Jill In Brazil

Peppers!

2011-01-07T12:11:00.002-02:00

Today I am getting my first pedicure and haircut. Yesterday, I met the woman who is going to cut my hair and was trying to talk to her about getting highlights. I kept calling them Pimenta, like 5 minutes later when I noticed the stunned look on everyone face in the whole salon; I realized I was telling her to put Peppers in my hair. I was supposed to be saying tinta. What a laugh that was. My face was a red pepper.

café da manhã- American Style

2011-01-06T22:24:00.000-02:00

Recently I have been trying out my hand in the kitchen. I am definately not a Brazilian Chef as I have many things to learn yet and I am deathly afraid of the Pressure Cooker. I am making mexican food, italian food and tomorrow I will make the house Breakfast- American Style. It is so great to cook for my family now because the types of food that we eat are prepared differently here and it is new to them.
On the Menue:
2 Fried Eggs
Bacon
Toast
Juice

On saturday I am going to make Spaghetti for my friends family. This is Fun!

Lost in Translation

2011-01-06T22:14:00.001-02:00

Trying to be understood in a Foreign Country is somewhat impossible. My intentions are good and I have love in my heart, but even this cannot be translated. My mom would say that I have always wanted to be understood… really understood as if you were in my shoes and wearing my glasses. This has always been so frustrating for me that I could hardly stand life at times. This need has followed me 34 years into the future and now I realize by being in Brasil that not only is it difficult to really walk in someone’s shoes but now my words are clouded by culture and translation at times. Not all words have the same meaning here.

For an example; one time when my husband I were fighting & I said he was being a jerk. I thought that word would be better than to call him than asshole. However I found out that he would have preferred that.

I am a english teacher!

2011-01-05T22:41:00.000-02:00

Just landed my first job teaching Conversational English in January for 2 weeks. Cant wait! Drove the car by myself today, went shopping for food and for things in my home all by myself, having conversations with new people and feeling very confident with some day to day stuff. It was a productive day. Now I just wish it would stop raining so that my clothes will finally dry. Urgh!

Jill In Brazil: Culture Shock Anyone?

2011-01-04T23:00:00.000-02:00

Jill In Brazil: Culture Shock Anyone?: "Culture Shock Anyone?I have been conversing with people! I am actually able to hear them speaking enough so that I can answer their qu..."

Culture Shock Anyone?

2011-01-04T22:39:00.006-02:00

Culture Shock Anyone?

I have been conversing with people! I am actually able to hear them speaking enough so that I can answer their questions with real words that go together! Now don’t get me wrong I only get the words and the just of it but this is better than 7 days ago. It is funny because some still don’t understand me at all, but they want to. They are not used to broken Portuguese here however we are moving in the right direction. I have had some major breakthroughs and a lot of new understanding.

The word “culture shock” seemed like a fun word to use loosely when I was in America to describe a feeling of being surprised by something which was unfamiliar to me. But unless you have ever been dropped in to the middle of a totally foreign place and left to survive you could never understand the true meaning. I have taken that word for granted because the true meaning of the word is so vast that it is really incomprehensible. It is like the word “integrity” a word that you have in your vocabulary, everybody uses it, everyone wants to have it ,but if you ask someone to tell you the definition most people do not even know it or you would get a different definition every time. These words are something that you have to feel yourself to know their true meaning.

I have been totally consumed by another culture so much that I am starting to forget the old me. I have tried to hold onto each thread of my being but that person does not belong here and I think that is ok. I cannot assert myself, I cannot control anything and I cannot tell anyone what to do. I have been in Survival mode for so long that I try to kick up dust just so that I can see more clearly. People just don’t live like that here. I couldn’t even place a bet on my future at this point. I do not know what I want or even what is possible here. I think I like it though but I can’t even be sure of that right now.

The hard part about “culture shock” is that I have felt alone, unwelcomed at times and desperate. Everything has gotten lost in translation and I have found that it is completely out of my control. Maybe I even tried to blame it on others, but now I realize that this is me just trying to hold onto something familiar. Then I look around and I realize that the only thing that is familiar is an image of what I have known in the past. Maybe my 4 year old son said it best “Mom, it is different here every day”.

The good part about my "Culture Shock" is that I have landed in the middle of a beautiful loving large family. I live in a very safe, clean, beautiful place in the middle of a somewhat confusing world. I have more cousins that I can count and there are kids everywhere. The food is amazing and people never want to go home. What I have learned about a large family is…. There is just more love.
I guess If this is all I have to go on, I think I will be just fine.

American Food

2011-01-04T00:17:00.000-02:00

So today I made my first dinner in Brasil. I made Spaghetti and it turned out quite well. In Brasil spaghetti is noodles with sauce and hotdogs all mixed up together. I make Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. They call Spaghetti here Macahao (spelling is wrong). As I was finishing the dish Rodrigo said I should mix it up and I said "No" I am making Spaghetti not Macahao. American Style. The reason why I was so unsure of how it would turn out is that finding all of the ingredients that I am used to is a real challenge. Brazilians do not eat a lot of ground meat, you actually have to ask for it behind the counter it is not pre packaged. Their spaghetti sauce comes in a puch or small jars. The Zuchini looked different, the mushrooms are not fresh they float in water, there is only 2 cans of stewed tomatoes to choose from and they are $4/can. I just wasn't sure that it would come together and even taste close to my masterpiece back home. Very happy to report that I am able to make American Food in Brasil. Next will be hamburgers. Here the meat is seasoned like meat loaf. Ben Said to me today "It is different here everyday".

Jill In Brazil: "Looking Good Limits My Life"

2011-01-02T20:21:00.000-02:00

Jill In Brazil: "Looking Good Limits My Life": "12.30.2010 “Looking Good Limits My Life”This is a quote I saw here in a Magazine in Sao Paulo. In Brazil, there may be more plastic s..."

Jill In Brazil: "Looking Good Limits My Life"

2011-01-02T19:57:00.000-02:00

Jill In Brazil: "Looking Good Limits My Life": "12.30.2010 “Looking Good Limits My Life”This is a quote I saw here in a Magazine in Sao Paulo. In Brazil, there may be more plastic s..."

Happiness

2011-01-02T16:11:00.000-02:00

There is not a path to Happiness... Happiness is the way!
~Shawna sent me this today and I am thankful. Thanks sister!

I just cant get left Clark!

2011-01-02T16:04:00.000-02:00

So this was funny. The other day we had a lot of family here for New Years and one of my favorite new cousins wanted to go to the store for some very last minute shopping. Rodriog was tired of driving and asked me If I would take her. Of course I said yes, however I have only driven in Brasil 2 times now and my cousin wasnt from here either. The store is only about 10 blocks away, no big deal right? So I headed out and took a right and got onto the main road. I needed to go left but you had to go right. I kept going as I was looking for a place to do a U-turn and couldnt find one. I drove for 10 miles into the city to finally turn around. It was so funny becasue I was trying to translate to my cousin at the same time what the hell was going on. We laughed and laughed cuz I just couldnt get left Clark. You know "Big Ben Parliment kids, I just cant get left"~ Clark Griswald in Euorpean Vaccation. It was just like that!

Jill In Brazil: Brasil 2011

2011-01-02T14:23:00.000-02:00

Jill In Brazil: Brasil 2011: "Brasil 2011 Here it is a new year and a new perspective for me and all Brazilians. For Brazilians.... today the newly elected Presid..."

Jill 2011

2011-01-01T20:45:00.001-02:00

Jill 2011

I can’t do a blog and not list my prospects for my new year, can I? Where do I start?

1. It is my goal to be more patient especially when I have nothing to do but wait. It goes without saying that I must be patient with myself when I am feeling down and take notice of the time of the month when this happens. With a blog I am becoming too aware of this.

2. I want to find a nice home with a great yard. The home must have at least 2 bedrooms and the kitchen/dining area must be as big as the living room. The Barbeque must be tiled and clean. I am looking for a place that when my family comes to visit they don’t leave their suitcases out in their garage to fumigate when they return from Brasil. Barends Family Standards!

