Quote from: Monster ManuelAnd thanks to everyone else as well. I definitely feel welcome. Now if I can just keep from wearing my ass for a hat, I'll be ok.

Not from Uruguay, but welcome nonetheless!  Happy posting!

Quote from: Monster ManuelThank you for the in-depth responses, RPGPundit! I guess I didn't consider how demanding my questions were. Thanks for your patience. I think your information has helped a lot- my wife hasn't been 100% on board with my Uruguay kick until I told here some of the things in your posts, along with what I discovered about the diverse marine life in your part of the world (She's all about the kid). We're about to sit down and have a long talk about how to budget the scouting trip. Thanks again.

As for getting RPGs, I guess if I get that far, I could try a US-based remailing service like Miami Box and just order from Amazon.com. I tend to plan what I buy carefully, so that wouldn't get too expensive.

No prob, and if you make it down this way obviously let me know!

As for remailing, there is a very popular service called "Netbox" that deals specifically with Uruguay.  Many gamers here use it to buy books from Amazon.

RPGPundit

Well I'm sat here in my dining room, on the Isle of Wight. Its pouring with rain and its cold.  It costs me approx £20 to get to the mainland (and thats only to Southampton or Portsmouth) which probably about $200 in foreign money.

Now I'm homesick for Uruguay and I've never even been!  

Enjoy your tropical temperatures, your cheap cost of living and your many gamers.  Bastards!  

Come the revolution.... (mimes cocking and aiming a rifle)

You know, you wouldn't be the first expat to move here...

Thanks, JongWK and everyone else.

A few more questions came up last night. Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if it seems like I'm asking too much.

5. Food. I realize that I won't be able to buy everything I'm used to premade, but would I be able to find the supplies to cook most of the things  I'm used to? I'm talking about things like cheesecake, chocolate cake, New York or Chicago styled pizza,  deli meats, lasagne, English tea (a big one for me) etc?

6. Computers. I'm interested in all types of computers. Can you get decent hardware down there or do you have to ship it in? Can you walk into a store and buy a Mac or do you have to have that shipped in as well? It's the only type of home computer/OS I don't have yet, and I want one.

I guess that's all for now. Hopefully I won't keep asking questions.

Sorry one more that I forgot:

7. Do you have any links for sites that will ship cargo internationally for me if I move? Stuff like my computers, tons of books, and my son's toys. I don't think DHL, etc is what I want- I think most of this stuff should be shipped in wooden crates.

Argh- I'm in consecutive post hell...

RPGPundit: If and when I come down I'll definitely let you know. I think it would be cool to buy you a drink.

Quote from: Monster Manuel5. Food. I realize that I won't be able to buy everything I'm used to premade, but would I be able to find the supplies to cook most of the things  I'm used to? I'm talking about things like cheesecake, chocolate cake, New York or Chicago styled pizza,  deli meats, lasagne, English tea (a big one for me) etc?

You can find all of the above here. Some particular spices might be more difficult to obtain, but that's about it.

Quote6. Computers. I'm interested in all types of computers. Can you get decent hardware down there or do you have to ship it in? Can you walk into a store and buy a Mac or do you have to have that shipped in as well? It's the only type of home computer/OS I don't have yet, and I want one.

You won't have any problems unless you are a hardcore gamer.

Quote from: Monster ManuelThanks, JongWK and everyone else.

A few more questions came up last night. Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if it seems like I'm asking too much.

5. Food. I realize that I won't be able to buy everything I'm used to premade, but would I be able to find the supplies to cook most of the things  I'm used to? I'm talking about things like cheesecake, chocolate cake, New York or Chicago styled pizza,  deli meats, lasagne, English tea (a big one for me) etc?

Cheesecakes of different kinds are available here, chocolate cakes are common; there are lots of different types of pizza, but the typical pizza is italian style (not American, but incredibly good), there's a wide variety of deli meats, lasagna and all types of italian food are abundant (the country had a huge influx of italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th century), and you can get Twinnings of all major varieties here (english breakfast, Earl grey, etc).

Quote6. Computers. I'm interested in all types of computers. Can you get decent hardware down there or do you have to ship it in? Can you walk into a store and buy a Mac or do you have to have that shipped in as well? It's the only type of home computer/OS I don't have yet, and I want one.

I guess that's all for now. Hopefully I won't keep asking questions.

You can get pretty much any hardware you could get in North America here, but it will be more expensive. State of the art computers will cost almost twice as much as they'd cost in the 1st world.
Macs are practically unheard of here, I'm not sure if there's a Mac dealership in Uruguay, but I know there's one in Argentina, so you could get it shipped in from there in the worst case scenario.
Most computers here run windows or linux, both being highly popular.

RPGPundit

Quote from: Monster ManuelSorry one more that I forgot:

7. Do you have any links for sites that will ship cargo internationally for me if I move? Stuff like my computers, tons of books, and my son's toys. I don't think DHL, etc is what I want- I think most of this stuff should be shipped in wooden crates.

