When it Rains it Pours

Now Rodrigo has 3 interviews. We can sit for months and hear nothing then in one day all of the answers. 

Toe Nails

 

The dog is pacing back and forth and her toe nails are so long that the little sound of them hitting the tile is making me go crazy.  She won’t sit still, she won’t stand still and she won’t stay outside.  Well, here she comes again… where are my head phones?

Fuck it!

To be or not to be… this is the real question.  I am begging myself to not write more today. 

A Balancing Act

We are looking forward to a busy week of English. I am putting together a seminar series on American Culture and Life, something that I am quite knowledgeable about, thank goodness.  I don’t have much time today to write as I am still not too inspired.  Maybe tonight…thinking I need a nice night alone with my computer and a glass of wine.  How I miss wine.  I used to drink wine but now we drink Cerveja out of 600ml garafas and little juice glasses.  They are the best and they are so so cold. 

Today, I am going to the Supermarket and then to our friends weekend house for lunch and play.  I will try to take some pictures of the good life in Brasil.    As much good there is bad, as much poor there is rich and as much fun there is sadness.  A balancing act.

Corpus Christi

I am coming out of another emotional journey again.  I haven’t been moved to write, but soon.  Today, Rodrigo took the kids to his moms and I will meet a friend for a drink, then tonight Rodrigo and I will enjoy some free time together on the motorcycle.   Brasil has a ton of holidays and we have been off since Thursday for Corpus Christi (a Catholic Holiday).  So, it has been a fun couple of days.  Yesterday we took the kids to a park; Ben and Gabi were sledding down the hills on cardboard.  Ben was racing the kids up the hill and beating them down.  They were asleep within 10 minutes of hitting their pillows.  When this happens, you chalk it up to a good day.  Tomorrow we will have lunch with his parents when we pick the kiddos up and then Sunday we are going to our friend’s weekend house, the kids will love it.

Another difficult 2 weeks.

Sugar Freak

I just caught Gabi, climbing up on a chair with her hands in the sugar bowl.  I said "what are you doing"?  She said "Just a little bit, Ok", as she had her hand cupped with sugar to the top.  I was trying to pull her down and with all of her strength she would not let go of that sugar.  Funny little sugar freak.

Tuesday.

I haven't much to say, but my English is better than ever. 

A Breakthrough

Monday, here we go.  This Monday there was actually a breakthrough.  Rodrigo got a job… Finally.  This has been a long process.  He unfortunately got into the job market and realized that he was going to have to change his profession.   I am so excited for him as he is going to be a salesman for the Cable company here in Brasil.  We have it and it is the fastest way to get Cable, Internet & phone.  We had a choice when we got here; it was either slow and old or new and fast.  When I say slow… it was unbelievable.   I also got a new student and some other good news about my career.  Finally, I am feeling like we will be able to one day get a kitchen table. 

Festa Junina BBQ

On spur of the moment we decided to have a BBQ.  It was so much fun and a lot of people showed up. 

Jill In Brazil: Here's To You, A Great Man!

Jill In Brazil: Here's To You, A Great Man!: "One of the Best Men I have ever met passed away yesterday. I am here now in Brasil and missing home so much. I am longing to be with my ..."

Here's To You, A Great Man!

One of the Best Men I have ever met passed away yesterday.  I am here now in Brasil and missing home so much.  I am longing to be with my family but I can’t go.  I just want to go to bed, but the world doesn’t stop.  The rest of us keep going.  My Uncles life makes me think a lot about my life.  How I want to live, how I want to die.  I think those who watched him slowly pass away over the last couple of months know that the spirit world was eventually his true peace.   I have never lost someone so close; he was like a father to me.     I think beyond the strength of his character and his ability to enjoy life, what I remember most is how much he loved his kids. 

I can say now that I am not scared to die.  I am not scared of where I am going, especially not now.  Because I know he will be there waiting for us all. I am so thankful to have known such a person who was able to make such an impact on my life.  In death and in Life, you are great.

A Night Out

It has been a rough week...again?  Tonight we went out for $1.50 Espitinos.  Think I spelt that one wrong.  They are skewers of meat.  It was fun but in order to forgo the $3.50. Espetinos we also went without the free babysitter.  Will never do that again, eating out with a 5 year old and a 2 year old and trying to enjoy yourself doesn't happen... ever. 

Have a nice day!

Jill In Brazil: Oh Futebol!

