When we began planning our travel this year, the two places at the top of the list were New Zealand and Japan. We ended up in Uruguay.
It’s turning out to be exactly what we needed.
We found our way to Uruguay through a program called Boundless Life that can best be described as a study-abroad program for families with school-aged kids. Families enroll for three-month cohorts in one of 10 locations. The program includes school, a rental home, a co-working space, and a built-in community with social and cultural activities. When we learned that Boundless Life had a location in Japan, it seemed like the stars were aligning: An ideal way to start our sabbatical year, in a place we wanted to visit, where the major logistics were handled.
Then we learned that the Japan location was booked solid for the entire year with a waitlist so long they wouldn’t even add new people to it. We were crushed.
We couldn’t head east, to Europe: wrong direction for this year. We couldn’t head west, to Japan: no availability. Then we found out that heading south was a possibility: Boundless Life had open spots in La Barra, Uruguay. We knew nothing about La Barra except that it was a small town with beaches, surfing, and a relaxed vibe.
Saying yes to an unplanned adventure felt like the right way to begin our sabbatical.
So here we are! When we landed in La Barra, we’d been on the road for five weeks and were excited to settle into the two-bedroom home where we’ll stay until the end of November. Our neighborhood feels almost rural, but the town of La Barra is compact enough that we can get around to most places on foot. Camille’s school is a seven-minute walk from our house, while the coworking space, beaches, and shops are about a 15-20 minute walk. We’ve also rented a car, so we can explore neighboring towns, beaches, and countryside.
Uruguay is off the radar as a travel destination, and tends to be overshadowed by its larger neighbors, Argentina and Brazil, but it offers a high quality of life and is a fascinating place in its own right. Here are a few fun facts about Uruguay:
- It’s the second smallest country in South America, about the size of Oklahoma, with a population of 3.5 million. Most Uruguayans are the descendants of Spanish and Italian immigrants.
- Agriculture is a major industry. There are more than three cows for every person, and Uruguay grows enough food to feed around 30 million.
- It’s ahead in clean energy. About 98% of its electricity comes from renewable sources, mostly hydropower and wind.
- It’s known for progressive social policies. Women won the vote in 1932, about a dozen years after the US. It was one of the first South American countries to legalize same-sex marriage in 2013, and it was the first country in the world to fully legalize marijuana, also in 2013.
We’ve been busy getting into a new rhythm and new community in La Barra, and there’s a lot more we hope to share about our time in Uruguay soon. As for New Zealand and Japan, they’re still in the plan. Stay tuned!
