Seu Jorge in Brazil

One of my favorite singers in Brazil is SEU JORGE. I love his voice, his music, his look, his lyrics... And one of the best parts of living in Brazil is that I can turn on the radio and the TV and there he is. Now that he has a new CD, Musica para Churrasco, out he's everywhere. For example, I'm watching Domingão do Faustão now and he's performing live. I found a sample from his latest album so that everyone can appreciate him, too...so turn your speakers up.


It's called Amiga da minha mulher.




By the way, Happy Father's Day to all of the Brazilian fathers out there.

It's been a month...

I have been a resident of Brasilia for a month, today. I arrived on the 12th of July and even though it's only been about 30 days, I feel like I've been living here much longer. One of my American co-workers told me that time passes slowly here and that's exactly how I feel. I'd say that's a good thing. I feel like my afternoons are much longer, maybe it has to do with the fact that I waste  spend A LOT less time watching TV, or because it quickly gets dark by 6:30 p.m., or because I don't need to spend hours planning since I have more time during my work day to do so. Whatever the reason, I do feel like I've been living in Brasilia for 3 months, not 30 days.

I definitely feel like I'm living here, versus visiting or even just spending an extended amount of time here. For example, just yesterday two women approached us as we were walking away from our apartment building. They asked us where a "block" was and I answered confidently and gave (perfect) directions; it's an area I often visit and I was pleased that they understood perfectly where I was sending them off to. Then we went to "our" bakery and the cashier (who has been unfriendly before) joked around with us and even smiled. Feels more like home when you're comfortable in your surroundings, when people recognize you, and even more so when they can joke around with you.


I also have a routine which helps me assimilate easier, as well as a temporary ID, a bank account,  I've applied for my carteira de trabalho (or work papers/permit), E is back in school and has a job, and we have friends and plans for the weekend. All of this makes you feel more "at home". This is exactly what I wanted. Now let me be honest and say that not everything is perfect. I get annoyed with a lot and I get frustrated, but that happens with less frequency than when things go my way. I also try to ignore the negative and focus on the positive so that I will be grateful and feel confident with my decision to leave behind my life in the US to move to Brazil. 
So far so good.

Musical Monday - Amy Winehouse

Like everyone else, I was saddened when I heard the news of Amy Winehouse's passing, but I was also not shocked. I almost expected it, unfortunately. In fact, I had just been talking about her drug addiction the night before she died. I mentioned that she was killing herself with drugs and that she was not going to live long (if she kept it up); the following day I heard the news from my friend's manicurist here in Brasilia that Amy had died that morning in London. 


I loved her music. Her soul. Even her wacky hairdo (well, maybe not the bees nest since I could only imagine what was inside. Ew). It really is our loss that she is gone. We won't be able to sit back, relax, and really listen and feel what it is she has to say anymore. I'm sorry that her family and close friends have to suffer because she lost her battle with drugs and alcohol. Not many people do win the war with crack. I'm sad to say that Amy didn't. 


Amy will be missed. Greatly. Many brazilians are huge fans of her and the notice of her death was on the local and national news every few minutes. Everyone who'd been around her, worked with her, or was a fan was interviewed, and images of her skinny-as-can-be self were plastered all over the television. I guess it's not a big surprise because she was on the news even before her death, especially because she was just in Brazil in January. People loved her. I loved her music, too. Fans in this country and around the world will sense the void she will surely leave behind.


I'd like to, then, post a few of my favorite videos from the late Amy Winehouse here to pay homage to a very talented woman, and to say again that she'll be missed and that I'm sorry she had to leave the Earth so soon. 


Tears Dry on their Own...




Rehab...




Back to Black...

Jazz and Blues in BSB

I just wrote (see yesterday's post) about the Bourbon Street Fest here in Brazil. This was the 9th year that the festival took place in Brazil, and the first in Brasilia. It really was an amazing show and the crowd was really jumping, dancing, singing, and (to my surprise) smoking reefer everything you turned  your nose could smell and of course drinking. A good time was had by all. The music could be heard from afar and as we approached the stage the singers' voices rose and the music vibrated invitingly.

