All I want for Christmas is... my freedom!

12.24.2010

All I want for Christmas is... my freedom!

Ok, how do I obtain freedom living in a foreign country with 2 English speaking children, 2 elderly animals and a huge new family that I am living with? 

First I should ask the question what is it that I call freedom?  Well I think it is the ability to speak my mind and be understood.  Funny, I have been chasing my whole life.   I see many opportunities in front of me, but I am limited to the computer.  

It is also the ability to go anywhere at any time without restriction.  I went out to buy a cochina yesterday and came back with 5 pieces of French bread and 4 pineapple.  Seriously and why did I buy 4?  The guy who pulled me in off the street and sold them to me because he talked so fast I didn’t even know if I could buy 1. 

I don’t even need to go further, I know the answer.  LEARN THE FUCKING LANGUAGE!!!!!!

The Coffee Challenge

12.23.2010

The Coffee Challenge

For those who know me… coffee has become a huge part of my morning over the years.  It started while I was in Alaska and introduced to drive through coffee.  They were on every corner.  I started with the fru fru drinks and would always come back to my favorite.  My choice became a strong black drip cup.  Has to be fresh within 30 minutes of being made or I will go somewhere else or wait.  I love a good cup of coffee with rich flavor, Mmm Mmm Mmm.  Also as a girl always on a diet, I just couldn’t give up eating salty foods all day so I would make my adjustment in the morning to save calories and there is the fact that you can usually get a good cup of drip for under $2.00. 

When I got to Brasil, I thought the coffee has got to be the best.  Rodrigo’s mom has sent me coffee before and I loved it.  Well….it is still the same coffee but they make it differently.  It is a small, super-duper strong, tiny amount added to a huge cup of hot milk.  You would think just add water and put it in the microwave (another huge problem for me, another day).   You see the little bit of super-duper strong coffee was laced with large amounts of Sugar.  My first try was horrifying.  I have learned to enjoy it from time to time but I am getting back to who I am in this foreign country and I want my coffee!

Ok, so here is how it is done.  I heat up water on the stove and add 2 large scoops of coffee to boiling water, strain it and boom- A perfect cup of coffee.  I have been here like 40 days and today, finally I have figured out how to win my Coffee challenge.  Oh yea and a small coffee pot to brew coffee starts at $59.00.

Its Christmas Card Time!!

12.22.2010

Its Christmas Card Time!!

Here is our Christmas card.  Wishing your family a Super Duper Holiday Season!
Stay Warm.... We are! :)
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/Z3upr2OFO2AHWVwH

I think I can hear it!

12.22.2010

I think I can hear it!

There are many stages to learning a language and culture.  If I learn at least 3 new things a day, then I have learned to be satisfied.  Like yesterday, I learned Fork (garfo), Knife (Faca), Spoon (Colher), and Napkin (Guarda Napo).  Ok, really I think I am good on the knife, fork, probably the spoon and maybe on the napkin.  However, now I am more helpful in a restaruant. Nope, they are all right now- Rodrigo just corrected me and I had mispelled napkin and spoon.  ;)  About 2 days ago, I actually knew enough words (Palavras) to hear the words in a conversation.  I was able to seperate the words for once.  Like English there is a lot of slang here, too.  Like "where are you" written  "Onde voce esta" spoken rapidly to friends "On Ce Ta". 

Did I mention that in one of the Conversational English classes that I went to the teacher dropped a huge book on my desk called PHRASAL VERBS, there are 2,888?  These are things that we say in English that make no sense to in other languages.  They are actually in a book.  Like "Get off", "Gloss over", "Shake Down" and "Soldier On". 
Ta Ta! 

Washing Clothes in the Rain!

12.21.2010

Washing Clothes in the Rain!

It rains a lot here in the summer.  I hear it dosn't rain much in the winter.  Everybody knows what you do with clothes after you was them, right?  You transfer them to the dryer, takes about 45 minutes depending on how good the machine works.  And we all know that a good dryer is a crap shoot even if you buy it new.  Here in Brasil we hang the clothes up.  The whole country hangs their clothes. 
When I see an actual dryer, I will let you know. 
There is another language you must speak here in brasil.  You must know weather.  I consistantly hang my clothes before the storm.  True that I have never really hung anything up to dry and when I did it would need to be washed again.  So, last night I had a pile of clothes sitting wet in my house praying that they would not stink in the morning.  I have just hung them to dry again today, but it is overcast and just a matter of time.