no internet for a while

I will not have internet for a few day, but I am writing.  I will post when I Can.

MOVING DAY

oH DO I HAVE A LOT TO SAY, BUT IT WILL HAVE TO WAIT TILL TOMORROW

Busy Day

Today is a busy day.  Still moving my things and teach a class tonight.  First class.  Good stuff.
More later.

Jill In Brazil: Cachorro Quente (Hot Dog)

Jill In Brazil: Cachorro Quente (Hot Dog): "Now believe me, this is what you have all been waiting for. The Brazilian Hot Dog. Rodrigo used to tell me about the hot d..."

Cachorro Quente (Hot Dog)

Now believe me, this is what you have all been waiting for.  The Brazilian Hot Dog.   Rodrigo used to tell me about the hot dogs here and I thought he must be crazy.  I have finally had my first and It won’t be the last.  I would have taken a picture but I ate them too fast.  Yep... Had 2.

Here it goes:

Take a Bun (Any bun but we had it on French Bread)

Add:

Hot Dog (In a Spaghetti Sauce) - add extra sauce

Put Mayonnaise on the bun

Mashed Potatoes

A Salsa made of Tomato & Onion and other ingredients

Ketchup

Mustard

Sounds crazy, but extremely good.   I will make you one!

Jill In Brazil: Things are Moving

Jill In Brazil: Things are Moving: "I know I go to extremes DAILY but lately I have been singing to myself “I think I’m Going to Like it Here” (this is the song to Annie, proba..."

Things are Moving

I know I go to extremes DAILY but lately I have been singing to myself “I think I’m Going to Like it Here” (this is the song to Annie, probably only Kate would be singing this by now”.  Kate and I live our lives with show tunes running in the background, yeah like all of the time.  

I know I will probably complain more but I was just thinking, I live 1.5 hours from the beach and I am close to Sao Paulo & Rio de Janiero… and I have my own Casa.  Not to mention that the weather is great here, we drink fresh juice daily and people kiss me on the cheek every day.  You know we should do more of this in America.  It just feels right.  It is the salutation for all men and women.  It’s like getting extra lovin every day.

So, you have now seen the pics to my new house.  It’s a Big deal for me as finally I get to plant my feet in the ground here.  I haven’t had a home to call my own for 7 months.  I can hear you mothers now, what kind of life are you giving to those kids?  Well, you are right.  All I have for those kids is reality, new experiences, honesty and Love Love love.   My parenting method is just love them up as much as possible, be honest about life and keep them safe and the rest will work itself out.  Got my fingers crossed most of the time.

Listening to Martin Sexton and drinking a Crystal Cerveja (Beer).  It was the cheapest in the store and I am pleasantly surprised.  Have you ever listened to Martin Sexton?  Start with the Black Sheep CD and I know you will love it.  If you don’t then we clearly do not like the same music.  And that is OK too.  I don’t think my sister would like this.  However she has taught me about music that really sets the party mood.  I guess you would call this Top 40.  It has been so long for me.  I am kind of a chiller.  My sister always makes the falling asleep face when I play her my music. 

So, anyway…. I am moving tomorrow and I bought a washer.  Rodrigo’s lovely mother gave us her awesome stove and refrigerator.  I am so happy about this because I have been in her house for 2 months now and one thing among many I know is that every day she cooked on this stove for her family with a lot of love.   She is funny, caring and lovely.  It took me a while to warm up to really everyone.  I think this is because it was such a drastic change coming to Brasil.  I have to say this is very different for me.  I was the kind of person who would meet you one day and call you my best friend without even knowing your last name.  I say this because my parents tell a story about one time I came into their bedroom with a new friend and asked if she could stay the night.   I introduced her as my best friend and my parents asked me her last name and I turned to the girl and said “What’s your last name?”  A funny one in my parent’s book. 

So anyway, things are moving.

New House Pics

Here is my new home in Brazil. 

Finally a place to plant my feet for a while. :)

New Chapter

Things are moving fast now.   Today we are moving to our new house and we both have new jobs and next we will find the kids a school.  Rodrigo is working two jobs right now and I have one in the evening.  We have just a few things for our new home; I will have to find a way to shop thrifty.  The interesting thing about used stuff here is…..  Most of it is restored and held onto.    There are used furniture stores and I look forward to shopping for our house.  I think we may end up with beds, a refrigerator, a washer and stove.  If we have these we can sleep, eat, and have clean clothes.   The other stuff will come as we get some income. 

