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
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