Originally I planned to spend six months in Uruguay and then try to find an internship somewhere else in South America. I was very set on choosing a place that was a little unconventional. Uruguay is not the most common choice for students, with many preferring places like the United States or Canada, and it can be a challenging culture shock to acclimatise to. Despite that, I was attracted to it precisely because it was different and would push me out of my comfort zone. In the end I decided to split the year, spending six months in Montevideo, and six months in Montreal.
In Uruguay I took most of my modules in English, even so, I decided to take a couple of lectures in Spanish. I had learned Spanish at school and continued it in first and second year, so I wanted to challenge myself. In Montreal I did the same and took a French module as well. My level in both languages was enough to get around and hold conversations but not necessarily enough for complex business terminology, which made it a fun challenge.
The experience of living in Uruguay and Montreal in the same year could not have been more different. Montreal felt like being in a modern European city where English is spoken everywhere and everything is convenient. Uruguay was completely different, with a very different pace of life. If you wanted to buy food for the week you would need to go to the local butcher’s early on a Sunday or go to the market, and things like safety, infrastructure, and lifestyle were nothing like Montreal.
I feel that I grew a lot during my time in Uruguay and got so much from the experience. It pushed me to learn more of the language, adapt to a different culture, and engage with local students in a very real way. I always tell students that the best choice depends on what they want. If someone wants comfort and familiarity then a place like Montreal or the United States or Europe is ideal. If someone wants to be challenged and come away with a real sense of development, then somewhere like Uruguay is the perfect choice.
