Part 2: Negative Aspects of Living in Uruguay

Original Famous Expat Meetings: EXPAT LUNCH: Sunday, May 20, 2012 Not a week missed in 6-1/2 years! Now in Asuncion, Paraguay too! EXPAT DINNER: Thursday, May 24, 2012

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WHY URUGUAY?

The number of people relocating to Uruguay seems to be increasing all the time. This little country that is smaller than the state of Washington is drawing people from Australia, the US, Europe, Asia and even other South American countries! I've already spoken about the positive aspects of Uruguay that are attracting people from much more developed parts of the world, but that doesn't mean it is pure paradise down here.

Relocating (especially with family and children) is a BIG decision, and it is important to understand ALL aspects of life in Uruguay before taking the plunge. This article is NOT intended to scare people away. I live in Uruguay and I love it - but I love it WITH these flaws; if you feel these flaws are too much for you I think it best that you know that BEFORE moving everything and the kitchen sink.

Here's a few things the Oriental Republic has in store for you:

Bureaucracy and Inefficiency: This is probably one of the MOST frustrating aspects of life in Uruguay. This is not just a matter of corrupt politics or slow business processes, this inefficiency trickles down in to EVERY area of daily life. The amount of prohibitive "red tape" is mind blowing sometimes - whether you are trying to complete the immigration process for residency or start a new business you will face endless reams of paper and stamps.

I experience inefficiency every day - from the department store to the bank and even in the local fruit shop! In my local green grocer (a room the size of a postage stamp) there is one person to hold a bag open as you select your fruit, another person to weigh the fruit, another person to write the price down on a piece of paper, and then you must give this piece of paper to another person in order to pay. I am surprised they have enough room for any fruit in the shop with so many employees!

Over-employment: This ties in with the points above and below. There are employees just standing around EVERYWHERE you go. In an empty restaurant there will be five waiters chatting and if a customer does actually happen to walk in it could be 5 minutes before they even notice. It makes every process in daily life much longer. In the bank you have to go to one desk to take a number just to be allowed wait in line. You wait in line to sign a form, wait in a separate line to get that form stamped and stand in a third line just to withdraw money. In almost all cases it takes 6 people to do a job that 1 or 2 could easily complete.

If you want to live in Uruguay you must accept that is impossible to do anything in 5 or 10 minutes.

Terrible Customer Service: Despite having more staff than necessary in almost every shop and restaurant you will still find it difficult to get served. Asking for assistance is like asking for a favor and it is by no means rare that an employee will roll their eyes and sigh if you ask them to do even the most basic of tasks.

I found this one the hardest things to accept. Coming from a background where poor service is punished by moving on to the competition, It was disheartening to realize that in many cases there are no alternatives, or if there are they are often equally bad, or worse! If you are not able to reach a point where you just let it go then you may find life as a consumer here VERY stressful.

*From another perspective when you DO receive good service you can be sure it is from a genuine person and not somebody trained to robotically say "have a nice day ma'am".

Low Quality Products & Poor Workmanship: I will not be the first to feel suspicious of the products that reach Uruguay. There is no doubt that we receive the hand-me-downs and butt end of all production lines. Electrical products (despite their very inflated prices) break down on a regular basis, clothes tear at the seams, fabrics feel thinner, building materials are of a lower quality, and tasks are simply not finished to the same standard.

If you plan to build something in Uruguay you literally have to monitor every single step along the way because "cheapness" rules - if it is the cheapest option then it is considered the best option because everything is expected to break at some point either way.

Issue of Public Safety & Security: Many reference "safety" as something that attracted them to Uruguay and I have already discussed this in the article on positive aspects of living here. There are however a rising number a street crimes (muggings etc) and burglaries. As far as I am aware there is a very low level of violent crime and some people are reassured by the fact that it is highly unlikely they will hear of a shooting or a fatal attack in the news.

This doesn't mean that being "non-violently" mugged is a pleasant experience. I have heard more than a number of stories from foreigners (and some Uruguayans) who have been pickpocketed or have been approached and robbed in the street during the day and night. This situation is made worse by the fact that the police here are pretty inefficient. Nobody speaks English (even in the most touristic areas) and dealing with foreigners (even if you speak Spanish) is not something they are very good at.

I had my credit card stolen from my bag and fraudulently used 6 times in one hour. The police would not write a report saying it had been stolen because they would not accept my passport as identification, they said they could only accept Uruguayan ID! I took an hour of arguing to get the report. I can't imagine I would feel very confident reporting a more serious incident of crime to them and I have had others share this sentiment.

* One must remember however that crime is present in all countries and on a relative scale Uruguay is a very safe country. Many situations can be avoided simply by being aware of the risks, therefore I feel it is important not not expect Uruguay to be a crime free wonderland.

Laziness & Lateness: Maybe it comes from the Spanish ancestry and their "mañana mañana" attitude, maybe it is a culture all of their own making. If a Uruguayan arranges to meet you at 3 you should never show up before 3.30. Now I am FAR from a German level of punctuality, and some may argue this is simply a more relaxed way of life, but in the end all it does it make everything take longer.

If someone says they will call you back don't wait by the phone. If you need something done by Thursday you have to say that it is essential that it be done by Tuesday. Having to always lie and think two or three days ahead of time can get very tiring, especially if your task really is urgent. You have to constantly monitor, constantly push. Sometimes it would be nice to only have to ask once and actually have it done.

Terrible Sidewalks / Paths: If you are clumsy - walk on the road. Or buy a car. The sidewalks here are death traps!

Uncovered manholes, holes the size of a cellar, unfinished roadworks, tree roots protruding from concrete just waiting to catch someone unaware - taking a stroll is like navigating an obstacle course! If you are in any way immobile these streets will be more than a challenge to getting around, and in general you can simply forget about wheelchair ramps.

Not Multicultural: Uruguay is full of Uruguayans. People may be "of European descent" but the population is one of the most ethnically homogenous I have ever seen. You will be hard pressed to find ethnic cuisine restaurants, multicultural events or foreign communities. As such cultural life here is lacking the diversity you may be used to if you are moving from a big city or an ethnically diverse country.

Expensive to travel: If you think you can move to Uruguay and pop home whenever you feel like it expect to start saving NOW! There is no such thing as a cheap flight out of Uruguay. To fly to the US costs upward of $1000 per person and if you live anywhere other than Miami expect multiple transfers to get where you need to go. The same goes for Europe - transatlantic flights are expensive and don't get any cheaper by booking months in advance. If you need to see your family twice a year then that is a huge factor in your "cost of living" bill.

Taxes: Although the absence of tax on foreign income was mentioned as a positive aspect of life here, some may find the value added tax and import taxes are very high. The better quality goods (the well known brands) are all imported and as such they are subject to very high import taxes AND a further 22% sales tax. If you want to buy the products that will last then expect to pay much more for them than you are used to.

In the end ALL countries (including the one you are in right now) have their downfalls. Some people have come to Uruguay to escape the rat race mentality which has griped many richer more developed countries. Many people also feel quite sick of the invasive role of government bodies in their lives, especially in the US and the UK.

These factors have not been enough to keep many expats away and there are more than a few examples of families and individuals who have relocated here to great success. In the end it comes down to who you are and what you are seeking in Uruguay, but it is always good to be aware what you are getting yourself in for.

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Why Uruguay Uruguay Part 2: Negative Aspects of Living in Uruguay