Predictions

I must be getting used to the Brazilian way and concept of time. Brazilian time is usually plus or minus 15 to 30 minutes. Well, let's just say usually 15 to 30 min late. Nothing starts on-time. N-o-t-h-i-n-g. It used to stress me out a lot to try and meet people at my house during the workday because, um, I have to WORK! It's not like I can meet people on my lunch break because that is when they are taking their lunch. Really...the whole city stops at lunch to eat lunch. Not making that up. All the stores close, doctor's offices, etc. Only the few restaurants in town are open. That's a whole other story however.

So, I have had a problem with water on my bathroom floor for a few weeks. A guy came during the weekend to check it out and it appears water is leaking in from the wall. I spoke to the owner of the house about it and he had the guy who did the construction come over last night. We agreed he would come back today at 1 pm to start the work. Now, I don't usually have my housekeeper here on Tuesdays , so I thought I would just meet him at 1 pm and stay home the rest of the day.

I took a shot that maybe my housekeeper could switch her days and come over today to be here while the guy is working. She is SOOOO awesome that she said she could come today for me!!! YEAH!! But, she couldn't arrive until 1:30. No big deal, right? Right!! Because I have learned how predictable Brazilians are!!

So, knowing the guy would NOT come at 1 pm, I told people in my office I would be back at 2 pm. I just KNEW that by the time the guy actually showed up and my housekeeper (empregada) arrived, it would be 1:30 or 1:45 pm...I could still make it back by 2 pm.

So, do you think my prediction was right???????? YES!! Actually, it's now 1:48 pm and the guy hasn't arrived...as I predicted! My housekeeper has arrived, so all is good in the world. I get a chuckle that I know how predictable people are here and now I have ADAPTED myself to those things!!! Rsrsrsrs...(that's like heh heh in Portuguese)

Um abraco,

Mollie

Avocados, Bergamotas (Tangerines), & Irony

Today it was "warm" in Horizontina. Lately, it's been cold since it's winter here now. I still have not gotten used to June being "winter", but that's another story. Anyway, it hit a high of 70 degrees which was nice! I even turned off one of my space heaters for part of the day.

I took advantage of the nice day and went for an hour walk. I wanted to explore a few streets and look at trees and just day dream. The nice thing here is there are a lot of trees everywhere, including fruit trees. You never know when you look up at a tree what might be in it. It's really neat right now because there are a ton of oranges, tangerines (bergamotas), etc. on the trees. You see these green trees with speckles of orange. It's pretty cool.

Anyway, I was walking up this one street and I saw avocados on the ground. I thought it was strange so I looked up and I was standing underneath a HUGE avocado tree!! The tree was on a public street and in front of a government building. I saw a few avocados that had fallen and weren't too beat up. So, I took one home with me. Can't wait to try it!!

On my way back, I saw a bergamota tree around the corner from my house on an empty lot. The tangerines were just hanging there, some were rotting on the ground and they needed a good home. So, I plucked a few and took them home with me. I am sure they will be delicious as well!

The only ironic thing in all this is that there is plenty of food in this country...so plentiful that the fruit grows on the street, yes so many people are hungry and live in poverty. It's hard to understand that.

Um abraco,

Mollie

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to Me!!!/ Feliz Aniversario... um Ano para Mim!!

On May 19, 2009 I celebrated one year living in Brazil & Horizontina! I cannot believe how quickly one year passed and here I am 1 year later, living in a foreign country, speaking a different language, working for a great company with an amazing team, and feeling fully adjusted to my new life!! Wow!!!

I must thank my wonderfully supportive friends and family for all of their help during this period of transition, which at times was very difficult! I have received many cards, care packages, emails and goodies transported in many suitcases! Plus the occasional visit from friends!  The support you all have given to me has made a tremendous difference in my ability to adapt here, while dealing with the periodic home sickness. (Saudades!!!)

While thinking of how I would blog to commemorate one year here, I thought I would do a " Top Ten" or " My favorite moments" or something like that. Instead, I decided I would try to share with you my evolution and how I evolved from barely knowing " Bom dia" (Good morning) to really embracing the culture, language, people and taking those things to make a better "Mollie". 

So, here are my "YES!" Moments, as I like to call them. The moments, experiences, memories, phrases, etc. from the past year that show the progress I have made from the beginning of my life here to now...how I've evolved from just being an American living in Brazil to just (somente!) living in Brazil...

• My first phone call in Portuguese where I understood 100% of what was said and I communicated what I wanted to say! YES!!
  

• My first car trip alone to Santa Rosa (45 min away) to go shopping at Nacional (like Wal-Mart). YES!!! I didn't get lost!!!!!
  

• Being able to translate for other Americans things in Portuguese! Wow...I guess I do speak Portuguese pretty well!!
  

• The new Brazilian (and American) friends I have made who have watched me grow in my language skills and adaptation to the culture...and they still are my friends! 
  

• The first time I made a joke in Portuguese and a Brazilian actually laughed! ( Hopefully it was the joke they laughed at!!)
  

• Being comfortable and ENJOYING doing nothing...I've learned how to R-E-L-A-X and enjoy life! YES!!!
  