Jill In Brazil: Oh Futebol!: "How I love running around with a purpose again, I feel great. It was my second time last Friday to play. We had a blast, this time Rodrigo..."

Oh Futebol!

How I love running around with a purpose again, I feel great.  It was my second time last Friday to play.  We had a blast, this time Rodrigo joined us.  We were sweaty and now we are both sore.  
Well, Last week I played with a bunch of girls.  They showed up in Soccer gear and barely smiled, I was a bit intimated.  I had on regular street shorts, and shoes that were not very good for kicking.  I was surrounded by Brazilian pros.  Every Brazilian knows how to play soccer, I mean everyone.  However, I did surprise them all and myself.  As a bit of a sporty girl in my day, I played Soccer in High School and then on a Co-ed team when I lived in Oklahoma for a bit.  I am a defender, that’s all.  I am more hand eye coordinated than foot eye coordinated and it was obvious.  They may not have looked to me when they threw the ball in but they could trust me to stop the ball in front of the goal.  My dad taught me and my friends when we were young as he was always my coach…You See Ball…You Get Ball and this was my mantra as I was playing(trying to remember how to play)and also…I kept reminding myself not to twist my knee or break an ankle.  
So the first night I played with mega women soccer stars and then last Friday we played with the teachers at the school.  It was more laid back and tons of fun.  This time I even played as a forward and made 3 goals, with my incredible side kick.  We found out last night that I cannot kick direct as the ball does something like blop blob blob and rolls right out of bounce.  But when I was on the side of the field, I was able to do a smooth side kick into the goal.  Go figure.  But here is the thing; it is something that I will probably never live down her in Brasil.  I am a bit of a talker and cheerer on the field, can’t help it.  The problem that I seemed to have as a forward was that every time I would kick the ball at the goal I would yell “Boom”.   I just couldn’t help myself.  It wasn’t as bad the 3 times I made a goal but it was also when I kick the lobbers out of bounce.  It was so embarrassing. 
I am thinking I do this because of playing with my son.  My kids are rubbing off on me, just the other day I was at school and I was chewing a piece of candy.  Another teacher said, “Jill what do you have in your mouth”?  I looked at her, opened my mouth and showed her the candy and said “Grape”.  Again…Embarrassing, I think I am losing it.

 

Jill In Brazil: Happy Brazilian Valentines Day!

Jill In Brazil: Happy Brazilian Valentines Day!: "Today we celebrate Valentines Day, and I am just setting down for my coffee. I woke up this morning and have nothing to do but spend time ..."

Happy Brazilian Valentines Day!

Today we celebrate Valentines Day, and I am just setting down for my coffee.  I woke up this morning and have nothing to do but spend time with my family and my friend Daniela.  She is the woman who taught me Portuguese when I first arrived.  Her family is coming for lunch and then we will take the kids to play.  Sun is out and it is warming up.  Sounds great doesn’t it.  Truth is I woke up with my lovely family and immediately took Gabi to the crowded supermarket. I came home, I am running late, house is a mess, we haven’t started cooking and none of that really matters, except for I still haven’t had my coffee and it is 12 pm now. 
Finally, I was just about to have my first drink, the coffee was up to my lips and thinking about my lovely day and then Gabi yells to me that the washing machine is overflowing.  So I put down the coffee somewhere and have to squeegee the back yard because Gabi and Ben are now riding their bikes through the puddle, then Ben and Gabi take off and crash into Gabi’s stroller that breaks and I start yelling for them to pick it up and Bens says to me “Momma Calma, Calma”. 
And here I am again, starting to feel at peace while listening to Amos Lee which has become my new favorite artist.  All I need is just need one more cup and I will be back to a full functioning momma.  Outlook is good for today and I have a good man by my side.

BTW... Happy Valentines Day!  Surprise someone today and have a Brazilian Valentines too.  Tell me about it if you do.

Bens Joined the Brazilian Army!

School Picture, either this or a race car driver.  Takes after his Daddy!

Soccer toonight

It's Flippin Cold Here too!

It is so cold today.  It is the coldest day of the year for sure.  It has been Raining too.  This morning we woke up and all 4 of us were snuggled together my bed.   At night, I cover the kids up with everything we have in the house to stay warm.  We have Socks on all of the time.  It is actually 52 F, right now.  Obviously, I have lived in much colder weather (Alaska, Colorado, and Nebraska) but the difference is that I had a heater.  I am thinking that even if we could buy a heater, we could not afford the electric bill to run it.  Crazy, huh?  Everyone sits around in warm clothes because the houses are made of tile and concrete.   I have become a major wimp.  BTW…Tomorrow is my 2^nd Soccer game, I have started stretching already.  My old body is feeling the shock. 

