NYC Survivor: Brought to you by Credit Card Fraud

Ok, so I promised I would blog in the event that something interesting happened.... and yesterday, it did!  So for the past 2 weeks, I've been stretching my groceries trying to avoid going to the store.  Making use of what I had.  Yesterday, I decided a trip was a must... Soooo off I went!

After walking around with a cart full of watermelon, arugula, pita, baguettes, cheese, etc... My phone conversation is interrupted by another.  Since I didn't know the number, I hung up and picked up.  Turned out to be some automated woman telling me all about how she could lower my interest rate. Blah blah blah... I hung up and then saw I had a text from a strange number... And there were the magic words,

"Hi, it's the fraud department, we see some fishy transactions. Are they yours?"  My reaction... "Um, NO!"  So I texted back no, and they texted back "Ok, card has been blocked." Ummmm....OK! Thanks technology for catching the crook trying to steal my money!!!! I immediately called the bank to ask what my next steps were... and the lovely lady informed me that indeed the transaction had gone through but had also been reversed, which meant... they had my numbers.  Oh GREAT!!!

Soooo what next? "Well, we block your card and send you a new one!" Well, I'm kinda living out of town.... Sooo can you send it here? "Sure, no problem"

Ok, cool. That was fast... I was still standing by the cereal at the supermarket.... Oh shoooot! I don't have my credit card or check book... Nope.  Just me and a cart full of stuff and no way to pay for it... GREAT! 

Soooo I put back most of my things and walked out.  UGH.  I was sooo mad/shocked... All I could think was.. I should NOT have paid for my metro card with my debit card today!!! Thanks a lot grand central! Then I thought.. maybe it's from an online purchase.  Ugh. Who knows!? In a way I just felt like my privacy had been violated, and... that I would have to trek back to the grocery store with my credit card.  UGH.  It had already been a long day!  And also... having never actually used my credit card, I wondered if it was activated/worked.  At that point, I didn't even think about the checks... I just thought... DARN IT! Why don't I ever carry cash!!!!

After getting back home I decided I wouldn't risk going to the grocery store and trying out the credit card.  Instead, I made a decision.  I WILL MAKE IT until my card gets here WITHOUT buying one small thing.   No worries, I have checks and the credit card if I get into issues... BUT, I've made my decision, It'll be a fun challenge and at the same time, a way to appreciate how easy I have it.  Everything comes  at the swipe of one card.  Seems a bit too easy!

So here I go, on my survivor challenge.  As of right now, I have rice, pasta, crackers, a table spoon of goat cheese, Lipton tea bags, a frozen banana, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper, honey mustard dressing, some jam, vanilla ice cream, and a bit of cereal...  Well.... that was until I went searching... and found some oatmeal, some corn meal,  and a can of soup!! I will return them to the apartment owners after my card is in my hands, but for now! I'll make it work! 

Tonight's dinner involved broiling some Alfalfa sprouts I had and eating them on my crackers, it turned out to be a hit! So no complaining here!!!


I'm kind of really excited about this, which is why I wanted to share!! Other than this, I have a CPA review book and a house hunting battle that is defeating me at the moment, SOOOO a challenge is fun! Call it a summer diet or whatever you want,  but I think it'll help me appreciate what I have!   And I'm pumped!

Tears of Pride from Queens

You know that moment when you're so happy for someone that you just burst into tears?  That happened twice today.  In public.

Right after writing my previous post,  I headed to Grand Central Station to meet Adam and Marion.  We headed to Queens and found "La Gran Uruguaya" full of Colombians watching the game.  They were so happy and SOOO loud.  My nerves calmed down a bit, knowing that no matter what, we were in for a treat.  We got a table for 6 and were joined by two ladies from somewhere in Central America.  They were very sweet and we chatted in Spanish.  We offered them some of the "parillada" (LOTS OF MEAT) we had ordered and they shared their sangria.

A crowd watches the Colombia game outside a pharmacy (on a big screen)

The first of many flags we saw in Jackson Heights, Queens  (with Adam)

Outside of Gran Uruguaya with Marion before the game

La Gran Uruguaya

La Gran Uruguaya

Fans of all ages

La Gran Uruguaya

La Gran Uruguaya

At La Gran Uruguaya with Adam

La Gran Uruguaya --- FOOD

La Gran Uruguaya

La Gran Uruguaya with Marion and Adam

Y la Celeste me regalo un Sol! 

Post game at La Gran Uruguaya

Well... Then... the game started.... And the nerves quickly returned.

