Home again, for now

Finally after 24 hours of travel I am home, sitting on my couch freezing. It is so cold here by Tropics standards. I had uneventful, but long plane rides stopping in no less than five airports, with the hopes that just maybe I could use my seat cushion as a floatation device. I have always wanted to do so! But alas, no such luck. Probably for the better, my gifts cannot get wet!

It is so nice to be home. Three months have gone by like that. As with most things, there are some things that never change; like time, like my house, like the dryness of the desert, I am home.

I can’t wait to see what comes next and I am happy to be where I am. I am so happy to just be. I am me and I am happy!

Beautiful Potential

Saying “See you later,” instead of “goodbye,” it seems more appropriate and it’s easier on the heart. I have come to adore this city full of people, full of life and love. This morning, my last full day in Vitória, I went for a walk on the beach I have become so fond of and saw its beauty for what it is, simply beautiful. I realize just how lucky we are to be alive. Each day is a creative endeavor we just have to choose to fulfill that potential of every moment to be spectacular.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has read my blog. It is great to know that you are all thinking of me and I feel your thoughts and prayers. I will continue to write so please keep reading!

The next adventure begins as I return home to regroup, share stories, and see what happens next.

Warm regards, because summer is upon us in the Southern Hemisphere and I hear it’s getting cold up North.

Tchau for now.

Food Orgy

Success! I made dinner for the family last night. I cooked for ten people, but it was more like fifteen because my Brazilian family eats a lot! It was a perfect evening of cooking and talking, well, them talking and me listening to the language that has become like a familiar tune, with a few translations here and there. (I have vowed to learn Portuguese for when I return!)

“A food orgy,” as my Brazilian sister, Paola, said. Yes, at the end of the night, which turned into early morning, we where all sprawled on the floor just like kids because it was too hot and we where too full to do anything except be flat on our backs, just like Rodolfo, the dog.

And thank god for Frank Sinatra, he is a genius at making those who listen dance and sing, even if you don’t know all the lyrics. Try it sometime when you are expecting company, put him on, loud, and see what happens!

Thank you for loving

Throughout the past three months the reoccurring theme has been one of family and choices. Both of which make up who we are as people (a whole) and as individuals (separate entities). The Barbosa’s, most host family, have taken me in and christened me Shinay Maria Barbosa – there is no greater honor. My own family has held me tight for my whole life and then let me go knowing that their love is forever in my heart and always present in me. My family has been a stable body of love while I plunder off in to the unknown, which turned out to be more love in return. It’s these choices, the leaving and living and love, that help us realize that the love of family is the same all over the world. With big hearts and open arms all we have to do is dig a little deeper into our own hearts and there we will find that love is ever present and it’s our choice to grasp hold of it or not. And it is this love in our hearts that our families have instilled there since before we were born. And it is this ancient love that we feel throughout our lives. Sometimes we loose touch with it, and forget it even exists but just remember that you are loved. Family love never dies and so never dies our love for life. Just don’t forget where to find that love – look inside and make the choice to BE LOVE. For we all have it in ourselves just don’t loose sight of it through all the other choice in life. I have felt so much love though my family and friends. Thousands of miles away and I feel it still; their love surrounding me, embracing me, caressing me, enveloping me in the arms of their everlasting love. Thank you to all who love me in my life. I feel so blessed, and well, LOVED!

Rio de Janeiro

The most beautiful city I have seen yet. Renaissance architecture fused with modern technology and traditional shrines to Jesus and The Mother Mary. Poverty and crime is more present but that does not stop one from dancing in the streets and singing from the balconies.

I was on a whirlwind trip for three days. A tease that left me wanting more of the Corcovado, the Pão de Açúcar, and the beautiful, beautiful beaches – white sand with water that really is as blue as the postcards.

We danced every afternoon and evening for three full days. I learned to samba (with a partner), some new swing moves, and even a little tango. Exquisite I think would be the right word here. Simply exquisite.

As you can see I have finally learned how to add pictures! Whoot whoot! I have been using Blogger in Portuguese so please forgive the language barrier and my technology retardation. Yes, I finally found the little icon of the “picture” where it says, “Upload picture,” in Portuguese. More fun to come!

Love to all and thanks for keeping tabs on me!

Beijos!

English Lessons

Okay, so I know you are all waiting to hear about what I really came for – to teach conversational English. Right? Well, this month I have finished my official lessons and I am going to say that it was harder than I thought it would be but, also a lot more fun than it could have been. The most interesting discovery that I had was finding that a lot of words in English and Portuguese are very similar in spelling and pronunciation, just with a little tongue twist. It makes it a little easier to understand what someone is trying to tell me. The fun part was looking up words that I didn’t know the meaning to or how to explain the meaning such as, covered wagon, scaffolding, swing, and vignette. Needless to say my, “artistic skills” (stick figures and all) came in very handy. Along with my trusty dictionary – thank you Mr. Webster!

Driven To Conquering My Texture Phobias

For all of you who know me, and those who don’t, I HATE pudding, pie, jell-o, flan, and tapioca ¬– anything that jiggles and moves in odd ways. Anything with a remote texture of slime or goo. I will not eat it, I will not come near it, don’t even think about setting it close to me. I am a chocolate, ice cream, and cookie person. So what about this place has made me come to actually LIKE pudding? What is in the air that could have possible driven me to value a good pudding? I have finally conquered my texture phobias. I have overcome my taste issues and now am able to appreciate flan for what it is – surgery goodness. Yes, flan, I have come to like you. Hooray for gummy, gooey, wobbly things! I can fully appreciate them all.

In a country where I do not speak the languages, there is always the communication of appreciating good food. So I try everything, even if my mind is screaming, “No, don’t eat it, it’s moving!” I make myself pick up the fork and put a bit into my mouth. I chew, and find that despite the texture, “Oh my god, it actually tastes good!”