Sunday, December 29, 2013

End of 2013 in Uruguay

Well as I look back on the past two years living here in Paysandu, I am beginning to realize that I have probably taken photographs of almost everything here.  It is not that things are no longer interesting to look at but I figure a minimum of one photograph of some things is sufficient.  Of course, the Christmas Eve fireworks display will always get filmed.

I still have a hard time remembering street names but I know where all the places are that I have visited or plan to visit in the future.  Some of them aren't what I would say are in walking distance on a blistering, summer day; although I have been know to walk the 6 blocks (one way) to visit the studio of my tattoo artist. He is a nice guy and I enjoy our conversations, not to mention that he does a really good tattoo.
I still love living here in Paysandu, Uruguay.  I still have moments of amazement when I realize that I am living here.  I think it is strange that I ended up living in South America for the rest of my life.  I used to think my younger brother was crazy for hitch hiking across the United States more than a couple of times.  This is such a wonderful place to live, even during the days of summer that are over 100 degrees.
I love watching the birds first thing in the morning.  One of the things that still amazes me is the size of the dove here.  Not sure what variety it is but they are the size of pigeons.  That would make all you dove hunters crazy.  I don't think people hunt dove here, not a great availability of firearms here.  I am sure the bad guys have guns, but your everyday "Juan Doe" doesn't have one.  Since we move downtown I don't hear parrots any more.  Thinking back to the first time I saw a flock of parrots fly off from the side of the road, I am still in awe of something like that.

I still walk around here without any fear of muggings.  They happen here but they are really rare.  Most of the really bad crimes happen across the river, in Argentina.  Montevideo could probably be considered an active crime scene, by some standards
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In closing, Uruguay is great place to live.  We don't have any of the big package stores and I think that is one of the finer things about this country.  I love listening to people talking.  The spanish here is really pleasant to listen to.  I have to really think about how other people speak spanish.
I am hoping that I can still be amazed by things here.  I don't want to fall into the rut about knowing and seeing everything about the country I live in.  I know I didn't see all there was to see when I was living in the United States, but when the money was available for a vacation, visiting the Carribean was higher up on the want to see list.  I know I will never see the changing of the leaves in Autumn along the east coast, but I lived in Colorado, Illinois and Michigan so I pretty much have seen the change.  I have seen, walked in and played in snow; something else I will never see down here, but I won't miss it either.  I cannot even imagine what would happen if it snowed here, the people living here would definitely be freaked out.  I does get colder than a well diggers "shoes" in the winter here.

I think the one thing that I really miss more than anything I could readily get in the United States will be licorice.  When I talk to other people they don't even know what I am talking about.  I will also miss Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum.  I brought a bottle back with me in July.  My tattoo artist and friends helped me finish off that bottle.  He has the bottle displayed in his studio.
Okay, I think this might summerize the year here.  Oh did I mention that I got married in November.  It was not that it was not important; it just didn't fit the subject line.  Here's hoping everyone had a good 2013 and hoping everyone will have a better and interesting 2014.

If you ever have the "hankering" to come down to visit....like Bob Barker's guy used to say: COME ON DOWN.

Bueno cuando miro hacia atrás en los últimos dos años viviendo aquí en Paysandú, estoy empezando a darse cuenta de que probablemente me he tomado fotografías de casi todo ella. No es que las cosas ya no son interesantes para mirar, pero me imagino un mínimo de una fotografía de algunas cosas es suficiente. Por supuesto , el castillo de fuegos de Nochebuena siempre llegan filmado.

Todavía tengo problemas para recordar nombres de las calles , pero yo sé que todos los lugares son que he visitado o va a visitar en el futuro. Algunos de ellos no son lo que yo diría a una corta distancia en una formación de ampollas, día de verano , aunque he estado saber que caminar los 6 bloques (solo ida) a visitar el estudio de mi artista del tatuaje. Él es un buen tipo y me gusta nuestras conversaciones , por no hablar de lo que hace un buen tatuaje.

Todavía me encanta vivir aquí en Paysandú, Uruguay . Todavía tengo momentos de asombro cuando me doy cuenta de que estoy viviendo aquí . Creo que es extraño que yo terminé viviendo en América del Sur para el resto de mi vida. Yo solía pensar que mi hermano menor estaba loco por autostop a través de Estados Unidos más de un par de veces. Este es un lugar maravilloso para vivir , incluso durante los días de verano que son más de 100 grados.

Me encanta ver la primera cosa pájaros por la mañana. Una de las cosas que todavía me asombra es el tamaño de la paloma aquí . No está seguro de qué variedad se trata sino que son del tamaño de palomas. Eso haría que todo lo que se zambulló cazadores locos. No creo que la gente caza paloma aquí , no una gran disponibilidad de armas de fuego aquí . Estoy seguro de que los chicos malos tienen armas , pero el día a día " Juan Pérez" no tiene uno . Como nos movemos centro no oigo loros más. Pensando en la primera vez que vi una bandada de loros volar de un lado de la carretera , todavía estoy en el temor de algo así.
Yo todavía ando por aquí sin ningún temor a los asaltos . Ocurren aquí pero son realmente raros. La mayoría de los realmente malos crímenes ocurren a través del río , en la Argentina. Montevideo probablemente podría considerarse una escena del crimen activa, por algunas normas.

En el cierre, Uruguay es un gran lugar para vivir. No tenemos ninguna de las grandes tiendas de bebidas y creo que esa es una de las cosas buenas acerca de este país. Me encanta escuchar a la gente hablando . El español aquí es realmente agradable de escuchar . Tengo que pensar realmente acerca de cómo otras personas hablan español.

