Laughing at Myself

Sometimes I have to really just laugh at myself when it comes to speaking in Portuguese. I really give it my all--I mean 110% of my best effort to speak Portuguese. Not just speak Portuguese, but really speak grammatically correctly, with a non-American accent and putting the right emphasis on the vowels and consonants.  After nearly 2 1/2 years, I still find some situations where I don't know the words so I have to try to explain using other words I do know and it really comes out sounding quite silly to the person listening. I have learned how to just laugh at myself and I sincerely have so much more sympathy, empathy and patience for people learning English!

Let's use an example:

Me calling the gas company (basically like SDG&E in California or Mid-American in the Quad Cities) because there is a problem with the energy line in front of my house. It's spewing sparks!:


START OF CALL: 
Brazilian Customer Service Rep:  Good evening, how may I help you? 
Me: Hello. I have a problem with the energy in my house .
Brazilian Customer Service Rep: Ok, can you please give me your name? 
Me:  It's Patricia (because that is the name on the gas bill - the old owners)
Brazilian Customer Service Rep: Ok, Ms. Patricia, what is the problem? 
Me:  In front of my house, there is that light on the street. Above the light is the, uh, I don't know the word, but it's like a cable and there are some little lights leaving the cable and making a noise.
Brazilian Customer Service Rep:  I'm sorry, Ms. Patricia. I don't understand what you are saying. Do you have an account with us? It's that number in the upper left side of the page of your bill. (At this point she must assume I'm some wacko who is retarded because I speak Portuguese but have a weird accent)
Me: Yes, I do.  It's xxxxxxx.
Brazilian Customer Service Rep: Ok, what name is on the account?
Me: Patricia xxxxx. (At this point, I start to lose all confidence in my Portuguese and sweat profusely.)
Brazilian Customer Service Rep: Ok, Patricia. Can you please tell me again the problem? There is a line inside your house and you don't have power. Or a line fell on top of your house?
Me: Um, no. There isn't anything coming into my house. My house is fine. Sorry, I don't know how to explain the problem in Portuguese. I'm not Brazilian. Well, the problem is that the light on the street, you know the light that is on the column (lamp post) and there are lines (I used the word for lines on a piece of paper) with the energy. Well, one of them is making little lights and making a noise like "shshshshshshsh". Sorry, I don't know the right words.
Brazilian Customer Service Rep: Hmm, um, there is energy on your porch?
Me:   No, there isn't anything on my porch or my house, just the street. 
Brazilian Customer Service Rep: Oh, ok. Well, this sounds like an emergency (me: you think???). I will have a technician come out right away to check that. Is there a landmark by your house, like a school or a church?
Me: (None of our streets here actually have street signs). Um, I live near a country club. (I really don't expect them to send someone out. Things work a little differently here in Brazil.)
Brazilian Customer Service Rep: Ok, I'll have someone come right out. 
Me: Oh, thank you so much.
Brazilian Customer Service Rep: Anything else Ms. Patricia?
Me: Oh, no. Thank you so much and thanks for your patience.  (I quickly hang up the phone.)
END OF CALL


At this point, I started to laugh out loud and really a good, deep belly laugh because of how silly my end of the conversation probably sounded to her. I gave it my all though - 110% and tried my best to find words to describe "spewing"  and "sparks". Not to mention I don't remember the word for energy lines and lamp post. Those aren't in my daily vocabulary when talking about casting, wiring harnesses, screws, bolts, o-rings, and all other sorts of totally useless words outside of my company.

One thing I've learned after 2 1/2  years is that laughing at yourself is the best way to deal with not being a native speaker. I guess I still have more to learn, like "lamp post" and "sparks".

Um abraco!

A Few of my Favorite Things (Algumas coisas favoritas minhas!)

Pre-race photo of me & Sandi
(All photos taken by Schrags)

Continuing the theme of "new things" I have done in Brazil, I have another to share. Those of you that know me consider me to be a little over-dedicated at times to running, biking and swimming. Over dedicated, competitive, hard core, or even crazy would be some words I know my friends have used to describe me. I just like to think of myself as "sporty" and "active". Anyway, one thing I wanted to do in Brazil is run a race. Now, that in itself is not a "new thing" as I have done so many races in the US, I forgot  my PR in the 5k, 10k and half marathon distances. Thank goodness for those websites which store your last bazillion races, some of which I forgot on purpose. Anyway, my fellow ex-pat'er and good friend, Sandi, convinced me to run a 10k with her in Porto Alegre, the capital city of my state and only 300 miles away. She ran a 5k and had a lot of fun. It didn't take that much to convince me and I put together our training plan.