All I wanted was for Suarez to get a chance to show what he could do.  I quickly saw that we looked WAAAYYY better than against Costa Rica.  The old legends didn't start, and Suarez got some help from young ones.... Then.... he scored.  I jumped up and tears started rolling down my face.  All I could think about was Suarez's crying face at the last game, knowing he had felt so helpless from the bench.  All I could see was Suarez getting wheeled out of the hospital 28 days ago after knee surgery. And now... he was crying for another reason, and Maia was there to see it.   He got his chance! And it was beautiful.  The rest of the half was ok... just me nervous as could be.

Second half... I could see us losing it.  I knew they would score, and they did.   I suddenly knew it could all be over in a few minutes.  And then... Pereira was laying on the ground.... Not moving.   He was hit in the head and was just laying there.  I'm pretty sure he was unconscious for a second, laying there, while his teammates tried to get him to move. They hurried to him and he struggled off the field.  As soon as his sub was getting ready to warm up, Pereira started complaining.  He fought.  He wanted to keep fighting for the team.  He didn't care that he had just been unconscious... he wanted to fight.  And he went back in.   At that moment, it all came rushing back.    This is why I love it.  Because they will risk anything for this team... Suarez his knee... and this man... his everything.

And then.... SUAREZ.   He scores again.  He kisses his three fingers (for his wife, daughter, and son) and then... the players are on top of him.   He's crying.  I'm crying so hard that I can't stop.  He did it.  This was his chance.  And just like that.... he was on the ground being carried off in a stretcher.  I missed what happened, and I hope he's ok.  He cried and hugged the players on the bench, knowing there was still time on the clock... But he had done it.  Two goals and Uruguay was ahead.  AND URUGUAY WON.  No one thought it would happen, and it did. And after arriving to Queens in the rain, I looked out to see the Sun.  As the soccer song in Uruguay goes.... "Celeste regalame un sol" (Celeste (the national team) please give me the sun)

The restaurant went crazy... "SOY CELESTE, SOY CELESTE, CELESTE SOY YO."  The ladies sitting at the table were so sweet and congratulated us.  It was amazing.  People outside started honking and we all went out to celebrate.  There were flags, strangers honked by, it was magic.  Next door, we went into the "panaderia" to get sweets and buy a Uruguay flag... the cheers just continued.  It was unbelievable...

And just like that....
Maia got to witness her dreams come true.  From the stadium.
Suarez got the spotlight he deserved.
Uruguay's 3.5 million got to scream together in harmony, through the tears and the smiles.
The team left their hearts on the field, and watched their hard work payoff.

And just like that... I got to once again see how blessed I am to have such incredible people in my life that know what means the world to me and support me from near and far.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  And if you don't believe me about how amazing and supportive everyone is, here are a few examples of what I received today!

From a friend in Oxford, MS

From a friend in Ecuador

From a friend in Peru

Maia in Sao Paulo.  This guy used to be dad's student in Uruguay.  He ran into her and said, "remember me?"

From a friend in Germany

Mom's cupcake for friends at home from Portugal, Brazil, England, Germany, Mississippi, Venezuela, etc

Friends watching it at home

Friend from Oxford, MS

Friend from Oxford, MS

Friend from Oxford, MS

Friend from Durant, Oklahoma

Friend from Durant, Oklahoma

Friend from Oxford, MS

Uruguay, My Pride and Joy

Hello friends! It's been a while! Since my last post, I've graduated and moved to the big city!!! I am currently living the glamorous life of studying for a CPA, which includes 10 hour study days.  It's a blast! 

I decided, when I moved at the beginning of June, that I would not blog... since this isn't really trip, it's just my new life in NYC.  Everyday life isn't really exciting enough for me to blog about, especially now (with the CPA exams coming up). But since I've been up here, many have asked when I would start blogging.... I kept saying that I wouldn't, until today.... Why today?  Because I've spent the past two days sick to my stomach in nerves, because I teared up on the subway on my way to Chinatown,  and because I raced through crowds all over the city today in search for a flag and a sky blue jersey.  No.... I'm not crazy... at least not crazier than before.  It's just that today Uruguay plays England in the world cup... and... my sister is at the stadium to watch it.  

Many of you probably will stop reading right now, since you couldn't care less about soccer or the world cup, but for those who won't stop, let me try to share my rationalization for my madness these past few days.   Excuse my rambling, but as I get ready to go watch the game, I want to capture what I'm feeling right now.  The next post will be a recap of my experience. 

Uruguay... oh Uruguay.  3.5 million people... It's not a patriotic country, and I would go as far as to say that it isn't a very proud country.  But I am very proud of it.  4 years ago, I sat with around 30 of our friends in Oxford, Mississippi... screaming, crying, complaining loudly as Uruguay shocked us all and placed 4th in the world cup.  We just expected them to win one game.  All I really wanted was for people to recognize "Uruguay," when I said where I was from... I just wanted Uruguay to have a name for itself amongst people that are otherwise not geographically conscious.   After the world cup, I found that this was exactly the effect that La Celeste had... I attended countless leadership conferences around the country for accounting, and everywhere I would introduce myself and when Uruguay was mentioned they would mention either Forlan or Suarez's handball.   To be honest, it was the most wonderful feeling, to know that people knew a little bit about where I came from....  It might sound dumb, but after being gone for so many years, it's nice to find any sort of connection that takes you back.  