I have been wanting to go to New Orleans for years, but have yet to make it. Therefore, this concert was exactly what I needed to bring the music of New Orleans to me, to hear English spoken by the musicians from Louisiana, and to bring me to my feet to dance to jazz and blues and sing along with the songs that I know surrounded by a crowd of people really enjoying themselves. 

Do we really need a car?

To buy a car or not to buy a car. That is the question. And it's one that I don't have an answer for yet. Or do I? See, I'd lived all over South America previous to moving to Brasilia and I never had a car in other countries, nor did I really need one. I mean, in Peru we could walk anywhere and everywhere; only when we were in a rush and/or lazy did we take a mototaxi for 3 soles no matter the number of people in the "vehicle" or the distance. I was hoping that Brasilia would be the same (I was OK without a car while living in Manaus). The issue is that I kept hearing that Brasilia was not created with pedestrians in mind. That's probably the truth. So does that mean that it'll be difficult to get around and that we'll need a car? Some people say yes; I'm not too convinced.

I've been living here for 3 1/2 weeks and although not a lengthy time, I don't feel that at this time we really need a car. I mean, I live near a major street not far from downtown (or the bus terminal) so buses are everywhere. I live between two subway stations, even though there are superquadras (HUGE blocks) between my apartment and the metro. I also have free daily transportation to/from work that is very convenient. And then there are taxis. And a great thing is that there is one company - Alvorado - that gives you a 30% just because you call them, versus hailing a cab on the street. You won't get the discount if you catch one on the street - you have to call. It's not a bad deal. For example, a friend and I took a taxi to church last Sunday and the price on the meter read R$ 9.78. We paid R$ 7. Not bad. And it's like that each time you call them. And of course the other option regarding taxis is asking E to make a deal with them and agree on a price before getting in the cab. 

So with these four options of transportation, I'm left wondering, do we really need a car? Do we need to pay for (expensive) gas? Do I need to learn to drive shift? Do we want to pay for insurance and maintenance of the car? The answer is no. At least not at this time. Maybe things will change in a year, or two. But for now we're fine. Now, maybe it is easier for me because I have friends in walking distance, because I have a ride to/from work on a daily basis (and it's door to door). E doesn't have any of that - at least not yet. But he doesn't complain. I know it's not  idea to take public transportation to school each night, but he's a good sport. When it gets old then we can talk more about possibly buying a car. I know it can be annoying at times to have to walk to the grocery store, but that's only once a week for us and it's not far. We also live right next to a kind of outdoor shopping center and there's a bakery, drug store, etc. there and then of course there are a number of other shopping centers all within a short walk. You can find fruit, vegetables, a gym, a movie rental, stores-stores-stores, and restaurants all within 5-10 minutes in all four directions. Maybe Brasilia was built with pedestrians in mind...

At this point we have decided not to buy a car and we have no immediate plans to do so. We'll just play it by ear and save all of the money that we would be spending if we owned a car. In the meantime, we'll spend just a little on buses, the metro, and taxis and appreciate being driven around.

A quick look in my local grocery store

 Just a few things I noticed when I was at the grocery store Pão de Açúcar this afternoon...

This must be cat litter because it's called "pipi cat"

Sound good?

Since I'm not really a seafood fan, besides sushi, I can't get over the smell of these bad boys (bacalhau/cod fish)

I wanted to buy one but I just couldn't allow myself to spend that much on face wash

Trying to play catch up - 18 days

E and I have been living in Brasilia for 18 days. I don't feel like I've really summed up what we've been doing these past 2 and a 1/2 weeks and so I'd like to play catch up. First off, I'd like to say that we are both happy here. E particularlly thinks that the city is beautiful and he really is enjoying being back in his home country. In fact, he said last night, while waiting in a looooong line at a rock concert, that he missed this - people having a good time, drinking in the parking lot, chatting with friends, just having fun. He said at the end of the night that the US is not fun (I do believe he meant in comparison, or at least it's a different kind of fun).