Tengo la esperanza de que todavía puedo ser sorprendido por las cosas aquí . No quiero caer en la rutina acerca de conocer y ver todo lo relacionado con el país en que vivo pulg Sé que no vi todo lo que había que ver cuando yo estaba viviendo en los Estados Unidos , pero cuando el dinero estaba disponible para vacaciones, visitando el Caribe fue más alto en la miseria para ver la lista . Sé que nunca voy a ver el cambio de las hojas en otoño a lo largo de la costa este , pero yo vivía en Colorado, Illinois y Michigan , así que más o menos he visto el cambio . He visto , entró y jugó en la nieve; algo más que nunca va a ver por aquí , pero no voy a perder tampoco. No puedo ni imaginar lo que sucedería si nevó aquí , la gente que vive aquí sin duda serían asustó . Me pone más frío que un excavadoras así "zapatos " en el invierno aquí .
Creo que la única cosa que realmente echo de menos más de lo que yo podía conseguir fácilmente en los Estados Unidos será el regaliz . Cuando hablo con otras personas ni siquiera saben lo que estoy hablando . También voy a extrañar Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum. He traído una botella conmigo en julio. Mi artista del tatuaje y amigos me ayudaron a culminar la botella. Él tiene la botella que aparece en su estudio.
Bien, creo que esto podría summerize el año aquí . Ah, ¿mencioné que me casé en noviembre. No era que no era importante , sino que simplemente no encajaba en la línea de asunto . Aquí está la esperanza de que todos hayan tenido un buen 2013 y la esperanza de todo el mundo tendrá una mejor e interesante de 2014.

Si alguna vez tiene la " anhelo " para venir a visitar .... como chico de Bob Barker solía decir : vamos hacia abajo .

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Surprises

Well, I have witnessed a great many surprises since I have moved to Uruguay. I cannot count how many.
Just when I didn't think I would see something that would really surprise me, bam.  I walked into the office supply store this afternoon to buy an envelope.  When I walked in the door there was an animated Santa Claus (Papa Noel) and he was singing, "The Yellow Rose of Texas".  It made me laugh inside because I didn't want to laugh publicly because I don't want to appear any stranger to the people here than I already do.  I asked the girl behind the counter about it but she didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about.
I wanted to make sure I wrote this down before I forgot about it.  I seriously doubt I will ever forget about this.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Home stretch

Well, I on the home stretch for my residency here in Uruguay.  I did the fingerprinting part today and that means I am almost done.  I also applied for my temporary cedula (ID card). Tomorrow I go and get my cedula.  After my application is accepted as ready from the office in Montevideo and the paperwork is mailed there, then all I have to do is wait.  My waiting time will probably be another couple of years.  As of now I cannot leave the country without permission from immigration.  It has taken me a little over 2 years to finish a 90 day process.  What I mean is, it usually only takes most people 90 days to get to where I am today.  I am excited.  It doesn't mean that I will be a citizen of Uruguay; it just means I have permission to live here without having to have my passport stamped every 90 days.  So it is time for me to calm down and get on with the other part of living.  In order to acquire citizenship here in Uruguay I will need to wait 5 years after my residency is approved.  I am going to maintain my American citizenship even after I become an Uruguayo.  Just thought I would keep you, who are interested in my status, informed about what is happening.

I will be receiving my Uruguayo identification card (cedula) in 12 days.  I have never been fingerprinted so many times in my life.
I am going to have 2 last names: Jonathan Lee Monnich Boyd.  So that means I am probably the first Monnich and the first Boyd to live in Uruguay.

Martes, 26 de noviembre 2013

Inicio estiramiento

Bueno, en la recta final de mi residencia aquí en Uruguay . Yo hice la parte de huellas digitales de hoy y eso significa que casi he terminado . También solicité mi cédula temporal ( tarjeta de identificación ) . Mañana me voy y pongo mi cédula . Después de mi solicitud es aceptada como listas de la oficina en Montevideo y la documentación se envía allí, entonces todo lo que tengo que hacer es esperar . Mi tiempo de espera será probablemente un par de años . A partir de ahora no puedo salir del país sin permiso de inmigración. Me ha costado un poco más de 2 años para terminar un proceso de 90 días. Lo que quiero decir es , por lo general sólo se necesita la mayoría de personas de 90 días para llegar a donde estoy hoy. Estoy muy emocionado . Esto no quiere decir que voy a ser un ciudadano de Uruguay , sino que sólo significa que tengo permiso para vivir aquí sin tener que tener mi pasaporte sellado cada 90 días. Así que es hora de que me calme y seguir con la otra parte de la vida . Con el fin de adquirir la ciudadanía aquí en Uruguay que tendrá que esperar 5 años después de que se apruebe mi residencia . Voy a mantener mi ciudadanía estadounidense , incluso después de que me convierto en un Uruguayo . Sólo pensé que te mantenga , que están interesados ​​en mi estado , informó acerca de lo que está sucediendo.

Que recibiré mi tarjeta de identificación Uruguayo (cédula) en 12 días. Nunca he tomado las huellas tantas veces en mi vida.

Voy a tener 2 apellidos: Jonathan Lee Monnich Boyd. Así que eso significa que soy probablemente el primer Monnich y la primera Boyd vivir en Uruguay.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Frustrated

I have titled this frustrated, because that is what I am right now.  I have all my papers ready for filing for residency and when we got there, they checked all my papers and then told me that I need to wait until November 22 when the person that knows how the process is done will be back in the office.  Makes me want to run screaming, naked through the woods.  I have been working on this for almost the entire 2 years I have been living here.  I stopped crossing the border because I found out I can pay for an extension of time instead of going to Argentina every 89 days.  Not much I can do about it except wait until November 22.  Fall back on the Serenity Prayer.

On a different note.  I found an insect in the kitchen last night that boggles my imagination. It was an ant.  I wish I would have taken a picture of it but it was as long as an inch.  I didn't kill it, I let it lose outside.  I only kill certain bugs, the occasional giant ant isn't going to be one of them.  I did some research and it turns out this particular ant is indigenous to Brazil.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTkkMbOomYw.

Anyway, not much of a blog this time around but it's better than nothing.  Once I get this immigration thing in my past I will better be able to assist other people with the information they will definitely need for their paperwork.

Happy trails until we meet again.

Doc

Saturday, October 19, 2013

apologies

My deepest apologies to all you people that living in Texas and other places where this particular bird is prevelant.

I have been meaning to write this short blog for some time but I always seem to forget.  I heard a sound from downstairs that reminded me of this so I am writing it.

We do not have Grackle birds in Uruguay.  We have a lot of other birds.  The only one that makes anywhere near any kind of obnoxious sound are green parrots and that is only if you live on the outskirts of the city.

I really don't want to rub that in but I remember how horribly obnoxious those birds are.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

visits

This blog is inspired by something posted on Facebook by Paulo Peres.  