We trained pretty hard for about 3 1/2 months and then did the 6 1/2 hour car ride to Porto Alegre for the race. We got a really nice race packet with a small backpack, t-shirt and a towel at the local Adidas store in Porto Alegre. I also got a SURPRISE when I saw the prices of some of the merchandise. The prices are at least 30% higher in Brazil for the same stuff you can buy at an uber-discount at the outlet store in Aurora. OUCH!  The race probably had about 3,000 to 5,000 runners doing either a 5k or 10k distance. For those of you who don't do kilometers, that is 3.1 miles and 10.2 miles, respectively.

As we started running the race, I realized there was a fork in the road and you had to go left with the 10k runners or to the right with the 5k runners! I realized that I didn't know if we should go right or left. Then I remembered that my bib numbers were green and the green numbers meant 10k. The greenies were going LEFT! As I told Sandi this and had a minor freak-out moment, her husband snapped some photos of us! It was really funny because we were confused, but a nice, Brazilian runner confirmed for us going left was right (heh heh).

I ran a good race. I ran hard and really gave it all I had. In the end, I thought I had a PR, but after doing a google search for myself, I realized I ran 45 seconds faster a few years ago over the same distance. I was slightly bummed, but now I have a good reason to make this "first" a "second".

It was a really special experience to run a race, something that felt like home and be able to do it with Sandi. She has become a very close friend to me, running buddy, counselor, thought partner, road trip buddy and just an all around SUPER woman! Thank you Sandi for sharing one of my favorite things with me and also making it one of my "firsts"!!!! Um abraco grande!

Starting line of the race. Organized by expected finishing time. 

When we realized the race split off the 5k & 10k runners. Notice the confused looks on our faces. 

Feeling good! Odd statue in background.

Post Race Bliss! Happy we are done & we finished! Even got a finishing medal!

A Vida Simples...The Simple Life

View from Cristiane's Dairy Farm, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
All pictures taken by Sandra Schrag

Hello Friends!

Excuse my long hiatus from my blog. I have fallen into the routiness of life here in Brazil where somethings don't seem as new or funny to me as they did in the beginning. Plus, I am not sure who is reading this and it's hard to gauge what is funny or interesting to you.

In any case, here is one interesting & new thing I did in the past few months. I'll post more in the next few days!

I learned how to milk a cow. Yes, folks...me, the girl from San Diego, who knows better how to boogie board, build sandcastles, handle spicy Mexican food, and never saw a cow, pig, farm, combine, tractor (or anything else farm related) until she was 22, has MILKED A COW. My friend, neighbor and manicurist, Cristiane, grew up on a dairy farm. Her family still operates it and she invited me and some other ex-pats to visit the farm. It was really amazing to visit! They have a pretty sophisticated milking operation and it's tightly controlled. I got to taste some of the milk from their cows. Her mom makes everything from scratch and is a real working woman! Cris is a wonderful, sweet, patient and kind friend and it was wonderful to have a day at the farm. Here are some pictures! Um abraco!

Me, going in for the squeeze. I was kind of scared actually! 

My new friend. After the big " squeeze". 

Another farm experience. Putting your finger into the mouth of a young calf. Note the facial expression. It was really weird!!

Happy 2 Year Anniversary! Feliz Aniversario - 2 Anos

This week marked 2 years living in Brazil. Actually, living/working in Horizontina, Brazil.

The past two years have been the most tumultuous, challenging, rewarding, happy, fun, weird, breathtaking, silly, frustrating, fulfilling, lonely, peaceful, soul-searching and a time to really know myself. I have had tremendous personal and professional growth and look back with such pride and gratefulness on this experience.  The friends, relationships, strangers, ex-pats, and family here in Brazil and in the USA all have been my support system in many ways. I am truly and sincerely blessed for all the people that have passed through or into my life.

This experience has taught me many things (will be another blog!). Most of all, it's taught me that I do NOT need to be super-human.

I can be human - make mistakes, laugh at myself and accept openly and without embarrassment the love and support from other people.