Our house is beautiful.  The tile is a deco tile…this is good cuz we don’t have anything to decorate with.  The outside is painted a teal bright blue.  It is a happy color.  There are 3 bedrooms upstairs and the larger one is at the front of the house with a sliding door and a little balcony.  Just big enough for 2 chairs.  The living room is little but the kitchen is big and bright.  The best part of it is that just outside the back door of the kitchen there is a large covered area.  Covered but open on one whole side so there is plenty of light.  This area is for washing and BBQ.  I can also see us doing all of our entertaining and eating there.  I am satisfied with our choice and I am looking forward to starting the next chapter of our lives in Brazil. 

Excursion

Today we went on a excursion to the Northern Mountains.  I will post some pics in the a.m.  Getting our house tomorrow and really looking forward to this.  More Later.

O SOL!

The sun has been out for 2 days now.  It has been raining and overcast for like 15 days.  I can’t believe how the sun can affect you.  I live in Alaska for around 8 years and I don’t thing I complained about the sun.  I complained about the Cold.  Of course I have been sitting around in the rain with little to do and this may also have an effect on me but now I that I have the sun again I don’t think I will complain about the heat as much either. 

Jill In Brazil: Bits and Pieces People!

Jill In Brazil: Bits and Pieces People!: "So, I am living in a foreign country and every day it gets better. It really does. I know I sound crazy at times because I don’t..."

Bits and Pieces People!

So, I am living in a foreign country and every day it gets better.  It really does.  I know I sound crazy at times because I don’t handle being bored easily.  One time a psychic told me that boredom was my enemy and this… I believed. 

BTW:  I think everyone should see at least 2 psychics in their life….with an open mind……cuz you want to.  Don’t be scared and don’t be worried… Just go in to have fun, then after don’t read too much into it.  Bits and Pieces people!  Like reading a book.  Don’t read the book and assume you know everything there is to know about life….life is a collection of bits and pieces of everything; experiences and culture. 

So the real question for me Here Now is:  How do you feel today?

The answer is:  Today I feel great and do you want to know why??????

I just booked 2 round trip tickets for my Mom and Dad to come visit!!!!  For My Birthday!!!!  Ben’s Birthday!!!!   There coming and I already have our schedule planned.  I have been grinning from ear to ear all night.  They will be here for 10 days and we are going to the beach and my favorite little Expensive European town.  Oh My Deus!!!!!!

The feeling of seeing someone you love ½ a world away it is the most exciting feeling.   Even more because I am going to see my parents together again and this has been a silent wish of mine.  It has been a long haul for us all, but in that our family has grown so much and even though they were apart I am happy to say that we all grew together and in the same direction.   Oh Yeah and I can’t wait for those American Gifts to roll in!!!

Busy Busy Bee

Thank god I am finally busy.  Running.  I got the job starts on Monday 2 hours/5 days a week not too bad.  We put the paperwork in on our house and Rodrigo has another job interview today.  Wish us luck!

There is no place like home

I can hardly state this out loud, but I start Monday again with a teaching job.  I’ve already sat through 1 day of training, so I am thinking this is going to work out.  I met other teachers there and this was really the first time a Brazilian person in the room was the minority.  Oh how talking freely with people whom I do not know felt so so good.  I also was looking through a brochure as I was waiting and it had a lot of American cities featured with pictures, I was just trying to hold back the tears as this was the first time I knew how much I really missed my home.  All things considered “there is no place like home”.

too tired

Today, well lots happened today but I am too tired to write about anything now.  All is well.

Sunday Funday & the House

Just to fill you in on more good things, we went to the beach again.  It was a action packed day trip.  We left early in the a.m. for the beach to pick up some of our things that we left behind.  After our work was done we went to our favorite beach.  This time I have pictures.  I am as red as a shrimp today but it was worth it.  We swam and played fresco ball.   The kids had  an amazing time and I spent $9.00 reis on a bag of Ice.  This is the only part of my day that I still can't wrap my brain around.  Kept our beer cold though.

Today we looked at houses again and I had a job interview.  I think I took it and I think we got a house however I have thought these 2 things before.  You never know.  The house was a bright blue and it had a large kitchen with 3 bedrooms.  The best part was the backyard, it was big and pretty with a covered porch.  Bid enough to have friends over and even set up a table or two to eat outside.  Hope all pans out.