Hmm, since I had contacts of mine that handled all my shipping on both ends, I don't actually have an answer to this one for you. However, I do know that it is relatively easy to get ahold of that.
Supposing you come here before moving everything; be it to visit or you move here before sending over your stuff to get settled in first, I could get you in touch with people that would probably know what company(ies) to use; and could get you in touch with the right Customs broker who wouldn't rip you off.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPunditMacs are practically unheard of here, I'm not sure if there's a Mac dealership in Uruguay, but I know there's one in Argentina, so you could get it shipped in from there in the worst case scenario.

I don't think there's an Apple Store, but you can certainly buy Macs from several stores.

Thanks again, this is all very good information; I can't find a single thing that I wouldn't be able to deal with about Uruguay. It's definitely at the top of my list of places to look at to settle down. My wife and I are trying not to get *too* excited, but we can't help it. We're up for a job running a foster home, and if we get that we'd have to delay moving forward, but if not, getting to Uruguay, at least to visit, will be our priority.  

We're hoping to leave the country because both parties in the US are slowly eating away at the rights of the citizens, whether it be the right to travel, the right to do what you want with your own body, or the right to not have the proverbial Big Brother looking over your shoulder.

Anyway, I'm kind of wierd politically. My views range from Socialist to Libertarian. I might do well in a Scandinavian country like Denmark, but the cost of living is so high, and I'm not sure how much I like the high taxes. I'm also not a fan of regulating businesses and products to protect people from themselves.

What I've read about Uruguay is very compelling (This part's mainly for non-Uruguayans; you guys correct me if I'm wrong). One thing that comes up frequently in my readings is the idea that there is no "Nanny State" down there. They sell products that can be dangerous and trust people to have common sense. For example, one blog mentioned a product that is used to boil water for Mate (a Uruguayan tea). This product is a bare heating coil that you plug into the wall and drop into your mug... Supposedly you can easily get a shock if you touch your mug while it's heating. For some reason I like that. Oh, and prostitution's legal, and it's not illegal to have less than 5 grams of marijuana on you (though more can get you busted). I don't smoke pot, but these kinds of thing satisfy my Libertarian leanings.

On the socialist side, You have free schooling though the university level and free medical care for the poorest citizens.

Oh, and on top of that, people with my family's income can live like kings! What gets me a lower middle class lifestyle (Though admittedly, I have top notch cable and internet) in New England, would get me a house, a maid, and apparently all the comforts I'm used to and more. Certain imported goods are pricier, but the tradeoff seems to be that actual needs and services are so inexpensive, leaving you with more money for the extras.  

The barrier of entry is ridiculously low too. You just need a $500 (US money) a month income, to have a clean criminal record, and to get checked out medically. From there, it takes 5 years to gain citizenship. You don't have to pay taxes for income from another country, though if you're from the US, the government will want its cut of anything over $80,000 a year.

It's sounding pretty damn good. I don't know how I'd feel about having a maid though. It might be too exploitative for me.

QuoteAnyway, I'm kind of wierd politically. My views range from Socialist to Libertarian.

I think you'll fit here, on both counts.

This is all very interesting, as I and my Fiancee want to Visit Uruguay soon (two years or so).

I'm about to ask a really stupid question, so don't flame me.  I speak okay Spanish, but I read it much more fluently than speaking it, my Wife-to-be has very little Spanish, although she took 4 years of it in High School, so it would come back.  

For an expat (which I doubt she would go for, though I WOULD) how long would the language barrier be a major hindrance?  Is there enough of a tourist industry that only speaking English would be a liability?  Are there any minority languages that need to be taken into account?  How different in Uruguayan spanish from Mexican Spanish?

Quote from: joewolzThis is all very interesting, as I and my Fiancee want to Visit Uruguay soon (two years or so).

Good! :win:

QuoteI'm about to ask a really stupid question, so don't flame me.  I speak okay Spanish, but I read it much more fluently than speaking it, my Wife-to-be has very little Spanish, although she took 4 years of it in High School, so it would come back.  

For an expat (which I doubt she would go for, though I WOULD) how long would the language barrier be a major hindrance?  Is there enough of a tourist industry that only speaking English would be a liability?  Are there any minority languages that need to be taken into account?  How different in Uruguayan spanish from Mexican Spanish?

Uruguayan Spanish is similar to Mexican Spanish, except for slang and accent. Unless you're heavy into that (particularly the former), you won't have a problem.

Lots of people speak English (it's part of basic education), though many lack enough practice with true English speakers.

Tourism is a pillar of Uruguay's economy. Two million tourists visit the country every year, mostly during summer (for the record, Uruguay has less than 3.5 million inhabitants). There's even a "Tourist Police" trained to help visitors, and yes, they speak English.

If you fancy the rich and famous, Punta del Este is the place to be. If you don't, there are many other places to visit. :keke: