Why Brazil?

Whenever people hear that I am moving to Brazil, this is the question I am commonly asked. I think in general people think I am doing something fun and crazy. But, there are some people who look at me like I am out of my ever-lovin mind. So, for those of you out there who are wondering, "Why Brazil" I thought I would explain.

When I decided on teaching abroad I thought about the important question...where. I knew there were only 3 continents I would consider, South America, Europe, and Asia. I knew that South America was probably the easiest continent to break into as a new teacher and all. So then the question was where. Let's get real, I know who I am. I know that I am friendly, loud, and vivacious. Not all of these being the BEST qualities, but alas, I am what I am. So, I narrowed it down to 3 countries in which my personality would, "fit in." I narrowed it down to Argentina, Brazil, and Peru.

Brazil was appealing to me for several reasons.
1. Lots of things to do. Brazil is about the size of the USA which means there a lot of places to visit and things to do. I knew I would want to go see the Carnival and famous beaches.

2. The people are friendly, outgoing, and passionate. I knew that my personality would fit in well there.

3. There is a sense of mystery to it. Brazil is a country that not everyone gets the opportunity to visit. I've been to England and France but geographically, I've never travelled past the Bahamas.




Don't get me wrong there are things about Brazil that will be tough. Brazillians are notorious for having the "best of intentions." You know, the type, the person who says, "I'll call you tomorrow" and they call you back 3 weeks later. Things also run slower in Brazil, maybe that goes back to the intentions thing. Oh yeah, and how about milk is sold in bags AT ROOM TEMPERATURE!!!!!! And, Im sure that is just the TIP of the iceberg. But ultimately for me, Brazil just feels right. It feels like the right move and I have not regretted my decision one bit.


Oh and for those of you who want to see where Im going to be spending most of my time, I have found it.

Welcome to EAB, Escola Americana de Brasilia (aka The American School of Brasilia)!!!!

Portuguese semana dos.

Well, it was week 2 of Portuegese 101 at SAVY and don't you guys worry, yes, I had to embarrasingly reveal my age again. :) However, we also covered Brazilian culture today as well. I thought I would share two things we ate today that Brazilados (people from Brazil) commonly eat and drink.



The first thing we drank is Guarana. This drink is LOADED with caffeine. I could smell it across the room, the scent reminded me of Red Bull. It is really sweet and smells like fruit. I would not say it was my favorite drink but it was not bad. We also ate Brigadeiros. Made of egg, condensed milk, chocolate, and butter, ya know all the good stuff the trainers on Biggest Loser would tell you not to eat. These small balls have chocolate sprinkles on them. They tasted like caramel and are eaten commonly at parties and celebrations in Brazil.



We also studied Brazil's history, which was quite interesting. I found out that when the Portuguese first settled there they thought the land would be eaten by ants within 10 years. Even better, the large population of ants are still there to this day. haha! Lovely!

Eu falar um pouco de Português.

This is my common response when people ask me, do you speak Portuguese? Of course, I usually have to tell people that Brazilians speak Portuguese, not Spanish. The phrase means, "I speak a little Portuguese." I learned this very common phrase courtesy of my friend Leigh Anne's Pimsleur CD's. But, this past weekend, I started an actual class.

Let's rewind a bit. When I told my school's gifted consultant that I was moving to Brazil, he informed me that SAVY (Vandy's Saturday program for gifted kids) was offering a Portuguese class. I contacted SAVY and asked if they needed a teacher's assistant, in the hopes I could pick up a few words. The director said, if you are willing to do car-rider duty, you can sit in the class. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. The only catch is that the class is for 11 year olds. Yep, I look like a total creeper or complete imbecile. I haven't decided which, but Im going with imbecile. Actually, I kind of look like Robin Williams, in the movie Jack.

The class was actually really great. We (me and my 11 year old classmates that is) learned the alphabet, numbers, common phrases, and has short conversations. The only embarrassing part was when the teacher asked us our age:

Professora: Quantos anos voce tem Bobby?
Bobby: Tenho onze anos. (I'm 11 years old)
Professora: Quantos anos voce tem Sue?
Sue: Tenho dez anos. (I'm 10 years old.)
Professora: Quantos anos voce tem Katie?
Me: Tenho trinta e um anos.

I could see the kids having to do the math. Im sure they were like why the heck is a 31 year old in here with us. What a loser!

I learned a couple of other little phrases that will be really helpful. I think by the time the fifth week is over I will have learned a lot. Im sure the 11 year olds will too.

Obrigada amigos, Ate logo!
Katie

Goodies!

Shopping is something I do well, probably too well if we are being completely honest here. It is a scary disease that to be honest I feel l got from both of my grandma's. I remember being a young girl and going into Dillard's to help Kay, my Mom's, Mother secretly pay off her charge card before it was sent to my Grandfather, the Colonel.

I've been making my list of things I need to take with me. It's pretty long, okay it is a mile long. The list ranges from Spices to Space Bags (to maximize my suitcase space) and everything in between. It is kind of like going to college. There are a lot of things that I cannot get in Brazil so you have to take it with you or have it shipped. Oh, and electronics, they have to be dual voltage.

On Saturday, I went to an impromptu lunch with my parents at the Yellow Porch(so good!). They told me we should go look at TJ Maxx so they could get me another suitcase like the ones I got for Christmas. From there we went to Cool Springs and got a comforter, alarm clock, umbrella, and space bags!!!! It was so exciting and so helpful. Finances are a huge worry for me with the move. The school does help with the move but the amount of things you need is kind of overwhelming. I really appreciate all that my parents do for me, this was just one of their many generous acts throughout my life. But, even though they say they know how much I appreciate it, Im not sure they do.