A Little Slice of Heaven

1.16.2011

I went to a wonderful place today.  Campos do Jordao, what a much needed little vacation.  It is a little village up in the mountains.  It was so pretty, it was like we were in Europe.  We sat and had Ice cream Sundae’s and beer.   Good Beer.  So far the best I have had in Brasil.  There was dark beer, a red, a pilsner and we even tried a bock.  It was cold, refreshing, full of flavor and not sour.  It was great!   I have attached pictures of my little experience.  Had a blast no doubt.  So to end my boring streak we went on a little visit to the mountains.  Heaven on earth, stop looking I’ve found it.

 

Rain Rain GO Away!

Honestly, I am so tired of sitting around doing nothing in the rain I could just die.  It is raining every day, my husband is working and I sit around with the kids eating 3 square meals a day.  Can’t go anywhere, cuz honestly the only other place I know where to go is to the grocery store and the mall.  I hate malls, I always have.  The only time I liked the mall was when I was a kid… and we used to hang out there. 

Today I watched You Tube today for 2 hours with my kid.  There is this kid named supermac18.  He has over 100 little funny short skits/movies.   Ben just loved them; the kid was really funny and cute.  Ben wants to make a movie too.  Maybe we will. 

Other than that I am so so sorry for being a downer lately, but I didnt think going to Brasil would ever be boring.  I do have an interview on Monday and we are looking at houses the rest of the day... wish me luck!

Brazilian Beauty

Spent the day at the Salon last week.   I got my hair colored and cut and my nails done.  It was so much fun.  I couldn’t really talk but I when I did I was quite amusing as always.  When I get my hair done In America, I always tell the lady; here is what I am going for but you are the expert so do something different but give me a haircut that I don’t have to do every morning.  I like the get up and go style.  Every time it is pretty close to the same.  Today, I tried to follow the same basic directions but it was very difficult to translate.  I ended up taking my pocket dictionary out and looking for the word trust.  Eu Tenho Confiancia e voce.  This is where we left it.  Honestly after the talk about my hair I thought I would get highlights and a bang trim. 
Once the full body color was done she started to cut and cut and cut.  I couldn’t really see and I couldn’t touch my hair because there was another gal painting my nails.  I was just looking at my girls with an expression of “what’s going on here”?  The girls were so cute; they were smiling and telling me it looked good.  When I turned around and looked in the mirror, I saw my sister staring back at me.  I definitely had blonde hair for sure; I do not know why I have never gone this blonde before.  It looked great! The style was awesome the color was awesome; I think it was because I could not tell her what to do.  I wonder if because I am always telling everyone that I trust them and then telling them what to do, it makes them less likely to take a risk.  This lady took a risk and I am quite pleased with the result as I would never have gone that blonde on my own. 
I have always said I am better about choosing which car to buy then choosing new friends.  The car doesn’t talk to me & it doesn’t tell me what to think about it, therefore I have to use my process of elimination to decide whether it is going to work for me.  Now with people whatever they tell me I believe.  I could run into a bank robber holding a bag of cash and he could tell me that he is the owner of the bank and I would believe him?  Maybe not being able to talk for a while could be a good thing?
Some differences:  Everything was very similar to an American Beauty Salon.  The only difference was that a mani/pedi was basically just cleaning the cuticles and polishing the nails.  There were no big relaxing massage chairs, no soaking, no de callusing no massaging.  With that being said, I have never had anyone paint my nails so carefully and perfectly.  In America I am rarely please with the paint job. 

We didn't choose our Homer Alaska

We chose another place for us to live, not the beach.   Now we just have to find a place to live there.  Rodrigo had some new and better opportunities for us and would allow us to make a bit more money.  I think when I came down to it.......it was better for us to have some money plus he has made some friends that are pretty cool there. 
Am I unhappy with the decision to not live at the beach? 
Well just today there were over 300 deaths from heavy rain and mudslides along the coast so, this made me feel better about the decision and  also we have scars from mosquito bites all over our arms and legs that we got there 1 month ago.  I still love the beach but I think it might be a better place for us to visit and Rodrigo seems very happy about this new place.  It is smaller than where we live now but its growing.

Starting Work Today??????

Well today is the day that I will finally have someting to do to keep my mind busy.  I start teaching 2 Conversational English Classes tonight.  I will let you know how it goes.
Update-Nope didnt start today, job fell through at the last minute.  Not really suprised!

