oh yeah...i live here

you know how somedays you just want the things you want? even if you're not typically the spoiled type...everyone wants the exact meal they're craving or to do just what they want to do on a random saturday, sometimes. today is that day. this afternoon i planned to wander around downtown and get better at navigating this (not all that huge, yet confusing) city. well after 10 or so minutes at the bus stop in the pouring rain, annacaye and i decided maybe it was more of a movie in english kind of day. we went home.

much later after a nap we set out again to find something for dinner (and the ever coveted coke zero) except it's raining-again. alas.

two disclaimers:

life is FAR from hard, here in brazil! it may not be super convenient, but it is more or less great!

AND i'm really not spoiled, just some days i want what i want!

ahhhh carnaval!

Well in the past few weeks I've learned A LOT about Brazilian culture! One huge lesson was on the holiday of Carnaval. If you've heard anything about Carnaval, you have probably been told it is comparable to Mardi Gras. Yeah...it's not really. It is a 5 day party which ends with Ash Wednesday, kicking off Lent, but the similarities end there. Carnaval is part of Brazilian life. ALL Brazilians understand and participate in Carnaval. All Brazilians may not party in the street day and night for a week; but they embrace and participate in the holiday somehow. Nearly every store is closed during this time, because "it's Carnaval". It is a time for vacation and family, if not for drinking and carousing. It is a big concept, because I can't think of anything that ALL of America embraces as a part of the culture. Thanksgiving, maybe? Even then, most people celebrate that for one day, or one meal!

Anna Caye and I went home to Anàpolis with my roommate, Marianna for the holiday (5day) weekend. There is not a huge Carnaval celebration in her city, but we did run into an impromptu parade!

Isn't this fun? It is a river (I think) in the middle of this little touristy town, where everyone just hops in and swims! We didn't, because the water looks a bit less than clean! Apparently there are huge waterfalls and another lake (or something) with clean water, great for swimming, but that is closed off during Carnaval...too many crazies jumping to their death off the falls!

Well this is what a 12 hour bus ride will do to 2 perfectly normal girls. Yes, 12 hours on a charter bus...you think about the reality of that :)

aventura Braseilera! (Brazilian adventure!)

Today I went for a little 'aventura' with AnnaCaye and Marianna to Centro (downtown). After a few days of AC and I practicing the bus system we thought we had it down. Here's a helpful tip if you're ever in a place where you don't speak the language...don't just guess on which bus you should hop on to! Marianna's not from this city, so she couldn't really help with directions, but she knew JUST what questions to ask! We made it there and back after awhile, it was a great lesson on the city! OH until it started raining out of nowhere, which happens 5 or 12 times a day, here! :)

AnnaCaye and Marianna refusing to cooperate with photo-op time!

AC and I at the sweet little park in(?) near(?) downtown? We're not really sure, still!

This is one little shopping area downtown. I like this one in particular, because no cars drive through! Walking around is a "taking life in your hands" kind of activity!

Bem Vindo á Brasil!

Meet Marianna! My roommate at the pousada!

She is here for 1 month to do an extra class at the University. She is a lot of fun so far, and though her english is limited-she understands what I'm trying to say most of the time, which is a HUGE blessing!

PS-this is what Sara looks like without a hair dryer! :)

Here is the cute little park near our house. There are 4 or 5 ponds, a little bit of exercise equipment (which i will no doubt use often) :) AND plenty of Brazilians to help me learn the language better! Oh and there are a few waterfalls (of course! aren't there waterfalls in every public park)

This is the pousada (student boarding house where we are staying). There are 8-10 people living here right now (we think!) They are all Brazilian, so this is the BEST language experience we could ask for! Breakfast and Lunch is prepared for us, and our clothes are washed, dried, and ironed for us! I don't even iron my own clothes! Most of our housemates don't speak ANY english-so any and EVERYTHING is a learning experience!!!

give THANKS to the LORD, for He is GOOD!

THIS is the long awaited Visa, conveniently stapled to my passport

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arrangements are being made (at this very moment) to fly out (probably) at the end of next week.

Thank You for all of the prayer and support you've offered during these few months of "learning"!

If you can switch gears, please now pray for safe travel and a smooth transition to language school!

Obrigada! (Thank You)