• Using the word "opa" when talking to an American and not even thinking twice about it..."Opa" is like "Oops". 

• Eating red meat again (after not eating it for more than 10 years)...what can I say? The cows here are grass fed and a little more "saudavel" than in the US. 

• Learning how to make Chimmaron and enjoying the ritual of the drink. Chimmaron is a traditional, gaucho tea that people here drink in the Southern part of Brazil. 

• Driving to Santa Rosa and being on auto-pilot...not the least bit worried about getting lost and enjoying the car ride!

• Becoming a more patient and calm person!

Roosters!

Imagine a nice,  peaceful morning. 

It is sunny with a light breeze. 

You have the windows open and the neighborhood is quiet. 

You sit down to a nice cup of Starbucks coffee, which has traveled 5,000+ miles via interoffice mail (THANK YOU JESS!!!!). 

Suddenly...you hear a noise. Is it the gentle whisper of the wind? 

Could it be the rustle of the palm tree leaves? 

Or is it the percolating of the coffee brewing? 

NOOOOOOOO.........

It is the ROOSTER roosting or crowing outside of your patio!!!

Since I live at the end of this block, the only thing next to me is some open farm fields. It's common that people have a small shack or house with a plot of corn or other fruits/vegetables. Well, sometimes they have farm animals too. Like cows....chickens...or roosters. 

This morning a rooster found his way to my yard! He was making all sorts of noise. First he was on the wall that I share with my neighbor. Then he decided to hang out in my yard. No, no, no! I was not having him in my yard cockling and going on! Anyway, I chased him around the yard, then he flew out of the yard. I couldn't believe I was CHASING a rooster around in a circle in my yard. I'm sure my neighbor saw me out his window running around in a circle flapping my arms. Thank goodness no one video taped me...I think. 

Here are pics of the little bugger!

Um abraco,

Mollie

In the backyard

A real rooster!

Where I first found him on the wall I share w/ my neighbor!

Half Marathon/Meia Maratona em Porto Alegre

I have been training for a half marathon with two other American girls living here. One of them has never done a race before and just picked up running last June. We found a half marathon in Porto Alegre ( 6 hours or 450km) away from Horizontina. We trained for about 3 1/2 months. The goal was to finish together!

We did the race on April 25th. It was a night race that started at 7 pm. It was tough to determine what to eat, but somehow we managed!

They handed out these small containers of water with a foil top. It was like a dixie cup with foil on the top. You had to peel the foil off, which was a pain. We saw a guy running with NO shoes, a woman running in flip flops, and completed our first international half marathon!

The funniest thing was they printed your first name on your race bib. It was funny because you would see someone and say (In portuguese of course), " Go Maria...", " Go Rafael" , "Go Marcio", etc. 

Here is a picture of the medal and race number!

Um abraco,

Mollie

Road Trip! Mission Ruins

We had a holiday here in Brazil and I wanted to go somewhere for a day trip. It's not the easiest to find someplace like that here. However, if you drive 2 hours, there are some amazing ruins of some Jesuit and Guaranese (native Indians) missions. 

Basically, Spain and Portugual sent some Jesuits to the Americas in the 1600's to convert the Indians to Catholicism.  The Jesuits and the Indians created many communities and over a period of roughly 150 years became very strong with over 100,000 people! There were 30+ communities in present day Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. The Church as well as Spain and Portugal became concerned that the Jesuit missions were becoming too strong and operating independently.

The  Treaty of Madrid was signed in 1750 where these areas (Brazilian) were handed over to the Portuguese.  Basically, the Indians and Jesuits were also to abandon their homes (the missions) and move across the river. They didn't want to leave their homes (do you blame them?!). As a result, the Portuguese came to take "slaves" (the Indians) and in the process, the Guarani Indians revolted. There was war, death, etc. and the missions were set on fire and razed to the ground!

They have some ruins/remains which are now a protected historical site. They are amazing since they were basically small communities and housed over 3,000 people at one time! 

If you watch the movie, " The Mission"  with Roberto DeNiro, you'll get a better understanding of the story. 

Enjoy!

Um abraco,

Mollie

Easter in Prague with Johnny...and Baking a Kasekuchen

I was in Germany for work right before Easter and decided to stay a little longer and take a side trip to see my brother. He is working/living in Poland and we decided to meet in Prague, in the Czech Republic to sightsee. He invited his two friends, Chris and Kevin, who are English with the quintessential accent! It was a lot of fun!! I used the old stand-by guide book " Rick Steves...Europe through the Back Door."  He never lets me down!! 

I also had a chance to see my good friend, Corinna, who lives near Mannheim, Germany. She is a really good friend, also working for Deere. We have always wanted to make a real german cheesecake. I stayed with her one night and we baked and had a great time!

Here are some pictures...

Mollie

View of the Prague Castle & Basilica

Me and my brother

Monument to the survivors of communism

View from the faux Eifel Tower looking down onto Prague

Tulips blooming in the New Town, Prague

Johnny and green beer

Prague market and church

Jen Hus monument in Old Town Square

Me and Corinna enjoying our Kasekuchen

Corinna was supervising me!