Odeliza Life of a US Expat in South America

Mahalo Chicos,

As many of you or even all of you are seeing the increase in grocery store prices in your own country. Well, Montevideo, Uruguay is not any different. From the small corner mom and pop’s to the larger chain grocery stores, the prices are just obscene.

My other half and I are vegetarians so meat is not one of the prices I’d know about, but everything else yes.

On a given month we can spend about $250 American dollars of groceries. That includes most imported condiments (American Ketchup, Mustard, etc.). Just today, I was reviewing what I spent this week on food items and I could not believe that I already spent about $200. American dollars and that just for about a weeks worth of food.

I’ll have to post my grocery tickets so you can see. I know some people who are not that in to the quality of food that goes in to their mouth, but I surely am. So having to cut back on some food products is tough.

I can not even fathom  the prices in other countries. What are you doing to cut back or at least minimize the damage done to your wallet?

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza

Mahalo Chicos,

Ricci located on Juaquin Nunez 2848 in the Punta Caretas barrio telephone number 712-00 30.

Ricci opened its doors in 1927 and continues to strive today. Its specialty is Mediterranean French cuisine. They are open for lunch and dinner every day. The restaurant also offers wireless Internet to its customer.

In a French inspired home, the exterior painted a lovely dark purple with gold trimmings. Seating is available outside underneath old trees.

The inside is intimate with dim lighting and dark wooden chairs and tables. The winery is small but houses a fine selection of wines.

My other half and I ate at Ricci for lunch. I’d have to say that every dish was well executed and remained honorable to its French inspiration.

Its a bit more of a fancy place to eat, so I’d suggest to bring your love onefor one evening on a date night or special occasions.

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza

Mahalo Chicos,

Fairly recently I stopped in for my once a month feet check up appointment, I love my high heels!” Anyway, in the States a price for a basic check-up with very little “work done” can be anywhere in the price range of $45.00 and up per hour.

Here (Montevideo, Uruguay)  I pay a basic fee of 350 Uruguayan Pesos ($1.00=21.00 pesos) which is about $16.66. A steal! What does one get with for their money? Firstly,  the doctor checks your feet to ensure its healthy. Secondly, you get a thorough cleaning and removing of any unwanted feet yuckiness. All the necessary medicines, creams, and high heel aids to last another month or so.

I hate comparing apples to coconuts because the “way of living” in the States is completely different from Uruguay. But I’d have to say the level and quality of service for a foot appointment is fairly similar up to even.

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza

Mahalo Chicos,

Just the other day I thought I’d purchase some home-made spinach pasta for our lunch. The pasta place is literally right around the corner from our apartment so it was super convenient.

As I strolled down the shelves filled with already made pasta I noticed some cream sauce that I happen to love to make. Its cheese, cream, and mushrooms all the naughty ingredients minus the mushrooms. I asked the clerk in my Pacific Islander Spanish if the cream sauce contained any meat at all. She said no. So I thought I’d give it a try.

Hey, sometimes even the avid cook wants a break from the kitchen. My other half asked what was for lunch and I told him my recent purchase and he was interested to give it a try.

It took a mere 10 minutes or even less to prep and serve the dish. As my other half forked a healthy serving, he asked me if the sauce contained any meat. I said no with such certainty that he kept on eating. Of course I had to pick through the dish just to be super sure. And as I picked through it, I saw chucks of, gasp! HAM!

I immediately told my other half to put down his fork and that the sauce indeed contained meat, HAM!

He was not in shock for this sorta thing has happened to him at work. The cook at his work made the same sauce and with the same meat, HAM.

He said that Ham is not considered meat in Montevideo, Uruguay, rather its considered by some locals as a “Vegetarian Option”. My gawd!

Furthermore, chicken was also considered a “Vegetarian Option”. Gasp, double gasp…

So we poked fun at our miss fortune and I had to discard the rest of the meal and make a completely new meal.

Much healthier of course, mixed salad and a side of whole wheat grilled cheese sammies.

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza

Hola Chicos,

Officially my new year does not start yet, since I honor the Chinese New Year I thought I’d talk a bit about resolutions.

It seems that its a fad or a thing to set new year resolutions every year. Loose weight, quit smoking, so and and so forth.

Ever since I was young, I was not into setting new years resolutions. I thought, hey just cause its the start of a new year does not mean I should start setting goals on that particular day.

Goals in my mind are better than resolutions. So I have some small goals and some larger goals that I move forward on with every opportunity I get.

Some friends of mine go to the gym on Monday and that is the day they start counting their gym time. Some friends eat bad on the weekends and then say Monday is when they’ll start eating clean again.

I work out at least 6 days a week and like to believe that I eat clean with all my meals.

Even though my meal could consist of a thin crust pizza, I don’t consider it cheating. I like to graze as one would refer to it. Moderation is the key word when preparing to eat a meal. I am not one to be glutton for punishment so I don’t over stuff my face.

Setting high expectations of one self in the new year is sorta like opening a door for a sabotage.

So, I’d say, make a mental note of your small goals and larger goals. Break these goals down to even smaller goals and don’t worry about the new year. Just get it to done now.

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza