Trekking

Back in May, my school put on a “trekking”…I’m not sure why they didn’t call it a hike..but sure. So we trekked through the beautiful mountains here in Ipatinga!

What we did was actually a competition. There were nine groups, with crazy looking maps, compasses, and timers…the goal was to find our way through the woods, using the exact amount of time to get from point to point, where there were people waiting to clock us in. Whoever did things at the correct time were the winners.

Guess who won????

Well it certainly wasn’t my team. Where did we place? Last. Dead last. Why? Because instead of letting the kids take over and have a good time, we bunch of controlling Moms, who wanted nothing more than for their babies to win. Who also thought they knew better than the instructors and anyone else who tried to help them. But, I digress.

We managed to have a good time despite all the competitiveness. Here is proof:

My cute group before we started

 

The Mommas helping us win

After we reached the summit

 

One of the other teachers and I

*Also let it be known I’m all about national pride, but that color yellow, on my pasty white skin…not cute.

 

I didn’t get a picture of us when we finished, but let’s say it had been raining all night the night before and stopped just in time for us to start our trekking. So the way down was slippery and quite treacherous. A lot of people fell, a few got hurt. After close to five hours, we were tired, muddy, and hungry. Thankfully for the winning team and the professors (woo hoo!) we went to a FABULOUS rodizio, and it was all paid for. We were definitely grateful for that! It was well earned!

Monkeying Around

So the other day we decided the weather was beautiful and we were going to take the dog for a walk. We picked a little path by the river. It was beautiful, green, peaceful, and picturesque. I loved it! As we were nearing the end of our walk, I discovered these:

Look how cute! We saw them in the trees above us and stopped to look at them! They came down because they thought we were going to feed them. And I probably would have (though Sidnei says it’s not the best idea) but I had no food. Anyway, they were really interested in my camera. This guy kept tilting his head when my camera would click and it made me laugh!

I really had fun taking pictures of them and playing. They got so close and truth be told they made me a little nervous, but it was so fun to see them playing. Their  curiosity was so funny! This guy made me laugh, I took a couple of pictures of him, but he’s what we nicknamed “the blinker”! He couldn’t keep his eyes open!

 

So it was a fun little day! Gracie had a good time too, though she had to go wait in the car while we played with the monkeys! She was so sad!

Thankfully her hair is growing back….albeit slowly.

And I couldn’t leave you without a photo of us!

Madness

World Cup Madness reigns supreme here in Brazil. Businesses are decked out in yellow and green. People have decorated their homes, are flying their flags, and pimping out their vehicles. All the patriotism is nice to see .

In all reality, I love the World Cup. It has really been nice to experience it with a country that really has love for the sport that is unmatched by just about anything I have seen. Because seriously watching 3 games a day…that takes dedication people. I wouldn’t know, I bowed out. It was too much for me in one day. I just catch snippets walking in and out now.

One thing I don’t really love about World Cup, or I should say this particular World Cup is the vuvuzela. Seriously, there weren’t enough noisemakers already? Don’t worry the adult here love it just as much as the kids. And they are driving me absolutely insane…at all hours of the day. And with Brazil playing today, it has started that much earlier, with that much more intensity.

Today I leave you with a video made by some kids at the school I work for. Not our particular school, this one is in Belo Horizonte, but I thought it was cute! Enjoy!

She has arrived!

On June 9, Ana Beatriz arrived at 11:45pm! Her original due date was June 24, but no one was surprised she came early! Poor little girl had a rough start coming in! My SIL’s placenta detached, she started hemorrhaging, and the baby swallowed a lot of blood. She had to be in the nursery for the first 5 day, but she is doing great! And Momma is too! They both came home one week later! I feel like I waited so long for her to get here and at the same time, she got here so quickly! Without further ado, I introduce you to Ana…

Here she was just a little yellow and had to take the “light bath in the hospital!

And here she is with Tio Sidnei!

She is so cute and tiny! I’m sure as the months pass there will be more and more about little Ana!

Talk about a bad haircut…

Okay, so there are lots of things I want to tell you!

But that will have to wait. Because I am traumatized. (but not more than Gracie..)

This was my cute. fluffy dog just one month ago.

How could you NOT love that face??

 

I’ll tell you how.

 

 

When it looks like this:

or this:

That is some scary face people.

Look at her, she is just plain defeated by this cut.

And quite honestly, I have just gotten to the point where I can talk about this, because on Friday, when she came home..there were nothing but tears. Seriously, she’s so ugly, I cried.

 

SO how did all this happen? I’ll tell you how. This is what happens when you ask your husband to call the groomers, but you don’t sit there listening to exactly what he tells them. So when they ask how much they want taken off and he says everything, this is what happens. It’s supposed to be everything but the head and the tail. They just get a trim. We have all learned a good lesson. And it’s cold here now. And she is freezing. My poor ugly, E.T. baby.

Do you see it??

 

You know that HUGE white thing I’m all cuddled up to…..do you understand  what this means people? Ignore the zit, the fact that I haven’t brushed my teeth or my hair…concentrate people..!

It officially felt like winter here last night. And by winter I mean it was a cool 65 degrees. Alright as night set in, it was probably 60. Hence the need of the big white cover (for me, not for Sidnei). I cannot even describe the happiness that this makes. I miss sleeping with blankets. And I have been SO SO SO hot. Thank goodness for the reprieve that is “winter” here. And honestly, we kind of just got the perfect storm of weather because it had been hot and humid all day. But a great thunderstorm blew in, bringing all kinds of rain and the blessed WIND! The wind was cold and cooled everything off. 60 degree weather is about as cool as we get…at night. During the day it hoovers somewhere between 75-90. More towards 75 if we’re lucky!

Anyway, I’ve never been so grateful for winter. Just thought I’d share my enthusiasm.

Just a reminder…

I found this on a blog I was reading and absolutely LOVED it!

Feelings on Employment

Ummm…

 

I LOVE IT!

 

Yesterday was my first day as an English Teacher! Sunday when we got home from vacation, in a slumber induced coma, I got a phone call from the coordinator, asking if I was still interested and if I could start the next day. Heck yes I can! I was so excited. Before we went on vacation, I had went to interview with her again, take an english placement test-which is really just protocol since obviously my english skills are advanced being “native” and all.

Anyway the kind of crappy part is that I teach in the evenings. Which I didnt want to do since that’s what Sidnei comes home, but I also really wanted to get my foot in the door. So right now I am working 8 hours a week. Mondays and Wednesdays 5:40-7:40 and Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:45-8:45. I am teaching the business english class to some professionals from the big steel company here called Usiminas. In my class yesterday I had 3 men in their late 20’s, early 30’s, who were engineers and researchers. Meaning they are geeky and eager, which I love!

It was absolutely thrilling to start yesterday. Really we just did icebreakers, and then some exercises. On Friday and Saturday I have my official training which will certify me as an ESL teacher for anywhere in Brazil (which is great since the company is paying for it..it costs $600 reais!)

I figured out that I loved yesterday SO much because I was the one teaching. Not learning. I’m tired of learning. I like to be in charge. I have been in a constant state of learning since I arrived and it was nice to flip gears.

Sidnei is not really thrilled..I mean he’s happy that I like it and that I’m working. He just doesn’t want me to feel like I have to or need to work. He wants to take care of me-- Fulfill his masculine, bread winner, head of the household duty. But he understands it’s not really about the money (although let’s face it, extra money is ALWAYS a plus), but I need to have a little direction, a purpose, even if it’s only 8 hours a week!

Anyway so tonight is my second night with my second group of students! I have 4 in this class and I hope they are as much fun as the students I had last night! They were so cute! They all said, “bye teacher” when they left! It made me want to laugh out loud. And just as another side note, I really, really love the coordinator and director at the school. They are both women, have been incredibly flexible, and seem to have nothing but the best interest intended for me!

Let’s hope it continues to be such a great experience! Good stuff happening all around! Love you all!

Vitória, Espirito Santo

On Saturday night, we made the trip from Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, to the coast of Vitória, Espirito Santo!

In light of recent events (the death of some members of our church who made the same trip) we decided it would be safer if we took the bus instead of driving. The road to Vitória is two lane most of the way with many, buses and tractor trailers. But we are so glad we did! The buses are VERY nice, comfortable, and VERY air conditioned!

Our bus makes an overnight trip so here we are at 11, getting ready to leave the station! The bus was SO COLD, we ended up using our oversized beach towels as blankets! Next time I’ll remember to bring a blanket!

A little after 6 AM, we arrived in Vitória, though not well rested…it’s not easy to sleep on the bus..not for me anyway. We took a Taxi to our hotel, checked in early, and slept most of the day away! Not before taking some pictures of the view of course!

For the next couple of days, we took in the beach…

We played in the pool…

   

We had a great 2 year anniversary dinner at a stuffy Italian Restaurant (we both agreed that we miss Carrabas!)

 

We also did things like eat pepperoni pizza (which I can NOT find in Ipatinga! It was so greasy delicious! Sidnei opted for catupiry (a soft cheese, very good!) and ham)

We were giddy at the fact that Vitória had a Sam’s club! I thought maybe they would have some American things, and they did have some, but it was mainly bulk Brazilian things, which I should have expected. We were excited none the less! It also happened to be Women’s Day, so I got a rose too!

We also went to Vitória’s big shopping mall, that had a BIG Cinemark! Woo hoo! (we have a theater in Ipatinga, it’s small, and we’ve just never been) We went to see Avatar in 3D! As a bonus, it was in English with Portuguese subtitles! It was a really good movie and we both really enjoyed ourselves!!

On Wednesday morning we checked out of our hotel, and headed for a town about 20 minutes from Vitória, called Serra. Sidnei’s aunt lives there. We stayed with her and her family until Saturday night, when we had to take the bus back home! Since they had to work, it was pretty low key, but we had a good time!

One day we took a bike ride. I LOVE this picture below. I was hot and sweaty and did NOT want to take a picture. Is this not the perfect picture of my disgust?

 

Followed by my fake smile…

We went to a beach called Jacaripe, which we’ve both decided we like better than the beaches Vitória and will be coming here next time!

   

We had SUCH a great time! I was so sad to come home! I have missed the beach so much! We definitely spoiled ourselves and it felt so great! Sidnei’s is much more rested and the quality time we spent together was much needed! Needless to say we thought about you all a lot, especially since the beach is so similar to back home! (We are still on the Atlantic and not quite far enough south to be that pretty blue color..the water was cooolldd!) Hope you enjoyed our vacation recap! Sorry it was so long! We love you and miss you all!