Shock and Awe!

Well, today was kind of surreal. My kiddos sent in their guesses and surprisingly one of the them was correct. I also got a bunch of funny ones:

* You're engaged
* So unfair, give me a clue!
* You're going to the Olympics.
* You're going to Niagra Falls
* They all end in "o"
* You are going to see the US mens national soccer team play against the Paraguay mens soccer team on March 29th in Nashville.

When class started today, each class reacted the way I expected. You see each one of my classes has a different personality. 3rd period didn't believe me, 4th period was just kind of quiet, and 5th period had a ton of questions and was very concerned about keeping up with me. I also showed a video from 60 minutes about Brazil.



We all know that I wear my heart on my sleeve and lord knows I am more than happy to cry at the drop of a hat. So, I did get a little misty eyed today. It just kind of hit me. Page has been my home for the past 7 years, I won't be here next year. I won't see everyone on a daily basis. I won't be a teacher who is already known by parents. Im going to be a "Newbie." However, I also know that Im about to embark on something so life changing and it makes me so excited. I know this is my path, it is just sometimes hard to switch lanes. But, I wouldn't change my decision for the world.

Honesty is always the best policy...right?

Well, I think they are onto me. For the past three months, I've been trying to keep my big news from 120 very important people. I am a big believer in honesty. I tell the kids on day one that I will always be honest with them but I expect it in return. I think sometimes they dont believe me until they get a "dose" of it.

For the last few weeks, I have had a student teacher, Ms. Christian. She has been so wonderful and the kids have just adored her. We make comments about Brazil and moving all the time and for weeks nothing. They never said anything about it. Finally, we had a few biters. They asked me a couple of questions about why I would bother taking a Portugeuese class. A couple have asked about my moving containers, and why I'm laminating all my posters. The other day, she told me that she had a conversation with a kiddo that went something along the lines of this:

Kid: Ms. Christian, why is Ms. Osteen going through her stuff and packing?
Ms. Christian: Well you know that teachers have to pack things up before TCAP. It has to be down for the test.
Kid: Yeah, but most teachers dont separate their color pencils by color and clorox wipe them.

So, we have pretty much decided that they know something is going on. Not all of them but a couple are on to me. So, it is time to break the news.

I had really wanted to wait to tell the kids till after TCAP. I didn't want them to blow their TCAP because they knew I wasn't coming back. But, I started thinking about my honesty policy. What would the kids think if they found out from some other way than through me. That would be more hurtful to them and I dont want to leave with anyone thinking I was ever dishonest.

So it is time to tell them that I won't be back. More than likely I will do this on Wednesday/Thursday. But, in true "Katie" fashion, I want to make it a little bit dramatic. A little bit fun. So, I decided to make a contest out of it. I've put together some images of Brazil with the question "What do these images have to do with Ms. Osteen" I am sure I will do something fun to spice it up. You know, the winner gets a frappacino or something.


Here is a copy of the clue I am going to give them. I really hope they like it!!!!

WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.