I know that America is a great place to live but if you don't visit a different country, at least once in your life, you are cheating yourself out of a wonderful experience.  The old world atmospheres that you feel when walking the streets and seeing the sights cannot really be explained in words.  You get to feel something strange and exciting.  You don't have to be able to speak the different languages, just inhale the wonder of the experience.  The tranquility of the experience is awesome.  The people in most countries are friendly.  You do have to be selective about which countries you visit.  A lot of the countries in South America have certain degrees of a fearful experience but a lot them are wonderful places to visit.  
I have visited a lot of the islands in the Caribbean, Israel, and many of the places in the Mediteranean.  I live in Paysandu, Uruguay so I can experience the wonders of foreign country on a daily basis.  We may not have all the wonders that can be experienced in the United States but the ones we do have are spectacular.  I have been here for almost 2 years and I still see things in this city that inspire an indescribable sense of awe.  Like in the US there are different examples of architecture from all over the world.  It was settled by Europeans and they brought with them all the cultural wonders of their homelands.  
Treat yourself to a visit to any of the many wonderful places to be seen in the world.  

Este blog está inspirado en algo publicado en Facebook por Peres Paulo .

Sé que Estados Unidos es un gran lugar para vivir, pero si no se visita un país diferente, al menos una vez en su vida, se está engañando a sí mismo de una experiencia maravillosa. Las viejas atmósferas mundo que se siente al caminar por las calles y ver los lugares de interés en realidad no puede explicarse con palabras. Tienes la oportunidad de sentir algo extraño y emocionante. Usted no tiene que ser capaz de hablar las diferentes lenguas , sólo inhalar la maravilla de la experiencia. La tranquilidad de la experiencia es increíble . La gente en la mayoría de los países son amistosas . Usted tiene que ser selectivo sobre lo que los países que visita. Muchos de los países de América del Sur tienen ciertos grados de una experiencia terrible , pero mucho ellos son lugares maravillosos para visitar .
He visitado muchas de las islas del Caribe , Israel, y muchos de los lugares en el Mediterráneo. Yo vivo en Paysandú, Uruguay , así que puede disfrutar de las maravillas de los países extranjeros sobre una base diaria . Puede que no tengamos todas las maravillas que se pueden experimentar en los Estados Unidos, pero los que sí tenemos son espectaculares . He estado aquí por casi 2 años y todavía ver las cosas en esta ciudad que inspiran un sentimiento indescriptible de asombro. Al igual que en los EE.UU. hay diversos ejemplos de arquitectura de todo el mundo. Fue colonizada por los europeos y trajeron con ellos todas las maravillas culturales de sus países de origen .

Disfrute de una visita a cualquiera de los muchos lugares maravillosos para ser visto en el mundo .

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Cars

There is actually a good reason why I titled this blog cars.  I watched the animated movie, "Cars" this morning.  Larry the Cable Guy played the voice for the wrecker in the movie.  He had a lot of funny one liners but one really stands out.  "I'm happier than a tornado in a trailer park".  I thought that was funny on a few levels.  I used to live in a mobile home subdivision that got hit by a tornado and I remember that mobile home backs are referred to as tornado magnets.  The big reason this was an outstanding one liner is because where I live most of the people don't have a clue what he might have been referring to.  In order for me to tell that joke down here I would have to explain what a "trailer" is, then what a "trailer park" is, along with a few other explanations in order for people here to understand why that statement would be funny.  There have been a few things that I have managed to translate that are still funny but a lot of things lose something in the translation.
Just a short thought for the day.  I am not saying anything to demean the people of this country, I would never do that.  I love the people here.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Money

Well, I decided to write about money among other things that have happened over the past few weeks.  
Life in Uruguay is still good,but I would sure like to get a certain bank executive's neck in my clutches.  I had to set up another account with the BBVA here to qualify for residency.  A certain bank executive gave me a routing number to open the account.  I did ask him why the routing number had changed from the previous one and he told me that there was a new contract.  I took the information he had given me and sent it to the organizations that provide my annuities.  I was informed by both that the routing number I was given was not active.  I contacted the bank exec and informed him of the problem and asked him to contact the main bank in Montevideo to make sure that the original routing number was not available.  Through a series of emails he told me that the only routing number they had to provide was the one that he gave me.  After a few phone calls with little progress I resorted to calling my only other contact group.  I called the U S Embassy here in Uruguay.  They told me that another returnee had a similar difficulty.  She called the main BBVA in Montevideo and was informed that they were going to contact the BBVA exec here in Uruguay to set up my account with the original routing number.  Deadlines for direct deposits had passed so I had to have SSA send a direct deposit to my bank in the US.  The other was not able to do a direct deposit so they mailed me a check.  Unfortunately, no one here in Paysandu wanted to cash the check and it would have taken 30 days to clear BBVA here.  I found out a way to mail the check to a bank by mail center affiliated with Bank of America.  I put it in an envelope and mailed it to the address that I was given only to find out a few days later that I was given an incorrect address.  At this point my only hope was that that particular bank by mail center would deposit my check.  It took several days for the envelope to find its way out of the country, at which point I lost track of the envelope.  It finally showed up a being tracked to the USPS in Miami.  Unfortunately, I found out after a few phone calls that it was being held by U S Customs.  Guess what, there is no way to contact U S Customs to find out why they were holding my mail.  In the meantime, I had worked out an agreement with TMRS to FedEx a replacement check to a bank by mail center for Bank of America at the correct address depending on the status of the missing check.  I was told that if I didn't notify TMRS by 8:30 AM on Tuesday, October 1 they were going to cancel the missing check and FedEx the replacement check.  I checked my bank balance this morning and the missing check had been deposited even though the Miami USPS was still saying that the check was still there instead of being forwarded to Tampa.  I was relieved only to find out that the missing check had been canceled on September 30 at 4:00 PM.  TMRS decided because they cancelled the missing check to go ahead and FedEx the replacement check, pending cancellation of the missing check.  If the missing check did not get cancelled then the replacement check would stand for the money I should receive for my November annuity because they also direct deposited my annuity for October, which hasn't shown up at my bank account here.  So now I am watching to see what happens with the missing check that was deposited.  During all this I withdrew 300 dollars so I could buy some food, only to find out that the missing check that was deposited will probably be cancelled causing me to be overdrawn at the bank until the replacement check can be deposited in the bank tomorrow, October 2.  I can only hope that the replacement check deposit beats the notification that the other check was cancelled.  To prevent this story from becoming too boring I have left out how many times I have called different organizations in the US.
So I am sitting on pins and needles to see what happens to my money tomorrow.
In the meantime, I have to travel to Montevideo, no later than Monday, October 7 to get a translated copy of my divorce decree so I can present it on October 8 so that our wedding can be approved to be performed on November 1.  In the meantime, I have to travel to Argentina no later than October 24 so that I can get a 90 day extension on my passport.
And I was beginning to actually think that living in Paysandu wasn't the adventure I thought it was going to be, go figure.

