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.

Sick little Peanut

I got home from work this a.m. to find Gabi sleeping again at 10am.  She had been sick for a couple of days but today she was worse, so I sat with her and held her a bit and her little heart was beating fast and she seemed short of breath.   I took her to the hospital right away.  I think I have said before but Pneumonia is very easy to get and very serious here in Brasil.   So, 2 breathing treatments, 1 x-ray, a shot, and $180 real later we went back home.  It was a 5 hour ordeal but she is a lot better now.  She laid in my arms all day and slept, poor little baby.  I could have held her for 10 hours… but she was up and running the minute we stepped in the door.  Thank goodness for modern medicine. 

Feijao

Feijao means beans... and after months of wondering if I could possibly ever eat beans and rice on a daily basis… I have become addicted to the beans.  As with any food, Quality is important and I have finally found a brand to write home about.  “TARUMA” Oh the difference is amazing. 

Family BBQ....6 months later.

I woke up one day and I had the realization that I have been in Brasil for 6 months now and at that moment my perspective changed.   Take today for instance, we had a very large family BBQ, just like the one we had when I arrived and at Christmas.  It was wonderful to see everyone again.  The day was different, I was so happy.  5-6 months ago was such a confusing time for me.  I can look back now and see that I had no idea where I was and that I couldn’t understand anyone…I couldn’t talk… remember?  A Lot of blogs on that one.  J  I smile now….kind of.  Today was very similar to the other BBQ’s, but this time… I could hear, I could communicate and I could understand.  Actually one of the secretaries at the school was at the party on Friday and she said “I thought you were a closed off person”, probably I surprised her as I was laughing, sharing stories and enjoying life.  We had a great time together and I don’t think she saw that coming.  Maybe everyone felt this way about me including my family, maybe I was closed off for a long time, maybe I was angry about my circumstances.  I just look forward to a new perspective and I am thankful to have the opportunity to start again.