I have already been home in the wonderful county of Bucks for over a week now and this is the first moment I have had to write a final summary blog entry of my time in Brazil...
My last week in Cascavel was unfortunately full of a lot of sadness. Sergio, my host father, sadly passed away on the Tuesday of my last week. I will always remember his kindness and hold memories of our time together very fondly. This meant my last few days with my fantastic Brazilian family were filled with emotion and I am thankful we had a wonderful weekend together before this tragic event, so I could slip away without too much fuss during this difficult time for them. My thoughts are with them still. I will always love your family.
I spent my last two days with Ale's family which was the perfect way to say goodbye. Had a lot of fun with her and Julia and enjoyed myself before the 14hour bus journey to Campinas to visit Roger...
It was lovely to see a familiar face from back home waiting for me at the bus station...especially after an INCREDIBLY hot bus journey that seemed to take days rather than hours! (I was so prepared for a cold bus after the over air-conditioned buses I had previously taken...so wrapped up in jumpers and blankets and two pairs of leggings I was surprised at the heat of this bus!). My week in Campinas with Roger was incredible. I met some amazing people, partied hard and got to see a Brazilian international school prom...almost an American prom, but not quite! Adriana was prom queen but I think the rest of the Rodrigues' and I were far more excited than her!! The after prom events that night were crazy fun as I headed with Dri and Sandra to see Copacabana Club (an awesome band which are worth checking out!) and party the night away with far too many caiprinhas and shots haha.
After a few days recovery I headed off to Rio for my last week and the most incredible time ever! Was staying at such a lovely hostel where I met some incredible people who I spent my evenings at the bar with. The first night we went out on this boat/club ("I'M ON A BOAT....") and could see the whole of Copacabana and Christ the Redeemer and I realised how lucky I was to be in RIO!!! Aggghhhh RIO!!! Spent my three days there full of visiting everywhere I wanted to see, but I need to return to see more of this beautiful city. Although I loved Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer they were so full of tourists and people speaking English that I wasn't a huge fan. However my day that I spent having a tour of the National Library and then exploring the winding, cobbled streets of the artist district of Santa Theresa was my favorite day in Brazil. I found a gallery that was empty apart from a security guard so I could wander around looking at incredible photographs of favelas. This inspired me so I took my walk further afield and take a few photographs myself (though still nothing to impress David I am sure!!). Ended my day in a little second hand bookshop where I had a can of Guarana and a pao de queijo (already miss these!). My last night was chilled at the hostel bar where I received a cheeky free caiprinha and chatted with my new friends in a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish and English which was great fun.
The next morning I woke up early got a flight to Campinas then a bus to Sao Paulo then a flight back to London...after 28hours of travelling (with a short sunbathing break in Campinas :p) I was home.
These last five months have been the most incredible of my life. I have been through experiences good and bad and have enjoyed the independence and sense of self that I found in teaching and living with different people to my own family. I now feel able to take on almost any challenge thrown my way and am excited for my next adventure :)
x
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Monday, 30 May 2011
cataratas, festas e futebol...
It is so hard to believe that in less than three weeks I will be home...this time has gone so quickly in some ways yet it does feel like home here and it is become very difficult to say goodbye. I have one week left here in Cascavel so have been doing a Danny Wallace and saying YES to just about everything.
Since I last posted I have started attending Tango classes at New York School....these are a lot of fun and reminded how much I missed dancing. Also been helping Teacher Angelica and joining in some of her dance rehearsals for the New York School Festival in September. I wish I could be here to see it! I think I will definately have to come back. Teaching there was also great the last few weeks though I officially finished on Saturday :( Did some debating lessons and created a (rather amazing) quiz on Britain complete with music round, picture round and general knowledge. Definately going to miss some of the students I have befriended :( Thank goodness for the internet and being able to stay in touch!
Eledoro classes also ended last week, but had fun class parties with games, puzzles, chats, watching movies. One class had baked me a cake and another bought me some flowers and a card. Felt very loved! Some of them will still be studying there when I (hopefully) return in 4 years so I might be able to teach them again yay. Was impressed by how much they learnt in a relatively short period of time and felt very happy when some of them said I was the best teacher they had ever had.
In my free time I have had probably my most exciting weekends EVER!!!! Last saturday I visited Argentina, Paraguay and saw the Iguacu Falls...all in one day! Yes. Was incredible. The waterfalls were more stunning than anything I have seen in my life, I was literally blown away. Gabi and her sister said I was acting like an excited toddler, "ooooh look here", "oh my god look that that" and snapping photos the entire time! I had no idea just how huge they would be. Over 3km worth of waterfalls that we walked along for about 45minutes. My stupid clown grin didn't leave my face all weekend! Paraguay was also interesting....crazy...but interesting. There were literally thousands of Brazilians walking across this bridge into Paraguay at 8am just to go shopping (the taxes there are MUCH lower so everything is dirt cheap). I didn't end up buying anything, but was happy to be there to soak up the atmosphere. People throwing socks in my face asking me to buy them as well as one man selling musical condoms (how does that even work??)....was an experience I will never forget although I am glad for the Eden Centre now!
This weekend was my goodbye party at New York School...and what an emotional night it was :( Started with Immersion (this is something they do every year where students come for two hours and play games and chat in english)....Gabi and I set up our room like an English Summer Fete with country dancing, hoopla, guess the number of sweets in the jar and competitive team games. We had a lot of fun and most of the students seemed to too. After was a huge dinner with so much pizza for students AND staff. I got to chat to loads of people and was so proud of myself for holding myself together despite hundreds of "we'll miss you" and "we love you"s. But (typical lottie!) couldn't hold in the tears for long and when Denise presented me with a Brazilian flag embroided with a message from all my colleagues I cracked. The tears only getting worse when a few students took the microphone to also say some things about me. Really made me feel a part of the school and that I had been truly appreiciated there. I had THE most amazing time teaching and I cannot believe that I have to leave already.
Yesterday was also incredible. I went with Gabi's family to watch their football team (GREMIO!!!!) at the clubhouse for the fans in this city. Was so cool! The whole room was decorated in the team colours of blue and white and tonnes of people had come to watch the game on the big screens dotted around the room. I have never been that interested in football...but it is so hard not to be passionate when surrounded by fans like this so I got VERY into it!! At halftime I was presented with a team shirt and a clubhouse shirt as well! Am now an official member of their club...YAY. Their only request was that I sent them a picture of me wearing it by Big Ben!
Got tonnes of plans for this week. Saying goodbye to different groups of people, PACKING, planning my trip to Rio :) Then the next part of my adventure begins......
email me lottiebarker@btinternet.com
love as always xxxx
Since I last posted I have started attending Tango classes at New York School....these are a lot of fun and reminded how much I missed dancing. Also been helping Teacher Angelica and joining in some of her dance rehearsals for the New York School Festival in September. I wish I could be here to see it! I think I will definately have to come back. Teaching there was also great the last few weeks though I officially finished on Saturday :( Did some debating lessons and created a (rather amazing) quiz on Britain complete with music round, picture round and general knowledge. Definately going to miss some of the students I have befriended :( Thank goodness for the internet and being able to stay in touch!
Eledoro classes also ended last week, but had fun class parties with games, puzzles, chats, watching movies. One class had baked me a cake and another bought me some flowers and a card. Felt very loved! Some of them will still be studying there when I (hopefully) return in 4 years so I might be able to teach them again yay. Was impressed by how much they learnt in a relatively short period of time and felt very happy when some of them said I was the best teacher they had ever had.
In my free time I have had probably my most exciting weekends EVER!!!! Last saturday I visited Argentina, Paraguay and saw the Iguacu Falls...all in one day! Yes. Was incredible. The waterfalls were more stunning than anything I have seen in my life, I was literally blown away. Gabi and her sister said I was acting like an excited toddler, "ooooh look here", "oh my god look that that" and snapping photos the entire time! I had no idea just how huge they would be. Over 3km worth of waterfalls that we walked along for about 45minutes. My stupid clown grin didn't leave my face all weekend! Paraguay was also interesting....crazy...but interesting. There were literally thousands of Brazilians walking across this bridge into Paraguay at 8am just to go shopping (the taxes there are MUCH lower so everything is dirt cheap). I didn't end up buying anything, but was happy to be there to soak up the atmosphere. People throwing socks in my face asking me to buy them as well as one man selling musical condoms (how does that even work??)....was an experience I will never forget although I am glad for the Eden Centre now!
This weekend was my goodbye party at New York School...and what an emotional night it was :( Started with Immersion (this is something they do every year where students come for two hours and play games and chat in english)....Gabi and I set up our room like an English Summer Fete with country dancing, hoopla, guess the number of sweets in the jar and competitive team games. We had a lot of fun and most of the students seemed to too. After was a huge dinner with so much pizza for students AND staff. I got to chat to loads of people and was so proud of myself for holding myself together despite hundreds of "we'll miss you" and "we love you"s. But (typical lottie!) couldn't hold in the tears for long and when Denise presented me with a Brazilian flag embroided with a message from all my colleagues I cracked. The tears only getting worse when a few students took the microphone to also say some things about me. Really made me feel a part of the school and that I had been truly appreiciated there. I had THE most amazing time teaching and I cannot believe that I have to leave already.
Yesterday was also incredible. I went with Gabi's family to watch their football team (GREMIO!!!!) at the clubhouse for the fans in this city. Was so cool! The whole room was decorated in the team colours of blue and white and tonnes of people had come to watch the game on the big screens dotted around the room. I have never been that interested in football...but it is so hard not to be passionate when surrounded by fans like this so I got VERY into it!! At halftime I was presented with a team shirt and a clubhouse shirt as well! Am now an official member of their club...YAY. Their only request was that I sent them a picture of me wearing it by Big Ben!