dinero
Bueno, he decidido escribir sobre el dinero , entre otras cosas que han sucedido durante las últimas semanas .
La vida en Uruguay sigue siendo bueno, pero me gustaría estar seguro de cuello de cierto ejecutivo bancario en mis garras. Tuve que crear otra cuenta con el BBVA para calificar para la residencia . Cierto ejecutivo del banco me dio un número de ruta para abrir la cuenta . Yo le pregunto por qué el número de ruta había cambiado desde el anterior y me dijo que había un nuevo contrato. Tomé la información que me había dado y se lo envié a las organizaciones que ofrecen mis anualidades. Fui informado por tanto que el número de ruta que me dieron no estaba activo . Me puso el ejecutivo del banco y le informé del problema y le pedí que ponerse en contacto con el banco principal de Montevideo para asegurarse de que el número de ruta original no estaba disponible. A través de una serie de correos electrónicos que me dijo que el único número de ruta que tenían que ofrecer era la que él me dio . Después de un par de llamadas con poco progreso recurrí a llamar a mi único grupo de contacto . Llamé a la embajada de U S aquí en Uruguay . Me dijeron que otro repatriado una dificultad similar. Llamó al BBVA principal en Montevideo y fue informado de que iban a ponerse en contacto con el ejecutivo de BBVA aquí en Uruguay para establecer mi cuenta con el número de ruta inicial. Fechas límite para depósitos directos habían pasado por lo que tenía que tener SSA enviar un depósito directo a mi banco en los EE.UU. . El otro no era capaz de hacer un depósito directo para que me enviaron un cheque. Por desgracia , nadie aquí en Paysandu quería cobrar el cheque y habría tomado 30 días para despejar BBVA aquí . Me enteré de una forma de enviar el cheque a un banco por el centro de correo de afiliados a Bank of America. Lo puse en un sobre y envié por correo a la dirección que me dieron sólo para descubrir a los pocos días que me dieron una dirección incorrecta . En este momento mi única esperanza era que ese banco en particular por centro de correo de depositaría mi cheque. Pasaron varios días para el sobre de encontrar su salida del país , y en ese momento perdí la noción del sobre. Finalmente apareció un ser rastreado a la USPS en Miami. Por desgracia , me enteré después de un par de llamadas que se celebraba por la aduana EE.UU. . ¿Sabes una cosa , no hay manera de ponerse en contacto con EE.UU. Aduanas para averiguar por qué estaban celebrando mi correo. Mientras tanto , yo había elaborado un acuerdo con TMRS a FedEx un reemplazo cheque a un banco por el centro de correo de Bank of America en la dirección correcta en función de la situación de la falta de verificación . Me dijeron que si no me notifico TMRS antes de las 8:30 am el martes 1 de octubre se iba a cancelar la falta de verificación y FedEx el cheque de reemplazo . Revisé mi cuenta bancaria esta mañana y la falta de verificación había sido depositada , aunque el Miami USPS seguía diciendo que el cheque todavía estaba allí en lugar de ser enviado a Tampa. Me sentí aliviado sólo para descubrir que la falta de verificación había sido cancelado el 30 de septiembre a las 4:00 PM. TMRS decidieron porque cancelaron el cheque que falta para seguir adelante y FedEx el cheque de reemplazo , en espera de la cancelación del cheque perdido. Si la falta de verificación no se cancelan después el cheque de reemplazo se situaría por el dinero que debería recibir para mi anualidad noviembre porque también directa depositados mi anualidad para octubre , que no ha aparecido en mi cuenta bancaria aquí . Así que ahora estoy viendo a ver qué pasa con la falta de verificación que fue depositado . Durante todo esto me retiré 300 dólares para poder comprar algo de comida , sólo para descubrir que la falta de verificación que se depositó probablemente se cancelará haciendo que me sobregirado en el banco hasta que el cheque de reemplazo puede ser depositado en el banco mañana , octubre 2 . Sólo puedo esperar que el depósito de cheque de reemplazo es mejor que la notificación de que el otro control fue cancelado . Para evitar que esta historia se vuelva demasiado aburrida que he dejado de lado la cantidad de veces que he llamado las diferentes organizaciones en los EE.UU. .
Así que estoy sentado en ascuas a ver qué pasa con mi dinero mañana .
Mientras tanto , tengo que viajar a Montevideo , a más tardar el lunes 7 de octubre para obtener una copia traducida de mi sentencia de divorcio para que pueda presentarlo el 8 de octubre para que nuestra boda pueda ser aprobada para llevar a cabo el 1 de noviembre . Mientras tanto , tengo que viajar a Argentina antes del 24 de octubre, así que puedo conseguir una prórroga de 90 días en mi pasaporte.

Y yo estaba empezando a pensar que en realidad viven en Paysandu no era la aventura que pensé que iba a ser , vaya usted a saber .

Sunday, September 22, 2013

The weather

Well, I have always kind of joked of this place being the Texas of South America but it is really beginning to feel that way, at least at this time of year.  Yesterday was the first day of Spring or Primavera here.  We were expecting warmer weather and yesterday was a very nice day.  Today it is drizzling and the weather is in the 50s, not the 70s like predicted.  I stepped outside to test the weather and came back inside and decided I needed to be wearing a jacket today instead of a short sleeve shirt.  I remember a saying in Texas, "if you don't like the weather, stick around awhile, it will change".  Looks like that saying works down here, also; only in reverse.  
Short blog but I thought I would share.  I really need to start carrying around a notebook to write down my thoughts as they happen so I can have more things to write about when I do one of these blogs.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Now you know why

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv0CgiMIBV4

The video explains almost all of why I am here.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Basilica in Paysandu



