- How I am doing?
- How I like Serbia?
- Why I left Uruguay?
The first two answers are easy: 1) my health is gradually improving and my business is doing well; and 2) I like living in Novi Sad very much, I have made friends here, and most importantly I can go to Liturgy at the Orthodox Church every Sunday and holy day–something I could not do in Uruguay. It is too early to tell whether, in the long run, I will like Serbia better than Uruguay: but it certainly is less expensive to live here, easier to do business here and the Internet technology is both better and far cheaper here.
When I opened my offices in Uruguay I made a promise to my employees that “I would not close the office there until and unless it was impossible to continue to operate my business from there.” Very simply, that happened! The Banco Central of Uruguay continued to increase its pressure on my business so that after spending more than US$200,000 to comply with their requirements they still forced our offices to close.
On a personal level, I was deeply hurt when I imported my handicapped van to Uruguay, based on the formal advice of a very prominent professional in Uruguay; which advice was simply put, lies; the result of which was that my handicapped van was forfeited to the Uruguayan Aduana (Customs Service) as “contraband” for which I was additionally fined about US$14,000 (and they still have the Van)!
This had the effect of destroying all of my plans for traveling around the country and writing my second book about Uruguay.
It would not be unfair to say that I have strongly bitter feelings toward both that professional and certain agencies of the Uruguayan government.
Nevertheless, I have not surrendered my Uruguayan residency, nor do I intend to. I will return. And I still maintain various personal and residential connections to Uruguay.
For those of you who were surprised at my circumspection in this writing, I must inform you that in Uruguay there is a slander and libel law which makes it a criminal offense to say or write negative things about people, companies or the government, EVEN IF THOSE THINGS ARE THE TRUTH! Faced with such a medieval law I can do no more without wasting money defending myself in court and possibly having my residency revoked.
I still care very much for Uruguay and proudly display the Uruguayan flag along with my Southron flags in my living room here in Novi Sad. You will be seeing me again as soon as time and health permit.
I wish all of you and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay the best in all things!
–The Southron
Lest there be any misunderstanding, the “professional” to whom I referred is NOT Dr. Mark Teuten who remains my attorney and for whom I have the highest respect.
