British James Robotham wanted to travel far from home to immerse himself in a new culture and improve his Spanish. He considered options across South America and chose Uruguay for its education and security. He arrived at the UM in 2023 for a semester-long academic exchange, and ended up staying for the entire year.

The International Business told the UM’s Press Team all about his stay in the country: what he has learned, his work as an English teacher, and his future plans.

What was your time in Uruguay like?
The people here are much friendlier than in London, where I’m from. More smiles, more “buenos días” greetings, and more community, given how everyone here seems to know each other. The meat is incredible. My Uruguayan friend from the UM taught me how to make an asado and I cannot thank him enough. I am now the group’s asador, and I know the name of more cuts of meat in Spanish than in English.

I love dulce de leche and everything that has it inside; I’ve lost count of how many alfajores I’ve eaten. I also find being by the beach so nice and something I was not used to, although I must say the best beaches are in Rocha. Finally, the soccer. This is definitely a passion that English people share. My friends here took me to see some Peñarol and national team matches, and I had a lot of fun. They’ve enjoyed showing and teaching me about their culture, something which I’ve really appreciated. No doubt, I still have a lot to learn, but it always makes me smile to watch their faces light up when I say something very specific about Uruguay, and prove wrong their thinking that I’m ‘just another gringo’.

Why did you choose the UM?
I chose the UM because it’s the best university in Uruguay. They also have an agreement with Hertfordshire University, where I study in England, and offered courses that were relevant to my degree. I am glad I took this decision because the professors and other students were always so helpful. Furthermore, the International Relations team has been very friendly and helpful with exchange students. They organized trips and activities for us, like a trip to Salto del Penitente, and a cooking class where we made chivitos.

What was your experience like as an English teacher?
When I lived in London, I worked in hospitality at football stadiums, so I was already used to working while studying. I figured there was no harm in making some extra money while I was in Uruguay, and it would look good on my CV. So, I applied to be an English teacher at the Centro Bloomsbury (also the name of a neighborhood in London), located in Punta Carretas, where I met the director, a lovely woman named Marianela. She was happy to have a native English speaker.

I had already taught children in England before, but this time I was leading a group of adults and teenagers who were very nice and happy to learn, especially about the culture of my home country. Some of them are in high school and want to study at the Universidad de Montevideo when they finish.

What are your future plans?
For now, I would like to stay in South America, possibly Uruguay. The time I have spent here has been invaluable for many reasons, including having more independence, and I am sure that this will be beneficial to me in the future. When I finish my degree, I hope to find work in my sector, who knows, maybe doing business between the UK and Uruguay. Without a doubt, I would like to come back!