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.
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