Got tonnes of plans for this week. Saying goodbye to different groups of people, PACKING, planning my trip to Rio :) Then the next part of my adventure begins......
email me lottiebarker@btinternet.com
love as always xxxx
Monday, 16 May 2011
Home Life :)
After my last post about all the exciting places I have travelled to this one will merely document my last few weeks of home life. I say "merely"...every day is still exciting to me! Even if it is one of the days I have off, I still manage to find something to make it an amazing day or in some way different from home.
Teaching is still going fantastically! Seem to have done a lot of superhero based lessons recently which means I have been dressed up in various costumes of characters we created including "WolfGirl", "SuperMonkey" and "FavelaMan"! Was a lot of fun in my New York School classes. Also had a great lesson on London and Edinburgh with Gersone last week where he is now visiting. Very jealous of him right now! But I will be back there soon enough and then missing Cascavel just as much. Also at New York School witnessed their version of Mother's Day where all the kids under 12 sang "Let it Be" for their mums...so cute! Despite Denise totally embarssing me in front of over a hundred people (!) everyone was lovely to me and some of the smaller kids were SO excited that I was from London....I even had photos taken with some of them! Yes I am that much of a celebrity haha. Made me realise how much I am going to miss working in such an amazing community with such incredible people. I love all my colleagues and students.
At Eleodoro I have picked up the pace in lessons as I know I only have a short time left with them and want to leave the kids with as good a basic english as I can. This means that the brightest kids are now doing fantastically and the ones who want to learn are picking up the more difficult concepts of tenses and grammar easily. However it does also mean that a few of the slower kids or ones who arent that bothered about learning are struggling. But each class we play a game or sing a song and revise the previous work and they keep coming back so obviously not TOO boring for them!
Had to say goodbye to Monica this week :( We had a great few days together though. A "party" with her students at her house...oh no wait they didnt turn up! haha. So just me Monica and Carlos in the garden drinking lime juice and listening to sertaneja...cant get much better really.
Also had a girly evening with Monica and Gabi...cooked cake, sung disney songs and watched movies...great sleepover! Almost as good as my Harry Potter night this week with Ale, Dani and Julia....SO MUCH FUN! I don't think I have ever eaten as much in one night....ever. Plus was pretty much an english class right?? For them to practice speaking and listening to British English, haha.
This weekend I also cooked a "British Feast" for my host family...unfortunately many of the ingredients I wanted I couldn't find at the supermarket :( But I made fish and chips with what I had.....and actually tasted pretty darn good! Not exactly the healthiest of meals but great fun to cook and for everyone to try....and an amazingly great apple pie with cream for dessert...mmmmmm.
It is getting a little colder here so on my days off I can no longer sunbathe but have to go to the gym or walk to keep warm. Am still loving every second though.
OOOOH also exciting news from my wonderful amazing fantastically beautiful mother this week...SHE BOOKED MY FLIGHTS TO AUSTRALIA! I will be there in 85 days! This is literally the most exciting year of my life...first Paris, then Brazil, then Australia and then start at St Andrews! Really could not be any happier.
Missing you all but not long now!
Email me as always lottiebarker@btinternet.com
x
Teaching is still going fantastically! Seem to have done a lot of superhero based lessons recently which means I have been dressed up in various costumes of characters we created including "WolfGirl", "SuperMonkey" and "FavelaMan"! Was a lot of fun in my New York School classes. Also had a great lesson on London and Edinburgh with Gersone last week where he is now visiting. Very jealous of him right now! But I will be back there soon enough and then missing Cascavel just as much. Also at New York School witnessed their version of Mother's Day where all the kids under 12 sang "Let it Be" for their mums...so cute! Despite Denise totally embarssing me in front of over a hundred people (!) everyone was lovely to me and some of the smaller kids were SO excited that I was from London....I even had photos taken with some of them! Yes I am that much of a celebrity haha. Made me realise how much I am going to miss working in such an amazing community with such incredible people. I love all my colleagues and students.
At Eleodoro I have picked up the pace in lessons as I know I only have a short time left with them and want to leave the kids with as good a basic english as I can. This means that the brightest kids are now doing fantastically and the ones who want to learn are picking up the more difficult concepts of tenses and grammar easily. However it does also mean that a few of the slower kids or ones who arent that bothered about learning are struggling. But each class we play a game or sing a song and revise the previous work and they keep coming back so obviously not TOO boring for them!
Had to say goodbye to Monica this week :( We had a great few days together though. A "party" with her students at her house...oh no wait they didnt turn up! haha. So just me Monica and Carlos in the garden drinking lime juice and listening to sertaneja...cant get much better really.
Also had a girly evening with Monica and Gabi...cooked cake, sung disney songs and watched movies...great sleepover! Almost as good as my Harry Potter night this week with Ale, Dani and Julia....SO MUCH FUN! I don't think I have ever eaten as much in one night....ever. Plus was pretty much an english class right?? For them to practice speaking and listening to British English, haha.
This weekend I also cooked a "British Feast" for my host family...unfortunately many of the ingredients I wanted I couldn't find at the supermarket :( But I made fish and chips with what I had.....and actually tasted pretty darn good! Not exactly the healthiest of meals but great fun to cook and for everyone to try....and an amazingly great apple pie with cream for dessert...mmmmmm.
It is getting a little colder here so on my days off I can no longer sunbathe but have to go to the gym or walk to keep warm. Am still loving every second though.
OOOOH also exciting news from my wonderful amazing fantastically beautiful mother this week...SHE BOOKED MY FLIGHTS TO AUSTRALIA! I will be there in 85 days! This is literally the most exciting year of my life...first Paris, then Brazil, then Australia and then start at St Andrews! Really could not be any happier.
Missing you all but not long now!
Email me as always lottiebarker@btinternet.com
x
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
EU ADORO VIAJAR!
So lots has happened since my last blog where I said that week was my favourite and I can officially say that life here keeps getting better! Although I of course miss my family and my beautiful house and my wonderful friends I am having the most amazing months here and wouldn’t change this experience for the world.
It was Easter last week so I taught very few classes…instead having a staff party and travelling to Sao Paulo for four days. I absolutely love this city! Definitely not somewhere I could see myself living forever, it is very busy (and I saw it on a bank holiday weekend when over a million cars had left the city!) dirty and smoggy BUT has the most incredible parks, architecture and general vibe! After an 11 hour drive through the state of Parana we arrived at Gabi’s brother Arthur’s flat right in the centre of this huge maze of a cidade. The next three days were spent shopping, exploring and trying to take in all the cultural sites. I am glad I will be revisiting here with Roger next month as I definitely didn’t manage to see everything I wanted to, but my host family certainly tried to take me everything I wanted to see which made me very happy. My favourite two places were the MASP museum where there was a beautiful exhibition called “six billion others” that you guys should google if you have a chance….just my cup of tea! About different cultures, different peoples stories and the idea of worldwide identity.. Beautiful. Ibirapuera Park was ano
ther of my favourite places to while away the beautiful Easter weekend weather we were having (38 degrees!). A stunning park, perfect for people watching.
A photo to show the perfect sunset I watched over Sao Paulo....
Unfortunately towards the end of the trip I became ill, but nothing serious and I was able to (sort of!) talk to a doctor in Portuguese so everything was quickly sorted out and now I feel a MILLION times better!
This week I was feeling very British for the Royal Wedding and it was all anybody here could talk about to me, including a random man in the pharmacy who was like WHY ARENT YOU AT THE WEDDING!!! Woke up early at 5am with Monica and Carlos to watch the ceremony…so beautiful! Used some of the footage and a certain photo of a certain Miss Humphries in my lesson later that day to explain how patriotic the British can be!!! First time I have missed Britain as a place rather than specific people, was odd and I am excited to be back there this summer and especially to go up to St Andrews in September….which is now a FAR easier place to describe to Brazilians who all seem to think I should marry Harry…oh go on then! Haha.
This weekend I also travelled (spent a LOT of time of buses recently!) to the city of Porto Alegre in the southernmost state of Brazil, Rio Grande de Sol. Here I stayed with Gabi at one of her friend’s houses. Was an absolutely AMAZING weekend and definitely one of my favourites I have had here. We arrived late Friday night and Murilo took us out for some delicious caipirinhas at a cool little bar in the city and we stayed up almost all night talking J After just a few hours sleep we were off to Uruguay (another county I can tick off my list!) to do some shopping and generally hang out, although the drive was long Murilo and his flatmate Felipe were really cool people and it felt like we had all been friends for years!! Great day and managed to pick up some cheap wine and vodka so we were set for an amazing night in that night with pizza and a viewing of The Godfather as well. Another early start awaited us on Sunday when we travelled to the town of Gramado. It was a really strange town and one different to everything else I had seen so far in Brazil. Because the settlers there were mostly German it has been designed as a German village with houses out of wood and even the landscape seemed European in so many ways (I think it was the reason the rich German immigrants chose the area). Was a beautiful city and had the best hot chocolate I think I have ever tasted….so this place gets a huge thumbs up from me! As well as that the company was incredible, I don’t think I have laughed so much for a VERY VERY long time!
Well done for reading this far! You have almost reached the end! Just want to talk about some of the other amazing people I have met...Like on the bus back from Porto Alegre met an American guy (rather embarrassingly Gabi and I assumed no-one could understand us prattling on about nothing in English when he got out his American passport…whoops!). He had been travelling South America for over a year and was going on to Colombia to work with a human rights organization there…made me realize how much more travelling there is to do and how much I want to come back to this continent after University.
Anyways like I said at the beginning totally LOVING life right now. Only 4 weeks left teaching, has gone far too fast for my liking, but making the most of every second here :D unfortunately is starting to get pretty cold…like I wore a coat today…craziness I know!!! So my tan will probably have faded by the time I get back damn it! OMG also this week received a package from Murray which was probably the most perfect thing ever, big thumbs up from me…I am a very lucky girl.