Since the world cup, Uruguay has been all over the news.  Legalizing marijuana, legalizing gay marriage, having a president that donates his salary, accepting released prisoners from Guantanamo, and much more.  Every time we are in the news a friend sends me an article.  It's amazing, both because there is an article and because my friends continue to think of me when they see anything about Uruguay.  Sooooo... why care today?  why lose sleep?  why continually tear up with nerves? 

Well, the most obvious reasons:

- Maia is at the game and I know it would mean the world to her to see a good match and a happy crowd and a triumphant Celeste!

- It is finally Suarez's time.  He has been hated, booed, and hated some more.  As a kid, he fought to become good enough to play in Uruguay so he could chase the girl of his dreams to Spain.  He succeeded, they are married, and they have two kids.   He has continually proven himself by becoming the highest scorer in the European leagues (even though he was suspended for a LOT of his games).  This was his shot to become the star... and then... he had knee surgery.  No one thought he would play.. and he watched with tears in his eyes as Uruguay fell to Costa Rica.  Today... he will play.   Today, he will get to play for the first time since surgery.  I want him to have his time to shine.... but I'm scared he'll get hurt.  I'm nervous it's not worth risking his knee... I'm scared he'll be disappointed... when really this was his year! 

- I worry the team will be crushed.  They have been such a shining example of charity for Uruguay, that I want them to get something back.  They have led by example and dedicated much of their time as a team to helping others.  These are not guys that came from fancy challenge teams and played the big bucks for the best coaches.   These are guys who got here from nothing.  They grew up in no name towns in a tiny country.   They had nothing and they worked soooo hard to get here.  I'm not saying other countries and other players didn't... but this is my home and I've seen many struggle there... working hard and never getting recognized.  So I want them to... I want them to get their time together and enjoy as a team.

- Most importantly, I know that there are over 3 million people suffering with me.  Worrying about how their children will feel if we lose, trying to keep the hopes up... At this point, I'm sure the majority of you are thinking that I've completely lost my mind... after all it's just a soccer game, right?!?  Well... for Uruguay, it's a time to unite together and root for the same things.   In a country that is divided by socioeconomic conditions, by local soccer teams, by politics, and much more... it's nice to unite and fight to cheer as a whole.  There's no baseball or hockey or anything else to distract anyone.  EVERYONE will be watching.  EVERYONE will be hoping.  And I don't want these people to lose their smiles and fall back into the pessimistic views we had before the last world cup.  WE.  I don't want Uruguay to stop feeling like a unified WE.  

Now I have other reasons that might make even less sense to you guys...  Especially if you're from the states.  Patriotism is natural here and runs rampant.  But it's not like that in Uruguay.  And I didn't grow up with that... so it's hard for me to explain why I'm so proud of my little country, especially to people who only think of it as this 3rd world country in the middle of nowhere.  The truth is... that this little country is the reason I'm alive and the reason my mom's alive.  If it weren't for this little country... my grandmother's family would have probably been killed by the Nazis.  So it seems silly that I struggle to put into words why I love it so much.  The world cup gives me a reason to share my love for the country that saved my family with friends that are removed from that part of my life.  

My family is soooo lucky to have the most incredible friends all around the world.  And during these games I feel them incredibly close, because they all reach out to send their well wishes.  No matter their nationalities, no matter their loyalties.  Soccer brings us together.  At my house today, there will be americans, Germans, Venezuelans, Portuguese,  Brazilians, Spanish, and who knows what else... all coming together with mom and dad to root for Uruguay.  Maia... in the middle of the stadium found a friend of dad's from Uruguay.  He approached her and said, "remember me?."   Me in the middle of New York city will head to Queens to watch in the Uruguayan bar, accompanied by two of my best friends (Americans).  We have friends wishing us luck from Germany, Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, you name it.... It doesn't matter today.  They are friends, and they know that it matters to us. And that is what la Celeste does in my life... It brings me closer to people that are so far and so near.  It makes me realize how lucky I am... Win or lose, I will have friends that would have never watched a soccer game before, watch nervously and text me constantly.    They care... for 90 minutes, they care about my little country as if it were their own.  And for that... I am so grateful.  That is what makes me tear up... It's  the realization of what 11 people with a soccer ball can do for people's lives... So today, as I sit nervously on the subway to Queens... I'm grateful for La Celeste and I'm nervous because I want them to have the happiness that they bring me.   Win or lose, I'm so proud of our little country.