I'd say our first week here was predominantly settling in to our new apartment, unpacking, shopping, cleaning, and trying to orientate ourselves. I also visited the school a couple of times to talk to administration since they wanted to make sure we were comfortable and not lacking anything in our apartment. We also hung out with friends in Brasilia (one of which I had been introduced to by a friend I have in the States) and another is a childhood friend of E's who lives in Brasilia. We had lunch, drove around the city in the neighborhoods where they live, met their family members, and were given a friendly introduction to the city. In addition, my friend AP took us to the post office to make sure our CPFs (the equivalent to the SSN) were "regular" and that my maiden name was changed to my married name on mine. (I had gotten it years ago in Manaus when I was single). So we had to visit voting registration for E to pay a small fine for not having voted while living in the U.S. for 4 years. This constituted a lot of running around, but in the end it all got resolved (at a cheap price) and then AP treated us to a delicious afternoon meal.

Once the other two Americans arrived we had a short tour of some major attractions in Brasilia and then went to lunch with our executive director and we spent time with her. Our second week was then spent driving around to various places to make sure that we have registered with the federal police, that the other girls have their CPFs, that we have bank accounts, etc. We also had to have our medical exams for our health insurance (and that doctor was from Manaus - small world). We've filled out information for our dental plan as well. And finally, at the end of last week we had orientation and introductions to the school - just for the new teachers. We were given a tour of the school and the elementary school teachers were given their classrooms. The middle and high school are in the process of having new classrooms built, so I don't know yet where I'll be teaching, but it'll all be worked out. At least I have my schedule.

And this last week was the first week of school; it was the pedagogical week for teachers. It was full of meetings and introductions, delicious breakfasts and lunches, a time for us to collaborate (if just a bit), and I was able to look over my curriculum maps and plan out the first quarter for the three classes that I'll be teaching this year - 9th, 11th, and 12th grade. I'm very grateful to the English department for their assistance, especially to the other 11th/12th grade teacher, a friendly/knowledgeable Canadian, and my coordinator, a North American born/raised in Ecuardor and now living in Brazil. There are not just a number of nations representated in the students at my school, but in the staff as well. There are Brazilians, a Canadian, Ecuadorian, Cuban, Spanish, Americans, and probably more.

I was given lots of resources to help me start out the year - articles, a movie, lesson plans, a workbook, and textbooks. I'll need to do a lot of reading on my own this weekend and make sure that my plans are all set for the first week of school. I'd say I'm more nervous than excited. I'm just glad to have support from other teachers to make my transition smoother. If I were on my own I'd be in trouble...With that being said, my schools follows the North American curriculum so I'm not too much out of my element.

This is basically how my last 18 days have gone. But what I should throw in here is that it's not all been work. I've done city explorations on my own, with E, and with friends. I've watched famous MMA fighters train, E and I have eaten Brazilian food that we'd missed greatly, we've taken the bus and the metro with no problems, we've gone to a huge rock concert with bands from all over the country and the US, and we've still got a lot more to do. E has returned to school; he's taking a course that he is really enjoying a learning a lot at and is busy job searching, getting his transcripts from Manaus, and finding schools where he can continue with this studies.

I feel like we have just only begun our sightseeing. In fact, I have just made plans (that still need to be finalized) to travel to a neighboring state next weekend to "get out of town" and to see more of Brazil. As of today I've only been to 5 states - Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Amazonas, Sao Paulo, and Distrito Federal. There are still 22 more states to visit, and I barely "know" Brasilia. I'm beyond excited about all that I will get to experience, see, feel, and taste while in this gorgeous country. So with that said, time for me to clean my apartment and head out.

It's almost that time of the year again...

....and when I say "that time of year" I mean back to school. I realize that this is not the case for my far-north-North-American-residing friends, but it's true for me. I guess in all honesty I'm not too far off from what I was used to in Florida. Teachers in the Sunshine State prepare to go back for the week of pre-planning during the 2nd or 3rd week of August. Right? I'm going back the final week of July. School starts the first day of August. I think I'm almost ready.


The school year at my international school in Brazil is the same length as that of the schools I've gone to/worked in, it's just that the start/stop/vacation times don't coincide with those where I've studied/worked before. We may begin school earlier, but I'll have a month-long vacation around Christmas time versus the two-week period I've been accustomed to. It all works out in the end. I guess I just feel I need a bit of a longer break now because since I finished the school year in June, I've been busy packing and moving to Brazil and then once I got here I've been busy unpacking and settling in. However, these last couple of weeks running around preparing for work have helped me almost feel like I'm ready to go back to work. 


At least I'm going to start working here...