These are photos I took of the Basilica here in Paysandu.  This Basilica is about 150 years old.  If you have a chance I also took photos of the Basilica in St. Louis, Missouri.  Comparing the both you can see a great deal of similarities in design.  There aren't any mosaics like in the one in St. Louis.  The pictures on the ceilings are all hand painted.  It is a great looking church.  It is quite a bit different than the ones you can see in Europe.  There isn't any inlaid gold, like I expected to see.  They use gold here for other purposes other than to decorate their churches.
Anyway, I wanted to share.













































Thursday, September 12, 2013

Paysandu

Other than some new cuts and bruises, it has been a fairly uneventful week here in Paysandu, Uruguay.  With some exceptions like me breaking a plate glass window and cutting my thumb with a vegetable slicer that I bought at K-Mart when I was in St. Louis, MO. 
We bought a new dining room set when we first moved into our new apartment.  It is not the sturdiest, well made set; although I have to say the table seems to be fairly sturdy, the chairs are mierda.  Two have already been broken.  Mine was the first on then Sebastian's was next.  It must be how males of the species sit down.  Anyway, he and I sit at lawn chairs at the table using the seat pads to let us sit a little higher.  The "funny" thing of it was I had just gone to a hardware store and bought brass "L" brackets to help make the chairs better. I guess they weren't made to be modified.
So there I am sitting in my lawn chair when I lean down to my right to pick something from the floor and the lawn chair slips on the floor and I go crashing down.  I hit my left shoulder on the corner of the table and tap the plate glass window with my right hand.  Down I go and I hear the loud tinkling of broken glass.  Thankfully I didn't get any cuts from that and it mostly cracked the glass to the top of the frame.  It is going to cost about $200 to replace that.  
Tuesday, Fabiana was slicing potatoes with the food slicer and not using the other part so I was going to be the teacher and show her how to use it correctly.  I didn't realize that the slicer part of it was like a razor blade and sliced the tip of my thumb.  I bled like it didn't want to stop.  Here's a little hint from Heloise secret.  If you have a bad cut, put sugar on it and it will help stop the blood flow.  Anyway after a few bandaids and some paper tape it was wrapped up.  The next day when I was drying off from a shower, I lifted my left foot and hit my thumb, blood again.  Three days later it is doing okay, due to an incredible healing process that God has given my body.  It is a little sore but I can type with it and no pain.
The weather here has been stifling for the past few days, thankfully with a lot of wind.  I am sitting in the dining room right now with the door open and sweating like a pig; of course we all know that pigs don't sweat.  Houses and apartments were not built with weather conditions in mind.  Cold in the winter and hot in the summer.  We are going to buy a couple of fans and get some peaceful sleep at night, at least.  Think I'm going to take a couple of showers today just to get cleaned up and cooled off.  
We are expecting a break in the heat.  It is supposed to be in the mid to high 60s here for the next couple of weeks but the trade off is that it is supposed to start raining tomorrow; which is not a bad thing it cleans the streets and cleans up the atmosphere.  The other side of that coin is we will be under an orange alert that might turn to red because the entire country will be under a tornado warning.  I heard a "air raid" type alarm sound off this morning but no one seemed to pay any attention to it.  I don't know if it was a regular test or if something was actually happening.  There were a lot of cars sounding horns and things.  I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like here if a tornado hit.  Building here are made of brick with what I consider, by US standards, to not be very well made.  There is hardly and metal supports for the brick, of course on a block every house or building is up against one another.
Anyway, this is the latest and greatest news from my life in the south.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Serenity Prayer

Through observations here in Paysandu, I believe that people here live the Serenity Prayer only they are not really aware of the prayer, their lives seem to follow it's path more closely than anywhere else I have ever lived.
Pardon me if you may be offended by it's content but I want to take the liberty to share that prayer with you so you can more closely understand what life is like here in Paysandu.  I cannot speak to the entire country because I believe living in Montevideo may be a little different.

The Serenity Prayer
PathGod grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr


This personifies life in Paysandu. 

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Retirement

Retirement

Standing in the kitchen, peeling potatoes, I had a revelation.  I was thinking about people I know that are or were once retired.  I was wondering about Glenn Dyess, since I haven't heard from him in a while.  He and Lynda bought an RV and, the last I heard, are travelling around the United States, enjoying retirement.  My father retired and live quite awhile afterwards, about 15 years.  Sometimes I think he would still be alive if a nasty infection hadn't gotten the best of him.  There are some people that retire and become professional, on their own time, fisherman.  
We spend most of our lives before retirement in the fast mode looking forward to that day we can retire and get into the slow mode. The problem being some people don't know how to get into the slow mode.  They do okay for the first few months and then they get bored, they start thinking of things to do; they don't really know how to slow down.  They begin thinking about going back to work; the one thing that they became tired of doing almost all their lives.  They finish up the list of things that was on the "to do list" quicker than they really wanted to and they run out of things to do around the house.  Most of them don't have a "bucket list".  These are all the things they were prevented from doing because they didn't have the time because they were at "the job".  Slowing down is something that needs to learned, just like a profession.  Once a profession was acquired, we learned how to be, either, the best there is at that profession or how to get by at that profession; regardless it is the reason we wake up early in the morning to prepare for a day of work. It is the reason we look forward to the weekend, to rest up.  Instead of using the weekend to rest up, people usually play harder than they work during the other five days of the week.  The weekend is actually a practice period that should be used to prepare for retirement; unfortunately, it is not what we are taught to do.  People have had it "drilled into them" that the weekend is not for resting but for doing all the things that they couldn't do during the week.
I was just as guilty as everyone else, mostly through ignorance. I didn't realize that Saturday and Sunday were my practice days.  I began a thought process for retirement long before I actually retired.  I began practicing retirement.  I stayed home and only went places when I was invited or when I needed to go to the store for food.  I didn't completely slow down because there were those times when I needed to do something because I wasn't keen on being bored.
I just woke up from an afternoon nap to continue writing.  This is what I am talking about.  Take a nap in the middle of the day, they are good for you.  Your body knows what is good for you, listen to it.  We spend the majority of our lives torturing our bodies and when we get older we wonder why we feel pain in certain parts of our bodies.  I can't lift some weights at the gym because I played too much softball when I was younger. My knees sometimes don't want to lift the weight of my body when I bend down to pick up something from the floor, too much running when I was younger.  When you get older you will find out these mysteries on your own.
When you retire, stay retired and use it for what it is meant for.  It is the last chance you are going to get. Don't be in such a hurry to get things done once you separate yourself from employment.  You are not going to die any younger than was already planned for you, you might actually add a couple of years by finally giving your mind and body the rest it really needs.  Being retired makes you a member of a special group of people.  It is like telling someone that you were with the First Recon in the military.  You can be proud to be a part of an exclusive group.  When they ask you what you do for a living, hold you head high and look into their eyes and say, "I'm retired"; they will be jealous.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Changes