Big love to everyone. Missing you as always.
x
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
best week so far :)
So I think this has been my best week here :) I am a very happy menina and am sad that I dont have many lessons left in anything...but going to make the most of every second I have left here.
So weekdays were all REALLY great, enjoyed teaching more than ever and really felt I was making a difference this week as my kids at Eleodoro started to make real progress. As the class is optional I have had many fluctuating numbers of students but the last week or two it has been whittled downt to the students who actually want to learn rather than just point and stare at a girl from England haha! So was very happy with their effort and excitement for learning. Funny moment was when i gave out a different worksheet I had created to each student and one girl just copied her partners assuming they were the same questions.....the whole class started laughing (including her) when she realised that I wasn't THAT stupid and that I could tell what she was doing. She was so annoyed haha. Otherwise was going to the gym.....were I keep bumping into New York School kids...quite embarassing! And painting eggs with Gabi and her Mum. I really enjoyed this as it made me feel part of their family :) despite my awful artistic skills! haha.
Also had some fantastic graduates classes this week, I think I am finally get the hang of this whole teaching thing! As well as some of my favorite skypes ever :) Friday was movie session day so I didnt get to try out my great lesson idea...and it is easter this weekend so have to wait two weeks more agghhhh!!
Then we get to the weekend and the most incredible fun ever! Friday and Saturday night were lovely evenings in with Gabi and her friends (one of whom had a birthday on Sunday, so we tied balloons to his gate and took a present over :)).....was also the birth of a wonderful drink we created...well not that wonderful haha. Was condensed milk and mint liquor....odd but funny and in a great cup that looked like the goblet of fire haha.
Then Sunday was um dia perfeito. We woke up after about 3 hours sleep eurgh, so Monica and I were so sleepy the whole hour and a half journey...but when we reached "Marinas" we soon perked up! It is a stunning lake surrounded by rolling hills covered in grass and palm trees. Dotted around the lakes edge are beautiful houses where those who can afford it spend their weekends lounging in the sun and swimming on the lake. Absolute perfection. We spent the morning out on Bruna's boat learning to wakeboard...WAS SO MUCH FUN! I ache like hell today, but at the time was amazing. I had visions of me standing behind the boat with the sun on the face and the wind in my hair but is actually pretty difficult so spend pretty much all the time in the water then a second being yanked through the air and then back to the water again ahha. Bruna and Bea were incredible though and it was great to see how it is done, it is something I would definately like to try again :) Before lunch we also played a game of volleyball, tried to learn tricks with a basketball and filmed ourselves doing stupid jumps into the pool. After cooking a fantastic pasta dish we played cards for a bit before all falling asleep in the sun after our energetic morning! Pretty much a perfect day topped off by Monica and I jumping into the lake and into the sunset. ....
much love to everyone back home. keep emailing me lottiebarker@btinternet.com
xxxxxxxxx
So weekdays were all REALLY great, enjoyed teaching more than ever and really felt I was making a difference this week as my kids at Eleodoro started to make real progress. As the class is optional I have had many fluctuating numbers of students but the last week or two it has been whittled downt to the students who actually want to learn rather than just point and stare at a girl from England haha! So was very happy with their effort and excitement for learning. Funny moment was when i gave out a different worksheet I had created to each student and one girl just copied her partners assuming they were the same questions.....the whole class started laughing (including her) when she realised that I wasn't THAT stupid and that I could tell what she was doing. She was so annoyed haha. Otherwise was going to the gym.....were I keep bumping into New York School kids...quite embarassing! And painting eggs with Gabi and her Mum. I really enjoyed this as it made me feel part of their family :) despite my awful artistic skills! haha.
Also had some fantastic graduates classes this week, I think I am finally get the hang of this whole teaching thing! As well as some of my favorite skypes ever :) Friday was movie session day so I didnt get to try out my great lesson idea...and it is easter this weekend so have to wait two weeks more agghhhh!!
Then we get to the weekend and the most incredible fun ever! Friday and Saturday night were lovely evenings in with Gabi and her friends (one of whom had a birthday on Sunday, so we tied balloons to his gate and took a present over :)).....was also the birth of a wonderful drink we created...well not that wonderful haha. Was condensed milk and mint liquor....odd but funny and in a great cup that looked like the goblet of fire haha.
Then Sunday was um dia perfeito. We woke up after about 3 hours sleep eurgh, so Monica and I were so sleepy the whole hour and a half journey...but when we reached "Marinas" we soon perked up! It is a stunning lake surrounded by rolling hills covered in grass and palm trees. Dotted around the lakes edge are beautiful houses where those who can afford it spend their weekends lounging in the sun and swimming on the lake. Absolute perfection. We spent the morning out on Bruna's boat learning to wakeboard...WAS SO MUCH FUN! I ache like hell today, but at the time was amazing. I had visions of me standing behind the boat with the sun on the face and the wind in my hair but is actually pretty difficult so spend pretty much all the time in the water then a second being yanked through the air and then back to the water again ahha. Bruna and Bea were incredible though and it was great to see how it is done, it is something I would definately like to try again :) Before lunch we also played a game of volleyball, tried to learn tricks with a basketball and filmed ourselves doing stupid jumps into the pool. After cooking a fantastic pasta dish we played cards for a bit before all falling asleep in the sun after our energetic morning! Pretty much a perfect day topped off by Monica and I jumping into the lake and into the sunset. ....
much love to everyone back home. keep emailing me lottiebarker@btinternet.comxxxxxxxxx
Monday, 11 April 2011
truco, trouxas e tereré.....
had a nice weekend so quick post about it :)
Gabi's family were away in Curitiba so I stayed with some friends....
Friday night with Mayara was so lovely :) Hung out with her and her boyfriend Tony and they taught me to play Truco....a card game that I LOVE. Very fast-paced and much craziness ensued! Followed by an epic teaching of spit, which everyone in Brazil can now play thanks to me and Monica it would appear! Anyways a great night with much card playing, drinking beer and laughing at my attempts at portuguese.
Saturday was super sunny, so spent the morning walking around town and shopping for cute little brazilian things. Was nice and I just love wearing sunglasses everyday...makes me so excited! haha. Then after a delicious lunch at an outdoor cafe went to my friend Ale's house for our epic Harry Potter session, woop woop! Watched in english but with portuguese subtitles and i found it weird that they dont use the same magical words...like "Muggle" is "Trouxa" so yeah....it isnt a real word in either language! Why not just use the same one?!? haha. But yeah. Then had such a nice evening when some neighbours came over and we had pizza with everyone. Another evening filled with beer and laughter and again me speaking a lot of portuguese (or attempting to!).
Sunday I met Mayara and we went for lunch at her Mum's house...OH MY GOSH. I have never eaten so much ever! Everything was new and exciting and Brazilian so I felt I had to try it all! There were about seven desserts because her Mum owns a chocolate shop, so feeling very fat we sat down to a traditional brazilian afternoon outside with terere, fruit and conversation. It was so cool when we just picked oranges and guava off the trees next to us and BAM there is some fruit to eat. Wish we had something more exciting than apples in our garden! Went out for dinner and chilled in the evening, when I had a phonecall from Murray which made my great weekend absolutely perfect.
Lots of travel planned for the next few weeks so should have very exciting stories soon! And have some pretty awesome lessons planned for the next week or so...involving singing Youth Project songs, mazes and costumes...all will be revealed!
big love.
email me lottiebarker@btinternet.com
x
Gabi's family were away in Curitiba so I stayed with some friends....
Friday night with Mayara was so lovely :) Hung out with her and her boyfriend Tony and they taught me to play Truco....a card game that I LOVE. Very fast-paced and much craziness ensued! Followed by an epic teaching of spit, which everyone in Brazil can now play thanks to me and Monica it would appear! Anyways a great night with much card playing, drinking beer and laughing at my attempts at portuguese.
Saturday was super sunny, so spent the morning walking around town and shopping for cute little brazilian things. Was nice and I just love wearing sunglasses everyday...makes me so excited! haha. Then after a delicious lunch at an outdoor cafe went to my friend Ale's house for our epic Harry Potter session, woop woop! Watched in english but with portuguese subtitles and i found it weird that they dont use the same magical words...like "Muggle" is "Trouxa" so yeah....it isnt a real word in either language! Why not just use the same one?!? haha. But yeah. Then had such a nice evening when some neighbours came over and we had pizza with everyone. Another evening filled with beer and laughter and again me speaking a lot of portuguese (or attempting to!).
Sunday I met Mayara and we went for lunch at her Mum's house...OH MY GOSH. I have never eaten so much ever! Everything was new and exciting and Brazilian so I felt I had to try it all! There were about seven desserts because her Mum owns a chocolate shop, so feeling very fat we sat down to a traditional brazilian afternoon outside with terere, fruit and conversation. It was so cool when we just picked oranges and guava off the trees next to us and BAM there is some fruit to eat. Wish we had something more exciting than apples in our garden! Went out for dinner and chilled in the evening, when I had a phonecall from Murray which made my great weekend absolutely perfect.
Lots of travel planned for the next few weeks so should have very exciting stories soon! And have some pretty awesome lessons planned for the next week or so...involving singing Youth Project songs, mazes and costumes...all will be revealed!
big love.
email me lottiebarker@btinternet.com
x
Thursday, 7 April 2011
singing with xuxa, amazing nights out and dancing in the rain...
Learning Portuguese is proving a lot more difficult than expected....but now I can officially sing two (and a half) songs in Portuguese wooo. Yes one of them is Happy Birthday, and the half is just ooooohhhhhhhhhhhh casa. But the other one is an actual song. Ok well it is by Xuxa (pronounced Shoesha which makes me laugh) who is called "The Queen of the Children" and it is a song about the alphabet...but I am still impressed with my hard core learning skills haha.