In portuguese - Posso ser humana - faco falhas, me sorrio, e aceito aberta e sem vergonha o amor e apoio as outras pessoas.


Here are some photos of my last 2 years. Obrigada amigos brasileiros...obrigada ex-pats...obrigada minha familia....obrigada meus amigos americanos....obrigada as pessoas quem me ajudaram so uma vez no momento critico...obrigada meus colegas na minha empresa....e obrigada minha mae e meu pai por que voce sempre vejam em mim o melhor e me torcer para alcancar.

Paradise/My Vacation...Fernando de Noronha, Brasil

Me in front of Dois Irmaoes/Two Brothers

On a boat ride enjoying myself!

Me, Scuba Diving with the fishes

Brazilian Weddings...Casamentos Brasileiros - Part IV

I went to my 4th Brazilian wedding last night. It was for my co-worker Sergio who married this beautiful and kind woman, Fabiola. He was so happy and he didn't quit smiling the whole night. He is a wonderful guy and I am so happy to have shared in this special day for them.

Like all other Brazilian weddings, it was predictably UNPREDICTABLE! Ceremony started late (of course), had some fun music (Somewhere over the rainbow...2nd time I've heard this song at a Brazilian wedding) and during the reception some Carnival music with drums and such (unpredictable part!).

It was really a fun night and I feel so lucky and truly honored to be able to share these really special and intimate moments with people who are now my lifelong friends in this journey here.

Enjoy! Um abraco!

Mollie

Me, Balestrin, Raquel, Frio and Katia - colleagues

Erion, Juliana and me - Very close friends of mine. 

Some of my favorite ex-pats - Kevin and Sandi

My colleagues! Sergio (groom) is in the middle sitting down. He didn't stop smiling all night. 

Me and Sergio (groom). They use these funny props at weddings. HILARIOUS!!!

Being silly...notice my co-workers in the background. So funny!!

One party goer had too much fun....a bit too much cerveja??? 

Blowing in the Wind...Vento!

A few weeks ago we had a severe storm in our region. It was about 2 am on a Monday morning (Sunday night). I woke up at 1:58 am because I was warm. I realized my ceiling fan in my bedroom went out.

"Great," I thought. " I lost power".

Then I heard this really fierce wind get stronger and stronger. My windows in my room started to shake very violently and I thought the glass would break and come blowing through my bedroom. I darted up out of bed, shut my bedroom door behind me and all the other bedroom doors in the house. Then I ran into my innermost bathroom and hid for 30 minutes. I tried to call some of the other ex-pats, but the cell phone service was not working well and after 20 minutes I couldn't make any calls.

I was sincerely frightened and the wind was blowing so hard and raining with such force. I was afraid water would come pouring through the ceiling or the roof would blow off. Thankfully, none of that happened. Finally, the wind died down around 4:30 am and I went to sleep.

I woke up the next morning to a town completely disorganized, littered with broken trees, roof tiles, pieces of sheet metal and telephone poles on the ground. I had no power, no cell phone service and it was raining. So, I could not contact anyone. Once it stopped raining, I walked over to the language school and saw a lot of damage to the city.

I was able to reach the other ex-pats and everyone was safe and no damage to their homes. I found out later many people had their roofs blown partially off and a lot of water damage.

I was without power for 3 days, internet for 3 days and no water for 2 days. I had several cold showers (while I still had water) and ate and cooked by candlelight for 2 nights. It was kind of romantic to dine that way, but became annoying after the first night.  Finally, I got city services restored and was EXTREMELY thankful and IMPRESSED how quickly a small city in the countryside was able to restore these necessities.

Here are the pictures of the storm damage. It was really unbelievable. I found out later the speed was 140 km/h or about 90 mph winds!!!!

Abraco,
Mollie

This is around the corner from my house. Telephone/electric wires on the ground.

Part of a tree that fell onto a utility pole and into my neighbor's yard. 

 

Another picture of the same tree in his yard. 

You can see the balcony (brick) of the top level fell to the ground from the force of the wind. 

Trees in the road

The town center. Trees were split in two. 

This is at work. It used to have the company logo and say "John Deere", but it got blown off. It was on both sides of the tower and blew off. 

The grain mill across the street from John Deere. There were also utility poles made of concrete that came crashing to the ground. It was impassable for  2 days.