I am beginning to see changes here.  They are subtle, but for someone who has lived through these same changes in the United States, I guess I am more aware of things that are developing here.  I remember when I first came here and an airplane flew over the city or the river people would stop and stare.  The flights were rare and we would maybe see an airplane every 4 or 5 months.  I have noticed that the frequency of small aircraft flying overhead has increased, not dramatically, but I have seen a change.  We have an airplane flying overhead at least 4 or 5 times per month.  They are privately owned planes like Cesnas.  I have also noticed an increased frequency of commercial aircraft flying in the Stratosphere.  I remember when I was a child we would rarely see planes flying overhead.  As the city grew so did the frequency of planes.  I have not noticed an increase in population because this is a city of only about 70,000 people but it is becoming more aware.  There are people living here that want to see changes here.  The old guard are content to sit at a bench next to the river and watch traffic but the younger people are desirous of seeing progress.  We will just have to wait and watch.  

Friday, August 30, 2013

New neck tattoo

This is a photo of my newest tattoo.  It was done last night so there is still a lot of time before it is really ready for a photo but I just wanted to share this with my friends. I know there are some of you that think tattoos are insane and especially one on a person's neck, but there are also some of you that will think this is pretty cool.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

winter

Well, looks like we are in for 3 more days of winter like weather.  27 degrees tomorrow morning, Tuesday morning 39 degrees and Wednesday morning 45.  The highs for those 3 days will be in the 50s and 60s; after those 3 days it looks like springtime will be here.  No more wearing a hoodie and a coat in the house or sleeping under 4 blankets.  These people here in Uruguay are hardy stock.  I think that is why my future father in law, who is 74, is so lively.  We went to their house for Canalones and afterwards he took a shower and got on his motorcycle and met friends to play cards.  We went home and made a drive around the Playa.  
I am hoping to hear from my tattooist tomorrow to set up a time for my newest tattoo addition.  I will send a picture after it's done.  I am excited about it.  Of course, most of you are going to think I have totally lost my mind but that will be more like a confirmation for most of you since you think I slipped over the edge by moving back to Uruguay.
I was thinking of taking a picture of my two plastic containers of Wal Mart brand peanut butter and emailing it to Wal Mart so they can see that their peanut butter is in South America. I don't think it is going to last me more than a couple more months but that is okay. I have it on toast almost every morning.  
Anyway, this is the short story for my blog today, I promise I will write more later and send pictures of our new place.
Sincerely,
Jonathan, Doc, Dad, Aba

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Athletic shoes

Just a short blog of something I found interesting and thought it would be cool to share.  I need to write about these small things when I hear them.
We call athletic shoes "championes" here.  That is actually the spanish word for mushrooms. The reason that they are called championes is because the first company to begin selling athletic shoes here was a company called Champion.  So it just became easier to call athletic shoes championes.  Just a little something to put away in your trivial drawer.

Friday, August 9, 2013

A difference

Well, I don't know if I have said anything along these lines in previous blogs.  Perhaps if I read my blogs I would know.  I was standing in the new apartment looking out the window at the street below and the clouds and everything in view.  The sky seems to be a different color of blue here.  It is almost surreal.  I noticed that the sky actually had several shades of blue.  The clouds seemed to have a 3-D effect.  I know that Fabiana misses the other house, she lived there for 13 years and it was her home.  It was the home that the children grew up in.  I know that this is a change for her and she seems to be making the best of it.  I hope that what I am doing and me being here has made it somewhat easier.  The owner of the apartment hasn't actually made it easy to live here.  The first thing she did was tell us that we cannot wash the clothes and have our wash water flow onto her back yard; okay we bought a smaller washer and had it installed in our bathroom and the wash water discharges into the shower.  The second thing she said was not to throw dog droppings into her yard. We haven't done that so I don't know where that came from.  I find it interesting that she has placed about 6 grocery bags full of grass clippings for the garbage collectors to pick up.  They don't do that here.  They have been sitting there for about 3 days.  The garbage gets picked up here every night between 8 and 8:30.  There are still some boxes that need to be unpacked but everything is coming along fine.  The built in closets are okay but I need to retrieve my ladder to get to the parts that are on top.  That is where things will go that don't need to be dealt with on a regular basis.  
Yes, I am happy here and I know that I am loved.  Things are better than they were when I first came here and I loved the country then, you can not imagine how I feel about it now.  
I walk 2 blocks and I am in the center of the city.  
I wish each and everyone of you could come visit Uruguay so you can experience what I do on a daily basis and then you would understand.  I am not asking you to move here because I know that there would be less than a handful of you that would or could do it.  Next time you want to take a vacation to an interesting place, please consider a visit here.
Okay, more in the next blog and I will read the previous blogs to make sure I am not repeating myself, although I will probably repeat about how I feel about living here and being with Fabiana.  She is the love of my life and always will be.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Back down south

I am back living in Paysandu.  Things are different, better.  Things have already started to change for me, us.  I feel more love than I did when I came here the first time.  I was greatly missed, and not just by my family.  A very good friend of mine, Andres, the guy that sells nafta across the street told me that he really missed me.  His wife cried when I left. I know I have friends in the US and family, but my real family is here.  The skies are clearer and the sun is brighter.  This is the place where I will live out the rest of my life and I WILL be happy.
The house sold for less than it's appraised value and we will be moving into our new place on Wednesday.  A lot of the furniture has been sold because we won't need it in the new place.  Some of it is going into storage in the spare room at Fabiana's parents' house.  We bought a new dining room set today along with new beds, better quality stuff. 
The children are happy I'm back and some important things have changed.  Sebastian and I are going to start over and I believe in a short time we will become friends.  Valentina thinks of me as her papi and that is a great thing.  In February we are expecting a new addition to our family and I WILL be the father.  
I know this is a short blog but I wanted everyone to know that I am back in Uruguay and doing great. 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Headed home

