Country Living/ Vida no Interior

Living in the " interior" or the countryside has its challenges. Of course there are some wonderful things as well. One of the things I like the most is doing things I have NEVER, EVER done before in my life. Some people call me crazy, I like to think of myself as "adventurous".

I went to a Festa de Julinha (July party) a few weeks ago. I was invited by Luiz. I met Luiz several weeks ago at the supermarket, Supermercado Economico. I rarely go to that supermarket. I was paying for my groceries and then Luiz helped me carry them to my car. He made some conversation with me about where I was from, how long I lived in Horizontina, etc. Typical small talk when people learn I am a foreigner. He told me his daughter, Fernanda, had dreams of going to the United States and she was studying English. I didn't think too much about it after that.

A few weeks after the supermarket experience, I got a phone call at work from someone. He said " hello...this is Luiz...from the supermarket...do you remember me" (in portuguese of course!!!).

I had NO idea who he was and didn't remember him at all. Of course, I pretended I remembered him and said, as enthusiastically as I could, " Oh yes! Of course!! How are you??", like we were long lost friends.

He invited to me to a party with his daughter, Fernanda, for the following Saturday. I graciously accepted, gave him my home address and we hung up. I gave him my home address to pick me up and hung up.

After we hung up, it still hadn't clicked to who the guy was. I had NOOOO idea who I just gave my home address to and I didn't know anything about this guy!! I told my colleagues and they thought I was crazy (and not safe) to agree to go somewhere with a total stranger.

Well, the day of the party, he arrived with his 18 year old daughter, they picked me up, we went to this party on the edge of town, and I met 50 other of his employees! Turns out, he is the owner if the supermarket and it was an annual party for his employees!! And they invited me as their special guest.

I was so touched!! It was a lot of fun. We had roasted pig (with the head and all!!!), potatoes, meat, salad, and your usual Brazilian desserts. I made US cupcakes and they were gobbled up immediately!! I even made homemade chocolate frosting....YUM!!!

So, the two things I have never done before, I did. And they weren't so bad after all....becoming friends with a complete stranger and eating the meat right off the pig.

Here are some pictures....

Abraco,

Mollie

My new friends, Fernanda & others. Fernanda has the long hair and white scarf.

Riddle

What do you get when you have 30 degrees fahrenheit outside and 51.5 degrees inside????

A really, really cold house....cold feet.....cold hands.....and a COOOOLLLLDDD shower.

Oh yes, this is Brazil ladies and gentleman. No " Girl from Ipanema" weather here. Just good ol' fashioned C-O-L-D.

After 1 hour, the house has warmed to 52.5 degrees with 3 space heaters running. It's a heat wave!!!!!!!!

Abraco,

Mollie

Time is Relevant

In Brazil, time is relevant.

20 minutes can mean 1 hour

A little later can mean never

Tomorrow can be tomorrow....or the next day....or the next month

7 am means 7:15 or 7:30 am

Get the pattern?

Well, the guy came weeks ago (see an earlier post) to fix a leak in the wall. 1 month and counting and still have a hole. Leak is fixed! But, still a hole in the wall. Spoke to the home owner today. Guess the guy is coming next week....or never.

Here's the proof.

Senor Geleski....You have a special place in my heart!

Just when I think I can't be amazed or surprised at anything new in Horizontina after living here for nearly 14 months, something happens that makes me go "wow".

Friday morning, I was backing out of the garage to go to work. As I backed out of the driveway, I heard a noise in the car, like a creaking. I kept backing out, but still heard it. I decided that it couldn't be good, so I pulled back into the garage. I got out of the car and I had my FIRST ever flat tire!!! (I don't remember even having one in the US in my 15 years as a licensed driver).

"Hmm...", I thought. "It appears I have a flat tire. Great. Well, better call someone to help me fixi it!" Then I decided that I better call someone first for a ride to work and deal with the tire later. (NOTE: This was the 2nd car issue this week...car battery died earlier in the week.) I found a colleague who could pick me up. Then I called my trusty mechanic, Geleski (last name). He is half polish/italian and an extremely kind, sympatico (sympathetic), and helpful man who has helped me many times with my car. He talks super fast, has 5 grown children (3 of whom live in the US), a few grandchildren, a very kind wife, and is my reliable mechanic.

I called him and explained the situation. However, he told me he doesn't work on flat tires! Drats!! However, he told me, he can take care of it for me....sem problema! (no problem). Well, after a few phone calls in Portuguese, some of which I can't understand because he speaks SOOOO fast, I understood he came to my house, put the spare tire on the car, took the tire to a borracharia (place that fixes tires), and had my tire in the back of someone's car. Then he put the spare tire (the one which was flat and he had repaired) back into my car. And, this is something the guy normally doesn't even take care of!!!!!

I just cannot believe the kindness and how hard people try to help you with whatever problem you have. He went out of his way to help me and take care of my car and in return, he asks for almost nothing. He does it all with a smile and acts like it's so simple. I am sure for him that it is, but for me was absolutely amazing!!!! I continue to be shocked, amazed and most of all humbled at the total kindness, generosity and help that people here offer to me...and expecting nothing in return. I am sincerely lucky to know and humbled by the people of Horizontina!!

Senor Geleski, tu vai ter sempre uma lugar no meu coracao!!!

Um abraco,

Mollie

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!