My lack of language is meaning it is difficult to teach in the classroom, but I am forming excellent mime skills and have pretty much made up my own version of portuguese when I dont know a word. The most difficult thing I have had to deal with so far cropped up this week...the time. WOW it is tricky to explain. You would think easy peasy....but not so much. Especially as I think a few of my kids struggle to tell the time even in Portuguese but am trying to get through to them, and a few of the brighter students have already got the “quarter past” thing totally down. Also teaching about music so lots of singing and dancing in the classroom this week which made the lessons a bit more fun, especially after a long half hour explaining possessives. This teaching lark is more difficult than it looks! But a lot of fun too and very rewarding.
Taught Shakespeare classes at New York School as well, which I think I enjoyed more than the students but I hope they learnt something from! Loving my private and graduate classes there as well, a great platform for discussing issues and learning a lot about other people and another culture. Also it was Friends Week at New York School which meant I was introduced to hundreds more students and their friends and made to speak Portuguese to them which was highly embarrassing!!! Looks like more people now know about my blog as well, the secretary of the public school I work at stopped me today and said she loves it…aggghhhhh the hassles of being a celebrity! Haha.
Talking of which, was treated like one all of last weekend when we went out! Thursday night we were queuing like the regular punters when I heard a “Charlotte…over here” and entered through the VIP door! Denise (my boss) had sorted something out with a friend of a friend of a friend etc and got us free entry to a bar with lots of pool tables and amazing life music. Had a fantastic night! (Though I REALLY need to work on my pool skills…when playing with the manager I think I somewhat embarrassed myself haha). Oh also it is interesting how much girls dress up here…This place was a chilled out pub-like venue and yet everyone wears heels and dresses. No-one in England makes that much effort everyday! And I certainly was rocking my grungy, chilled out, jeans and t-shirt look all weekend and stood out like a sore thumb!!!!!!!!
Friday was Murray’s (and Graham’s) birthday so I thought I should party if only out of respect to them ;). Also managed to get a good skype in with Murray which made me even happier if that is at all possible! Anyways I met some really cool people on Friday and Saturday at a house party and then a trip to “Mr John” the newest bar in town. It plays traditional Brazilian music, and like every club here the music is 100% live all the time. Danced and laughed the night away, managing to communicate in Portuguese when asking for a glass of tap water even though the waiter glared at me like I was insane (apparently tap water is just not the done thing here!). Was out until about 5.30am….and after getting some food on the way back fell into bed totally exhausted.
But not for long because Sunday was mothers day (big shout out to Mumma Barker back in the UK) so I skyped Mum 4 hours after I had gone to bed! Agghh. But was so nice to see home and hear everything that was going on so I enjoyed it. The rest of Sunday was pretty much sleeping and recovering from the jam packed weekend!
So far this week has been awesome also with some great classes (as described at the top!) and lots of fun with my new friends. Last Monday there was a proper full-on Brazil storm and Monica, Carlos and I danced and ran about in the rain like crazy things that was so much fun! Hung out with Ale on Monday night and we cooked dinner…which her family hated but we loved! Haha. Also been baking a lot of cakes with Gabi…including one which was green!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got so excited by this haha.
Also today is mine and Murray's one year anniversary....so I love you Murray and I have never been happier. Can't wait to be back in your arms where I belong :)
Got another great weekend planned and totally in love with everything in Brazil. Email me x
Sunday, 27 March 2011
no pressure for this post...
THIS IS MY FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!From left to right: Monica (other volunteer), Tina my older sister, Gabi my sister, Bob Tina's husband, Sergio "Dad", Eda "Mum", ME! and "Grandpa"!!!
So have recently found out that almost EVERYONE I have met thus far in Brazil is now following my blog! No pressure at all that my fellow teachers, my boss AND my students are now reading this....haha.
This week has been fantastic :) I really feel like I have settled into teaching and life here.
Monday I chilled with Monica and her "brother" Carlos, pretty much just cooking, eating and attempting to speak portuguese! but a lovely day. Monday is my day off work so we have scheduled another date for next week :)
Tuesday I teach my graduate Gersone, and we had a great class on morality. The one thing I do find difficult out here is not having people to discuss issues like this with, it is one thing to chat a bit of portuguese and quite another to be able to have an intellectual discussion haha. So was nice to talk about bigger issues for a bit with him as his english is probably better than mine and he has travelled to so many different countries that he has amazing views on the world and what is right and wrong.
Wednesday and Thursday I had Eleodoro classes....last week I was SO excited about using a blackboard and chalk....and this week I offically hate it. It is difficult to be so passionate about chalk when you come home and your jeans are pink and your hands are blue. But apart from my many chalk dust related choking incidents the classes are getting better and better :) I love my students. They are so passionate about learning English and so excited that someone is taking the time to teach them. Had to move to a bigger classroom on Thursday cause I had so many students but was a tad of a logistical nightmare as half the students couldn't see the board :s But managed to get through it and past the issues of a few more difficult students....definately more of the challenge I came out here for and so rewarding when I hear them talking correctly :) At the end of class I felt so proud when I was talking to a girl in portuguese and she said "minha mae oh no my mum" correcting herself to English. Was so nice to hear :) It feels difficult to make these classes fun at the moment as pretty much just simple words and verbs, but playing some bingo and simon says games and they keep coming back so seems to be working so far!
Friday I got to teach my HARRY POTTER CLASS!!!!!! I had been looking forward to it all week...and it seemed news had spread when I arrived at the classroom built for 18 to find 41 eager students waiting for me! I had to sit some people on the floor! Felt honoured that my classes were becoming popular...yay. I'm not sure how useful some of the vocab will be, but if these pupils ever want to talk about "magic" "broomstick" "wand" or "spell" then they are more than able to! haha. But it did actually bring up some good vocab and cultural British things such as the HUGE queues at bookshops at midnight to get your hands on the new book.
That night Gabi and I had a traditional girly sleepover but with a Brazilian twist. We made brigadeiro....which is DELICIOUS but sooooo sweet and sickly! But again something I will be recreating back home for everyone to try. Watched some great movies (although Gabi was being my annoying big sister and freaking me out during the scary parts! haha).
Other news this week: joined a gym where I can have free Capoeira lessons, been eaten alive by mosquitos, had a little girl ask for a piece of chalk I brought from home because "It has been in London", had a portuguese lesson, sat on the street drinking chimarrao and sent a parcel to Australia (despite much trouble at the post office!).
Much love as always and appreciate all the emails and facebook messages.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sunday, 20 March 2011
classes, st patricks day, being a celebrity, brazilian bbq and more....
So have had my first classes at Eleodoro the public school on my street! Is so much fun :) Very different from my work at New York School but I love having both, as they are both rewarding in their own way. Classes here are more difficult because of the varied age, ability and concentration span of my students! But they do share their passion for wanting to learn english. My classes are voluntary, so at least I only have pupils that WANT to be there. Slowly word is getting around the school that I am there and one of my classes grew to over 25 and we had to move desks in from other rooms. This also means I am stopped by students who I dont teach in the corridors and asked What is London like? Have you met the Queen? They always seem disappointed that I am not invited to Prince William's wedding...so now I feel quite upset that I am not invited too! haha.
Also received a care package from home on Thursday...this was very well received. Especially the Rough Guide to Brazil and a magazine. I have already read all my books through twice...definately should have packed more books! Made me think about home, but not missing it too much because having so much fun. But lots of stories to tell when I get back and many foods, games and drinks to make for everyone :)
Thursday night was St Patricks Day and we went to the Irish bar in town Hooligans (where I saw the band Terra Certa last week)...it had typical St Paddy's day green beer just like the UK and live music so was a great night with a lot of Gabi's friends and Monica joining us too :) The car journey home consisted of us singing our new favourite Brazilian songs very loudly!
Luckily none of us work til the afternoon on Friday so got a lie-in after our great night out....walked to work about 1 with Monica eating ice-cream on the way (note to self: take advice from girls who have worked in ice-cream shops. error of the day. sauce on a cornetto. hands were a tad sticky by the time i reached work.). It was movie session day at new york school so I settled in for my first of three viewings of "How to Train a Dragon"....very cute, highly recommend! Lots of my regular students were there so got to have a nice little chat with them, and after I planned lessons for next week met more of my students at the second viewing. However this time the movie flowed less smoothly with the sound cutting out half way through!!!! Never at one with technology I had to ask for the expertise of Teacher Rodrigo....but unfortunately it couldn't be fixed and that was the end of my movie watching for the day :(
But on the upside it meant I got to teach a graduate one on one class to an ex-student called Karla. We got on really well, she has led a very interesting life so lots to discuss and talk about. I am relishing the opportunity to meet so many people. Never in my life have I met so many different people with opposing views, interesting upbringings or amazing experiences.
My crazy Friday night consisted of a skype with Murray (which always makes me very happy :)) and planning a Harry Potter based lesson for next week. I got way too excited by this, making links appear in the golden snitch, including photos of queues for Harry Potter 7, facts about J.K.Rowling, extracts from my favourite book (Prisoner of Azkaban in case you didnt know!).....I LOVED PLANNING IT! In fact I got so involved that I started watching the 6th movie online cause I was in such a Harry Potter mood! Im still such a geek over here...don't worry England I will be coming back equally lame haha.
Phew if you have read this far then you have made it to the weekend!
Gabi and I went out for lunch with her best friend Karim at a lovely restaurant in town...most places here you dont seem to order but pay a fixed price and have a buffet plus waiters walk around with meat or dishes of pasta. It is amusing however as I sometimes don't understand what the waiters are saying so I just nod and end up with a lot of food on my plate, or wait for Gabi to translate whilst the poor confused man holding the salmon risotto waits for me to understand! MORE eating later that day with Gabi's sister and mother. I really felt like part of the family :) It is their girly tradition to go out for tea on a saturday together, and I was honoured to join them. SO MUCH FOOD TODAY! haha.