Well, I know this will come as a big surprise to most of you.  I am going back to Uruguay, hopefully to live in a different town.  Although, I lived in Paysandu for over a year and a half, we have decided that we need to live somewhere else.  I will always have great memories of Paysandu.  It was the first place I lived when I arrived in Uruguay, but the "adventure" continues.  We are looking to live in Carmelo or Colonia.  My preference would be to live in Colonia.  It is on the South Atlantic coast and it is a very old "town".  Across the river from Colonia is Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Colonia began it's history as a fort to fend off invading forces.  Some of the old cannons are still in place.  It was the second place I visited when I first arrived in Uruguay.  It is a quaint tourist attraction, and a lot of tourists visit there.  It is a relatively small town but it has a lot of charm.  I am also thinking, great fishing.  
So for all the people that have sent me encouraging emails, please wish us luck.  
I don't know much about Carmelo but it is located on a river and I am still thinking fishing.  
We are going to make a fresh start and God willing I will be a father in February.  I am hoping for a daughter.  Love has reblossomed for us and I know we are going to make a go of it.  Fresh start, fresh ideas and fresh living.
Pray for us,if you are so inclined.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Paysandu

Okay, here is the shocking news.  I am returning to Uruguay in about 2 weeks.  It is my home now and that is where I need to be.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

St. Louis

I am in St. Louis.  Uruguay is now a history lesson for me.  I am going to miss everything about that country.  It was home for me for over a year and a half.  I didn't have many new friends there but the ones I had I will never forget.  
This will just be a short blog for now.  I am still getting blindsided by feelings of depression but I am sure I will get past it.  
Laterz.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Food

So here I am, 3 days away from returning to the United States.  Needless to say, I am nervous.  I have been living here in Uruguay for over a year and a half, and to be very honest the tranquility of the lifestyle here is very addictive.  I cannot imagine what it is going to be like returning to the hustle of the North American lifestyle.  If I dwell on it, it becomes unsettling.  So in order to change my thought process, I was thinking about what food I would love to eat once I get back.  Pizza? No, there is an abundance of pizzarias here.  Hamburger?  No, the hamburgers are far superior to a hamburger in the US.  Fried chicken?  I cook a mean southernstyle fried chicken.  Anything with pasta?  Pasta and rice dishes here are a staple.
So I was thinking and all of a sudden it hit me, it hit me hard enough to make my mouth start watering.  Even though I have had plenty of meats cooked on an outside grill here, I don't think anything can match the taste of smoked, sliced brisket served with pinto beans, potato salad, pickles and onions with a slice of bread and a jalapeno on the side; or a slab of babyback ribs.  I will probably continue to cook South American style at my apartment; simple and inexpensive.
Another thing I will be experiencing here for the first time will be riding the bus from Paysandu to Montevideo, it should be an interesting and hopefully educational experience.  I will take a taxi from the bus terminal to the airport and then sit around and wait for 9 PM to board the plane.  It will be about a 9 hour flight and then 8 hour layover in Miami.  Unfortunately I will be flying over South America in the dark so I won't get to see what the country looks like from aloft. 
This will probably be my last blog from South America since I only have 2 days and a wake up before I leave.  
Need to dig up the Avocado tree I planted in the back yard to give to my friend across the street.  Fabiana's mother is getting my Jalapeno plant.  
Leaving Uruguay is going to be like saying good bye to a friend that you know you will never see again, some things were just not meant to be.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Flies

Weird title, right?  Just something that hit me a unusual the other day and I am finally getting around to writing about it.  So far all of you know that I love this country and I am sad that I will be leaving it soon.

Something I noticed was that flies survive here in the wintertime and it can't be because it doesn't get cold.  I gets cold here.  I was sitting at this computer this morning and watching my breath.  It is actually colder in the house, most of the time, than it is outside.  Imagine going outside to warm up?

I am not sure if I have mentioned this other peculuarity about this place.  People rarely knock on your door.  If they want your attention, they stand just on the other side of the property line and clap their hands.  Once you acknowledge them, you ask them to come to the door.  

Another thing that is different.  When I used to do a sinus clearing.  Actually breathing in water so I can clear my upper sinuses, I know some of you have actually done this.  When I used to do it in and around Austin thing really stinked.  Down here the air is so clear that after I do it, nothing changes; it is still sweet smelling.  If I could use that as a description, because I don't actually smell anything.  Not really looking forward to moving back to the polluted air of the US.

I am nervous about going back.  I know that I am going to suffer some kind of culture shock when I step off the plane in Miami.  I am not sure what it will be but thinking about it makes me nervous.  I am not accustomed to being around large groups of people.  I was a the parade that celebrated 150 years that Paysandu, Uruguay has existed; the streets were lined with practically everyone that lives in this city and I was not bothered in the least, but thinking about stepping into a crowed airport is another story.

I will try to keep you all more closely apprised of what is happening.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Man Up Time

Much to the dissatisfaction to a few people in the United States this is going to be a disappointment.  My younger brother gave me some advice the other day and I am going to take him up on it.  It IS time for me to man up, and stop running to a security blanket everytime I find myself in what I deem to be a losing or uncontrollable situation.

I am going to find a place to live here in Uruguay, for now in Paysandu and learn to live by myself.  I have never lived really alone.  I have lived by myself for a period of time but only once when I didn't have someone to go to.  I can afford to live here, put money a savings and live really well here.  Not much to do here but  there are buses that go places.  I have a friend here that likes to go fishing.  He is a bit of a womanizer but we all have our quirks.  Just as long as he doesn't try and get me hooked up.  Another person, that I have a great deal of respect for, gave me the same advice as my brother, and I am going to Man Up and give it a shot.  My cousin, Buddy, offered to buy me a return ticket to the States and I will never be able to truly tell him how much I appreciate that.  The people that offered me a place to stay, Marion and Darren, Thank you very much.  Karen, thanks for telling me that I can come live in St. Louis.  I need to grow up a little bit.  It is going to be scary but I think it is going to be fun.  I will have to really bare down and practice my Spanish.  It is good enough for most conversations, especially after I tell them that I am an American and still working on my Spanish.  One thing for sure, I will definitely have more free time for fishing.  Going to be living kind of a spartan life for awhile.  I will have the basics in furnishings, just need to figure out how to get a stove and a refrigerator.  That was a word I am not used to using.  I was going to type heladera but 99% of you wouldn't know what that is.  