Over 2,500 Views- Thank You's

Oi Meu Amigos! 

Thank you so much for taking interest in my Blog.  I have gone over 2500 views Today!  I am considering this a huge accomplishment for me. 

If you are loving it please pass it on to 10 of your friends for me and tell them to do the same if they like it, would ya?
 
Or if you are a computer person and know how to get this out on the web or link me up, could ya?

Finally, thanks again for reading and dont forget to comment every once in a while, should ya?    

The truth is:  If it wasn't for this blog and for you, I might have thrown in the towel weeks ago! :)
Love You All!

The Real Challenge!

You know what the real challenge is for me, wrapping my brain around the fact that I am going to have to live with less.  As an American Consumer as sad as it is to say…. I miss it. 

I didn’t buy expensive stuff but I sure did buy things. The best thing that I did was bring my 15 boxes full of clothes and things that I thought I would need for a life here, because to replace my stuff would be triple. 

It is not that I need a huge amount of shit around me to feel happy.  Here it is; just the basic necessities are expensive and once we start working it will be goodbye to eating out, spending when I am feeling sad, and buying just to buy.  I sound like such a brat, don’t I? 

All I can say is SHIT!!!!!!!!   Someone told me that if I keep comparing things to America, I will drive myself Crazy!!!!   Guess What?  I am feeling a little Crazy now.  I don’t know what to do, my husband has a decision to make – do we get a job and just live with a little or do we go big.  If we just get a job we can live in a great place and see him more, but in 2 years all we have is more experience.  If we go big and have a business, we may see him less, have to live in a place that is further from the beach but we can go out, buy the extras that we want, afford a babysitter once in a while and afford to visit back home more often. 

My heart says I just want to live in peace and  to be together but my head says get a job that pays more.  And the rest of me says “What in the Fuck was I thinking”? 

Darn kids Anyway!

This is the view out of my window in my bedroom.  Every day I get a clearer picture of where I am.  Like I know what the front of those houses look like and I have walked by that tall building.  Last night I walked around the streets people were outside hanging out and talking.  Here I have only been wondering around in the day and when I would go out at night it was to a destination.  I like the way people hang out here.

 Yesterday Rodrigo’s parents took my son with them to have lunch with more of the family in another city.  I think Ben had fun but he doesn’t like to tell me everything or anything.  When he came home he told me that he didn’t eat anything.   Like nothing good, when you hear Ben talk you’d think- where did the 6 hours go and I’m glad I didn’t go with him?   Then you talk to everyone else and find out he played the whole time and had a blast.   You know the other day people told me that Ben was speaking Portuguese!!!!  When I talk Portuguese with my son he yells at me to stop and to talk English.  That little kiddo knows Portuguese.  When I sit and try to teach him words he pronounces them wrong, too.  He’s as smart as a Weasel.  Do you find that this is typical of kids, just boys, or just mine?   

Do you have a kid that is so much like you that you can hardly get mad at them?   I feel that when I have to punish him, I am punishing myself sometimes.  Because I know why he is doing what he is doing, I understand how he feels.  He had a breakdown the other day and it was identical to my breakdown.  Said the exact words for why he was feeling sad.  I always wanted to have a little girl just like me so that I could understand her and I got a boy.  I think this was a good thing.  You know what?  Rodrigo’s family tell me so many crazy stories about him and then I see “Gabi”  oh she never stops. 

Do you know that Saturday Night Live Skit “Gilly”?  This is my daughter.  Here is a link so that you can see for yourself.  My little “Gilly”  Is similar to “Rodrigo”. 

Check it out-  “Gilly SNL”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj0lboME4aw

Thanks for Reading! 

Fruit!

There are as many or more Fresh Juice Bars on every corner in Brasil just Like there are Coffee shops in America!  It is amazing to me.  I am getting my daily recommendations of Fruit everyday just in my juice.  Can you imagine?  Pineapple (abacaxi), Mango (Manga), Passion Fruit (my favotite-maracujáe ), Orange (laranja), Grape (Uva), Strawberry (morango) to name a few.  They take the fresh fruit, cut it up, throw it in the blender, add water and real sugar and there you go.  It is the best juice in the world and it is fresh.  Seriously Fresh. 

