and trying to get certified was way to expensive. The opportunity arose in Costa Rica that was within my budget and I jumped all over it. Besides my certification dives, I was able to go on a real dive trip that included 4 different dives.

WOW!!!!!! What an awesome experience! I came face to face with a real shark and still have all of my appendages!

A lot of you asked about the living situation in Costa Rica because of the high crime rate. Well, here are some pictures of my house.

Check out the razor-wire along the top of the steel bar fence.

Backyard - check out the broken glass bottles on the top of the wall. Now that’s real security! The back yard was only about 8 ft deep and the walls are all shared by neighbors.

So, I left Costa Rica for Uruguay on April 23rd, with an eight hour layover in Panama City, Panama.

Well, I’ve always wanted to see the Panama Canal!

Another really awesome experience. Not only did I get to see a boat lock through, but it was a cruise ship and the largest type of boat they will let pass.

I also was able to spend some time in the old part of Panama City.

The Bridge of the America’s is what keeps the two American continents from drifting to far apart.

I didn’t know that!

I made it back to the airport in about 20 minutes before my flight left. Thanks goodness they didn’t make me take my shoes off going through security! I barely made my flight, but it was a great 8 hours!

Thanks to Kenny and Cheryl Morris, IMB couple in Panama, for spending their day taking me to all the great sights!

Costa Rican Dance

2008-02-18T08:55:00.006-06:00

I had the privilege of going to the Costa Rican's National Theater in beautiful and historic downtown San Jose this past Saturday night, Feb. 16th. The performance was by one of the countries top dance troupes and they did a traditional Costa Rican dance. One of the teacher's at my language school was also a dancer in the troupe. She has the purple, aqua and pink skirt. Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed the evening and hope to have a chance to return to the theater for another event before I leave.

Costa Rica's beautiful and historic National Theater.

The Costa Rican's are very proud of this building; originally built in the mid 1800's, it was severely damaged in an earthquake in the mid-1900's and completely rebuilt to the original status.

Inside, before the curtain goes up.

Grab your partner dancing.

Dancing, dancing. (Bailando!)

Dancing the night away. The language teacher has her back to you.

Finally!! Some updated info

2008-02-03T14:42:00.001-06:00

Hey, everyone! Sorry it's taken so long to get some real info to you - I'm technologically challenged so give me a break.

Well, I'm in Costa Rica at language school struggling to learn spanish. I will be in school for one trimester then will head on to Uruguay at the end of April. The IMB has taken mercy on me and also hired a tutor twice a week to help with my language learning attempts. I also got myself put on the school's student council as the sports director which means on top of 4 1/2 hours of school each day plus homework, tutor twice a week, IMB mentor meeting every other week; I now have student council meetings and have to be around the school some evenings to open the gym for the adults to play volleyball and basketball. Why do I do this to myself ;)

It's not all torture though. With temperatures in the upper 70's and low 80's, beautiful scenery - San Jose is about 3500 feet of elevation - and wonderful people to get to know, it's hard to be able to complain.

There's also lots of fun - try taking a bus somewhere and everyone only speaks spanish so you don't really have a clue as to where you're going - lots of fun - but a good way to see San Jose! Okay, we do have some real fun. The spanish school plans outings once a month - this past weekend we toured a coffee plantation, got to drink tons of good coffee then we went to a volcano - Volcano Poas. This picture is from the trail on top of the volcano at about 8500 ft elevation - have no idea what it is (I'm still alive so it's not deadly) but it's one big leaf. The foliage and fona were absolutely beautiful.

So that's the latest on me. I hope and pray each of you are doing well. I'll try to be better at posting updates.

In the Beginning...

2007-09-02T16:51:00.000-05:00

Hi! This is the place to find out where in the world is... Rhonda!

Rhonda is headed for Uruguay. She'll be in the states until December, then will be at language school in Costa Rica for 4 1/2 months. She'll eventually arrive in Uruguay in April or May 2008.

Find out more about
Uruguay.