Our family have moved to Montevideo from New Zealand, late September 2009, so starting to settle in, even with no Spanish! Mind you, my husband has been taking lessons since we arrived and I have recently started as well, so we are making a start. We have two young sons, nearly two and nearly 5, and they are both at Kindy in the afternoon.
I am interested in getting some help, mainly a Nanny, but able to help with cleaning or cooking if need be. Certainly not full-time, just a couple of mornings so I can get out on my own (as my Spanish lessons are in the afternoon when the boys are at Kindy), join a gym, etc. And then when Kindy stops for the summer, I will have some help in place as my husband will be very busy with work soon so he won't be able to help out much. And too much stress doesn't help in the assimmilation process!! (I think my spelling is suffering....)
People have said that I have to have spanish first, but I don't think I can wait that long.... Are there agencies for people that speak English? I understand that "help" is paid a low rate (compared to what we are used to at home) but presumably if someone is able to speak English, they are better educated so the pay would be higher. That should be fine, because as I said, it isn't like we need someone full-time, just to enable me some "me" time to adjust to my new life more effectively!
I would prefer someone that is local and knows Spanish to help all of the family in our efforts with the language.
Any advice, and/or recommendations of agencies or specific referrals for trustworthy people that are looking for work would be most appreciated. We have a "yellow pages" phone book, but with limited Spanish, I've got no idea where to look, and I have been warned off using an agency - any thoughts on this?
We haven't been along to the ex-pat lunch on Sunday yet, but hope to, either this week or the next, so may meet some of you then!
I think we may have been in touch before by email, unless I am confusing you with someone else....
When it comes to home help, that is one of the few things that could be considered a "bargain" in Uruguay. However, any of the people I have met who mind children or clean houses do not speak English. Speaking English is in many ways a gate-way to a better job here so they would not continue with this kind of work if they have two languages. There MAY be some companies in Pocitos/Carrasco type areas that arrange these kinds of employees, but I have found the best way to do things in Uruguay is by recommendation and word of mouth.
Keep in mind that Uruguayan employment laws are very "interesting" indeed and there are an array of costs you could end up paying - if you want to fire someone after a certain period of time you have to pay them a despedida, if you don't they can sue you...it is complicated. In that way I would suggest you maybe go to the expat lunches on Sundays and make contact with other people here. In that way you can get first hand suggestions and recommendations.
Thanks for the advice. (This is my first posting on here, so think it was someone else you have emailed before though?) I might investigate a couple of days of full-time care out of the home, that is probably my best bet. I am considering continuing on a wee business that I started in NZ, that I can do over the internet, so again, probably best if the boys aren't at home, as I would still be distracted if they were here, I know it! We have been intending on going to the expat lunches the past couple of weeks but things keep coming up, and again this weekend we have family day for the Kindy, so will aim to get along the following week. May meet you then?!
Welcome to Montevideo! We had a housekeeper for a while, but as Elaine mentioned it's a complicated process. We haven't looked into a nanny service, but I agree that word of mouth seems to be the best way to find that type of help in Montevideo.
Both Brian and I work from home, and Zoe is home with us so I can definitely attest that it's not easy to balance childcare and working. When our new baby arrives in February I'm sure it'll get a lot harder to manage. I've heard that part time care (4 hours per day) at a jardin (pre-school) runs about $150 per month, not sure about full time care. There are a lot of jardins around to choose from.
What part of Montevideo are you living in? Maybe we could meet up at the park one afternoon so the kids could play together (Zoe's about 18 months).
Hi Chrystal, Thanks for the advice, and yes, I would love to meet up with you and Zoe. We are in Carrasco, not far from the British School (about 2 minutes walk). I haven't been brave enough to order a taxi yet, but just another hurdle to overcome...! My hubby has a car, so we could even do it on the weekend if you wanted. It is so great to come across your blog and forum, especially as you are still relatively new as well, so all the "learning curve" issues are still fresh in your minds, just like us. It makes me realise all the little details that you just know at home, that make life flow so easily, and the language just makes things that much more tricky. Having said that, that is also what makes it so interesting moving to a new place! How far away are you from where we are? Can I also take this opportunity to say if there are any other mothers with young children that would like to join us, then please make yourself known! It is a big enough thing to move to a new country, but with the challenges of being a parent thrown in, even more so, so would be nice to support other mums/parents in a similar position, too. Leanne
We're in Pocitos near the park where the big feria is held on Saturdays (so probably about 15 minutes by car from you). I usually take Zoe to that park because it's so close, but the one at Parque Rodo is a little nicer and not too far from us either. I'm not familiar with any of the parks in Carrasco. We don't have a car. Both of us do some work during they day, so I usually take Zoe out to the park around 4, but weekends are also good for us. Let me know what works for you and we can figure something out.
My, so much has happend since my last post on here! Can now count Chrystal, Brian and Zoe amongst our new friends here, and feeling alot more settled. Days come and go when I can still feel a bit homesick, etc, but that is to be expected, and at least we have friends now!
Further to that, I have put a posting under announcements about our family get-togethers, the first of which is planned for this Sunday, 31 Jan. from 12.00pm at Don Pepperoni, by Montevideo Shopping Centre.
Please check out Announcements for all the info - hope to meet some more of you there!