3. I will at least try on a bikini.

4. I will make a stable home for my kids.

5. I will get Bernard into Capoeira- It is a cultural expression afro-brazilian fight that mixes dance, popular culture, and music. It was developed by African slaves and their decendants, it is characterized by agile and complex movements using their hands, feet, head, knees and elbows. A characteristic that distinguishes it from most other martial arts is the fact that is is accompanied by music.

6. I will speak the language fluently

7. I want to try something new for my work. I want to love it and have balance so that I do not sacrifice my children’s time with me.

8. Last but not least, I want to keep growing my blog. So....Please pass it on my friends if you like it and feel the urge!

Thinking of you all and wishing you the best in 2011, or as in my case Always wishing for at least better than 2009

Brasil 2011

2011-01-01T18:30:00.000-02:00

Brasil 2011

Here it is a new year and a new perspective for me and all Brazilians.
For Brazilians.... today the newly elected President Dilma was sworn into office. Dilma is the first woman president in Brazilian history. She is the head of the Labor party and her stance is that all Brazilians will have the right to Education, Health Care and Jobs. Like the previous President Lula, Dilma will continue to hold his policies in place as Brasil moves towards becoming a 1st world country. In my limited impression of Brasil, there is has been quite a distance between the poor and the rich. What I can see is the gap closing as Brasil is getting a middle class. I go to the malls here and see the outrageous prices on things; I wonder who is it that is buying this stuff? As far as I can tell, if you make $1200 reis a month you should be happy, however if you are a business owner here the sky is the limit but they will not pay the employees more than what they are used to. It is confusing to me because when you eat out plan on dropping at least $60/meal. If you want the extras in life you will pay for them, I think this is where it may get a little hairy for Rodrigo and me. I will say though you can get a massage for $15 and Pedi/Mani for less than $5. Haven’t got one yet but it’s on my list. Will this ever be a challenge, a Budget! F@%#!

Now, Let me take a minute and tell you what I saw at the mall yesterday;
Barney Dolly 10" tall, says a few words $129.00
Electronic Toys for Children under 2 like we would pay $35 for were $249
Pocket Knife $166 smallest version not a brand
A water bottle/ coffee holder- nice but not Starbucks nice $49
Cell phone service $91.00 for 100 minutes- seriously this is what we have

It is true that most items are made in Brasil and NOT imported from China, this is good and I think Brazilians have a few things in mind when they buy and sell. 1st I think they keep in mind how to stimulate their own economy. 2nd I think they have always had to think about TRASH~ Here the toilet paper is so thin that it sticks to you....yeah when you wipe. Sucks! The napkins are hard and feel like you are wiping with construction tissue paper. The wet wipes for babies are the same and impossible to work with. This is a problem because a lot of Brazilians are litter bugs. I saw a lady driving a truck in Bumper to bumper traffic. She just finished the last muscle relaxer...yeah I said muscle relaxer... And she threw it out the window. I had to stare at it for 3 minutes in disbelief. Just threw it out! A plastic pill container, the kind that you pop a pill out of the foil backing- 6 pack. One of the major problems here is lack of public education. Not too long ago Brasil was ruled by a dictatorship and education was the least of the priorities. It is so interesting because when I look out the window at the people as I am driving by them, they look just like Americans. I think Brazil is at an amazing point in their history and I am happy to have the opportunity to be here emerged in their culture no matter how hard it can get for me at times.
If you are reading this you are always welcome for a visit, just wait till I have a home.

Our Plan?

2010-12-30T22:13:00.002-02:00

Our Plan?

When we were at our favorite little beach town yesterday, Rodrigo was able to talk to someone about a great job prospect for him. We have been waiting for this opportunity to come along. Many have come but they just weren’t a perfect fit. We met Rodrigo's uncle and he was so nice and happy to have us. He lives in a very simple and wonderful place. This is more like the Brasil that Rodrigo talked about. There were dogs in the street, people walking and talking everywhere and horses! I think the horses were there and the town grew around them. This was the Brasil that I had in my mind and the mindset that allowed for me to come and experience this place. I wrote a few weeks ago about going to the beach and choosing a place for me that would be more relaxing, this could be the choice. I know this is where my home could be and I could feel comfortable. We also realized that we could afford to live there once the tourists go back home, we had been looking when the prices were high and we just didn’t know enough about the place. It is a perfect place, the people are simple and they ride bikes everywhere. Houses are even built without as much security as the larger cities. I know that I could be happy there for a while.

