Jill In Brazil: The seeds were planted years ago.

Jill In Brazil: The seeds were planted years ago.: "Finally some time to think and to write. I was reading this other website and the Question was “What problems can you encounter while ..."

The seeds were planted years ago.

Finally some time to think and to write.  I was reading this other website and the Question was “What problems can you encounter while living in a foreign country”?  Then I read a slew of responses, people positive and negative but all were saying that it would be the language.  Then I was reminded of something that my new French Brazilian Friend told me yesterday.  He said “It took me a year to learn the language and 5 years to learn the culture”.  This is something that dawned on me after the first month of my move and now I know it is truth. 

Seems like I went from bored deaf mute to happy to be alive me in a short time…don’t you think?  Well this is due to the fact that I am living on my own and have a home for my family again after all of this time.  I am an independent woman and when this is lost, I am lost.  Today I am so happy because I am living.  I am working and I am making friends.  I am living with less stress than I have had in over a decade.  I was sick from stress and my symptoms are gone now.  Can you imagine? 

I couldn’t.  I couldn’t imagine ever moving to a foreign country especially after having children, even a year ago If you told me that I was going to move to Brasil, I wouldn’t have believed it.  If I was not married to Rodrigo I wouldn’t have gone but I am so glad that I did.  The only thing that I was sure of when I met Rodrigo was that if I married him, I would never be bored.  This was enough for me. 

I don’t know if you know but Rodrigo and I met in late March, decided to have a child in June/July and married in late August.  It was a whirl wind and every day after that was too.  We knew when we met that we both were ready for a family and that we wanted to be together but you can never be ready for children.  Right after we were married, Ben was born in March, and then we packed up everything and move to Colorado in October, bought another house, started a business and started living.  By the time everything caught up to us we were under water.  We then spent the next 5 years working together in a business that I loved and he didn’t really care for trying to slowly get our lives back in order.  Just when things were on the right track Gabi was born, Rodrigo was in a car accident and couldn’t work, Gabi had a few health issues and my parents divorced.  This was in another whole year.  Needless to say every day we worked to keep our heads above water and by June of 2010 we were there.  We made the decision to go to Brasil and to begin again.  This time when we got our lives straightened out, what we really found out was this life might be good for some but It is not for us.  We didn’t want to do the same thing day after day especially while our kids were little; we knew we had another adventure left in us. 

The day that I knew we were going to move I cried.  You know the silent tears that stream down your face enough to fill a small bucket.  Rodrigo asked “Why are you crying and I didn’t answer.  What was going through my mind was my family.  My nephew, my family, my friends the good times that I would miss by being gone, but the decision was made.   Then we worked every day for the next 7 months to make it happen. 

Today I am feeling the repercussions of some good work, good preparation and sacrifice.  Today I am starting a life with my husband the way we should have started it 5years ago, 2 people without debt without worries moving in together combining our stuff and making a house a home.  We started our life out with so much on our backs that it eventually couldn’t be carried any longer and I think it wouldn’t matter where I am today, Brasil, Alaska, Colorado, Arizona… The happiness that I have isn’t just because I am in a tropical paradise it is the reward for the seeds I planted years ago. 

Jill In Brazil: Bunch of Stuff

Jill In Brazil: Bunch of Stuff: "So, it’s Sunday. Going to see Rodrigo's family today, I think. Gabi is asleep and Ben is watching Cartoons right next to me.&nbs..."

Bunch of Stuff

So, it’s Sunday.  Going to see Rodrigo's family today, I think.  Gabi is asleep and Ben is watching Cartoons right next to me.  Mickey and Goofy cartoons in English, the old cartoons.  I think it’s a movie.
So last week was huge.  Ben started school; I was teaching and getting the house in order.  We only have 2 more areas to organize and then the kitchen cabinets.  The good thing is that we still don’t have too many things so it’s not too complicated.  My parents are going to bring up a bunch of pans for our kitchen when they come.  No matter where you go, buying a stainless steel pan to cook in here is very expensive.  Aluminum is the metal everyone uses here.  Not sure how I feel about that.  In the U.S, I thought Aluminum caused Alzheimer’s disease, but everyone uses it here.  So, maybe it doesn’t.  I will have to check the stats! I just asked Rodrigo if there are a lot of people around here with Alzheimers and he didnt know but Ben just said "Hey momma, I just saw one".

What about Egypt huh?  Shows that people really do have a say in the government, but they have to demand it and the timing has to be right.  I have to admit, I have been very removed from the problems in America since I moved.   I don’t know the day to day stuff anymore and now the only channel that broadcasts here is FOX.  Last place I would go for the truth, just a propaganda machine.  The next time that I have a moment in time I am going to get a Randi Rhodes pod cast.  More my flavor.