That evening we went to the Cultural Centre where there was various free concerts. We saw a piano receital, a poetry reading, a sertanejo band and a rock band. Although most of the poetry's meaning went straight over my head (there is a difference from understanding colloquial chat and metaphors!) it was still beautiful, in the way that you can listen to English poetry you don't understand and find a beauty in the sound of the words. I loved it. Whilst we were listening to the sertenejo, Gabi got cornered by a little old woman who worked for a radio station and wanted her to be interviewed on it about the Cultural Centre. Gabi introduced me and her friend Mari and organised us to go Sunday night....I really am experiencing everything here! The funniest moments of Saturday however were after the many concerts when we popped to get a drink and some food for Mari. When we went to pay Mari was so excited to introduce me as "the english girl in Cascavel" that she forgot to pay for half the meal and was so busy thinking I was a celebrity that she ushered me out onto the street where the waiter had to chase after us for the remainder of the money she owed! hahahaha. Then THE classic line of the evening...we had met at about 6 and done a lot but Mari obviously still thought the night was young and said we would go home and get changed, meeting back here at 10pm......we all looked at our watches...it was almost 1am.!!!!!!!!!! Whoops! How time flies! Amazing Saturday and Sunday was to be just as good...
HUGE BBQ! Churrasco in portuguese. Literally a huge oven filled with massive metal sticks holding what looked like a whole cow in there! Although obviously the meat wasn't for me (sorry to disappoint you guys, yes I am still veggie!) it did look spectacular and certainly was an experience. I was taught how to cook Maionese...a sort of elaborate potato salad...but it is delicious and I will be whipping some up back home in the summer fo sho. So much food at this shindig it was insane. Salad, bread, meat, three different desserts, caipirinhas, beer on tap and so much guarana! Was set to be a great afternoon...plus the company wasn't half bad either :) Whole family, plus about 25 family friends who I have met at various parties (the only way to meet people here it would appear!) and Monica and her host brother Carlos too. Monica and I taught our "brother and sister" here the card game spit and I had NO IDEA how competitive it would get! haha. Gabi and Monica...wow that is a game to remember! Videos going on facebook soon haha. Also I loved how Carlos called the Jack, a Jake. I'm defs calling it a Jake back home now. Really lovely afternoon with fantastic weather as always.
When I walked Carlos and Monica home we came across some capoeira students practicing in the park. WAS SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never seen capoeira before and it is incredible...definately something I want to try before I leave Brazil. Had to hurry home after being distracted for too long by the martial artists/dancers because I had a radio show to get too! Was an amusing hour spent in the studio, the old woman who had cornered Gabi really loved her and it turned into pretty much a radio show about her haha. But was cool to see and met the presenter and guys who work at the station so that was fun. But we left after the awkward talking on the radio and popped home for a quick drink....but not how I was expecting at all! It was a super cool shot of vodka, with sugar...oh yeah and FIRE. THE SHOT IS ON FIRE IN YOUR HAND. And you can make it at home. It is incredible....again another thing I will be making back home!
Before long we hit the road again and went to the fun fair that I have been eyeing up since I got here. I think everyone knows my irrational love/hate relationships for fun fairs, definately inspired by too many Enid Blyton novels as a child. But i loved this one! They had a crazy ride called Samba, which bumps, twists and turns to a samba track whilst you have to try and stay sitting or standing dependng how ambitious you are! haha. Was so much fun.
If you have managed to read all of this then well done! Sorry I am rambling so much...just want to convey how amazing all these experiences are :) Really am enjoying myself so much. Got lots of cool lessons this week planned and I will try to post some photos up soon.
Missing you all a lot. I love hearing what is going on back in Inglaterra. So email me :) lottiebarker@btinternet.com or better yet add me on skype :)
Much love across the ocean.
x
Also received a care package from home on Thursday...this was very well received. Especially the Rough Guide to Brazil and a magazine. I have already read all my books through twice...definately should have packed more books! Made me think about home, but not missing it too much because having so much fun. But lots of stories to tell when I get back and many foods, games and drinks to make for everyone :)
Thursday night was St Patricks Day and we went to the Irish bar in town Hooligans (where I saw the band Terra Certa last week)...it had typical St Paddy's day green beer just like the UK and live music so was a great night with a lot of Gabi's friends and Monica joining us too :) The car journey home consisted of us singing our new favourite Brazilian songs very loudly!
Luckily none of us work til the afternoon on Friday so got a lie-in after our great night out....walked to work about 1 with Monica eating ice-cream on the way (note to self: take advice from girls who have worked in ice-cream shops. error of the day. sauce on a cornetto. hands were a tad sticky by the time i reached work.). It was movie session day at new york school so I settled in for my first of three viewings of "How to Train a Dragon"....very cute, highly recommend! Lots of my regular students were there so got to have a nice little chat with them, and after I planned lessons for next week met more of my students at the second viewing. However this time the movie flowed less smoothly with the sound cutting out half way through!!!! Never at one with technology I had to ask for the expertise of Teacher Rodrigo....but unfortunately it couldn't be fixed and that was the end of my movie watching for the day :(
But on the upside it meant I got to teach a graduate one on one class to an ex-student called Karla. We got on really well, she has led a very interesting life so lots to discuss and talk about. I am relishing the opportunity to meet so many people. Never in my life have I met so many different people with opposing views, interesting upbringings or amazing experiences.
My crazy Friday night consisted of a skype with Murray (which always makes me very happy :)) and planning a Harry Potter based lesson for next week. I got way too excited by this, making links appear in the golden snitch, including photos of queues for Harry Potter 7, facts about J.K.Rowling, extracts from my favourite book (Prisoner of Azkaban in case you didnt know!).....I LOVED PLANNING IT! In fact I got so involved that I started watching the 6th movie online cause I was in such a Harry Potter mood! Im still such a geek over here...don't worry England I will be coming back equally lame haha.
Phew if you have read this far then you have made it to the weekend!
Gabi and I went out for lunch with her best friend Karim at a lovely restaurant in town...most places here you dont seem to order but pay a fixed price and have a buffet plus waiters walk around with meat or dishes of pasta. It is amusing however as I sometimes don't understand what the waiters are saying so I just nod and end up with a lot of food on my plate, or wait for Gabi to translate whilst the poor confused man holding the salmon risotto waits for me to understand! MORE eating later that day with Gabi's sister and mother. I really felt like part of the family :) It is their girly tradition to go out for tea on a saturday together, and I was honoured to join them. SO MUCH FOOD TODAY! haha.
That evening we went to the Cultural Centre where there was various free concerts. We saw a piano receital, a poetry reading, a sertanejo band and a rock band. Although most of the poetry's meaning went straight over my head (there is a difference from understanding colloquial chat and metaphors!) it was still beautiful, in the way that you can listen to English poetry you don't understand and find a beauty in the sound of the words. I loved it. Whilst we were listening to the sertenejo, Gabi got cornered by a little old woman who worked for a radio station and wanted her to be interviewed on it about the Cultural Centre. Gabi introduced me and her friend Mari and organised us to go Sunday night....I really am experiencing everything here! The funniest moments of Saturday however were after the many concerts when we popped to get a drink and some food for Mari. When we went to pay Mari was so excited to introduce me as "the english girl in Cascavel" that she forgot to pay for half the meal and was so busy thinking I was a celebrity that she ushered me out onto the street where the waiter had to chase after us for the remainder of the money she owed! hahahaha. Then THE classic line of the evening...we had met at about 6 and done a lot but Mari obviously still thought the night was young and said we would go home and get changed, meeting back here at 10pm......we all looked at our watches...it was almost 1am.!!!!!!!!!! Whoops! How time flies! Amazing Saturday and Sunday was to be just as good...
HUGE BBQ! Churrasco in portuguese. Literally a huge oven filled with massive metal sticks holding what looked like a whole cow in there! Although obviously the meat wasn't for me (sorry to disappoint you guys, yes I am still veggie!) it did look spectacular and certainly was an experience. I was taught how to cook Maionese...a sort of elaborate potato salad...but it is delicious and I will be whipping some up back home in the summer fo sho. So much food at this shindig it was insane. Salad, bread, meat, three different desserts, caipirinhas, beer on tap and so much guarana! Was set to be a great afternoon...plus the company wasn't half bad either :) Whole family, plus about 25 family friends who I have met at various parties (the only way to meet people here it would appear!) and Monica and her host brother Carlos too. Monica and I taught our "brother and sister" here the card game spit and I had NO IDEA how competitive it would get! haha. Gabi and Monica...wow that is a game to remember! Videos going on facebook soon haha. Also I loved how Carlos called the Jack, a Jake. I'm defs calling it a Jake back home now. Really lovely afternoon with fantastic weather as always.
When I walked Carlos and Monica home we came across some capoeira students practicing in the park. WAS SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never seen capoeira before and it is incredible...definately something I want to try before I leave Brazil. Had to hurry home after being distracted for too long by the martial artists/dancers because I had a radio show to get too! Was an amusing hour spent in the studio, the old woman who had cornered Gabi really loved her and it turned into pretty much a radio show about her haha. But was cool to see and met the presenter and guys who work at the station so that was fun. But we left after the awkward talking on the radio and popped home for a quick drink....but not how I was expecting at all! It was a super cool shot of vodka, with sugar...oh yeah and FIRE. THE SHOT IS ON FIRE IN YOUR HAND. And you can make it at home. It is incredible....again another thing I will be making back home!
Before long we hit the road again and went to the fun fair that I have been eyeing up since I got here. I think everyone knows my irrational love/hate relationships for fun fairs, definately inspired by too many Enid Blyton novels as a child. But i loved this one! They had a crazy ride called Samba, which bumps, twists and turns to a samba track whilst you have to try and stay sitting or standing dependng how ambitious you are! haha. Was so much fun.
