Meetup in Montevideo

Meet American and other Expats for Lunch, every Sunday in Montevideo, Uruguay

Recent feedback: I just wanted to say a special thanks to Sonia Duarte for organizing the wonderful Sunday lunches in Montevideo.  The atmosphere is fun and I have made great contacts.  Keep up the good work! B.J.

If you've attended one of our Expat Meeting meetings, please give us feedback (good or bad): your feedback

• Sunday, May 26, 2013 @ Club Banco Republica
• Sunday, June 02, 2013 @ Club Banco Republica
• Sunday, June 09, 2013 @ Club Banco Republica
• Sunday, June 16, 2013 @ Club Banco Republica
• Sunday, June 23, 2013 @ Club Banco Republica
• Sunday, June 30, 2013 @ Club Banco Republica

January 6, 2013: Sunday Expat meeting will be held at Club Banco Republic (see below for address and map). Just a few blocks from Fellini's. November, 2012, Total Uruguay celebrates 7 yeas of meeting every Sunday! May 29, 2012 Total Uruguay celebrates 7 years of supporting the Uruguay Expat Community. Now meeting in Asuncion, Paraguay, too: Asuncion Tuesday Expat Meeting and Paraguay Info Exchange.

Expat Meeting May 27, 2012

Almost Seven Years of Lunch Every Sunday

Come join our expat family at Club Banco Republica where Total Uruguay representative "Sonia" runs a beautiful "family" luncheon that people have attended for years. She also organizes the Thursday Dinner now into its second year. Though not a "language exchange" there is usually a mix of people allowing for the opportunity for you to help some practice their English and to also practice your Spanish.

Contact information if you need some help finding the meeting or other information about the meeting, email: meetings [at] totaluruguay.com. Please direct any other kind of inquiry to our forum.
 
You can see photos of Club Banco Repblica and the relaxing meal that people continue to attend, after reading about them on our well-viewed website, which is one of the most important (and one of the original) Uruguay expat websites.
 
Like the Total Uruguay website, the luncheons have been successful because our luncheons at Club Banco Republica have no larger agenda and our website sponsors them as a service to our readers and viewers.
 
We welcome all to join our family and become immediate friends! We want to be friendly to everybody and have always pursued our relationships this way.
 
In fact, we encourage and have supported other "expat meetings" (unfortunately a couple of times others have started meetings top be held at the same time and we cannot support that behavior). If you want to start a meeting that meets at a different time, day and/or place, well, we’ll be glad to help! You can even participate on Total Uruguay and reach an enormous flow of new expats coming... we get hundreds of thousands of views every year.
 
We want EVERYONE to have an exciting and comfortable time in Montevideo and around Uruguay.
 
Our meeting have helped the expat community in Montevideo for years. People have gained, business and social contacts as well as received emotional support when feeling lost or alone in a new and foreign place. Other expat meetings also have flowed out of it, for example, the Friday Night Language Exchange and Atlantida meetings.
 
The idea has been to help people with their vacations or adjustment as expats. Some people need more emotional and social support than others. Some are seeking information and some have lots of information to share. Like a big family, there are a variety of opinions, goals and objectives but regardless of differences everyone offers friendship and support.
 
The Sunday lunch, like the Thursday dinner meeting (see main schedule) is part of this process. Making contacts, becoming a family - all this is facilitated by meal-taking in a private/public form that is a bit like having a family dinner together.
 
Our meetings are designed for our members. No one is more important than another. The emotional support part is important. Some expats feel really alone and lost and are immediately welcomed into the group (family) without question. Just come as you are. No need to register, RSVP or worry. You'll immediately feel welcome by a hot meal and good friends. Try not to get lost in the conversation and put your order in early. Also, remember, what "waiter" means, especially in Uruguay.... they will "wait" until you are ready. The Uruguayan restaurant culture is not to interrupt your conversation to take your order...
 
The Sunday Expat lunch organized by TotalUruguay.com has been taking place every Sunday without exception since November 20, 2005. If you are reading this web page, you can be sure the meeting is still taking place and you don't need to email and ask.
 
So... The Total Uruguay, Sunday Expat meeting is at Club Banco Republica now. Some felt the space at Fellini's was too crowded for the group. Come by for some great Italian food, drinks and desserts... and socializing with other English speaking expats (usually from several different countries) and Uruguayans. This web page is the only official source of information about the meeting and we do not send out emails.
 
Club Banco Republica is located at Benito Blanco 1289 near the corner of Buxareo in Pocitos. See the map below. No reservations needed. Club Banco Republica is also a full health club with swimming pool. No membership is required to attend the expat meetings.

An Informal gathering!

This is an informal gathering for English speakers to exchange information and ideas about Uruguay and most any other topic that might come up. Think of it more like a big family meal than a "meeting". There are usually between 20 and 30 people, sometimes as many as 50, and the atmosphere is one of lunch and conversation with a large family. People who attend usually represent several different countries, including some English speaking Uruguayans. Don't be shy, stop by and say hi. Though not a "language exchange" there are usually native Spanish speakers so feel free to practice your Spanish too!

If you are not living in Uruguay but just visiting as a tourist or checking out retirement in Uruguay, feel welcome to stop by too.

The founding principles** of this expat meeting were based on a concept of clarity and simplicity:

• Always the same place.
• Always the same time.
• Always someone there rain or shine.

Expat Info Exchange / Conference

Imagine, instead of spending lots of money to attend a boring conference with a bunch of speakers all trying to sell you something, for just the price of lunch you can socialize with other expats that are in various stages of doing what your thinking about, and compare notes with others on the same path as you. You can be interactive and share information, not just pay and listen. It's a unique experience and you can repeat it anytime you want, and gain new perspectives because there will be different people there.

