Camacho Watcho

Despite what you might believe about my absence from writing for a few days, I did not fall off the face of the Uruguayan map. There are a few reasons I have not written lately: travel, work and illness. It is the last reason that I would like to write about now.

The weather…South America…Spring…Summer…I know what visions these words conjured for me before arriving here. I definitely believed it would be hot, sunny and perfect. But I was wrong. This year is apparently an odd year for Uruguayan and Argentinian weather. Everyone tells me that the winter was longer and colder than usual and it’s creating a longer and colder spring. But just wait….summer will be here soon and it will be perfect!

I’m still waiting.

Sure, we’ve had our days of hot, sunny weather, but we’ve also had our fair share of rain, clouds and down-right cold temperatures. Take today for example…the high is supposed to be 61 degrees here. Okay, fine. Then reference my mini-New York Times that I read each day and what is the high for Chicago? 59 degrees. There is something wrong with this picture. So, you’re probably asking yourself “What does a girl from the freezing weather in Minnesota and who walks to work in the snow 4 months out of the year care about a little 60 degree day?” Good question. Let me think….oh yes, illness.

I have been ill twice since being here, which is odd because I don’t get ill very often at home. It seems that every day there are at least 2 or 3 people (out of a 100 person company) who have the flu. And it just circulates around and around the office. The first time I was ill, it was a cold that lasted about a week and this last time was a 24 hour flu. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t experience a third.

Now, you may be asking yourself “Why do you not dress for the weather?” Another excellent question, my friend. My first excuse is that I did not pack a wardrobe to handle cold weather. It’s a poor excuse, I know, as I should just go buy a few sweaters to shield me from the temperatures, but it’s too hard to concentrate on winter clothes when the cute summer clothes are just one rack away, calling my name…”Katie! Katie! Buy me!” My second excuse is that the weather is so unpredictable. One day it is hot and sunny, a skirt and t-shirt will do, and the next is cold and rainy, requiring long pants, sweater, jacket and scarf. Everyone here seems to always know exactly how to dress for the day and I, invariably, am caught on a cold day in a dress. The weather just varies so much and it is because of this variation in weather, that I keep allowing myself to believe that summer is just a day away…let’s hope!

So, in closing, here is a wish for good weather - to have some fun in the sun before returning home to the freezing cold. Oh yes…and a wish for good health!

Posted on November 14th, 2007 by katiejocannon
Filed under: General, Health, Uruguay