The Wait Is Finally Over

Over the 10-week course, I often found myself imagining the incredible places my fellow Fulbrighters and I might be heading to for our international field experiences. South America, Europe, Africa, the possibilities seemed endless. But the official announcement wouldn’t come until late December, and the wait felt like an eternity.

Finally, on December 20th, the email arrived. The subject line read: Host Country Placement. My heart raced as I clicked it open and scanned for the bolded text: Uruguay. In that moment, I felt a wave of excitement and anticipation as the reality of this journey began to sink in.

Almost immediately, my WhatsApp was filled with messages from fellows sharing their placements. Those of us assigned to Uruguay quickly connected and formed our own group chat, eager to share ideas and begin preparing together. That same day was the last workday before winter break, but my mind was completely captivated by Uruguay. I spent my lunch break diving into research about the country, trying to learn as much as I could. Here’s what stood out:

• Uruguay is situated between Brazil to the north and Argentina to the south.

• It has a population of about 3.5 million people.

• It’s a modern, progressive country but also one of the most expensive places to live in Latin America.

• Fascinatingly, Uruguay has more cattle than people.

  
  

Fulbright provided additional resources, which only deepened my enthusiasm. I began a list of things to focus on as I prepare:

• Learn Spanish.

• Try chivito, the national dish.

• Experience mate, the traditional drink (although I've heard it's bitter)

  
  

With my departure scheduled for June 2025, I have time to prepare. Between Duolingo lessons and researching more of Uruguay’s culture, I’m ready to make the most of this incredible opportunity. 🌎✨ 🇺🇾