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
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