If you have managed to read all of this then well done! Sorry I am rambling so much...just want to convey how amazing all these experiences are :) Really am enjoying myself so much. Got lots of cool lessons this week planned and I will try to post some photos up soon.
Missing you all a lot. I love hearing what is going on back in Inglaterra. So email me :) lottiebarker@btinternet.com or better yet add me on skype :)
Much love across the ocean.
x
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
1 month down...cant believe it!
Everything here is going just swimmingly. Since I last posted work has taken a turn for the up, as has my social life and just general well-being. Am a very happy girly :)
Had my best class yet on Friday afternoon....20pupils! yay. And everyone was speaking english and (I hope) having fun. It is a lot easier to teach when there are more students as the conversation flows more easily and there are more opinions to debate. I used my magazines I had brought from home (thanks must go to DrT...that was her idea!) and we debated celebrity opinions of UFOs and ghosts. It also prompted a lot of discussion on British reality TV shows, as they seem to be the only people featured in these magazines!! The evening class was on the same theme, but only 4 students so less views and therefore less talking but I improvised with a nice game of Taboo at the end of the class which reminded me of my crazy game-playing family back home....I will be bringing back some Brazilian ones to add to our collection!
That night Gabi took me to see one of the coolest gigs I've been to in a while (but not until after I had a car journey with one of her friends sucessfully(ish) talking only portuguese..woo!). It was at a pub called Hooligans which has live music almost every night of the week and the band was called Terra Certa. They had all types of instruments...from clarinet, bagpipes, piccolo, drums, violin....was amazing! These guys are worth checking out on YouTube. Was a fantastic evening and I had a lot of fun.
The next day I went to a Brazilian wedding in the city's cathedral. I have now experienced a birthday, graduation AND wedding! Feel like I am getting to know a lot of Brazil's (or at least this city's) culture which is fantastic. It was a beautiful service, if a little more extravagent than an english wedding! Not just one best man and one maid of honour but 12 couples!!!!!!! Each with their own entrance! And the reception is just HUGE, with buffet dinner and champagne being carried around and the bride and groom had a spectacular entrance with fireworks actually being let off inside! The timings were also different. The service didnt start til 8.30pm, with dinner being served close to 12pm and the party kicking off around 1.30am, everything is much later here. Was a nice evening, but I do wish Murray was here so I had someone to dance with. The dance styles are very couple based which means I am not dancing as much as I want to, but am getting by!
Woke up a few hours after getting in so that I could have my early morning Sunday skype :) The day continued on a high note as Gabi took me to her friend Mari's house where we spent the day with her and her cousins in the pool, sunbathing, drinking caipirinhas, eating Argentinian cheese and generally enjoying the sunshine. A perfect sunday.
Yesterday was Monday...and a very exciting day as I got the job at Eleodoro (the public school on my road!). I start Wednesday which is great and yesterday the headmaster showed me my classroom. I'm looking forward to being able to use the coloured chalks I brought with me on the blackboard...eeeeeeeeek. In my head I'm invisioning myself as some kind of cool, approachable, fun teacher...but in reality I know the language barrier will prove difficult and that the classes are going to be a lot more hard work than my current ones. But I am up for the challenge, that IS why I am here!
Hopefully my money situation will get sorted out today, I am very angry at Santander but luckily my wonderful mae (mum in portuguese!) is sending me some money over so yay! Otherwise got a class this evening and planning lessons.
Missing you all, but having the time of my life :)
x
Had my best class yet on Friday afternoon....20pupils! yay. And everyone was speaking english and (I hope) having fun. It is a lot easier to teach when there are more students as the conversation flows more easily and there are more opinions to debate. I used my magazines I had brought from home (thanks must go to DrT...that was her idea!) and we debated celebrity opinions of UFOs and ghosts. It also prompted a lot of discussion on British reality TV shows, as they seem to be the only people featured in these magazines!! The evening class was on the same theme, but only 4 students so less views and therefore less talking but I improvised with a nice game of Taboo at the end of the class which reminded me of my crazy game-playing family back home....I will be bringing back some Brazilian ones to add to our collection!
That night Gabi took me to see one of the coolest gigs I've been to in a while (but not until after I had a car journey with one of her friends sucessfully(ish) talking only portuguese..woo!). It was at a pub called Hooligans which has live music almost every night of the week and the band was called Terra Certa. They had all types of instruments...from clarinet, bagpipes, piccolo, drums, violin....was amazing! These guys are worth checking out on YouTube. Was a fantastic evening and I had a lot of fun.
The next day I went to a Brazilian wedding in the city's cathedral. I have now experienced a birthday, graduation AND wedding! Feel like I am getting to know a lot of Brazil's (or at least this city's) culture which is fantastic. It was a beautiful service, if a little more extravagent than an english wedding! Not just one best man and one maid of honour but 12 couples!!!!!!! Each with their own entrance! And the reception is just HUGE, with buffet dinner and champagne being carried around and the bride and groom had a spectacular entrance with fireworks actually being let off inside! The timings were also different. The service didnt start til 8.30pm, with dinner being served close to 12pm and the party kicking off around 1.30am, everything is much later here. Was a nice evening, but I do wish Murray was here so I had someone to dance with. The dance styles are very couple based which means I am not dancing as much as I want to, but am getting by!
Woke up a few hours after getting in so that I could have my early morning Sunday skype :) The day continued on a high note as Gabi took me to her friend Mari's house where we spent the day with her and her cousins in the pool, sunbathing, drinking caipirinhas, eating Argentinian cheese and generally enjoying the sunshine. A perfect sunday.
Yesterday was Monday...and a very exciting day as I got the job at Eleodoro (the public school on my road!). I start Wednesday which is great and yesterday the headmaster showed me my classroom. I'm looking forward to being able to use the coloured chalks I brought with me on the blackboard...eeeeeeeeek. In my head I'm invisioning myself as some kind of cool, approachable, fun teacher...but in reality I know the language barrier will prove difficult and that the classes are going to be a lot more hard work than my current ones. But I am up for the challenge, that IS why I am here!
Hopefully my money situation will get sorted out today, I am very angry at Santander but luckily my wonderful mae (mum in portuguese!) is sending me some money over so yay! Otherwise got a class this evening and planning lessons.
Missing you all, but having the time of my life :)
x
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Carnaval weekend...
And what a weekend it was!
Friday I had my first group lessons. VERY nice students so yay wasnt slaughtered like I was afraid of! Managed to teach them the Hokey Cokey and played Simon Says, so I had fun...hope they did too. Then that evening was Mari's (a friend of Gabi's) graduation party....this time I wasnt shocked by the catwalk, party poppers, banners, world's supply of glitter or amazing beer (waiters just walk around filling up your glass...we need to have that in England!). Had a lot of fun, even managed to dance some sertaneja and samba without TOTALLY embarassing myself. Got told by Bruna that I could almost be dancing like a Brazilian...if you didnt really look at my feet properly. Thanks for that. Got home at 5am and collapsed into bed. An amazing first night of our 5 day weekend :)
Woke up late the next day...as in got a knock on my door saying lunch was ready! But was totally recovered and ready to enjoy my afternoon. Went for a two hour bike ride around the city with my boss Denise. Was lovely. Exactly like riding in the Chilterns...LOTS of hills. (My legs still ache!) Literally could not stop smiling the entire ride...was like I AM IN BRAZIL!!!!! I AM ACTUALLY IN BRAZIL!!!! Was a beautifully sunny day and my tan is slowly but surely coming along. Unfortunately I know what will happen. May will be super hot in England and I will come back to everyone being browner than me :( Went out for dinner after a much needed shower to this cool bar that brews its own beer. Had pizza and beer...classy I know. But was so delicious and another great evening that didnt have me home the same day I woke up!
Sunday I sunbathed. Yes. It was that hot. Sat outside all morning just soaking up the rays and desperately trying to learn some more portuguese, it is slowly getting there but incredibly difficult! In the afternoon Gabi took me to her friend's house where we hung out with all her guy friends. It is quite clear that young people are the same wherever you are in the world, as the afternoon consisted just like it does at home of sitting around and drinking beer (only here we were outside in the beautiful sunshine!). They are all really cool guys and remind me very much of when the boys back home get together. Crude conversations, taking the piss of the girls, drinking too much...hmmmmm very familiar! In the evening I went to one of my colleagues Roderigo's house to meet some other new people and attempt to make friends. This was my first outing without Gabi and I was scared that these new people might be like "why are you here?" and "you can't join our group". But it was the exact opposite :) Everyone was so welcoming and even the language barrier didnt stop us gossiping, dancing and drinking. Had a fantastic evening with guitars being brought out well after midnight for me to hear some traditional Brazilian rock. In so many ways it was just like parties at home, but in other ways it was totally different. The soundtrack would change from Foo Fighters to some obscure Brazilian folk song and I loved hearing people talk "normal" portuguese rather than the formal stuff I've been using so far. Was a fantastic night :)
The next day was my first proper hangover day in Brazil...and I'm pretty sure it was the energy drink and not the vodka that made me feel so crap. eurgh. so watched many MANY episodes of friends and slepttttt. The day ended on a high though with a big family game of cards (Mum you probably know this game but it orginated from South America which is cool), its called Canasta and was a lot of fun :) We played for hours on end!