I tried Guava Fruit for the first time yesterday.  Goiaba is the name in Portuguese.  It looks like a cross between a pear and orange.  Attached is a picture.  You eat the whole fruit, an amazing texture.  There are hard seeds but you eat them too.  Gabi Loves them.  They are sweet and have a sour taste as you near the skin.  The most interesting thing for me is eating the outside.  I guess because it feels like an orange but the skin tastes like a thick skinned pear.  I have only had Guava candy up till now.  I don't know if you have them where you live, but it is worth a try.

Jill In Brazil: This Blogs For You

Jill In Brazil: This Blogs For You: "“Quem entrou na chuva é para se molhar”.... “Who came in the rain is too wet”- This is a comment from someone from Brasil readi..."

This Blogs For You

“Quem entrou na chuva é para se molhar”....   

“Who came in the rain is too wet”-

This is a comment from someone from Brasil reading my blog.  I think this next Blog is not only important but long overdue.  I just never had the right platform.

I write my blog in English because for a month North America was my only audience, now I have an audience in Brasil and other parts of the world.  I have students, friends, people who I do not know and family reading my blog in Brasil and I am grateful.   Just as I am grateful to experience this Country. 

One of my last blogs was “Lost in Translation”, it came about because some people in my family were taking offence to what I was writing in my blog.   I think there is a serious disconnect between what I think I am saying and how it is being taken.  Not sure if it is all Brazilians, so just in case there are more of you out there “this blogs for you”. 

How can I understand something that I have not experienced?   Thus the basis for my blog.  Beyond the structure of basic survival there is the way that something’s are just done.  It has been done that way and has evolved for so many years that it is the Culture.  Whether it is the roles played by men & women in society, how a family relates to one another, how business is done or what a handshake truly means.   It is true that I am American but I am also a mother, sister, daughter, wife, friend and Aunt.  The emotions are the same either it be in America, Europe, China, Brasil and so on.  Love and respect is abundant in all countries. 

For those who choose to see negativity, I think it is because you do not know me.  Let give you some insight of who I am. 

Truth is, I don’t know if I have ever fit in anywhere except with my husband.  

  

I grew up in North Platte Nebraska, I couldn’t stand it when I was in high school but I thank god every day that I was from there.  It was a small town in the middle of nowhere.  People are nice and we had a great sense of community.  When I was in high school I was a bit depressed because I wanted more.  My family traveled so I knew more was out there, but I wanted it now.  I think New Hampshire, Maine and Virginia are the only states that I haven’t seen for myself.   Moved to Texas for school then as far North as possible, Alaska.

After college I moved to Alaska, because I thought it was about as close to being out of America that I could get and still be able to function on my own.  It was the first time in a long time that I felt that I belonged.  Adventure was everywhere.  The first time that I went SCUBA diving was February in Alaska, thanks you know who.  I was underwater with 20-30 sea lions swimming around me, everything was an adventure. 

I am not sure if I ever fit in my family either.  I always felt alone and truth be told, this was what I wanted.

I had the choice to travel to Europe with friends, but I chose to go alone.  I read in a book that women who travel alone in Europe have the most fun.  That was enough for me, never even read past that first page.  I bought a train ticket and traveled to as many countries as I could in a month and a half, just feeling it out day by day.  I did Rome in one day on a bike by myself.  Came back covered in mud but I went everywhere.  Most of the time I didn’t even know what I was looking at. 

I always thought of myself as one of the guys, I hated to be sent off with the girls on a shopping trip, I wanted to shoot guns, drink beer and bullshit.  I am a great shot by the way.  I love to go to movies alone, I like to shop only when I need something and I look at life with humor. 

I love politics and hate ignorance.  I can’t believe that Americans put up with our Government, but I did.  I listened to talk radio every day, watched the news not stop and talked with my friends but believed I couldn’t do anything either.  I wanted to keep my mouth shut because I feared my Government too.  Didn’t want to think that I did, but I did. 

The middle class is being stolen, the rich get richer in our down economy and they feed us so much high fructose corn syrup that we can’t even think straight.   I’ve said it before but right now the guys that pull the strings are getting ready to sell us the next big thing… Our President.   People stay content fighting and dividing over one issue whether it is guns, abortion or religion.  The media tells us what to think and what to wear, it is impossible to know if it is your own thought or theirs. 

