I'm still in Uruguay.

I've most definitely been shirking blogging responsibilities. To the 4 people that read this blog, I'm sorry, but thank you. My own brother refuses to read it. 

The last two weeks were somewhat uneventful as I finally encountered my first round of tests here in Urugay. I have not gotten them back yet, but I am hoping everything went well. It's difficult to tell here. When I arrived to my second test, I was feeling great about how the first one went. I slowly realized that the students on each side of me were not in the class with me for the test. Recognizing my confusion, they explained that they had failed the class and were re-taking all the tests. They did not have to retake the class, just the tests. They weren't even sure at what point were in the class. This very same class doesn't have an actual textbook. Our syllabus consists of different themes and you must search through a series of manuals that are 5-20 years old to learn about it. I'm sure I'm doing super bien. 

I also had the chance to attend the Expo Prado which is best described as a state fair, but for an entire country. I spent the day amongst live stock and witnessed my first horseshoe competition. Not the game horsehsoes, rather a competition of men in berets (it's a gaucho thing!) hammering shoes out of metal, scraping hooves, and then hammering the shoes on. This was followed by a traditional Uruguayan tray of 5 lbs of assorted meats and sausages (suggested serving size) and red wine (tannat). When I managed to stand again, I got to see Uruguay's one classic rock band, Cuartteto de Nos. They had a great energy despite the fact that one band member spent 90% of the concert on a comfy couch on stage. 

Pictures below of Uruguayan things: 

Beach off of the Rambla (ocean front path which lasts for miles), my favorite running spot. 

It's a sunset. On the Rambla. .25 miles from my house. 

Only the American shows up for running group when it's raining and windy.
4/10: Unpleasant wind, but it was above 50 degrees. 

Montevideo.

Political Art: "Si toma Si mato Tio Sam" 

A hipster restaurant for the hipster vegetarians.
It still serves meat. 9/10, I want to eat there every week.  

The entrance to a medical center on my walk to school.
 It appears they only treat people with upper body issues. 

Gramajo: Basically Urguayan Poutine
There was some sort of sauce, eggs, salty ham, onions, fries and parsley.
8/10: best when warm. Will eat again.

New law school. Better than the old law school.

Hammering a horseshoe. 

Banging horseshoes. 

Horseshoes be banging.

Candombe in a tourist area.
Brent's attempt to keep up with their dancer. 

This is the money shot right here. Brent dancing, random man dancing, woman candombe dancing in large shoes (she did this for hours), and a candombe drums with an enthusiastic leader.