Sick, Sick, Sick!

2010-12-30T22:08:00.000-02:00

12.30.2010

Sick, Sick, Sick!

Ok, we were going to be gone until tomorrow afternoon and this is why there were so many posts 2 days ago, however once we got to the beach we realized that my daughter was not getting any better and playing at the beach would be a bad idea. So, we headed back and took her to the Dr. She was getting pneumonia; the doctor said she had a mild case. This is very common in tropical countries I am being told and this is the reason why people kept telling me to put shoes on Gabriela the other day. Since there is a lot of moisture here and the fact that there is a lot of bacteria in the rain it is good to keep shoes on the kids and to give them warm beverages when they are sick. Good to know. I was so sad because not only was I emotionally drained but I was realizing again here we are with little stability. I have been living out of a suitcase or temporary housing for almost 6 months because we have been saving and getting ready for Brasil, now here in Brasil I still don’t have a place to call my own. I always had a nice and comfortable place for the kids to stay, sleep and play, however it just isn’t the same as being home. Now the whole family is sick and in bed. I hope we are all well in the morning, there will be a huge party here.

Fantastic News!

2010-12-30T01:42:00.000-02:00

Well it has been a hard week here for me personally, but I have heard some exciting news. My parents are spending New Years together . I think 2011 will be GRAND! No expectations, just loving it and wishing them the best!

Happy New Year

2010-12-28T11:52:00.000-02:00

12.31.2010

Happy New Year!

Just in Case I dont get back by New Years- Thanks for Reading and Enjoy your night.
Enjoy your home and Enjoy the Fact that you have one! See you in 2011!

"Looking Good Limits My Life"

2010-12-28T11:37:00.000-02:00

12.30.2010

“Looking Good Limits My Life”

This is a quote I saw here in a Magazine in Sao Paulo. In Brazil, there may be more plastic surgery in the world, but women are comfortable with their bodies and society with them. I think the reason why Brazil is deemed to have the most beautiful people in the world is because when you go to the beaches you see everyone feeling good about themselves. Large, small, too large for that bikini…you see it all. It is amazing. The other day my sister in law bought me a dress. It is really beautiful and it is a halter top, one that I couldn’t wear a bra with. I put it on without a bra and honestly it looked good. However, I would not wear it in the U.S. because I feel that it would show an inappropriate amount of cleavage. Here there is no such thing as an inappropriate amount of cleavage or an inappropriate amount of tummy fat. In Brazil you wear what you have and what you feel good in, old, ugly, too small, inappropriate. I have seen it all, as Rodrigo has always said “for every dog there is a bone”.

Looking good limits my life? Hmm... I think this is something to ponder for yourself. I know what it means to me.

Married to a Man

2010-12-28T11:32:00.001-02:00

12.29.2010

Married to a Man

There are a million good reasons to be married. However one problem about being married to a man in a foreign county is that he translates what he hears. You know when you’re talking to your husband and he nods and agrees with you, but you know he didn’t listen at all? This is the same amount of information that gets translated for me.

Headed out!

2010-12-28T11:31:00.000-02:00

We are going to the beach today to get away for a while. There was a lot of drama today! So long and Happy New Year!.

I looked into the fridge for something to eat and I found wine.

2010-12-27T15:39:00.000-02:00

12.27.2010

I looked into the fridge for something to eat and I found wine.

Today I woke up feeling depressed probably because I have been in the house for too long without something to do. Sometime I feel like I am wasting my life just sitting here doing nothing. I have always had a million things to do, so much that I think I was just as annoying being too busy. I have tried to tap into a quieter me, but that me gets bored easily. I find myself tied to electronic devises for fun, now I am pretty much down to the computer. The first day, I blew my speakers in the 220v outlet and yesterday Bernard blew up our Mario Brothers. Sucks for us!

So, Today I had Rodrigo take us to the park, which was nice but I had a scowl on my face the whole time, then we went to the Mall and I ate McDonalds and drove the car home for the first time. This did make me feel better and now all I need is a huge Coors Light Draft and Chicken Wings with a side of Blue Cheese. I miss America, but I have lost about 10 lbs.

