2024 McCall MacBain International Fellow, Soran, writes from Uruguay:
One of the first things I remember of my arrival in Montevideo is that, on my fourth day, I spent at least an hour in the pharmacy choosing a shampoo. Between the “biologic shampoo for normal to greasy hair with dandruff control” and the “bottle for dry hair with added keratin that repairs damage in 1 hour,” all in a different language, I realized how simple it was for me in Montreal to always buy the same shampoo—and, more generally, to keep doing the same things I had always done.
The same would go for finding a phone plan (I bought a prepaid SIM card that lasted for two hours, before having to start over in another store)…and the bus card…and every time I went grocery shopping, because I always had to convert the prices in my head. I also had to learn that, here, baking powder and baking soda are already mixed and sold in the same envelope, that it is not necessarily the bigger packs of sanitary pads that end up being the cheapest, and that you really have to look at the fruits and vegetables you buy in the street market (if your potatoes are green-ish you should not eat them—or have bought them).
In summary, I spent the first few weeks focusing on sustenance in this completely new environment. While I slowly settled in, I spent a lot of time translating things and searching for very simple things on the internet. While buying detergent, I remember being worried about choosing something compatible with my host’s washing machine, as to not damage it. Looking back, I don’t think that is even possible, but I was out of my comfort zone and didn’t want to make any mistakes. Today, I can appreciate how far I’ve come – running errands for the week takes only a few hours of my Sunday.
After this phase of sustenance, which also included learning enough Spanish to be able to communicate with others, I started feeling more at ease. Enough to once again venture out of my comfort zone. So, I started looking for more social activities outside of my language school. I found an LGBTQ+ sports organization that was hosting an event for pride month: Uruguay Celeste Deporte y Diversidad. I showed up, feeling very nervous. The word had somehow traveled that a Canadian would join the activity. One thing led to another, and I somehow started coaching the swim club of the said organization. It turned out to be the best thing I have participated in since I started this Fellowship. Through this club, I can engage with a community in which I feel seen and understood because of our shared values, despite language barriers. Three times a week, during trainings, I get to see their motivation and constant desire to learn through social and athletic lens. Some of them started swimming only last year, and yet, last month, they participated in the International Lesbian and Gay Aquatics, as first Uruguayan swimmers to compete in a championship under the “Open” category (as opposed to exclusively Female/Male divisions). During this week-long championship in Buenos Aires, we got to know each other better, and the admiration I already felt for those around me grew even more as I got to learn from the LGBTQ+ community, including those older than me. They had incredible stories of personal wins, but also terrible experiences of loss. They all have such unique life trajectories, from ex-Christian rock signers to chemistry professors, authors, and barbers.
Since I started this journey, I have at times felt lonely. I miss my friends and family back in Montreal, and I often feel out of my comfort zone. However, I also had the opportunity to meet this great group of people and am grateful for everything that they are teaching me. Now that my language term has come to an end, I look back proudly on what I have learned, and look forward to all the things my work term will teach me.