I am looking forward to this new adventure and after my teacher orientation last week I'm even more excited about teaching at an international school. Even though the majority of my students are of one nationality - Brazilian - they are very multicultural/international. There will be students from about 30 countries in the school - of various religions, ethnic groups, past experiences, etc. This of course is one thing that attracted me so much to the school. That and the bilingual aspect. I'm bubbling with excitement of being able to meet my students and get to know them well. I've always enjoyed teaching Brazilians (and students from other multicultural backgrounds).


Nervous as I may be (even if just a little bit, and aren't we all when a new school year begins?), I'm anxious and happy about what's to come, about meeting the other teachers, attending in-service  training, setting up my new classroom (which will be temporary because a new wing is being built for high school students, scheduled to open in September/October :), and preparing my lessons. I hope that everything goes smoothly and that I have a nice transition into this school. I became so exhausted and burned out from uninterested students, from parents who wanted nothing to do with the school and frankly couldn't care less about education, and from the lack of support from the government in the U.S. that I need to be here. Hence, part of the reason why I moved to Brazil, to work in a private school.


I am excited about the books I'll be teaching and about the opportunity I have to teach reading and writing to ESL students. I have new clothes for the new school year and already the staff and administration I've met have been fabulous, fun, and supportive. So I'm ready, right? Let the school year begin....

Brazilian Drinks

Caipirinha com Kiwi 

Brazilian Espresso

Why hello Brasilia

Thanks to my one generous neighbor in this big apartment building, we have limited (free) wi-fi. I just wanted to let the world know that we have arrived. Our trip was good. We weren't stopped by customs or asked any questions. The cat was pretty well behaved since he was drugged most of the time. Once he "woke up" after his first pill had worn out he started to go a bit crazy, but E just took him to the bathroom in the airplane and gave him another 1/2 a pill; he was knocked out in minutes. He only peed once on the plane to Sao Paulo, but because we had training pads it was easy to clean up (again, in the bathroom). We arrived in Brasilia this morning - the weather was beautiful and we were left with a good first impression of the city. 


Our apartment is good, in a nice area. It is the right size for us and because it came furnished (by the school), we have what we need. They bought us a refrigerator, oven/stove, washing machine, queen-sized bed, dishes, furniture, some groceries, and even a TV. This of course makes our lives much easier.We were driven all of the southern region of the city to be shown our neighborhood and surrounding areaqs, and we had lunch (mmmm) at the school. I met up with the principals and other administrators, as well as secretaries. Then because we were soooo exhausted we took a 4-hour nap before exploring our neighborhood and buying groceries...and for sure stopping for a couple chopps and some appetizers. The school will be taking us shopping, take me to all of the places I need to go to get my Brazilian documents, and for more lunches/dinners. Everything is good and under control. 


Glad to be here.

Hello, Brazil

Netflix in Brazil?

Just a quick post that I thought I'd share with all of the expats in Brazil (or the wannabes :) that are big Netflix fans....the company is planning, according to the article at engadge.com, take "instant streaming to Latin America, global domination plan on track". And now while I have never been a customer of Netflix, everyone I know is - and loves it - and I've considered it many times. Instead, I go to the movies a lot and rent from RedBox (remember I mentioned how Redbox would be one of 10 things I'd miss from not living in the U.S. anymore?). However, I think I'd become a Netflix user when it's eventually introduced in Brazil (which is the plan). The article states that it is unknown at this point when service would begin in Latin America, and how much it'll cost, but streaming will soon occur below (and above because we're talking about Mexico, the Caribbean, and the northern region of South America, too) the equator.  Something to look forward to, don't you think? 

Images from a neighborhood in Brasilia

 I'd like to show a few aerial images that I found on-line of our soon to be neighborhood. I will provide more information of our residence at a later time.


For now...I present our wing...

If you're from Brasilia, have lived in Brasilia, or are even familiar with the city, I believe you may be able to guess which neighborhood we will be living in. If not, I'll fill you in shortly :).

Until then...

I've signed my contract

I have received my teacher contract for the next two years (which can be extended) for the international school where I'll be teaching in Brasilia, Brazil starting next month! I printed three copies, initialed the margin of the first page and signed my signature on the second for each copy; tomorrow I'll mail all three copies to the school - they'll give me a copy after everyone signs their copy so I can keep one for my personal records. 