Ben Speaking Portuguese

Translation Button!

Now I have Google Translation on my Website... so go ahead, Use It!

Breaking Ice 101

Then again tonight, same class.  I started asking the next question to the students but noticed that someone had wrote in the teachers book the words Sex and Watch Porno  at the end of the question.  So as I was looking at these words, I started to read the question which was, “What do you do at the end of the night other than watching television”?  However, I read it as “what do you do at the end of the night other than sex”?  OMG… Seriously two nights in a row, my face was red and we were laughing.  Wanted to break the ice not fall through it.

Uncomfortable Suprise!

So I was in class tonight and it was my 4^th class of the night.  I got to a question about “surprises”.  The question actually had something about "pleasant surprise" in it.  I wanted to make sure that they understood “surprise” because I wasn’t sure that they understood the word before which was “struggle”.   Actually the class was a bit of a struggle tonight.  It was the only the second time that I had taught this class and I think they were a bit nervous of my accent.  Well anyway I said, for some dumb reason… that a pleasant surprise would be a like a party and then asked if someone could tell me what an unpleasant surprise would be.  I think I was expecting to try to encourage participation.  So, a guy says…” I can”.  “Ok, then what is an example of an unpleasant surprise” and he said “like when my friend died”.  OMG, I felt so bad.  We were both apologizing.  He for saying that and I for asking such a stupid question like what kind of answer was I expecting to get, I was at a loss of what to say next.  Eventually the students and I were laughing at the situation.   At this point it didn’t matter what language we spoke we all understood uncomfortable and unfortunate.

Jill In Brazil: Call me tomorrow!

Jill In Brazil: Call me tomorrow!: "We just had Rodrigo's family in town for lunch today. It was so fun, however funny that we had to entertain them on a plastic table and cha..."

Call me tomorrow!

We just had Rodrigo's family in town for lunch today.  It was so fun, however funny that we had to entertain them on a plastic table and chairs.  At one point I tried to use a large beach towel as the table cloth, but Rodrigo wouldn't have it and thought we should the curtain instead... so we did. :)  Get this, after this wonderful day and wonderful meal, then my daughter wanted to go home with Tia Dani and VaBina.  I cant believe it... no crying... nada.  She just packed her bag and got in the van and told me to call her tomorrow.  I dont know if I am ready for this.  So independant and only 2.  They drove off with huge smiles, all of them.  What A Good Day. 

Potty Training & Training Wheels

Well this title just speaks for itself.  In one day Ben was riding a bike without training wheels and Gabi was potty trained.  “How did I do it? You ask”?  Well I don’t mind to tell you that one day we ripped off the training wheels and he rode off into the sunset, not a bit of trouble.  I must say he had done it before but it was on a smaller bike.  But anyway… Gabi’s story is much better.  Well she has been toiling around with the notion of wearing big girl pants.  Especially since Tia Dani brought her an array of beautiful panties.  She did good one day and then the next day she had 3 accidents all over the house.  My strategy… the next day she woke up and wanted to put on her big girl pants so I told her that she would have to wear diapers today because she had so many accidents but we could try again tomorrow.  She put her little frown on her face and said “but I want to”.  I told her she would have to ask her daddy to see if he would let her since I was going to work.  But I told her I didn’t think it was a good idea.  She asked and he thought about it and said that he would let her give it a try.  Since then… dry big girl panties.  Hello School…Gabi is going to school!

Stole This Today

"Be who you are and say what you feel...
Because those that matter... don't mind...
And those that mind... don't matter"  Thanks Silvia!

Soccer for Mommy

Almost Friday.... After work I am playing Soccer!  I am so excited!  I cant imagine running around again...10 years later.  Seriously, it has been like 10 years since I have played ... wait I did play on a Slow pitch softball team in Alaska, but anyway it will be like 10 years since I have ran around in circles playing with a ball.  I am going to be tired Saturday for sure.  Wish me luck.

Jill In Brazil: We were walking.

Jill In Brazil: We were walking.: "This is some of what I see every day in my world. Today Gabi and I took Bhellie for a bath and to get some bread for Breakfast. She..."

We were walking.

This is some of what I see every day in my world.  Today Gabi and I took Bhellie for a bath and to get some bread for Breakfast.  She is a helper let me tell you.