Carnaval weekend passed so quickly and soon enough it was tuesday and our last day off :( Gabi and I had plans for a big night out with loads of people and drove around Cascavel to find NO-ONE willing to come out. However that did not stop us having an amazing time! We grabbed Monica and headed to the same bar that brews its beer....an eventful evening ensued! Firstly we werent served for agessssssssss so we got free beers on the house, yay. After this Monica and I got our drinks but Gabi was told that the bartender couldnt be bothered to make another drink so she couldnt have one. (Was imagining what would have happened at Yates if I had said that to a customer...lol). We found this ridiculous! As did one of the waiters it would appear who, bless him, went behind the bar and made one himself...this was again free...and so it should have been considering the reason it took so long was cause the barman was lazy!!!!!!!! Then one of Gabi's friends came into the bar so he joined us and we chatted in portenglish for a while...he then bought us a round of drinks and paid for our previous ones despite much protesting from Monica and I who had just met the guy. This whole time most of the bar had been staring at us, the quite obvious tourists speaking very bad portuguese, so at this point we got ANOTHER round of beers sent to us from a group of guys. They were really yummy...the beers...not the guys...the guys were old and weird looking..but the beers were cherry flavoured and although they tasted very girly were delicious. We eventually looked at the time and realised it was 2am and we had to drop Monica home...and we had work in the morning! So we left the bar...getting a note from another group of guys who had obviously spent all night coming up with the following sentence in english...
"we want to meet yours" and then drawing a picture of their table and labeling who was sitting where! Quite amusing as we had to keep straight faces until they couldnt see us howling with laughter! Great girls night out :)
Just realised how much Ive written...and I still have more stories to tell! I wish you could all be here with me and be experiencing all of this.
Wednesday was our day back at New York School and was just meetings to talk about the semester. As Tuesday had been International Womens Day we received potted plants from Denise and roses from the male members of staff....was so lovely :) and I now have them both in my room to liven it up! Spent the rest of Wednesday learning how to make a Flipchart on this cool computer programme they have at the school...but in reality it was just Me, Roderigo and Gabi partying in a classroom watching videos on youtube.
It really has been my best week so far and I have lots of plans already in place for this weekend....missing you all :)
Lottie xxxx
Friday I had my first group lessons. VERY nice students so yay wasnt slaughtered like I was afraid of! Managed to teach them the Hokey Cokey and played Simon Says, so I had fun...hope they did too. Then that evening was Mari's (a friend of Gabi's) graduation party....this time I wasnt shocked by the catwalk, party poppers, banners, world's supply of glitter or amazing beer (waiters just walk around filling up your glass...we need to have that in England!). Had a lot of fun, even managed to dance some sertaneja and samba without TOTALLY embarassing myself. Got told by Bruna that I could almost be dancing like a Brazilian...if you didnt really look at my feet properly. Thanks for that. Got home at 5am and collapsed into bed. An amazing first night of our 5 day weekend :)
Woke up late the next day...as in got a knock on my door saying lunch was ready! But was totally recovered and ready to enjoy my afternoon. Went for a two hour bike ride around the city with my boss Denise. Was lovely. Exactly like riding in the Chilterns...LOTS of hills. (My legs still ache!) Literally could not stop smiling the entire ride...was like I AM IN BRAZIL!!!!! I AM ACTUALLY IN BRAZIL!!!! Was a beautifully sunny day and my tan is slowly but surely coming along. Unfortunately I know what will happen. May will be super hot in England and I will come back to everyone being browner than me :( Went out for dinner after a much needed shower to this cool bar that brews its own beer. Had pizza and beer...classy I know. But was so delicious and another great evening that didnt have me home the same day I woke up!
Sunday I sunbathed. Yes. It was that hot. Sat outside all morning just soaking up the rays and desperately trying to learn some more portuguese, it is slowly getting there but incredibly difficult! In the afternoon Gabi took me to her friend's house where we hung out with all her guy friends. It is quite clear that young people are the same wherever you are in the world, as the afternoon consisted just like it does at home of sitting around and drinking beer (only here we were outside in the beautiful sunshine!). They are all really cool guys and remind me very much of when the boys back home get together. Crude conversations, taking the piss of the girls, drinking too much...hmmmmm very familiar! In the evening I went to one of my colleagues Roderigo's house to meet some other new people and attempt to make friends. This was my first outing without Gabi and I was scared that these new people might be like "why are you here?" and "you can't join our group". But it was the exact opposite :) Everyone was so welcoming and even the language barrier didnt stop us gossiping, dancing and drinking. Had a fantastic evening with guitars being brought out well after midnight for me to hear some traditional Brazilian rock. In so many ways it was just like parties at home, but in other ways it was totally different. The soundtrack would change from Foo Fighters to some obscure Brazilian folk song and I loved hearing people talk "normal" portuguese rather than the formal stuff I've been using so far. Was a fantastic night :)
The next day was my first proper hangover day in Brazil...and I'm pretty sure it was the energy drink and not the vodka that made me feel so crap. eurgh. so watched many MANY episodes of friends and slepttttt. The day ended on a high though with a big family game of cards (Mum you probably know this game but it orginated from South America which is cool), its called Canasta and was a lot of fun :) We played for hours on end!
Carnaval weekend passed so quickly and soon enough it was tuesday and our last day off :( Gabi and I had plans for a big night out with loads of people and drove around Cascavel to find NO-ONE willing to come out. However that did not stop us having an amazing time! We grabbed Monica and headed to the same bar that brews its beer....an eventful evening ensued! Firstly we werent served for agessssssssss so we got free beers on the house, yay. After this Monica and I got our drinks but Gabi was told that the bartender couldnt be bothered to make another drink so she couldnt have one. (Was imagining what would have happened at Yates if I had said that to a customer...lol). We found this ridiculous! As did one of the waiters it would appear who, bless him, went behind the bar and made one himself...this was again free...and so it should have been considering the reason it took so long was cause the barman was lazy!!!!!!!! Then one of Gabi's friends came into the bar so he joined us and we chatted in portenglish for a while...he then bought us a round of drinks and paid for our previous ones despite much protesting from Monica and I who had just met the guy. This whole time most of the bar had been staring at us, the quite obvious tourists speaking very bad portuguese, so at this point we got ANOTHER round of beers sent to us from a group of guys. They were really yummy...the beers...not the guys...the guys were old and weird looking..but the beers were cherry flavoured and although they tasted very girly were delicious. We eventually looked at the time and realised it was 2am and we had to drop Monica home...and we had work in the morning! So we left the bar...getting a note from another group of guys who had obviously spent all night coming up with the following sentence in english...
"we want to meet yours" and then drawing a picture of their table and labeling who was sitting where! Quite amusing as we had to keep straight faces until they couldnt see us howling with laughter! Great girls night out :)
Just realised how much Ive written...and I still have more stories to tell! I wish you could all be here with me and be experiencing all of this.
Wednesday was our day back at New York School and was just meetings to talk about the semester. As Tuesday had been International Womens Day we received potted plants from Denise and roses from the male members of staff....was so lovely :) and I now have them both in my room to liven it up! Spent the rest of Wednesday learning how to make a Flipchart on this cool computer programme they have at the school...but in reality it was just Me, Roderigo and Gabi partying in a classroom watching videos on youtube.
It really has been my best week so far and I have lots of plans already in place for this weekend....missing you all :)
Lottie xxxx
Thursday, 3 March 2011
The New York School...
The weekend passed by in a haze of sunbathing, caiprihanas and a rather exciting excursion to apparently the worst nightclub in town! It was the suggestion of Monica's boss who took us with her to the place that only played sertaneja music. This is a style of music traditional to southern brazil, which has a simple ballroom dance to accompany it. Well i say simple. Monica and I, both trained dancers, thought the one step two step pattern looked incredibly easy and quickly took to the dance floor to glide as gracefully as the little old couples that were there (it was only 6pm...) however the dance was more difficult than it seemed! But we did have a lot of fun trying. Since this night however, everytime I've told someone I went to "Club Olimpico" they burst out laughing and tell me that they will show me MUCH better places to go out! Still a fun evening.
Since then I've spent everyday at the school I will be working at...The New York School. It is a private language school in Cascavel that teaches all ages from 4 to 84! Although it has two sites in Cascavel, teaches three languages and has a huge number of staff it still feels like a family :) Denise the principal of the school has already made me feel so welcome by inviting me to her house, to her son's birthday party and has introduced me to everyone I need to know. So far have only taught one class. A one-on-one lesson to a Brazilian doctor who wants to improve his already impeccable english! It is more of a chat to keep him practicing the language, but he is very interesting and has travelled the world so am really enjoying this class. Otherwise I have been into advanced classes to talk to students about english culture and give them an opportunity to speak with a native English speaker. Yesterday I spent an hour with a group of fifteen year olds who were intriged by our A-level and university system as well as how our government worked and more personal questions about my own family life. Everyone wants to know everything about me! Cascavel doesn't get many tourists so they are very excited to have me here. I feel like they know all of you back home already haha. They are constantly asking about "meu namorado" (boyfriend), here the first question you seem to ask someone is whether they have a boyfriend or girlfriend. They all think he should've come to Brazil over Australia...see I told you Murray!!! Start my conversation classes with students tomorrow and hopefully an after school club at a public school next week.
Also this week I found out I got into St Andrews so very happy about that also! This year is set to be a fantastic one :) To celebrate that...and to toast to my Mum's birthday, Gabi and I went out for drinks with her friend Mari. Mari doesn't speak much english but we managed to have a conversation where I spoke the little portuguese I knew and she replied in english! I really hope to have learnt a lot of portuguese by June, it is not the reason for my trip, but rather a nice side-effect if I do manage to learn a lauguage.
Skype is all set up so add me lottiebarker.