Have something to sell?

The Sunday meetings are intended to be an informal social gathering and not a forum to promote your products or services. Of course you are welcome to bring business cards and discuss what you do at the meetings. However, it is not a forum where you can stand up to address the group.

Total Uruguay offers free advertising on our website for those with a business message who are also interested in participating in our social community. The website reaches are large number of people living in, moving to, visiting and dreaming about Uruguay. Please see this forum post for more information on getting started:

• Advertising, Promotion, etc on Total Uruguay

Speak a little English, maybe some Spanish too!

This is a completely informal and social meeting. There is no boring "business" to attend to. There are not any boring presentations or sales pitches to listen to. When you arrive you can just take a seat, or walk around and introduce yourself to everyone. It's no problem if you arrive early or late (early is better of course!)

Everyone is welcome.

Come and join other expats and English speakers in Uruguay. People of many nationalities have attended the meetings: Australians, Dutch, Canadians, Danish, Bolivian, Vietnamese, Norwegian, Brazilian, Serbian, Cuban, Finnish, French, Nigerian, Turkish, Germans, Argentinians, South African, Swedish, Indian, Venezuelan, Filipino, British, Belgian, Irish, Russian, El Salvadorian, Colombian, New Zealanders, Ukrainian and more. Everyone is welcome too.

If you have any questions, please ask them in our forum: Forum thread about the Expat Meeting. However, the only question should be when are you coming?

There are is an ATM machine (BROU) right outside the entrance.. There is also a currency exchange (open on Sunday) on the corner of Benito Blanco and Blvd Espana.

A note about Google maps and Uruguay. It seems they don't put the map pointer in the correct place for most street addresses. The map point on this map was manually set to the correct location!

Meeting History

**We would like to express our appreciation for the restaurants have hosted our meetings over the years:

• We started meeting on Nov 20, 2005 at Old Maz restaurant, a nice family run place that ultimately closed so their property could be developed into condominiums.
• In Sept 2009 we starting going to Fellini's Ristobarreto. Fellini's is a small Italian restaurant with great food and atmosphere. They have a great lunch special on weekdays. If you stop by once you'll be sure to become a regular.
• In January 2011 we started going to Parrillada Trouville, a traditional Uruguayan Parrilla. Great meat, chicken, fish, some pasta and salads too.
• In May 2011 we started going to Feligreta as we got left behind on Mothers day.
• On June 19, 2011 we returned to Fellini's Ristobarreto.
• On January 6, 2013 we started going to Club Banco Republica as many felt the space at Fellini's was a little crowded for the group.

Full disclosure: It has been traditional for the restaurant we meet at to provide a meal to the Total Uruguay representative at no cost. All attendees order from the restaurants regular menu and pay the standard prices. Total Uruguay is not associated with any meeting taking place at "De Picos Pardos" and this page is the only place for official information about the Total Uruguay Sunday Expat Meetings.

The Sunday Expat Meeting has always taken place in the Pocitos neighborhood, which offers a pleasant environment and other activities, especially on Sundays. After the meetings, people may chose to walk to a near by ice cream place, one of the shopping malls, a take a stroll down Pocitos Beach, or to a near by park and enjoy continued conversation. Unlike Cordon, Centro and Cuidad Vieja, many businesses are open on Sunday and it is a nice residential area to enjoy.

Some other expat meetings:

• Don't miss the new Thursday night Expat Dinner Happy Hour.
• At this time Total Uruguay is not promoting any meetings not organized by Total Uruguay. Those who organize other meetings are welcome to participate on Total Uruguay and with regular participation we'd be happy to include (non non-conflicting) meeting information.

A few thoughts from those who have attended. Feel free to forward any additional comments to meetings [ at ] totaluruguay.com

While cleaning out my desk I found the cards I picked up at the Expats lunch last April so am sending you greetings from Thailand.

I loved Montevideo and the parts of Uruguay that I saw outside the city but feel that Thailand really suits me best for long-term retirement.  There is an international expat community here and then there are the friends that I have made in my neighborhood.  I studied Anthropology in college so this place is very suitable to me - there are still tribal peoples living in the mountains all around me and making traditional textiles.  Although full of modern places, Chiang Mai retains the old culture as well and also has many temples that interest me.

If you ever find yourself here, Glen, send me an email and I would be happy to show you around.  I really enjoyed the luncheon and the people I met there - I hope there will be another visit some day.

- Brenda

Though Brenda chose not to move to Uruguay, her presence and especially her stories were spellbinding. How often to get you to speak with someone about their experiences working in Antarctica? That is what I like best about the Sunday Expat Meetings, all the great people and the stories of their experiences. - Glen

Sunday lunch with the Montevideo American expats is a great way to meet new friends and acquaintances. Whether you're just passing by or are already familiar with the city, you will find the expats group is a place where you'll feel instantly welcome and at home. The atmosphere is very much relaxed and informal. People of all ages, creeds and walks of life, mingle easily and are basically out to have an enjoyable meal in the company of others. You'll be surprised how fast time goes by when you're immersed in multiple fun and dynamic conversations that develop naturally and with ease. - Daniel

I've been in Montevideo most of the time for the last 17 years. I just started attending the English Speaking Expats meeting on Sundays a few weeks ago. What a blast. This week there were more folks than chairs and we had to scrounge more seating. So many different individuals, couples, and families and each with a unique story to tell. Some of the folks come every week, some come often, and others are only in town for a week or two. Great mix and good conversations. - Rodger