I was one of the first to experience the economic frustrations and problems.  I am not afraid to talk about money trouble, politics and religion.  I lived with money one day and had nothing the next always chasing the American Dream.  I have had it all and gave it back, I don’t want it.  I don’t want debt, cars that I do not own; I don’t even want a mortgage.  I am tired of being tied down by the stress of day to day life and then the need to keep up with the Jones’s. 

Personally, I came to Brasil to get a shock, a huge jolt so that I could step back and view the world from a new point a view, we also have people here to love and that need us and It is the best gift I could ever give to my children whether they see it now or not.

As a kid I was someone who saw my family go to work every day.  My parents worked hard for everything they had.  We had a nice house but it wasn’t full of expensive things.  My family wasn’t too big but my family also consisted of my friends families. 

Am I arrogant? Never thought of myself as arrogant, but I think many countries see Americans as arrogant.  All countries have some issues with Americans.  We stick our nose into everybody’s business and ask them to say thank you.   When I traveled Europe people told me to put a Canadian Flag on my back pack because I was American.  I don’t feel better than anyone else, I have had different experiences and I do appreciate that I was born in America.  I married a Brazilian and before that I used to date people from other countries.  People are the same everywhere.  People are good, bad, greedy, happy, unhappy, adventurous, clueless, smart, boring, caring, creepy  & crappy everywhere you go.

   

I don’t see Brasil as a third world country; I don’t even know what that would look like.  I see caring, loving, hardworking people every day just like in America.  All Americans aren’t educated either and some can’t even read.  The only difference is that we had a middle class and now Brasil is getting one.

To end my blog today, I will say.  It is true there are differences; I didn’t say they were good or bad, just different.  Just like you and me. 

Jill In Brazil: New blog Address!!!!

Jill In Brazil: New blog Address!!!!: "I have changed my blog address! Please make note! http://jillinbrazil2011.blogspot.com/ Please make changes and send it o..."

New blog Address!!!!

I have changed my blog address!  Please make note!  http://jillinbrazil2011.blogspot.com/ 
Please make changes and send it on.
Jill

Peppers!

Today I am getting my first pedicure and haircut.  Yesterday, I met the woman who is going to cut my hair and was trying to talk to her about getting highlights.  I kept calling them Pimenta, like 5 minutes later when I noticed the stunned look on everyone face in the whole salon; I realized I was telling her to put Peppers in my hair.  I was supposed to be saying tinta.  What a laugh that was.  My face was a red pepper.

café da manhã- American Style

Recently I have been trying out my hand in the kitchen.  I am definately not a Brazilian Chef as I have many things to learn yet and I am deathly afraid of the Pressure Cooker.  I am making mexican food, italian food and tomorrow I will make the house Breakfast- American Style.  It is so great to cook for my family now because the same types of food are prepared differently here and it is kind of new to them. This makes cooking fun again because at home cooking the same things can get tiring. 
On the Menue:
2 Fried Eggs
Bacon
Toast
Juice

On saturday I am going to make Spaghetti for my friends family.  This is Fun!

Lost in Translation

Trying to be understood in a Foreign Country is somewhat impossible.  My intentions are good and I have love in my heart, but even this cannot be translated.  My mom would say that I have always wanted to be understood… really understood as if you were in my shoes and wearing my glasses.  This has always been so frustrating for me that I could hardly stand life at times.  This need has followed me 34 years into the future and now I realize by being in Brasil that not only is it difficult to really walk in someone’s shoes but now my words are clouded by culture and translation at times.  Not all words have the same meaning here. 

For an example; one time when my husband I were fighting & I said he was being a jerk.  I thought that word would be better than to call him than asshole.  However I found out that he would have preferred that.

I am a english teacher!

Just landed my first job teaching Conversational English in January for 2 weeks.  Cant wait!  Drove the car by myself today, went shopping for food and for things in my home all by myself,  having conversations with new people and feeling very confident with some day to day stuff.  It was a productive day.  Now I just wish it would stop raining so that my clothes will finally dry.  Urgh!

Jill In Brazil: Culture Shock Anyone?

Jill In Brazil: Culture Shock Anyone?: "Culture Shock Anyone?I have been conversing with people! I am actually able to hear them speaking enough so that I can answer their qu..."

Culture Shock Anyone?

Culture Shock Anyone?

I have been conversing with people!  I am actually able to hear them speaking enough so that I can answer their questions with real words that go together!  Now don’t get me wrong I only get the words and the just of it but this is better than 7 days ago.  It is funny because some still don’t understand me at all, but they want to.  They are not used to broken Portuguese here however we are moving in the right direction.  I have had some major breakthroughs and a lot of new understanding.

