A Conversation with the Girl Scouts
What an awesome time I had learning about pearls in Uruguay! It all started with a request to teach a local Girl Scout Troop about pearls. These local middle school girls have been learning about women in business AND they have been learning about value. How do you value things? How do you increase the value of things? All very right up my alley!! We had an amazing morning talking about pearls and making jewelry.
But, what I really loved and appreciated was learning about pearls in Uruguay from their leader, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a native of Uruguay and was wearing the pearl earrings she had received for her fifteenth birthday. Although now older (and mother to a 10 year old!), Elizabeth said back in the day, turning fifteen was a big deal for girls in Uruguay.
I am sure it still is, but Elizabeth could only speak to her own experience. She said every girl looked almost the same up to her 15th birthday. No makeup, no jewelry, no haircuts. All girls wore their hair long. And then when their fifteenth birthday comes, girls can suddenly cut their hair, wear makeup and jewelry and otherwise express a little bit of their own style and individuality. We have many Mexican families in our area, so I asked her if it was similar to a quinceañera, the big parties that Mexicans throw for their fifteen-year-old girls. Elizabeth felt it was not quite as extravagant in Uruguay.
Birthday Pearls!
The most interesting thing she had to say was that every single girl received a pair of pearl earrings for her fifteenth birthday. (Pearl earrings make a really awesome gift for any age!) She said it was a nice, treasured gift. Fancy, sophisticated, and incredibly practical without being overly showy. Again, twenty five or so years later, Elizabeth is still wearing her pearl stud earrings! She said it was a thing… pearls in Uruguay! She actually expressed her surprise that it wasn’t even bigger here which makes me wonder … if she doesn’t think pearls are a big deal here, what is happening in Uruguay!? Pearls must be HUGE!
India
I am a modern day treasure hunter who travels the world for gorgeous pearls and amazing adventures. I own a pearl jewelry and jewelry repair business, ThePearlGirls.com, with a cute retail store in Athens, GA. I also have a Pearl Travel business and travel blog at TheWorldofPearl.com.
