Day 14 and 15 in Montevideo: Sharing Our Stories, Savoring the Flavors, and Seeing the Sights
- Kevin Michael Agtarap
- Jul 5, 2025
- 4 min read
Day 14 and 15 are combined since both days involved planning and then sharing our presentation about our host city.
Day 14 kicked off with collaborative energy as we met in our host city groups. Our mission: to craft a 45-minute presentation showcasing our week's adventures in our respective cities. We had so many brilliant ideas swirling around, but ultimately, our Rivera group decided to share about our week day by day with our cultural activities in between. Just writing the caption to go on each slide and adding pictures brought back so many fun memories of our week in Rivera. Moments that I will never forget. We managed to finish before noon and we were all set for our presentation the next day.
The afternoon offered some much-needed downtime. Many opted for a relaxing siesta in their rooms, while others, myself included, headed for the mall. It was incredibly convenient having the shopping center and a supermarket just a block away – a true lifesaver for grabbing essentials and perhaps a little retail therapy!
Later that afternoon, we were treated to a delightful merienda – what we'd call "heavy pupus" in Hawaii! The spread of desserts and tapas was absolutely delicious. My personal favorite was an avocado spread wrapped in a bao bun. Oh my goodness, it was SO good, a true culinary highlight!
As evening descended, we made our way to the Auditorio del Sodre. What an awe-inspiring theater! We ascended four flights of stairs to reach our balcony seats – talk about a workout! I definitely needed to pause to catch my breath. We were there to watch "Metropolis," a musical play performed entirely in Spanish. While my Spanish is still a work in progress, I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. The kids in the play were absolutely fantastic, their talent truly shone through!
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Day 15...presentation day!! We gathered in the Michelangelo Room of our hotel equally excited to present and listen to other Fulbrights week in their host cities. There were some important faces in the room, including members of Fulbright Uruguay and representatives from the U.S. Embassy. No pressure at all, right? =)
One by one, we took turns sharing about our host cities. It was incredibly enriching to listen to everyone's experiences and browse through their photos. There were definitely some cities I wished I had the opportunity to visit, especially hearing about students coding with Micro:bits! That's right up my alley. I didn't see much explicit computer science in Rivera, beyond some great PBL lessons and general technology use, but it's inspiring to see it happening elsewhere. Everyone did a fantastic job, and it just amazes me how much we've all grown and learned in such a short amount of time, adapting to new cultures and embracing every opportunity.
The afternoon brought more free time, and a group of us decided to brave the rainy and windy weather to visit the Legislative Palace. We hopped in an Uber for our 3:00 PM tour. As we approached, the palace looked like a palace! Such an imposing and utterly magnificent structure. Its grand facade, and towering columns, hinted at the historical significance within. The interior was even more breathtaking, polished floors, painted walls, stained glass ceiling that let just enough light shine through (even though it was a rainy and windy day). It felt like stepping back in time. Even with the dreary weather, the palace's beauty was undeniable. My favorite room was the library. It looked like Belle's library and we all couldn't help but sing:
"There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell
Every morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town"
It was neat to see the rooms where all the legislative work take place. Almost reminiscent of our own Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
After the tour ended, some of us braved the wind and gust of rain and took an Uber to Museo Torres Garcia, an art museum that housed his famous work. Torres Garcia was a prominent Uruguayan-Spanish artist, theorist, and author, renowned for his international impact on modern art. Seeing a Torres García artwork feels like finding order in chaos. The bold lines and symbols pull you in. Suns, boats, houses — simple at first, but the more you look, the deeper it feels. It’s playful and familiar but also mysterious, like it’s quietly telling a story you can’t quite finish. His work feels timeless, part city, part sea, part dream, and it leaves you curious every time. Before we left, we picked up some of his popular work on postcards.
The evening was extra special for all of us; it was our Farewell Dinner. Our time in Uruguay is coming to a close, and what better way to celebrate than a dinner with everyone, including our host teachers who traveled from their cities, some having to travel for six hours or more. It was a reunion of sorts! I reconnected with Aldo, whose office we visited on our third day in Uruguay, Dario from Escuela Rural N°88 , and of course, Rafa, Celeste, and Milton who traveled all the way from Rivera. It was so nice to see them again! We hugged, laughed, and talked stories over great food and wine. Chad Uyehara, a teacher also from Hawaii who was on this trip with me, treated us to a beautiful rendition of "Aloha 'Oe" on his violin. He's a great musician! It was hard to say goodbye a final time, but like we say in Hawaii, Aloha, a hui hou... Goodbye, until we meet again.
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