The word “culture shock” seemed like a fun word to use loosely when I was in America to describe a feeling of being surprised by something which was unfamiliar to me.  But unless you have ever been dropped in to the middle of a totally foreign place and left to survive you could never understand the true meaning.  I have taken that word for granted because the true meaning of the word is so vast that it is really incomprehensible.  It is like the word “integrity” a word that you have in your vocabulary, everybody uses it, everyone wants to have it ,but if you ask someone to tell you the definition most people do not even know it or you would get a different definition  every time.    These words are something that you have to feel yourself to know their true meaning. 

I have been totally consumed by another culture so much that I am starting to forget the old me.  I have tried to hold onto each thread of my being but that person does not belong here and I think that is ok.  I cannot assert myself, I cannot control anything and I cannot tell anyone what to do.   I have been in Survival mode for so long that I try to kick up dust just so that I can see more clearly.  People just don’t live like that here.   I couldn’t even place a bet on my future at this point.  I do not know what I want or even what is possible here.  I think I like it though but I can’t even be sure of that right now.  

The hard part about “culture shock” is that I have felt alone, unwelcomed at times and desperate.   Everything has gotten lost in translation and I have found that it is completely out of my control.  Maybe I even tried to blame it on others, but now I realize that this is me just trying to hold onto something familiar.  Then I look around and I realize that the only thing that is familiar is an image of what I have known in the past.  Maybe my 4 year old son said it best “Mom, it is different here every day”. 

The good part about my "Culture Shock" is that I have landed in the middle of a beautiful loving large family.  I live in a very safe, clean, beautiful place in the middle of a somewhat confusing world.  I have more cousins that I can count and there are kids everywhere.  The food is amazing and people never want to go home.  What I have learned about a large family is…. There is just more love. 
I guess If this is all I have to go on, I think I will be just fine.

American Food

So today I made my first dinner in Brasil.  I made Spaghetti and it turned out quite well.  In Brasil spaghetti is noodles with sauce and hotdogs all mixed up together.  I make Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.  They call Spaghetti here Macahao (spelling is wrong).  As I was finishing the dish Rodrigo said I should mix it up and I said "No"  I am making Spaghetti not Macahao.  American Style.  The reason why I was so unsure of how it would turn out is that finding all of the ingredients that I am used to is a real challenge.  Brazilians do not eat a lot of ground meat, you actually have to ask for it behind the counter it is not pre packaged.  Their spaghetti sauce comes in a puch or small jars.  The Zuchini looked different, the mushrooms are not fresh they float in water, there is only 2 cans of stewed tomatoes to choose from and they are $4/can.  I just wasn't sure that it would come together and even taste close to my masterpiece back home.  Very happy to report that I am able to make American Food in Brasil.  Next will be hamburgers.  Here the meat is seasoned like meat loaf.  Ben Said to me today "It is different here everyday".  

Jill In Brazil: "Looking Good Limits My Life"

Jill In Brazil: "Looking Good Limits My Life": "12.30.2010 “Looking Good Limits My Life”This is a quote I saw here in a Magazine in Sao Paulo. In Brazil, there may be more plastic s..."

Jill In Brazil: "Looking Good Limits My Life"

Jill In Brazil: "Looking Good Limits My Life": "12.30.2010 “Looking Good Limits My Life”This is a quote I saw here in a Magazine in Sao Paulo. In Brazil, there may be more plastic s..."

Happiness

There is not a path to Happiness... Happiness is the way!
~Shawna sent me this today and I am thankful.  Thanks sister!

I just cant get left Clark!

So this was funny.  The other day we had a lot of family here for New Years and one of my favorite new cousins wanted to go to the store for some very last minute shopping.  Rodriog was tired of driving and asked me If I would take her.  Of course I said yes, however I have only driven in Brasil 2 times now and my cousin wasnt from here either.  The store is only about 10 blocks away, no big deal right?  So I headed out and took a right and got onto the main road.  I needed to go left but you had to go right.  I kept going as I was looking for a place to do a U-turn and couldnt find one.  I drove for 10 miles into the city to finally turn around.  It was so funny becasue I was trying to translate to my cousin at the same time what the hell was going on.  We laughed and laughed cuz I just couldnt get left Clark.  You know "Big Ben Parliment kids, I just cant get left"~ Clark Griswald in Euorpean Vaccation.  It was just like that!

