I gave at the office

Today was a busy day for yours truly.  Seems I drove forever.  Out to the dentist, then to the airport then to the freezone.  Back to Pocitos.  Then off again to mid city.  Then to Punta Carretas shopping mall…. and finally… home… whew….  wonder that would have cost in cabs?!?   But that’s not the point of the post.  The point is charity…

Today it seemed that every light I stopped at had a juggler, clown, squeegie guy (window washer), gymnast and/or contortionist.  One stop was memorable.. it had two guys throwing bowling pins back and forth across the road.  I think they had 4 in the air, but after a year of sitting on my rear, I’m not sure I can count that high. 

A northerner like me, still hasn’t developed the skin to say no.  So I give to everyone.  Even the guys (most) who are clearly members of the ‘paste basta’ society.  But today, by the time I neared home, I was tapped out.  No coin.  Broke.  Nothing left.  So I had to shrug my shoulders and open my hands in the ‘I dont have anything to give’ way.  But he didn’t seem to get the message.  Then my wife tells me that’s not the way you say no in sign language here.  You wag your finger as if it were a windshield wiper.  Well, I did that and it worked. 

Something new to learn.  Play windshield washer and save your change. 

Drivers license

Going to try something new with this post.  Make it a work in progress.  In the past, I’ve always waited for something to be finished before I wrote it.  But in this case, I’d like to try the day by day, trepidations included, approach. 

A few weeks back, somone asked me if I had my drivers license.  I said no.  Then my wife reminded me that hers expires on May 15 and she should go back to Canada to visit and renew it at the same time.  I told her I used to drive for months after mine was expired back home and it was no big deal.  Of course, I’m a much more adventurous soul than she is.  That didn’t sit well.  So I suggested she finally get off her but and get a local drivers license.  That way she can delay the trip back home until summer and have a valid drivers license just in case she has an accident. 

Well today, she chickened out and I had to promise her I would go with her and get mine at the same time… even though my spoken spanish is crummy and my reading/writing even worse.  If I can go there without the language, she has no excuse for chickening out. 

Tonight, Iwill ask my friend what I need to know and what kind of test is it and how I am going to answer a written exam if I dont understand the questions…  Should be fun.  Will keep you posted. 

Dentists

Yesterday, someone on the Southron forum asked about getting dental work done in Uruguay.    I had to drive my wife to the dentist today so I thought I’d do some research at the same time. 

By way of background, over the past 20 years we’ve holidayed here, my wife saw a dentist only one or twice, for an emergency.  Me – never.  A few years ago, she had a problem with a root canal done at home gone bad and she needed a bridge.  We had a good dental plan at home so she asked our family dentist.  He said he wouldn’t do it, because the bridge was too big.  He suggested an implant.  She sought a second opinion when she was in Uruguay for the winter.  One of our friends is in the medical business here and referred her to one of the professors of dentistry who he knew did this kind of work. 

He examined her out and said it could be done, but he warned her that there was a chance it wouldn’t hold up over time and she might have to have it redone in a few years.   This year, it came loose and she’s in the process of having it redone now, plus an implant for another tooth.  

His house is in Carrasco and he has an office in it, from way back.  Everything in it is old.  But it all works and he’s superb at what he does.  One of the things you’ll notice about Montevideo is that a lot of things are really old and in need of maintenance. But I’ve found an inverse relationship here between the quality of work and the aesthetics of the workplace.  The older and more rundown a workshop (or doctor’s office is), the more skilled the workman/doctor.  Professionals and tradespeople here aren’t given to fixing up their place to impress clients the way we’re used to up north.   It takes some getting used to for a northerner, but if you’re looking for the best people, that’s the way it is. 

So let’s get to the most interesting part.  The costs in pesos unless marked otherwise.  To get USD, divide by 23, (as of 1/5/07). 

• A ceramic cap (crown) is $8000
• Root canal for molar is $3800
• Root canal for premolares $2200
• Root canal for anteriores $1800
• Implant U$S 500
• Reconstruction U$S 500
• Bridge work varies with the kind of bridge so it’s impossible to quote a price.  In my wife’s case, it was a very unusual bridge, that took… ready for this..  over 20 hours in the chair to get it right.. plus xrays.. plus manufacture of the bridge.  Price was U$S 1500. 
• No idea what a cavity costs to fill but assume around $1000 (U$S40 mas or menos)

You can assuredly find better prices from a younger, more inexperienced dentist without the qualifications of the professor we use.  But we feel they’re reasonable and for the quality of the work, the best value. 

Also keep in mind that these prices are not marked up.  The dental clinics that specialize in working with foreigners will most likely be considerably higher.  These are the same prices you pay if you’re a local.