I looked into the fridge for something to eat and I found wine. When I used to get sad at home I would grab food. The fridges are not full of snacks here; they are full of meals that need to be cooked in order to eat. I haven’t really had a real kitchen in 6 months to call my own and I don’t feel like starting now.

Um, wine will do or else I will have to go into the other house and not talk to anyone. Not talking is just as uncomfortable as talking to someone and not knowing what to say. So, I will just feed myself the wine for a snack today and consider myself lucky.

The thunder is so loud today. I have mentioned it before but I must again because it is really loud. There has been rolling thunder for 30 minutes now.

I think the hard part is that Rodrigo has to do everything for me. I can’t even help him but stick my big nose in his way of making decisions. This must be really hard for him too. Since I was feeling depressed today, he said “seems like I may have made a mistake by taking you all here” and I said “yeah, sometimes it feels that way”.

I don’t mean it though, I am so glad to have this opportunity and 85% of the time I am beside myself with happiness about being here. Ben asked me last night before bed if I liked Brasil or America better. I asked him what he likes and he said he missed America. When I asked him why? It was for the same reason that I do- the language barrier. I am thinking it must have been because we just Skyped his Grandpa and possibly because we took a walk to the Padaria and I told ben that we shouldn’t talk English out on the street by ourselves. He ended it saying that he just wants to go to school and I understand. He may be 4 and pretty well adjusted, however can someone ever really adjust to living in a foreign country?

My first Brazilian Christmas

2010-12-25T18:01:00.000-02:00

12.25.2010

My first Brazilian Christmas

Ok, where do I even start? So the day is like every other. I wake up and it doesn’t feel special it doesn’t feel like Christmas Eve, you know the night before Christmas. Remember I don’t even get past Good Morning and a few other conversations around here so I did not know if anything was going to happen today. I usually sit on the porch at the large Granite picnic table by the BBQ and write on my computer, this is where I spend a lot of my down time. Two things on this subject, 1^st Christmas is a feeling for me. It is a time of the year when everything is decorated and holiday music is everywhere. I love Christmas music. I usually buy a new Christmas CD for me and the kids Early November and if it is really good we listen to it till March. I love the feeling of Christmas. There is a feeling in the air, the first snow fall, the right to make Chili whenever I think about it, the Christmas lights down town. What a feeling, however with this feeling there is the 2^nd thing, it is also a season for spending too much money, overly high and dramatic expectations and seeing family who you choose to only see one time a year. Then there is the guilt of overspending, not buying enough and the rush to buy. Now we are getting into my Consumption problem, so let us move on.

Oh, Christmas Eve in Brasil. So, I am sitting at my compute with Ben and I am asked 3 times if I want to go to take a shower. I’m like, uh No! I take my shower right before bed because here you sleep in somewhat of sauna conditions. Then here comes Rodrigo, Fresh and Clean. It is like 9pm now and the kids are getting hungry. Rodrigo says why don’t you get freshened up for dinner. Still in the dark, I start to wonder why? Of course people are arriving and changing for Christmas dinner. The women are in nice dresses; even my son has cologne on. Ok so I get ready and by 10, we are sitting down for an amazing dinner. Like a 3 Chicken dinner, the wine comes out and I run for the shower. I decide to bring down my Xmas music and camera and really enjoy myself. They even had a toast to my first Xmas in Brasil. I guess I did see the ladies making dishes all week that we never ate.

Today we woke and had a BBQ, Santa did not come but last night the kids got a gift from their Aunt. Thank god they didn’t ask. I guess I did feel a little guilty about not carrying on that tradition but it did feel good to not have to buy anything this year. We are having a “secret amigo exchange” for New Years and this I know is going to be a big deal. I will try to be prepared. Happy Christmas!

Jill In Brazil: All I want for Christmas is... my freedom!

2010-12-24T09:46:00.000-02:00

Jill In Brazil: All I want for Christmas is... my freedom!: "12.24.2010All I want for Christmas is... my freedom!Ok, how do I obtain freedom living in a foreign country with 2 English speaking children..."

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

2010-12-24T09:43:00.000-02:00

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!!!!!!