Vamos lá! (Let's Go!)

Hey Everyone!

It's me, Maggie! I'm in Brazil!! This blog is going to have a bit of a different format than my French one. Already, I feel bad for having let so much time pass without really keeping you informed. Be assured that I'm doing well and adjusting to my new surroundings as quickly and gracefully as I can manage. I still haven't found a job, but I find plenty of things to occupy my time. I'm learning a ton about life, Brazil, relationships, and Portuguese!

I have an agreement with Gui that I have to tell him one thing that I like about Brazil everyday. I'm going to try- though I know already that there will be days I forget -to publish this item as my blog. That way, rather than putting off starting for some day that I feel like writing a small novel of all that's happened, I'm going to start giving you a steady supply of tasty, bite-sized pieces. Consider it your daily dose of Brazil. Hmm...not a bad name for a blog. Better than my original, uninspired, "Hey Look, Everybody! This Time Maggie's in Brazil!"

So let's start with your daily dose of Brazil. Actually, today is a special day that you get several doses since we started this on the 10th...

September 10: The apparent simplicity of life here in São Bernardo do Campo (the suburb of SãoPaulo where I live with Gui and his mom). It just seems like there's a nice community with kids playing in the streets, neighbors chatting on the sidewalks, and friends gathered in the restaurants and bars everyday swapping gossip and trying to stay out of the rain.

September 11: Brazilian trees. They're crazy compared to ours! They have bright purple and red and pink flowers. Some are completely covered in spikes, others in ferns. Some have weird, green fruits the size of softballs. They're always entertaining.

September 12: Cigarette warning labels. There's one with a naked guy and a strategically-placed hand giving a thumbs down and a label reading "Impotency."https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sP5lf1nNVwBGv3ofox1uOWOVdN2Uo98Jt1v8K-5gl6SjZAGbsnAEYIZbeMSWKQK8FCh1ihpKUwa5-QLa5PrdMjFNECnxh4EVaHQj-uC16ijJMhEuRDyBU2EUlpSTHo3mVI26lLwfWClE/s400/cigarro-4.jpg

September 13: Djavan, a great Brazilian musician, and one of Gui's favorites. I especially like dancing around to this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y106vlqyQ3Y This one's really nice too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey2Us5AQ844&feature=related There are so many good ones!

September 15: Free MASP Tuesdays! MASP is the main São Paulo art Museum. They have a nice collection of European and Latin American artists, and it's not so big that you can't see everything in an afternoon.

September 16: Godfried, the gecko that was on the wall in the living room when we got home one day! Gui didn't think it was anything exciting to have a lizard in the house. In fact, he was just kind of annoyed. I however, was very excited. I only ever heard of spiders on the wall, not geckos!

September 18: Friendly people on the bus. I'm so impressed with how nice and helpful people are riding public transportation. Gui's mom and I were going to a museum and needed to ask for directions but were too far away from the driver so a little boy was acting as our messenger asking the driver things for us. Then other passengers overheard and started chiming in to help. The buses can be kind of confusing, but thank goodness people will help you out!

September 20: Battling the medieval warriors in Park Ibirapuera. We went to the park with friends from church to go to the planetarium, but it was closed. Then walking around, we ran into a group of teenagers playing with homemade jousting spears and swords made of plastic and duct tape. They noticed us staring and we decided to go ask them about what they were doing. They were eager to tell us all about their role playing troop of knight warriors. It was pretty crazy. They were very sweet and let us try out there "weapons" and taught us the rules of combat. In the end their leader called them to assemble so that we could take a picture with them all. You can check it out on facebook. Something you never think you'll do...especially not in a Brazilian park...

September 21: Only taking one hour to get home from downtown! I was sincerely happy about what good timing we made. Normally it take at least an hour and a half. Everyone starting laughing and exclaimed that I'm becoming a real Paulista as my sense of what a good communiting time becomes radically changed.

Today: Avocado smoothies. I'm in love with them! Gui's mom, Ana, introduced me, and now I'm hooked. Now she buys big, sweet avocados every week. :) There avocados here are much larger than ours, much less fatty, more light and sweet, and also so much cheaper! You can get 3 for 2 reais. That's like a dollar! Oh avocado smoothies, how I love thee! Speaking of which, I just finished drinking one...hehe

So there you have it! Now that I've got the ball rolling, I hope you'll tune in from time to time. :)

Boa noite, gente!