Obama in Brazil

President Obama arrived in Brasilia, Brazil this weekend. He is on a tour of South America, travelling to Brazil, Chile, and Peru. I'm kind of jealous that I missed out on him being in Brasilia. I can only imagine that it was a big deal to the Expats living there as he arrived on Sunday. Even if you are not his biggest fan, I think most people can see how the Expats living there would find this to be an exciting time to live there.

My school email was set up the other day and the teachers were emailing out videos of his speech in Rio. This video is only the first part and you can hear him try his hand at speaking some Portuguese. It is quite good, yet entertaining. He really had a hard time with the futball team name though. Brazil has become one of the world super-powers. It is nice for them to receive that recognition.
Picture source: Fox News

You've Got Mail!

That's right folks, my Brazilian labor contract arrived this morning and by 5pm, it along with my legalized papers were dropped off for the DHL pick-up! Thank goodness I get reimbursed for my expsenses because to send 4 copies of my contract, and 2 legalized documents cost a whopping 83 dollars!!!!!

Here are my documents all signed and ready to go! Wish them luck!

Wild and Crazy Saturday Night

So, when I have free time these days I do a lot of internet searches on Brazil. Some might call me an internet troller, but I consider it research. I was bored on Saturday night so I decided to search youtube for a video on the school and I found this little gem. Evidently, it is used for new teachers and students. In it you can see the school and scenes of Brasilia. I've only watched it 5 times already!!! Stuff like this gets me excited!!!

Four Eyes!

I am trying to get all my doctor's appointments in before i leave. You know the drill. I want to visit them early just in case. Typical Katie, worrying about all the stuff I never really should worry about. I have complained about my eyes to my family and friends for about 2 years now. I've been having a hard time reading and driving. So, I decided to go see the Optometrist(not Opthamologist, but that is a whole NOTHER story) about it. I really did think they would say that I was fine and it was just my imagination. Everything was going fine in the appointment until they told me to cover one eye and read the line on the Eye Chart. O-M-G! I was shocked! If it was an O, G, D, or Q, I could not tell you which it was even if my life depended on it. So, it is official, I have joined the ranks of the nearsighted and those with Astigmatism.

Mom and Dad met me today to help me pick out a pair of spectacles(as I like to call them). Luckily, I do not have a very strong prescription so they were able to send me home with my new glasses in an hour. It is amazing how much clearer I see though.



What ya think? Please excuse the make-up less face. It's been a long day!

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)!!!!