Jill In Brazil: Brasil 2011

Jill In Brazil: Brasil 2011: "Brasil 2011 Here it is a new year and a new perspective for me and all Brazilians. For Brazilians.... today the newly elected Presid..."

Jill 2011

Jill 2011

I can’t do a blog and not list my prospects for my new year, can I? Where do I start?


1. It is my goal to be more patient especially when I have nothing to do but wait. It goes without saying that I must be patient with myself when I am feeling down and take notice of the time of the month when this happens. With a blog I am becoming too aware of this.


2. I want to find a nice home with a great yard. The home must have at least 2 bedrooms and the kitchen/dining area must be as big as the living room. The Barbeque must be tiled and clean. I am looking for a place that when my family comes to visit they don’t leave their suitcases out in their garage to fumigate when they return from Brasil. Barends Family Standards!


3. I will at least try on a bikini.


4. I will make a stable home for my kids.


5. I will get Bernard into Capoeira- It is a cultural expression afro-brazilian fight that mixes dance, popular culture, and music. It was developed by African slaves and their decendants, it is characterized by agile and complex movements using their hands, feet, head, knees and elbows. A characteristic that distinguishes it from most other martial arts is the fact that is is accompanied by music.

6. I will speak the language fluently


7. I want to try something new for my work. I want to love it and have balance so that I do not sacrifice my children’s time with me.


8. Last but not least, I want to keep growing my blog. So....Please pass it on my friends if you like it and feel the urge!

Thinking of you all and wishing you the best in 2011, or as in my case Always wishing for at least better than 2009

Brasil 2011

Brasil 2011

Here it is a new year and a new perspective for me and all Brazilians. 
For Brazilians.... today the newly elected President Dilma was sworn into office.  Dilma is the first woman president in Brazilian history.   She is the head of the Labor party and her stance is that all Brazilians will have the right to Education, Health Care and Jobs.  Like the previous President Lula, Dilma will continue to hold his policies in place as Brasil moves towards becoming a 1st world country.   In my limited impression of Brasil, there is has been quite a distance between the poor and the rich.  What I can see is the gap closing as Brasil is getting a middle class.  I go to the malls here and see the outrageous prices on things; I wonder who is it that is buying this stuff?  As far as I can tell, if you make $1200 reis a month you should be happy, however if you are a business owner here the sky is the limit but they will not pay the employees more than what they are used to.  It is confusing to me because when you eat out plan on dropping at least $60/meal.  If you want the extras in life you will pay for them, I think this is where it may get a little hairy for Rodrigo and me. I will say though you can get a massage for $15 and Pedi/Mani for less than $5.  Haven’t got one yet but it’s on my list.  Will this ever be a challenge, a Budget! F@%#!

Now, Let me take a minute and tell you what I saw at the mall yesterday;
Barney Dolly 10" tall, says a few words $129.00
Electronic Toys for Children under 2 like we would pay $35 for were $249
Pocket Knife $166 smallest version not a brand
A water bottle/ coffee holder- nice but not Starbucks nice $49
Cell phone service $91.00 for 100 minutes- seriously this is what we have

It is true that most items are made in Brasil and NOT imported from China, this is good and I think Brazilians have a few things in mind when they buy and sell.  1st I think they keep in mind how to stimulate their own economy.  2nd I think they have always had to think about TRASH~ Here the toilet paper is so thin that it sticks to you....yeah when you wipe.  Sucks!  The napkins are hard and feel like you are wiping with construction tissue paper.  The wet wipes for babies are the same and impossible to work with.  This is a problem because a lot of Brazilians are litter bugs.  I saw a lady driving a truck in Bumper to bumper traffic.  She just finished the last muscle relaxer...yeah I said muscle relaxer... And she threw it out the window.  I had to stare at it for 3 minutes in disbelief.  Just threw it out!  A plastic pill container, the kind that you pop a pill out of the foil backing- 6 pack.  One of the major problems here is lack of public education.  Not too long ago Brasil was ruled by a dictatorship and education was the least of the priorities.  It is so interesting because when I look out the window at the people as I am driving by them, they look just like Americans.  I think Brazil is at an amazing point in their history and I am happy to have the opportunity to be here emerged in their culture no matter how hard it can get for me at times.
If you are reading this you are always welcome for a visit, just wait till I have a home.