I still have plenty I need to get, mainly clothes. When you teach school, your summer wardrobe consists mainly of shorts and tops. Brasilia is about 70-85 degrees year round. So, I have to buy enough summer clothes to wear 365 days a year! Im sure my inner shopaholic is about to rear its ugly head! Watch out!

Thanks again Mom and Dad! I love you!

The Red Tape

Long time no blog! Oops! It's Super Bowl Sunday and to many in America this means football (or in Brazil: futball Americano) food, and parties. I normally watch it for the commercials, but in the last few years they have been so lack luster, that this year I am going to avoid all of the pomp and circumstance. The Brazil front has been kind of quiet lately. Im trying to START my work visa process.

Back in early January, I began working on getting all the papers together. Basically, at that time, all I needed was:
1. A college transcript: ya know, proving I graduated.
2. A letter from my current job stating that I was actually an employee.

Brazil seems to love a good Notary. So after I got the documents they had to be notarized, then they had to be sent to Atlanta, where the Brazilian Consulate legalized each one, for the low, low, price of $5.00 a document. just to put this sticker on it.



I was trying to be so effecient. Trying to not be my usual procrastinator-self. My deadline was March 1st to get everything back to Brasilia. I figured, the sooner the better. However, I still haven't received my Brazilian contract. I've signed a contract, I really have. It is just that I have to sign one in Portuguese as well. As soon as I receive it, I will send it back to Brazil where they in tern, submit it to the Brazilian Ministry of Labor. From there, they will decide if I am the best person for the job, in the eyes of the government, I'm taking away a job from a Brazilian. No one in the US likes American jobs taken away and people in Brazil don't want their jobs taken away from their citizens either. So, that is why they make you jump through all the red tape.

The Red Tape is no where near done, Sophie has red tape to jump through as well. I just want everything submitted and processed. I will be one more thing I don't have to worry about.

Schoooool's out for Snow...

Maybe that is what Alice Cooper should change his famous song to, at least here in good ole Middle Tennessee. In my 31 years living here I wouldn't say that Nashville is well known for its snowfall or ability to drive in it. In fact, our noterity is probably more in the realm of the RIDICULOUS humidity we experience in the summer. Last winter, we had several large snowfalls, and when I say large, yes, I mean 3 inches or more! It was spectacular. However, I think that this winter might be one of the whitest yet! So far, we are one our second snow day of the school year and let me go ahead and be so bold as to throw out my snow prediction, we won't be in school tomorrow or Wednesday either. i mean we got 5-6 inches!!! The south shuts down when the snow rolls in. However, I am trying to enjoy it, Brasilia's temps never dip this cold which means snow and snow days for that matter. Last night when it rolled in I sat at my bedroom watching it thinking about how different my life will be in a year!! It is crazy but exciting.




Even Sophie got to play in the snow for a bit.

it looks like some people got out of the house today. As for me, Im enjoying the day from the inside of my house. I've cleaned, made hot chocolate, and probably will watch a movie. Of course the movie thing is another thing I should enjoy. Im pretty sure you can't rent movies through onDemand in Brasilia. So, Im gonna live it up here while I can.

The honeymoon is over, baby!

Well, that is it; fear has sunk in. Now don't get me wrong my friends in the internet world. I am still excited. I just have had a stunning realization in the last week or so. It is more along the lines of Oh God, I have so much to do and think about. Now, I know what you are probably thinking: "Katie you don't leave till July, you have plenty of time." And, that is completely true. But, it was enough to get my butt in gear. I've gone through my room and closet to try to start to weed out the things I know I don't want to keep. Ive taken the guest room and have given it the nickname, "A Sala Brasil" which is Portugese for the Brazil room. Don't hate on my creativity, or should we say lack there of. One side are things for a garage sale, the other is devoted for items I am taking with me. Take a look and guess which side is which.



Another thing I seem to be struggling with are my grandparents. I am lucky to be 31 years old and still have 3 of my grandparents to be living. However, Im having a hard time with the idea that I could leave and something could happen to them. I think what is hard is not that they could pass on. Instead it is the idea that I wouldn't be able to say good-bye, wouldn't be able to go to the funeral, wouldn't/couldn't be there to hug my family, especially my parents, to let them know how sorry I am. Because I will be 7,000 miles away. Don't get me wrong. My grandparents are excited about my adventure. My grandpa, aka Colonel, is actually planning a trip and he is "d*@& jealous" that I'm getting to do this. But, the idea that the last time I could see them is when I leave is soooo heartbreaking to me. It is just something Im having to prepare myself for...mentally and emotionally.

Now, that Ive dropped the heavy, let's look at my worries that are probably things I shouldn't worry about. My top worry is Sophie, Soph Soph, Sopherina which ever you like to call her. I know some people have kids and they are their world. I haven't been down that path yet, so in my world, she IS my child. I know that realistically, she is not a child, human, person, but to me she is just as important. When I come home from a bad day, she is always there for me. Sophie was a gift from my Mom and sister, HONESTLY, I cannot imagine not having her or taking her with me. EAB(the school where Ill work) is more than happy for me to bring her. What Im worried about is getting her there. Since I will leave in July, Delta has a strict policy that you can not check a pet as baggage in the summer. So, I can only take her on the plane or ship her as cargo. Im scared that if I bring her on she won't fit under the seat and if I ship her that they will lose her. And, don't even get me started on the fees, forms, and trips to the consulate just for her. I mean I OBVIOUSLY REALLY LOVE THIS KID!





The last thing Im worried about is my work visa. I don't know why this is something I am so worried about. I mean they go through this every year but for me, I am concerned that Brazil's Labor of Ministry will turn me down, and that I will be unable to go. God, I'm a worry wart!

Well, thanks for letting me vent. Sometimes this blog is just helpful for getting out my feelings! Obrigada amigos!