Jill In Brazil: 6 Month Brazilian Checkup

Jill In Brazil: 6 Month Brazilian Checkup: "The time has come; I have been here for 6 months almost to date. I have been through many ups and many downs, some of which would last for..."

6 Month Brazilian Checkup

The time has come; I have been here for 6 months almost to date.  I have been through many ups and many downs, some of which would last for a month solid.   I miss home; I miss my family and often I can’t believe that I am living in another country.   It is that moment when I look around and see a man pulling a cart full of recyclables with the strength of his back, beautiful fruit being sold on the street or meet the annoying sales person who doesn’t want to help anyone because they really don’t care about their job, that I often remember where I am as I am busy living. 

Before my move I would wonder what life was going to be like in another country, what kinds of changes would I have to make.  I realize now, I am just living.  I live and work in Brasil.  I am raising my children in Brasil.  I have Brazilian friends and a Brazilian address.  I learn something new every day, and they just happen to be the same things I already knew but in another language and country.  I just learned the other day that the number you call for help is 190, it’s not 911 anymore.  I realize that I am in a country that whatever happens… Just Happens and you deal with it with little recourse.  I also just realized yesterday that I have been saying the wrong word for balance for about two months.  But as I am living here I am reminded of this blessing in my life, whether it be good or bad at times,  I see that I am doing something people only dream about and maybe it’s only because they aren’t crazy enough to do it. J 

I also realize that life isn’t fair for most. I understand now that for the majority of people in the world, life is just waking up every day and doing the same thing and trying to do it with a happy heart and a smile.  I understand that some people don’t have another option for their lives.  I have seen poverty like I have never seen before and social injustice.  I walked the streets of Sao Paulo the other day and looked deeply at the people and realized how lucky I have been in life and how even with all that I have been given, I was never satisfied… maybe I should have been.  Perhaps though, if I was satisfied I would never have had the desire to try new and exciting things.   There is a question in my book that asks “do you think life is a question of luck or hard work”?  I know now it is luck and then the hard work is what you do with it.  

In these last 6 months, I have learned much about myself.   I know I was lucky to be born in a country and to parents who sold me the possibilities of life.  I am ok with where I am; there are things that I am now willing to give up and things that I know I don’t want to live without.  I don’t need to buy things to feel good…matter of fact I still don’t have a can opener or a coffee maker, I do not need to feel guilty when I take a nap…Take one almost every day now, I can live without a cell phone… don’t even have one now, I don’t need television but I do want one with cable to boot for my crazy reality shows, A must in life is a strong wooden kitchen table…which I still don’t have, and that siting and doing nothing with the kids isn’t lazy…it is a great way to spend time and to enjoy the simple pleasures that I have often overlooked and underestimated.  I could never leave out of course the wonderful experience of knowing the Brazilian people and their laid back lifestyle, the ability to say anything and feel comfortable always.  Then there is the way we live without constant law and order, which can be both good and bad and really ties into the “what happens in Brasil Experience”.   

There was another question in my book this morning and I wrote it down, “If you went to live in another country, do you think you would quickly adopt their way of living in that country”?  The answer is “Not Hardly”.  I think it takes years and a strong desire to have a different life and I also think it depends on how much you already know about the language and culture.  When I moved to Brasil, I was luke warm on the decision…Like I said, I just jumped.  I realize that I had too many expectations and I didn’t know what to expect.  I am good now, I do feel that the complaining must end and I have to put both feet on the Brazilian ground.  I am anxious for the next year as this will be the time, with both luck and hard work that will truly make all of the difference in deciding my future here or in America.  All things are on the table now and we are taking some chances.  When in Brasil… be a Brazilian.

One more thing, last Friday at the party I met a guy and after we talked about this subject for a while, He said “Now you will spend the next 6 months realizing why Brazilians are always happy”.  I have some ideas… but have more to explore.