Mexican Food and Momma!

Last night Ben and I went to a party for another teacher that I work with.  The party was fantastic and I met some more great people.  She is the Spanish teacher at my school so finally for the first time in 6 months, I got to eat a spicy meal.  Hot...Spicy!  From the chips to the Margarita… it was heaven.   We got to the party at 11pm, just my boy and I and we got home at 2:30am.  Bernard walked in the door, sat on the couch and fell asleep immediately and I carried him to bed.  He ran for 3 hours playing soccer in the street with 2 big boys, then my friend Tiana started in.  Bernard learned himself some Fu-te-bol (Brazilian soccer) last night.  He wanted me to watch him play so he could show me his skills, he makes me so proud. 

One more thing... I was sitting there with my friends and Ben came running to me crying.  Of course I asked him "what’s wrong"?  He fell down playing soccer with the big kids...so I knew 1/2 of the tears were from falling down but I could tell his pride was hurt as well.  Bernard tries so hard to get along with big kids; he has no interest in boys his age if there is a 6-13 year old around.  Well I took him aside and wiped his tears and got him ready to get back out there.  Apparently a few of my friends were watching me and said “Jill you are such a good mom”.  “Really, why”?  They said because most moms would have fanned the flames of his emotions and babied him and they thought I was great because I hugged him and sent him on… truly I knew that this is what he really wanted.  But you know what?  I may not have shown it but in that moment when I steered my child back into life, I took on all of his pain inside my heart.  My whole body was feeling the same emotion that he brought to me and I soaked it up like a sponge in water.  He ran off ready to take on the world again and I let the emotion dissolve through me.   At that moment I think I knew what being a mom was all about.  It is a perfect balance of helping to lift the burden of life from my children so that they can move forward, making sure that I don’t take away the learning experience that the child must have and at the same time finding the strength to sacrifice my moment, at any time for my child.  They were right and I know it now, I AM a good mom.   

life.

Well,  I have been writing a good post but havent had time to finish it.  Maybe Sunday.  This week we went to Sao Paulo and went to visit Rodrigos Sister.  It was the first time we have seen each other since we moved to Brasil.  I am looking forward to seeing the country with her eyes for a while.  Tia Dani is in town!  The kids are really excited, they also have received a ton of great gifts from Tia Dani and My parents sent along some stuff.  This weekend should be nice with a family BBQ on Sunday.  Life is good but I am very tired these days.... ready for a nap now.  Have a great weekend! 

Brazillian Football... Soccer!

 I know we all have our favorite football teams.  Take for example the Cornhuskers; it’s hard job to find a Nebraskan who wouldn’t say that the Cornhuskers are their favorite team.  But, the Cornhuskers are the glue that holds Nebraskans together.  So, here in Sao Paulo everyone gets to choose a Soccer team.  They choose at a young age and follow their team their whole life.  Brazilians are very passionate people; in Love and the game of Soccer.

While I was picking my team here in Brasil, I asked the students; 1^st who is your favorite team and then who is the best team?  The answers were the same around the room each time.  I found this fascinating.  Now needless to say all Brazilian teams are GREAT and the scores are always low… so probably all teams all have a chance of winning each year.  This year my team was in the Finals, but we lost.  Truth be told, not only are the Corinthians my husband’s team but they also became my favorite team due to the fact that they were in the finals.  I like to win!

Brazilians take football very serious; I was teasing some student about losing to my team the game before the finals.  He was seriously hurt.  Let me say, I have always been a fair weather fan.  I have had a lot of favorite teams in my life and it is true that we do have a lot of different sports and teams to choose from.  But Fair Weather Fan is a in the vocab of a lot of Americans.  Not here.  So next time I see my student I am going to tell him that I have changed my team to “Santos” (The Winners), I can’t wait to see his face.  This will throw him for a loop as Brazilians don’t change their teams often in life…  I hope he gets it. J

BTW…… I just found out that they don’t teach Girls Soccer here in Brazil.  I am told that there is not a girls’ team… Seriously???  I hate to even scratch the surface on Women’s rights here in Brasil… I am going to take this moment of stillness and do nothing; no major thoughts, no stresses other than the norm because I am not ready to find out anything else that I can’t control this month. 

Trying on Businesses

I am trying on businesses.  We are in need of money as probably many people and we need to think big and fast.   I am doing well with my English school and English Club… but I need more income.  I am thinking of starting to do a 4 part English Seminar Series on American Culture and we are working on the development of our brand here in Brasil.  I have so many ideas and just hope that I can stay focused to see a turn out.  We are down to the wire and just went into overtime.  It is a hail Mary… Can we make the big catch?  Good Football reference huh? 

Hows my Portuguese?

6 months here in this country and I speak better, at least what I already knew.  I hear better but not in a crowd or with any background noise.  The kids in the class tell me that I am pretty good for 6 months, but I am thinking that it is time for me to get busy studying again.  Oh, and I am much better after a glass of wine.