21 May A PLACE TO STAY

By Evelyn Robález, advanced student in Economics (Universidad Católica del Uruguay).

They arrived and left laughing, honoring what is said about that country’s people. A Brazilian couple tells the reasons for their trip to Uruguay, flooding the room with joy. They speak in unison and complete each other’s sentences. They praise the open and inclusive country they have chosen to be their new corner of the world.

According to them, Brazil only offers two alternatives: hot or very hot. So the first aspect that they considered when they thought about migrating was the climate. Four seasons can be enjoyed at the south of the continents as well as escaping the tropical heat. Second aspect: living standards. In that category, Uruguay ranked high. The third aspect was more specific: they wanted to go to one of the world’s best countries according to the living standards for the LGBTQ+ community. Uruguay is among the top 10 in this matter.

Uruguay stands internationally for its laws that guarantee equal treatment in terms of rights. This made the couple consider this country as a good destination in which they could fulfill themselves.

Before traveling, they verified every requirement that they regarded as necessary: being able to bring their husky dog, being close to their relatives who remained in Brazil, having a language that would be easy for them to learn, such as Spanish, and their perfect apartment, which they “visited” via the internet because they had never been to Uruguay before.

Today, they portray their new home in the Southern part of the continent as a unique and attractive place due to its open-minded and caring people.

All migrants who choose a country as their new home should be able to feel this way. But, in reality, as shown in December’s “CERES Analyzes – Republic of Immigrants,” the world cannot always be seen through rose-colored glasses.