It's official now :). It could seem weird that I'm signing the contract now, versus in December when I received the job offer, but not all schools/counties work the same. For example, I signed the last contract that I had from my former school district in Florida (from August to August) MONTHS into the school year. I did receive a written job offer from the school in Brasilia and they have invested a lot into me, so I never doubted that I had the job. I actually don't even feel much better now that I'm putting the signed contract in the mail. But I AM glad that it's taken care of.


Once I printed out the contracts I realized I had to print out 13 copies of our cell phone bills, meaning each bill from the last 13 months. This is part of our requirement in providing proof that E has lived outside of Brazil for at least a year. I was having a problem printing them so I only got a few months in hand, but we still have a few more weeks so I'll do it later. AT&T is not the best phone company in the United States and of course their website was having difficulties. At least I got started with this.


On to the rest of moving....I gave away a framed piece of artwork that I love (one by Gustav Klimt) - but did so to a classmate of mine so I'm happy that she'll be able to enjoy it. We also have packed two full suitcases that will not be touched until we arrive in Brazil. One of them is 60 lbs (full of E's clothes) and the other is about 68... lbs. These are our smaller suitcases so it's OK that the first one is not heavier, plus it's jammed to the max (thanks to my amazing packing skills). We'll take all of our bags to FedEx to weigh them before we arrive at the airport to make sure they're all under 70 lbs. I did have to open up one suitcase to find the novel 1984 since I just found out that the 11th graders will start the year reading that book; turns out I won't be able to teach To Kill a Mockingbird until the year after, but that's OK. I could potentially fill that suitcase more, but I'm not going over 70 lbs.


This week we need to visit the army/ navy store and hopefully buy a heavy duty duffle bag and we're good to go. Our closet is almost empty and our piles are significantly smaller. Most of the books have been packed away, as well as some of our valuables, tucked between towels and pieces of clothing.  It's the rest of our valuables and kitchen appliances that need to be carefully packed. Our list of items to buy has also shrunk greatly so I know we're almost there. Good to know because we'll be on "vacation" in a few days and I don't want to worry about anything at all.


Until later....

Feliz Dia dos Namorados

Happy Valentine's Day in Brazil!

E and I celebrated our first "dia dos namorados" in Manaus six years ago. It was exactly one week before I was going to leave Brazil to return to the U.S. after spending almost a year in the country.

I remember the date very well as we went out that morning for breakfast to spend our last weekend together. It was a Sunday. He bought me one of those cute red heart-shaped pillows with hands sticking out. It reads "Amo Você" and I still have it to this day.

Happy Valentine's Day/Dia dos Namorados to all of the lovers out there,

Books, be gone!

I have now sorted and sorted and dug threw piles and have narrowed it down to the essentials - as far as the books go. I have donated and donated and donated (to friends, colleagues, the public library, my neighbors) until I have less than 150 lbs of books. Oh yeah, and those college books on theories....yeah, they'll be sold at the local college bookstore on Monday. They're HEAVY. No more Spanish language books and/or textbooks will be going in my suitcase. I'm sad to see them go, but I know that it's all for the better.


We've started to pack (it's early, I know) but it's necessary so we know what we can and cannot take. We've also decided to ship a few large items separately because we realize they won't fit in our suitcases but we don't want to leave our fabulous coffee maker behind. But at least the books will all be sold and I can just read from my Kindle in the meantime. 


And now, strange enough, I need to make a quick stop at Barnes 'n Nobles. This coming school year I'll be teaching Romeo & Juliet, Animal Farm, Tuesdays with Morrie, and maybe another novel/story/play. I realize that these books and resources may be difficult to find in Brazil and will most likely be pricey so I need to buy them here. But Animal Farm and the accompanying spark notes don't weigh but a pound and are small so I know at least the hubby won't complain. 


And who doesn't like to go shopping? I know I do! 