I am not going to ask you to pray for me because there are far more important things you can pray for.  Keep me in your thoughts and send me encouraging emails ever so often.

I don't know if it will eventually work out between Fabiana and I, but I have high hopes.  She is the love of my life.  If nothing happens that brings us back together, then like the expression goes "que sera, sera", what will be, will be or "Si Dios quiere".  

This plan didn't come to me in a dream, but it was delivered by an angel.

So it's MAN UP time.

Monday, June 10, 2013

US

Well, everyone, looks like I will be returning to the US.  It's not because I couldn't handle life here.  Life here is super.  The main reason I came to Uruguay was to be with Fabiana Ponzoni.  Yesterday she told me that she doesn't love me and doesn't see any future in us staying together.  I asked her why she no longer loves me and she doesn't know the answer to that question.  It is like asking someone, "why do you love me?", we accept because for the answer to that question.  We should be able to accept the same answer to the question, "why don't you love me?".  It's not because of anything I did or didn't do.  She wants to be alone with her children.  It is going to be a hard life for her.  She will have to find a job that pays below what people in the US consider minimum wage, selling clothing at a streetside vending area.  She will have to sell her car because she won't be able to afford the payment.  She will have to take the children out of private school and they will have to go to public school, hasn't killed anyone yet that I know of, it's just the difference in the level of education provided.  Right now she gets about 9000 pesos from her ex for "child support" that equals about $500.  With that she has to buy groceries, pay water bill, electric bill, phone bill, internet, buy firewood, buy propane for the stove.  Let me put it in a different perspective.  I am making a little over $2700 per month from Social Security, TMRS and a veteran pension, and that is stretched to the limit by the end of the month.  She will eventually have to sell the house and try and buy another one with half the money she gets from the sale of this house.  This house is about 1785 square feet and will probably sell, if she is lucky, for $80,000.  The last offer on the house was $60,000 and her lawyer told her she might now get more than that for it.  The downside to all this is that there isn't a house here selling for $30,000 that would be worth living in.  I am returning to the US with a lot of regrets, but there is absolutely nothing I can do about things.  When someone doesn't love you, you can only love them for so long without reciprocation. I am making an appeal this afternoon to see if she will accept it.  Valentina, her daughter loves me like a father, I am actually more of a father to her than her real father.  I am proposing that I stay here for her sake. I didn't stay with my daughters and I suffered for it, I stayed with my second wife for the sake of our son and he is paying for it.  Any opinions?  I am open to any suggestions?  Of course, if she doesn't go for the proposal I will be headed back to the States the first week in July or sooner.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

South America

Just wanted to drop this little note to all my fine readers.

I am still waking up in the mornings absolutely amazed that I am living in South America.  I am getting accustomed to living here.  I made the statement the other day, in spanish, of course, that I remember when I first arrived and we drove through the city I was amazed at everything I saw.  Now I am getting used to it.  I still look at some of the buildings, but it´s mostly just trying to figure out what I am looking at.  

It just seems to sink in a little deeper everyday that I am living here.  I can tell you something that I realized today.  Even though life here is full of tranquility, it is a harder life to live.  A lot of the modern conveniences that are enjoyed and taken for granted in the US are not used here.  We wash our clothes in a washing machine then hang them on clothes lines.  We heat our homes with a central fireplace and huddle up close when it gets really cold.  I usually wear a hoodie in the house and sometimes a knit hat when it is really cold.  Our floors are all tile which makes it easier to keep clean, but is really cold in the morning.  Don´t misunderstand what I am saying, I love living here and don´t miss those conveniences, I just recognize which ones are missing.  

Until next time, keep you chins up and the winds behind you.  Smooth sailing.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

American arrogance

I recently read an email saying something about the current President of the United States apologizing for American arrogance.  It contained photos of a lot of the cemeteries in Europe where American servicemen have been buried, mostly during World War II.  This would, to me, be a poor response to negate the apology.  Those were Americans that went to war to fight Nazism and Facism.  They lost their lives for a cause.  I don´t know what the people´s attitudes are like in Europe toward Americans.  Here we are accepted for who we are not for what we are.  There is a lot of interest in us because we come from a different culture.  
I would have to say that there are a lot of arrogant Americans that think that the American way of life is far superior to any other.  They should not confuse a state of living with an advancement of particulars.  There are many more items available to purchase in the United States, that does not necessarily make life better.  Sometimes it can make life more confusing.  How many times have you stood in a grocery store reading labels trying to determine which one is best? or healthiest? or tastier?  We don't have that problem here because variety is not something we are "blessed or cursed" with.  I have not said to anyone when I was making any comparisons to life in America compared to life here as it being better there.  I have said many times that life in the US is different.  Life in the US is a hard life.  You have to work hard everyday, for a minimum of 40 hours per week hoping that you make enough money to provide.  A person that retires in the US has a struggle in front of them.  They usually don't have sufficient income to pay for all the things they need. The needs of the elderly are far greater than others.  The income is limited but they are expected to pay as much, if not more for services.  If their house isn't paid for by the time they retire they still have to struggle with a house payment.  Reverse mortgage is a trap, and don't fall into it thinking it is Uncle Sam giving you a helping hand.  
For the most part, I have to say that the majority of Americans ARE arrogant.  They get angry when they make a call and it says if you want to hear your message in english, press one, yet for the most part when their ancestors came here many of them couldn't speak english.  The majority of the population in the US is probably hispanic, so WASP step aside and think of how you became a minority.  People migrated from other countries into the US like they have been doing for years, to improve their standard of living.  They are taking the jobs you don´t want because they are willing to do anything to make the money that is needed to improve their standard of living.  In the US you have many families on ¨welfare¨because they are either too lazy to work or because they have figured out the system and realize they don´t have to work to live.  
I worked for 48 years in the US so that I could have something in Social Security to live on when it came time for me to retire.  The government needs to stop dipping into that fund to pay for lazy welfare recipients.  Immigrants have figured out how to us the system.  
So if the President of the United States did, indeed, apologize for the arrogance of Americans it is only because Americans are too arrogant to realize that they need to stop presenting themselves as better than the other people of the world.  I bet before Rome collapsed they had the same attitude.  Wake up before it bites you on the ass.