A Mac store story

As many of you know, I am a fan of Mac products. My iPhone is basically saving my life down here because I can still send iMessages with wireless, and my trusty MacBook is in a delicate stage of disintegration, but our relationship is still currently functioning. However, I don't think Steve Jobs ever looked much into the South American market (why would he, let's be honest). Therefore, there are no genius bars here, everything is at least twice as expensive, and I've seen many more boom boxes and Walkmen than iPhones or iPads. I would not be all that worried about this except I needed a certain adapter to connect my computer to a projector. I did not really think about this before I came to Uruguay, but I ended up using my laptop a lot in class and it was extremely useful to have a projector and be able to connect your computer to it because then the whole class didn't have to try to crowd around the relative small screen.

It comes down to the point that after coming to the "I should buy a connector cord" realization. I proceeded to look up the type I needed online and locate the nearest Mac store (which was in Montevideo while I was living in Paysandú). 

The next time I went to Montevideo, I was going to buy the DVI to VGA connector cord. We had a meeting about two weeks from that time, and I went early to run a race, try to mail some letters through the embassy, and to buy this cord. 

The weekend was an epic fail, but I'm sticking to the Mac story right now.

I went to the Mac store on Saturday. It was closed on the weekends. Cool. Went back before our meeting on Monday. It was open. I had the cord type I thought I needed written down, thank goodness, because the store was literally just a depot of apple imports, not an apple store. The people had no idea what I was talking about when I tried to tell them what kind of computer I had and that I wanted to connect it to a projector. So they read the paper, brought out the cord, explained it was more than twice as expensive (*wince*), I looked at the cord (thought it was right), paid them, took the cord and paperwork and left. 

I had not brought my laptop with me to Montevideo because it was a short trip and I had been prior advised about the high crime rates. Therefore, I could not check if the cord worked or not until I got back to Paysandú (a 5 hour, $50 bus ride away). 

It didn't work.

Well, I wasn't about to go to Montevideo right away just to change it. I was going to wait until we had another meeting and could get my bus ticket paid for if possible. In the meantime, I checked to see if there was a deadline on the return policy (no return policy, only a service guarantee, sweet) and internationally called a Mac store in the United States who told me exactly what I needed in under five minutes (and it was half the price!). My parents were just going to bring that cord because I would not be able to get it here. I was just going to return the one I got and get my money back.

Or so I thought. 

I went to the Mac store again with my useless cord and all the paperwork and presented my case. They would give my store credit. The return policy that they had not given me nor told me about, but that I was supposed to obviously, magically know, stated that I had ten days to return items to get cash back. 

I was pissed. Now my Spanish was better so I was able to better express my frustration and the manager was called to deal with me. I wanted to know why I wasn't told about the policy, she told me it was just their policy. She suggested that I should have called when I realized it wasn't the right cord, I expressed sarcastically that I'm sure they would have been able to understand me on the phone and also reimburse me. She just said that they could give me a store credit voucher. I obliged but not before asking if there was a ten day expiration to use that, as well, she responded that I just has to use it within one year and passed me off for someone else to deal with.

I stomped out with my voucher wondering what the heck I could buy with it that would be even remotely useful.

My family and Jo came a bit after that and suggested I get a iTunes gift card. What a good idea. I could listen to audiobooks on the bus! And I have enough to get almost $50 worth! Woot!

I journeyed back to the Mac store with my stupid voucher and inquired about gift cards. They did have gift cards. Awesome, I would like one. They explained that you get a code on a piece of paper instead of the card and you enter it to your account on iTunes, blah, blah, blah, yes I know how to do that I explained. Then I learned about the injustice of it all. I had more than $40 on my voucher. They were going to give me a $25 voucher. I was like, "you're joking." Nope, not joking, and I was going to have to pay a little more. Apparently, you have to pay twice the amount of the amount of a gift card you want. So that means a $25 gift card costs $50. Of course, they explained this to me as though it was totally obvious and made perfect sense. They responded to my disbelieving and incredulous expression with a, "oh, you know, in some other places, you can get the gift card for the actual amount you pay." I bit my tongue to prevent myself from spitting fire and this severe injustice. I swallowed and said fine. What the heck else was I going to buy in this overpriced, outdated Mac store that I could actually use? I didn't know and moreover, I just wanted to get out of there before I exploded and never wanted to go back.

They tapped away on their computer, handed me an enveloped and I hightailed it out of that "Mac store."

Of course, I expected the gift card to not work, but it did, my iTunes account was credited the whole $25. 

Moral of the story: get your Mac products figured out and anything you might need purchased before traveling. 

oh, that Fulbright mid-term evaluation report....

