Leaving the good ole U.S.A.

The government here is way left of anything you have experienced in the US. We currently have a government that includes Communist and socialist parties. It has almost always been a socialist government here, most of the businesses are government owned and the unions have a lot of power.
Right wing US views would not be popular here as Uruguayans are proud of their country and the way things are run. You will hear grumbles of course but people we talk to seem content.

I'm not really worried about what they do there as far as government. I'm just trying to find a place that isn't going insane as it is here. The U.S. is going bad real quick and I'm afraid of what is going to happen here. I never thought I would see the things that are happening here in my lifetime. It's just incredible. Robert

What kind of things do you mean?  Maybe they are going on here too!

Bippy 96 wrote:

I'm not really worried about what they do there as far as government. I'm just trying to find a place that isn't going insane as it is here. The U.S. is going bad real quick and I'm afraid of what is going to happen here. I never thought I would see the things that are happening here in my lifetime. It's just incredible. Robert

Hi!...I have a cousin who recently moved to the US and he´s very happy and satisfied about his new life, he says it has absolutely nothing to do with Venezuela(I am venezuelan and live in Venezuela)but I understand you

Hello Bippy:
My english is very bad, but I will try to explain you how is the situación here in Uruguay.
The gobernants are socialist but the democracity is better than other countries.
Is an exelent place to earn a lot of money if you have money to invert, but if you are looking for a good job with a good salary isn t the ideal place, unless you work with the software area.
D ont matter how much money are we talking about, if you invert in any business you will get results, In the inmobiliary sector, in gastronomy, services or others, you will get much money a month.
People of Uruguay are friendly and it is  a nice place to live.
There are much oportunities to invert, any way
If you have money you will love it.

I'm an African American female looking to expat to Uruguay as i'm very impressed with the quality of life the country provides to its people.

I'm concerned about race relations in Uruguay.  Can you provide any insight into that area for me?

Thank you!

Hello Tsaafir, I don't have a clue. As for me it doesn't matter at all. We can go down together as far as that's concerned. I imagine they are open minded since they don't have all the historical hang-ups we have here in the states. Then again what do I know. I just think it would be positive since there's no history. What do you think? Robert in Cincinnati

Bippy 96 and tsaafir,

As a fellow American, I understand your concerns but migrating because of one president is a tad hasty move. Presidents come and go, so if your only concerns is Obama (not a fan either), there will be another one after him.

South America is a wonderful place but if you are used to American way of life, you'll find it hard to live down here. There are no 24 hours stores, corruption goes to highest levels, crime rate (petty crimes such as burglary) are much higher, day to day items are much more expensive, car prices are double and triple of what you pay in US, and after all, you are a second class citizen no matter where you come from. Also don't forget that you still have to pay taxes in US while you live in South America, unless you renounce your citizenship. You can always find nice things about places more readily than bad things so don't fall in love with any place unseen.

As for racism, there’s no real racism here. Everyone get along fine and you won't be singled out. If you need someone to talk to, you can call me at 406-992-0032 (US number)and I'll answer any questions you may have.

Cheers,

Chris

uruguay is nr 1 in a SOCIAL INCLUSION ranking

if you like to learn more here is the link

http://americasquarterly.org/charticles … index.html

alex

"Except for Fox News" -- hilarious!

Here's a blog you might find useful.

I could not agree with you more! I'm starting to think that there are way to many people on the wagon here. Votes bought and paid for with food stamps and such. It is very disgusting what is going on here. Hence the reason these forums are packed with people rying to escape this insanity.

South America is a wonderful place but if you are used to American way of life, you'll find it hard to live down here. There are no 24 hours stores, corruption goes to highest levels, crime rate (petty crimes such as burglary) are much higher, day to day items are much more expensive, car prices are double and triple of what you pay in US, and after all, you are a second class citizen no matter where you come from. Also don't forget that you still have to pay taxes in US while you live in South America, unless you renounce your citizenship. You can always find nice things about places more readily than bad things so don't fall in love with any place unseen.

In Punte there are no 24 hour stores. Car prices for new cars are double or more, used cars are interesting. (I just bought a 1971 Mercedes Diesel with a fresh engine for 4k)

Corruption is lower, and the streets seem safer here than in Los Angeles or many parts of Orange County in Califonia. The country is underpopulated and stress is low. The people of Uruguay are welcoming, and my efforts at mangling their language are recieved with encouragement, and often the offer to converse in their halting English instead -- so they can practice AND make me more comfortable.

There are far less laws here, and they are mainly ignored by people and the police. (ie: traffic lights are turned off in slow periods, but observed when on during busy times. Stop signs are treated like caution signs, most people slow for them. Everyone jaywalks and short term double parks as needed.)

You will miss a lot you knew, but soon discover a lot that is better. Like riding a bike, it takes time to get stable in a new culture. Invest that time, rent for a South American winter or two, then decide to stay, return, or move on.

Well spent time will not damage, and it adds perspective.

I would not put much faith in anything Expat Bob says about Uruguay.  He moved on to Chile and I don't think he is all that happy there either.

I've read Expat Bob's blog. He is an entertaining character, but I think you are right. He seems to think happiness and well being can be found in a place rather than by your attitude.

There is no such place. No wonder those who seek it are always disatisfied.

As I wrote for the Day One thought in my most recent book:

I loved my country.

Mark Twain said something like, “A patriot loves their country, and their government when it deserves it.”

The government of the dirt clod where I was born no longer deserves affection. It was hard to leave. This was not a sudden thing. For decades I've watched liberties erode, human rights sacrificed to conjured fears, and arbitrary powers concentrate in fewer and more charismatic scoundrels. Principles bid farewell to my dirt of birth.

I missed America even while living within her artificial borders. I miss her when I read of the travesties of justice that now claim rule of law. It's easier on my soul to view from a distant perspective, inside artificial borders of a more benign political entity.

Life is good here.


She played me like strumming a harp
Music emoted from strings in my heart
For all her life she had perfected her art
Yet knowing my weakness and deciphering the score
Only tore deeper from her aria to depart