Big love to everyone back home. xxxx
Since then I've spent everyday at the school I will be working at...The New York School. It is a private language school in Cascavel that teaches all ages from 4 to 84! Although it has two sites in Cascavel, teaches three languages and has a huge number of staff it still feels like a family :) Denise the principal of the school has already made me feel so welcome by inviting me to her house, to her son's birthday party and has introduced me to everyone I need to know. So far have only taught one class. A one-on-one lesson to a Brazilian doctor who wants to improve his already impeccable english! It is more of a chat to keep him practicing the language, but he is very interesting and has travelled the world so am really enjoying this class. Otherwise I have been into advanced classes to talk to students about english culture and give them an opportunity to speak with a native English speaker. Yesterday I spent an hour with a group of fifteen year olds who were intriged by our A-level and university system as well as how our government worked and more personal questions about my own family life. Everyone wants to know everything about me! Cascavel doesn't get many tourists so they are very excited to have me here. I feel like they know all of you back home already haha. They are constantly asking about "meu namorado" (boyfriend), here the first question you seem to ask someone is whether they have a boyfriend or girlfriend. They all think he should've come to Brazil over Australia...see I told you Murray!!! Start my conversation classes with students tomorrow and hopefully an after school club at a public school next week.
Also this week I found out I got into St Andrews so very happy about that also! This year is set to be a fantastic one :) To celebrate that...and to toast to my Mum's birthday, Gabi and I went out for drinks with her friend Mari. Mari doesn't speak much english but we managed to have a conversation where I spoke the little portuguese I knew and she replied in english! I really hope to have learnt a lot of portuguese by June, it is not the reason for my trip, but rather a nice side-effect if I do manage to learn a lauguage.
Skype is all set up so add me lottiebarker.
Big love to everyone back home. xxxx
Friday, 25 February 2011
Charlotchi.
Cant believe I haven't mentioned this already! In portuguese you pronounce -te like -tchi. So a lot of people who havent studied English (or watched Sex in the City...) are calling me Charlotchi. It is very amusing!
Other things that are different in Brazil...the crazy road systems!!! Here in Cascavel almost all the streets are one way, so you end up doubling back on yourself a lot to be able to get to your destination! Im very glad I am not driving out here, I have a feeling I would be very confused...not that I am not confused walking...
The other day Monica (another British volunteer in the city) came over for lunch and we decided because it was a nice day to walk back to her house. The route on google maps looked easy enough and we set off in the sunshine chattering away! After an hour we thought we recognised the neighbourhood so asked in very basic portuguese where the "Rua Erico Verissimo" was. It seems that people here do not give directions by roads however, more by where things are in relations to buildings. So we received no help in this way! After another half hour we realised we were well and truly lost...and cue the rain. Here rain is not just a little drip every now and again, but literally as if someone is pouring a bucket over your head constantly! Within a minute we were soaked to the skin, but luckily are both here for "the experience" and felt that getting lost was an important part of this! Looking back the residents of Cascavel must have found us histerical wandering around in the rain laughing. We called Monicas host "mum" but again the language barrier found us without help, so we headed into an english school looking like we'd just swum over from England. Typical to the days events no english teachers were in but we had a conversation in portuguese (well....not conversation...more exchange of words!) that once again proved ABSOLUTELY NO HELP! By this point we had been out and about for 3 hours! Monica was worried about making it back in time for church and I knew my host "mum" would be worrying......Luckily for the both of us one of the women Monica had been working with, Miriam, came to pick us up! WE LOVE HER. So quite an eventful afternoon! But one of my best here I think, we managed to keep our spirits high and it definately was an experience haha.
Also this week Ive been for lots of walks around the city, seen some trees native to Parana this state of Brazil and these funny little bear-like creatures called Capybaras. They are so cute! Spent a lot of time with my host family for this week...feeling like I will be living here for four months, will be strange to move back next door! Gabi gets home on Monday from her holiday and I am very excited to start work with her...
Had a small taste of work yesterday when I visited Monica at one of her placements. Was a private language school specialising only in English. All the teachers were incredible! And the students very enthusistic and excited to hear an english speaker! However because of the influence of the US with movies, music etc they find it VERY difficult to understand my British accent!! All the books, cds and materials they use in the classroom are American based, so I think I will find that a bit of a challenge! VERY excited to start work now.
This week hasnt been as hard as I imagined. Am making sure I make the most of every moment. Right must dash, lots of Brazilian culture to soak up. Please email me :) lottiebarker@btinternet.com
i love hearing from back home! much love to everyone. xxxxx
Sunday, 20 February 2011
FESTA!
So my last few days in Curitiba were fantastic, my mood was definately effected by the EXCELLENT weather we had as well! wooo. Met some Brazilian volunteers who worked in the UK for a year, interesting to hear their experiences and they taught us a lot about Brazilian culture, history and the extreme differences in class and location. It is strange to be in such a large country that is rich with so many cultural aspects.
These guys took us (me and my fellow Lattitude volunteers) to a huge park on the Friday afternoon after portuguese lessons and a lunch out with our teachers. Was so nice just to wander around in the sunshine drinking caipirinhas (SO YUMMY!!!!!) and chatting about life in general. Felt like having friends like at home! (missing you all very much.) Couldnt stay at the park too long as had to get back and pack for my 9hour bus journey across the state of Parana.....aggghhhh!
Probably the worst sleep of my life! haha. The bus was severly air-conditioned so I, being dressed for Brazilian weather not the Arctic, almost froze to death!!!! But the journey was over before I knew it and I was in my new home for the next 4 months....CASCAVEL!!!!!
Spent most of the day sleeping but got to know Gabi (my new host sister...) and her wonderful family :) They have been very welcoming and I am sure I will settle in here fantastically. It was the day of Gabi's graduation so a lot of the day was spent getting her ready and her explaining some of the crazy traditions they have at graduation parties!!! It certainly was an experience I shall never forget!! I will try to explain it...but the insaneness doesnt quite come through haha.
8pm We arrive at the venue. Lots and lots of kisses and hugs as I appear to meet the entire city once again! Limited english speakers so a good chance for me to practice my portuguese and miming skills.
9pm THE FIRST PARADE! All the graduates (this party is just of the Physcology students...they can each bring up to 30guests so is a huge deal, and it would appear they go to lots of subjects parties....it seems they have them all on different nights so they get maximum number of good nights out haha!!) parade across the stage to much wooping and cheers from their friends and family. There are banners, party poppers, streamers!
10pm Dinner time! Big buffet dinner where I meet the rest of Gabi's family, godparents and best friend. Not too much vegetarian choice but I am coping ok so far!
11.30pm THE SECOND PARADE! This time the graduates have been dressed up by their friends and familys with wigs, tiaras, feather boas etc and parade individually to a piece of music of their choice. CRAZY!!! Gabi has chosen the Friends theme tune and looks stunning as she dances out in her beautiful dress. Feel like part of the family as we woop and congratulate her on her graduation.
12pm FESTA! Even more guests arrive and I am once again indulged in a million kisses and introductions! All Gabi's friends are warm and welcoming however and I find myself whirled around the dance floor to music from Lady Gaga to traditional Brazilian tunes. A fantastic night!
When we get home I go to the neighbour Rita's house where I will stay all this week whilst Gabi is on a cruise with her family. A little apprehensive about this week especially as no work to throw myself into....will have to sunbathe i guess :p Missing everyone at home A HELL of a lot. Espeicially as Murray prepares himself to go to Australia and it is my Mum's birthday this week....but it can only get easier and I am truly experiencing things I will never again see!
Much love as always from around the globe.
xxxxxx
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
First week...learning portuguese!
FIRST POST FROM BRAZIL!
Spending this first week in Curitiba...a city an hour inland and down the coast from Sao Paulo. On the map before I left everything looked so close but it is an hour plane journey from Sao Paulo so not as near as I thought! Is a city of about 2million and I feel like I have met most of them! My host family are so friendly that they introduce me to all their friends and relatives. The biggest difference in their home lives seems to be that everyone lives at home until they get married, which means they have large houses with five or six people living in it!
Every day this week Ive gone to portuguese lessons in the centre of the city finding my way there by bus. At first this was a little scary, and im still terrified that i am on the wrong bus everytime but so far no total disasters! It is very intense with 5hours of lessons a day...but I feel I am sort of picking it up and will not feel totally useless when I start teaching on Monday. As well as lessons have had time to go to the beach...which is STUNNING. Completely what you imagine when someone says "Brazil"....luckily we went on the one sunny day weve had...complete tropical downpours since then :( still incredibly warm so flip-flops are out but getting very damp feet. Also been on a bus tour of the city, seen some beautiful buildings including an outdoor theatre designed like a crystal palace located over a walkway over a waterfall...stunning. Went to a pub on Saturday night (Sabado noite) with some on Marielle's (my host sister) friends. Was a lot of fun and trying to speak portuguese as much as possible!
It is almost impossible to say how I feel right now...totally terrified that I am the otherside of the world mixed with the greatest excitement I have ever felt! I am missing everyone back home lots, but far too distracted by this adventure to worry too much. On friday I am having a 9 hour bus journey to my placement in Cascavel (a city near to the Igacu waterfalls)....I am excited to get going with my teaching and see the place I'll live til June...
Love to you all. xxx
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Tomorrow :)
So tomorrow is the day I leave for Brazil....am very excited and only nervous about the fact that my rucksack seems incredibly heavy and not quite big enough! Nearly all the goodbyes out the way, have managed to keep my cool so far...lets see how I do at the airport tomorrow :s
Saturday night was my leaving party with much green and yellow facepaint featuring....i'm pretty sure there is still some on my pillow! Was great to see friends from all over partying hard and lovely to say bye properly. Sunday, a very hungover Lottie and Murray headed home to my family lunch. Fantastic to say bye to my brothers and cousin. Am really going to miss family abroad, but think my new host family will become as close as my own :). Some faces were missed at both parties however, and I will find it difficult that when I come back in the summer there are people I won't have seen for a year. But no point getting sad about that now, got plenty of packing and sorting to do today! Appear to have left rather a lot to the last minute....need to move all my stuff out of Murray's flat, buy a phone, shoes, print photos (so i remember all your lovely faces!) and pack properly! Aagagaghhhh!
So here is my first and last post from England for a while.....off to the sun tomorrow :) x
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