What were your strategies for getting acquainted with the people and the culture? (1500 character limit) 

One of my strategies was to accept every opportunity that presented itself to me.  In that sense, when I arrived I had a mix of people and activities to try and see what I liked or see who I ended up getting along with.  Another strategy was to try everything at least once.  A lot of the food and customs I am not totally comfortable or familiar with, but I would always at least try them.  Usually the people appreciated that you would at least try something, and if you did not like it afterward, they were more accepting.  I have to often push myself to transcend boundaries and do things outside of my comfort zone in that sense, as well.

What kind of changes did you make in order to adjust to the local culture? (1500 character limit) *

I had to change some of my routines and habits in order to adjust effectively to the culture.  I usually eat dinner around 6 or seven and go to bed by 10 or 11 and I like to get up pretty early.  However, people here eat dinner a lot later, go to bed a lot later and sometimes get up early, but it is totally normal to go out literally all night and sleep all day during the weekend.  I also have had to push myself to do a lot of activities outside of my comfort zone, or even inside my comfort zone, I have been in uncomfortable situations due to misunderstandings in language or cultural differences.  Therefore, I have really had to learn to rapidly adapt to situations and express and explain myself a lot better in Spanish.

What types of safety issues were prevalent in the country (problems with diet, pollution, crime, etc.) and what safety precautions would you recommend? (1500 character limit) *

There has not been a time when I felt thoroughly unsafe here so far.  However, I have been trying to take the general precautions anyone should take in any large or foreign city.  For example, I do not generally walk anywhere alone at night, I either take a taxi or walk with a group of people. I do not carry more money than I need at any one time, and I try to keep my money and valuables on my person instead of in my purse or backpack.  I do not take my laptop (or really any larger technological devices) places more than absolute necessary.  Also, I do not take my real passport really anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary.  Most of these recommendations are pretty general and you should be fine if you use common sense.  For example, I try to use my gut instinct a lot and if something, someone, or somewhere is making me uncomfortable or beginning to not feel safe, I try to extract myself from the situation.

Please comment on other aspects of your social and cultural adjustment. (1500 character limit) *

A few things that seem to have really helped me cope with some of the social and culture shock that is almost inevitable are simply doing things for myself.  It is pretty easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of new and unfamiliar things, and it is important to remember to take time for yourself.  For example, I have started writing more during my time here because it seems like putting my own feelings and experiences into words helps me to better understand them myself.  In addition, it is necessary to find your own ways of releasing stress and frustration.  Sometimes, I need to go for a long run along the river or ocean shore and listen to something like Taylor Swift until my brain and body simply run out of steam.  Sometimes, I need to go to a cafe, get a coffee, and read Harry Potter for an hour or two.  I have found that these things help me renew my sense of self and purpose here.  You have to find a few vices that simply help you get through the day to day grind and renew your perspective.

In what areas have you found IIE, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy personnel and/or the Fulbright Commission especially helpful? What areas need additional attention? What improvements would you suggest? (3000 character limit) *

The Fulbright Commission in Uruguay has been helpful, caring, and wonderful whenever I have asked for help, needed something, or had questions or concerns.  Patricia Vargas has been invaluable with any and all information I could have wished to know.  However, it is evident that she has many commitments above and beyond simply overseeing our specific part of the program.  It would be more helpful if she were able to commit slightly more time to our program.  For example, it would be helpful to have individual meetings with her (or someone in the program) at the beginning, middle, and end of the program to talk about the individual goals you hope to achieve when you arrive, how you are progressing along the way, and how well you think you achieved them at the end.  We gave a short presentation about our goals upon arrival and the ETA conference halfway, but they lacked time for logistical planning.  The impression I get is that there is a support system for those who desperately need it, and while we are welcome to consult with the commission at any point, we are supposed to figure out pretty much everything on our own.  It seems like it would be more effective to have a kind of checks and balances system in place to better support the program and ensure we are doing what we have been placed here to do.

On another note, I would like to have more contact with the Embassy and IIE.  I have not had contact with anyone in IIE since I have been here (and in all honesty, I did not even know we had that option until I read this question, and I do not have the slightest idea who to contact).  We had part of our orientation at the Embassy, which was great.  Afterward, I tried to set up a meeting with someone at the Embassy to learn more about the way it works, the resources available, potential careers, and to possibly make more contacts in Uruguay.  However, I have so far been unable to do so due to either a lack of communication on their part or a misunderstanding of the system on my part.  I do hope to make some contacts and meet with someone before the end of my grant period, but the only person at the embassy who has proven to be helpful so far was an intern we met during orientation in March and she left shortly afterward.  In conclusion, while I do believe the program has succeeded on many levels, I think being provided with effective contacts and support system (at least to check in with) would be extremely beneficial to the efficiency and productivity of future grantees.