Sunday, November 8, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
what to even say?!
ok so here i am, finally in brasil! honestly, i've started a few blog posts since my arrival, then stopped and just deleted them entirely. i never feel like the posts say what i want them to say, or say things the way i want them to be said, so i'm just resolving right now to write this, post it, and get on with my life! i know people are curious to know how things are going, and i want to share my little joys and triumphs with you all. i'm pretty tired and ready for bed, so i'll give this post a focus, that being, my new family.
i have to say, i couldn't have asked for a more hospitable group of people. the vieras are amazing, bruna, my sister, especially. i think i'd appreciate her no matter what [how could i not!] but having been a host sister myself, numerous times, i know how difficult it can be. i am in awe of her patience, how she devotes most of her time to hanging out with me and showing me around, and her ability to laugh at my mistakes while simultaneously gently correcting me. she speaks just enough english and spanish for us to communicate, but not enough that i won't learn portuguese.
in addition to bruna, i have two other siblings, two brothers to be specific. thiago [pronounced chee-a-goo] and thomas. thiago is 22, while thomas is 10. while they come in and out of the house, bruna and i are always together, so i haven't had much to do with them yet. as far as i can tell, they're both very nice, and get along well with bruna. today i went to visit bruna at work, and ran into thiago on my way out of the house, who jumped up from what he was doing to walk me the four or five blocks to her job [which incidentally is a little 'department store' owned by my grandparents, laura & jose, which employs bruna, our mother sandra, and bruan's cousin, betty].
as for the parents, they are really really nice. they're in no hurry to have me try anything i don't want to try, or do anything i don't want to do, and find no fault in the strange things that i do, or don't do. i was worried they might obsess over my eating habits, but so far no one seems to care at all about what i eat which, strange as it may seem, has come as a huge relief to me. sandra, my mother, is lighthearted and loves to eat, while always mumbling and laughing about how she will not be able to go out in her bikini this summer if she keeps eating so much [bruna and i should be the ones worrying about this]. paolo is very funny and nice, but i think he sometimes forgets that i am not fluent in portuguese as he will have what appear to be lengthly and deep conversations with me, which are mostly one way, unless you count me nodding and going, with wide eyes, "aaaahhh!! ..ooooh!" at what i think are the appropriate times, the makings of a real two way conversation. as for pets, there are two dogs that wander around the courtyard, when they are not busy snoozing in the sun, but the family has sort of adopted blitzen as a new pet as i excitedly busted out a picture of him, passed out on one of his favorite couches, and stuck it on the fridge - it is shown to every guest in the house, exclaimed over, laughed about, and is generally the focus of many conversations. i hope that gave everyone an insight into my life in brasil, hope everyone's doing well, and i will update agian next chance i get. lots of loveee, adrienne.
i have to say, i couldn't have asked for a more hospitable group of people. the vieras are amazing, bruna, my sister, especially. i think i'd appreciate her no matter what [how could i not!] but having been a host sister myself, numerous times, i know how difficult it can be. i am in awe of her patience, how she devotes most of her time to hanging out with me and showing me around, and her ability to laugh at my mistakes while simultaneously gently correcting me. she speaks just enough english and spanish for us to communicate, but not enough that i won't learn portuguese.
in addition to bruna, i have two other siblings, two brothers to be specific. thiago [pronounced chee-a-goo] and thomas. thiago is 22, while thomas is 10. while they come in and out of the house, bruna and i are always together, so i haven't had much to do with them yet. as far as i can tell, they're both very nice, and get along well with bruna. today i went to visit bruna at work, and ran into thiago on my way out of the house, who jumped up from what he was doing to walk me the four or five blocks to her job [which incidentally is a little 'department store' owned by my grandparents, laura & jose, which employs bruna, our mother sandra, and bruan's cousin, betty].
