As is my wont, I had found an Indian restaurant in the city I was visiting and headed there. Instead of taking an Uber from Mercado de Puerto, I decided to walk it up through Ciudad Vieja and along the long promenade on the Rio de La Plata. As a result, by the time I reached the restaurant – about an hour and fifteen minutes later – I had worked up quite an appetite.
There was nobody inside. I was afraid they might be closed. Everything in the market seemed to be mostly closed. Apparently, I had landed on Children’s Day in Uruguay. A very friendly lady came up and said something to me in Spanish.
In Uruguay, English is barely spoken. All menus, signs, and instructions are in Spanish.
“No habla español. ¿Hablas Englsh?” I tried my best.
“Sure. Please come in.”
That was a big relief. I finally found somebody who could speak English. As I mentioned, there was nobody else in the restaurant. That gave me an opportunity to get to know Annie and learn about her life story.
“Were you born and brought up in Montevideo?”
“No. I am from Venezuela. And you?”
“I am from Atlanta. In the US”
That could have become awkward given the current geopolitical tensions between the USA and Venezuela. But it turned out I didn’t have to worry about anything.
“Where in Venezuela? I have not been to Venezuela, but I have been to your neighboring country, Guyana.”
“Not too far from there, actually – Bolivar.”
“So, how did you end up in Montevideo?”
“Well, I got my degree as a doctor in Venezuela…”
“Wait a minute,” I interrupted her. A doctor waiting tables did not fit my picture of the world.
“… you are a medical doctor?”
“Yes. And so is my husband.”
“So, why are you working here?”
Fascinating story. The economic situation was so bad in Venezuela that they got out of there two years ago. Came to Uruguay since it is easier to get a residency. However, there are many doctors in Uruguay. Plus, the country is very small. Only about 3.5 million people. 1.5 million in Montevideo, and the rest are strewn all over the vast country.
“So, your degree is valid here?”
“Yes”
“But you get no patients?”
“Yes. There are so many doctors already.”
“Wow! Same thing with your husband?”
“Yes”
“So, how did you meet your husband?”
Annie got animated at this question. “I have a very interesting story. Do you want to hear it?”
“Of course!” I said, looking around and finding no food at the table nor any guests for her to attend to.
It was an incredible story of coincidence. She and her husband, Johny, worked at the same hospital but did not know each other. It was a case of a particular patient that both of them had to tend to separately. Ultimately, it was the patient who brought them together. Unfortunately, the patient eventually died of the ailment. But their relationship held ground!
A bell rang. My food was ready.
At the same time, a couple walked in. Seemed local, based on how they ordered without even looking at the menu.
Everything said and done, Facebook contacts exchanged, I finally took leave.
“Next time, bring your family.”
“Sure. I would like to meet Johny too.”
And that was how yet another stranger became a friend. Hopefully, the birthday calls will keep the contacts going, and one fine day, you never know… maybe we will all meet each other again! Life can work in very strange ways.