De la Riva and the brown belt

Ricardo De la Riva & Thiago "Batata" Domingues

Ricardo De La Riva is a legendary Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt from Brazil who is both well known and well respected throughout the world. He currently resides in Rio de Janeiro but travels often around the world; he's in the U.S. today but heading out to Korea and Japan this week for a De La Riva tournament. In fact, I believe that I've met him three times over the last three years and each time was in central Florida. He came to Florida this month for the purpose of teaching and giving Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) seminars, and today he awarded my husband his brown belt (Congratulations, E!). That's quite an accomplishment; it's an even bigger deal that it was De La Riva himself who gave E his belt. Thiago, pictured above with De La Riva, is E's BJJ instructor in Orlando. He is also a well known, talented black belt instructor (and competitor) who is supportive and encouraging, as well as a good friend to E.


A Brazilian rapper even dedicated a song to De La Riva. Check it out...

Now E will return to his homeland with a brown belt in BJJ along with extensive experience in MMA, training and fighting with UFC fighters and with a number of fights under his own belt; this should open more doors to him as far as his fighting and teaching career. Additionally, receiving a brown belt will make E a more well rounded and better MMA fighter. He hopes to later earn his black belt, most likely in Brazil. I hope that E continues to have success in mixed martial arts and that I will read his name, see pictures and videos of him, watch him fight, and make a career out of this, as long as that's what he wants, for many years to come. 


Remember that you can read more about E's accomplishments in MMA at Manaus Fight's blog - in both English and Portuguese. Furthermore, you can stop by and "Like" E's Facebook page and/or click on the following link to learn more about him as a fighter...


MANAUS FIGHT: MAIS UM MANAUARA BRILHANDO FORA DO PAÍS COM O MMA "ELITON GOMES SARMENTO"


Thank you to everyone who has supported, and continues to support, E in his quest for success. We both appreciate it. And as always, thanks to all of the sponsors who have given money, clothes, and other forms of support to E - NewBreed, Dead Game, 2(x)ist, and RevGear. And now, here are a few pictures from today's De La Riva seminar at The Jungle MMA in Orlando, Florida...

Ricardo De La Riva

"Batata" with UFC fighters Seth Petruzelli & Tom Lawlor

E's last roll as a purple belt

Congratulations, E

De La Riva BJJ & The Jungle MMA

Echoes and piles

I feel like I'm surrounded by emptiness and well, piles. Sounds like an oxymoron, right?  I'd have to say then that with the exception of a foot or two up from the ground in certain areas of my apartment, there's predominantly emptiness in my home. Emptiness in the sense that I have been successful at selling most of what I aimed to. And there are only 2 piles and they are neatly stacked. I had to take everything out of the closets and until we decide if we're taking just suitcases, or if we will take a box and we actually pack, on the floor the books and other documents will remain for now. Plus, with our drawers and tables and bookshelves sold, where else do we put everything?


That's what the piles are made up. And the echoes? All of my artwork off the walls, large furniture gone, and apartment emptying.


You know, as I pack and simultaneously watch the news about the destruction that floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes have done in my country and around the globe, I'm left to ponder over the importance of materialistic goods and belongings that have meaning and bring memories. For instance, my pictures. I just saw on the news the other day that a kind woman who has found a number of photos and other personal belongings of flood victims in the southern U.S. (Mississippi I think) has set up an account on Facebook to try and reunite people with their valuable items. I think that the actions of this woman are admirable and I know that people are grateful for her kindness.


Now I feel that my laptop is important to have with me as I move to Brazil, but is it more so than the stuffed bear that my great-grandmother knitted me? Or my baby pictures and the drawings that I made for my mom when I was in kindergarten? I personally don't think so.


I am just left to consider the importance of what we own - our possessions. People work hard to collect "toys" and other materials - cars, TVs, computers, video consoles, iPads, expensive clothes and watches - but why? I mean, unfortunately a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake can destroy it all in an instant. But what a natural disaster cannot take away from us is our education (although we can lose our diploma), our memories, and who we are as a person (though it may affect us greatly). Maybe this is why I'd rather spend time with family and friends and travel, then buy a diamond ring, a new car, or a large flat screen TV. Nevertheless, I do understand that not everyone agrees with me and I try not to pass judgment. I just don't think that what is tangible is always the most important. 


With this being said, I feel like I should say that I'm not planning on moving to Brazil to live in a wooden house with no TV and only a few pairs of clothes. I just don't think that our electronics, fancy sunglasses, and Nike shoes are really what count in life. Relationships, experiences, and happiness are essential. Now I need to make sure that I have packed up all of my memories aside to take with me.