as for the parents, they are really really nice. they're in no hurry to have me try anything i don't want to try, or do anything i don't want to do, and find no fault in the strange things that i do, or don't do. i was worried they might obsess over my eating habits, but so far no one seems to care at all about what i eat which, strange as it may seem, has come as a huge relief to me. sandra, my mother, is lighthearted and loves to eat, while always mumbling and laughing about how she will not be able to go out in her bikini this summer if she keeps eating so much [bruna and i should be the ones worrying about this]. paolo is very funny and nice, but i think he sometimes forgets that i am not fluent in portuguese as he will have what appear to be lengthly and deep conversations with me, which are mostly one way, unless you count me nodding and going, with wide eyes, "aaaahhh!! ..ooooh!" at what i think are the appropriate times, the makings of a real two way conversation. as for pets, there are two dogs that wander around the courtyard, when they are not busy snoozing in the sun, but the family has sort of adopted blitzen as a new pet as i excitedly busted out a picture of him, passed out on one of his favorite couches, and stuck it on the fridge - it is shown to every guest in the house, exclaimed over, laughed about, and is generally the focus of many conversations. i hope that gave everyone an insight into my life in brasil, hope everyone's doing well, and i will update agian next chance i get. lots of loveee, adrienne.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
i believe, in gentle harmony
another long day of preparing to relocate myself + 100lbs of possessions to brazil/brasil! gah. geh. guh. tiring. one must make sure one has plenty of one's preferred deodorant [who KNOWS what they use there] and sometimes one must purchase new headphones [earbuds are so easily lost i mean i lost my art portfolio and that's like 3 ft. by 2.5 ft so nothing is too big to be lost, obv] and sometimes one must check in with one's guidance counselor for guidance that will ensure one is accepted to at least one institution of learning.
in other newz: just got back from vermont a few days ago. SUC
H GOOD TIMES. i love vermont but even more so i love the people that i associate with vermont. why is everyone so cool there? the guy at this snowboarding shop place i got lost at gave me a free DVD and it is awesome. i will show it to all my brasilian friends and pretend that i can do those tricks. they will not believe me but whatever!! and the garrets/keefes are always such a good time to see. they are my favorite people to eat cheese+bread+drink wine with, definitely. anyway this picture is one of my favorites from the trip. also having to do with getting lost: i just came upon this swamp and it was such a beautiful swamp so i photographed it to death and am happy i did so.days till brasil: [a mere]4
Sunday, July 26, 2009
schmeh
i have like, the whooping cough.
maybe.
and there has been nooo sleeping for me lately
just worrrrk and then i come homee
and then i go out and then i sleep for like 2 hours and then i workk
this summer has been..
good but so stressful
so eventful just like,
in lots of ways.
some good,
some bad.
soooooo busy, preparing for this trip.
this move!
gah
evan is coming home tonight
then LMTC on thurs!
and goodbyes.
=[
days till brasil: 13
maybe.
and there has been nooo sleeping for me lately
just worrrrk and then i come homee
and then i go out and then i sleep for like 2 hours and then i workk
this summer has been..
good but so stressful
so eventful just like,
in lots of ways.
some good,
some bad.
soooooo busy, preparing for this trip.
this move!
gah
evan is coming home tonight
then LMTC on thurs!
and goodbyes.
=[
days till brasil: 13
Thursday, July 23, 2009
tired but hopefully not due to mono
just got home from shopping..
we bought sooooOooooOoOOo many dresses today ohh my god. if i try on another dress i'll barf.
but at least they are pretty.
they're all black & formal except for one that is zebra print so.. it is black & white. but still formal. i got some sick shoes, too. lots of heel and lots of buckles. yey
and new vegan birks!!
i am so tired and may or may not have mono.
please let me not have mono.
they will hate me if all i can do is sleep and be sick. they will be like this american girl is so boring.. she is always sleeping, and being sick.
urhgghghhg.
we bought sooooOooooOoOOo many dresses today ohh my god. if i try on another dress i'll barf.
but at least they are pretty.
they're all black & formal except for one that is zebra print so.. it is black & white. but still formal. i got some sick shoes, too. lots of heel and lots of buckles. yey
and new vegan birks!!
i am so tired and may or may not have mono.
please let me not have mono.
they will hate me if all i can do is sleep and be sick. they will be like this american girl is so boring.. she is always sleeping, and being sick.
urhgghghhg.
counting down?
just finished making my blog. next step involves lots of tweaking. hopefully with the help of someone who understands blogging & blogs.. [kallie].
photo stolen from hayden
note to self: ask hayden if it's ok that i stole it
today's schedule revolves around the trip, and the fact that i'm sick.
bank, ortho, doctor, shopping for a dress & some fancy shoes?
there's a new bebe in carousel.. we're definitely hitting that up.
the only oatmeal in the house is like 90% fiber.
i guess i will just starve.
days until brasil: 16
photo stolen from hayden
note to self: ask hayden if it's ok that i stole it
today's schedule revolves around the trip, and the fact that i'm sick.
bank, ortho, doctor, shopping for a dress & some fancy shoes?
there's a new bebe in carousel.. we're definitely hitting that up.
the only oatmeal in the house is like 90% fiber.
i guess i will just starve.
days until brasil: 16
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