Travel. Travel. I love Travel.

I can't believe that I haven't devoted a post entirely to my amorous relationship with TRAVEL after all of these months of writing. Or have I? I've written so much about South America, and Brazil (of course!) in particular, but have I mentioned, apart from my introductory page, how addictive travel is for me and how I feel like I need it, like a junkie needs heroin? Well, maybe not that much. But I get cranky when I don't travel. That's a fact. I get stir crazy.


Now I guess it was the post I wrote the other day about the four cities E and I have lived in that made me want to continue talking about travel, and specifically about where E and I have been together. When we met - in Manaus - years ago, Mr. Bound for Brasilia was not the least bit interested in travel. Really. I mean, he travelled from his house to mine, from his school to mine, from my house to his family's sitio, and believe you me, as nice as those city buses are, they sure do take some time to arrive at their destination. However, we all know that's not the travel that I'm talking about.


The first trip that we ever took out of town together was to President Figueiredo, Amazonas and we visited this town just once, but it was unforgettable. I remember distinctly that it was during the World Cup in 2006 so there was a lot of football watching and drinking and relaxing. I had been to this municipality previously, but not with E. And for sure we had a good time swimming in the Rio Negro (a tributary of the Amazon River). 


The issue, though, that I have with posting pictures about my travels is that if you remember I've sold my scanner and am therefore unable to scan any of the pictures that I have from our trip. Along with that, most of my pictures are not stored on my laptop. I was going to "steal" from my husband's Facebook album of pictures that I took, but it won't let me do that. *pouts
But that's OK. I mean, what is Google for any way? 

For your viewing pleasure...

P.F., Amazonas

And then probably just a few weeks after that trip, we visited another small town in the state of Amazonas called Balbina. We went with friends on this trip and stayed at a cute hotel that was quiet and quaint. We visited waterfalls and went swimming in the cool Amazon River. I still have pictures from this mini vacation that I've saved in our first album. Of course I can't scan them, so I found this on-line to show off the town of Balbina.

....because once we moved to the U.S. we had a great time travelling and exploring. 

Our first real trip within the United States as a couple was to Miami Beach; I knew that E would love the beach, the nightlife, shops, and restaurants. I was right. We had a blast!

Miami Beach

Along with travelling around Florida (all over Central Florida, to St Augustine, and Miami), we've also driven and flown to New York a number of times. As I'm from upstate New York and my family continues to live there, I was able to show E the hospital where I was born, where I graduated high school and college. Since we'd met in Manaus and I'd experienced E's city, lived in his hometown, and met all of his family members, it was important that my husband see where I come from. 

In New York we've travelled from Buffalo to Long Island (basically, from the western most part of the state to the eastern most). We crossed the border to Niagara Falls a couple years ago to see the waterfalls and last summer spent an extended weekend in New York City and L.I. We'd actually been to NYC a couple of times previously together, even watching the ball drop one New Year's Eve.

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

E's favorite part of NYC

In addition to our trip to New York last summer, we also took a cruise to the Bahamas - to Nassau to be exact. It was literally the perfect vacation. We cruised, we swam, we drank, we relaxed on the boat and on the beach, and went snorkeling (one of our favorite outdoors activities). We can't wait to go again! Look at the amazing view of Nassau...

When I look back on our 6 years and 6 months together (anniversary today), the memories flood in, as well as our multiple trips and vacations as a couple. This makes me grateful and excited for more! ...oh yeah, and I hope I'm not forgetting anything or leaving any travel out.


Wait, how can I forget our trip to Louisville, Kentucky last summer for my sister's wedding! The weather was perfect, the bride gorgeous, the wedding was beautiful and the setting breathtaking. E and I visited the Louisville Slugger factory, the Mohammed Ali museum, Churchill Downs, and just spent valuable, priceless time with my family.

Churchill Downs - Kentucky Derby

And how could I forget our most recent trip? In December 2010 we visited Atlanta for an extended weekend. We went for my interviews with the international schools in South America, but we definitely took advantage of the time we had in Georgia and visited some great friends (both couples are Brazilian/American), went to the Coca-Cola Museum, and walked a little bit around downtown Atlanta...

Next month we'll be back in New York state and the following month we're heading back to Brazil.