The house is on fire

My husband did it again. He burned another electronic device...well, this time it was a power strip that we brought with us from the United States. Honestly I don't know why he plugged it in, or where he plugged it into, because I wasn't looking. But this is the third time. You'd think he'd learn. I get the voltage difference "system" and I'd explained it to him on more than one occasions, but ::whoosh:: over his head I guess.


Anyway, you can imagine what an electrical fire looks like and I sure can you tell you how it smells. It burns. Inside your nose. The smell lingers and when I walk into the kitchen where the strip has been exposed of, it stinks even more. No fun. Boo hoo. I saw that fire and heard the noise when it sizzled and burned. And of course the smell was worse.

The first thing that was "burned", or destroyed, in this house was our cordless phone. We don't have or need a house phone in Brasilia; the only reason we bought one was to use with our Magic Jack. Luckily for us, it turns out that our neighbors found an extra phone in a closet in their apartment when they moved in and since they're not using it we've got it. All we had to buy was a phone cord and that cost less than 50 cents (American).


What fried next was a real disappointment to E because he loves to listen to music, as do I. It was our iPhone speakers. It's too bad because those bad boys worked really well. What I don't get then is why E plugged in everything immediately - as soon as we arrived in the country. I mean, you'd think it'd be a better idea to check the voltage before doing anything, right? That's what I did. Our laptops and battery chargers work (either with our without an adapter), and frankly, that's what's most important. Our apartment was furnished and came with all of the appliances we need. All we need a transformer for, really, in the kitchen, is our rice cooker. 


So we no longer have a cordless phone or speakers for our iPods/iPhone. But these were fried within the first day or two of being in Brazil. Now it's been three weeks and E still plugged in the power strip, which is now lying to rest in the trash can. I'm hoping that that's it. We got a transformer today so we can finally hook up our wireless adapter (thank goodness!) and we can both use our laptops at the same time as well as clean up the mess of cords that were like vines hanging from a tree all over the living room. Our apartment will eventually cease to smell like fire and we'll get back to normal, just with less electronic equipment. 

Happy Father's Day to my stepdad and my mom!

Father's Day is not just for all of the fathers out there. Let's be real, it doesn't take much to become a biological father. And when I say "father" I'm referring to the fact that you have fathered (let's just say it, made) a child. It doesn't mean you've taken care of your child. You were half of the equation in forming a child. For some men that could be less than a minute. BUT it takes a REAL man to become a DADDY. Those are the men that are appreciated today and every day. 


Today we celebrate the men out there who deserve to be thanked, those who have made a difference because you have supported and encouraged your children. You have nurtured and loved, given advice, spent time and energy, been a role model, and raised your children to be the best that they can be. And the caveat that I should have started with is that I may have gotten the terms confused as to whether I should be using father or dad to refer to those who have children. It's not the word that matters; it's what the man did, or didn't do, for his children and for their mother in most cases.


What I don't want to do is whine about deadbeat dads (i.e. mine). I want to celebrate and thank the men out there, like my stepdad, who have taken on the responsibility to help raise and mold responsible, honest, hardworking, successful, good children/teenagers/adults. I believe that to raise someone else's child is especially admirable. That's what my stepdad did. My parents had a nasty divorce (thanks to the man) and it was all very distressing and difficult for us all - my sisters and I'm sure for my mother even more. Now you already know how fabulous she is, and of course she never failed us nor showed any weakness throughout the years. So today's Father's Day is for her, too, because she was a mother AND a father to my sisters and me for a number of years.


Therefore, this Father's Day I'd like to honor both my stepdad (for taking care of us and being our father figure from our teenage years on - and we know how tough that is) and my mother for all she has done, and continues to do, for us. And by us I don't just mean my sisters and me. My stepdad (even after all of these years it's difficult to say the word "dad") has become a father to my fatherless husband as well. And my mother has become a "mama" to him. I'm not just grateful for this; I'm truly touched. We're blessed. 


Today, and everyday, I want to commemorate the lives of two important people in our lives - my parents. My real parents. The mother and father that everyone wishes they had, or are grateful that they have. Thank you to my parents for encouraging me, supporting me (financially and emotionally), helping to make me the person that I am today. Thank you for raising me right, for never pressuring me to be someone I'm not, or to do something I didn't want to. Thank you for guiding me and loving me and missing me when I'm gone. And for letting me choose my path in life. 


Thank you father and mother for accepting my husband as if he were your son. Thank you for calling him son and making him feel like he has a real family, not just in the United States, but in the world. We love you unconditionally and cannot wait to see you in a few days!

Happy Father's Day!

Guess where I'm going this weekend?

I swear that our "errands" at the Brazilian consulate are endless. So off we go again to Miami to take care of some (please-God-let-it-be-the-last-time-we-go-there) business.

I know, I know, it's not so shabby.
Plus, it's not like I'm working, right?

And then the following day we need to be in Hollywood, Florida so E can attend the open tryouts hosted by Bellator Fighting Championships. Wish him luck!

Hard Rock Hotel - Hollywood

The Bellator Cage

Wordless Wednesday: Mixed Martial Arts

Matt Hughes (UFC) seminar

UFC fighters Seth Petruzelli & Matt Hughes

E fighting

E training

Oops, time to make adjustments

I have too much stuff. I actually know that the "problem" is me so I can't say "we have too much stuff" because that wouldn't be true. Maybe it's because I've lived in the U.S. for 20-something years, maybe I'm a hoarder (I don't think so), or maybe it's because I'm a saver of all books that I read a professional and have to keep my books. Honestly, I like the last option. I don't own that many clothes so that'll make packing easier; regardless of the reason, I have just learned that I need to make some major adjustments as to what I take and what I leave. Now. And most of what I need to chuck needs to be that which is heavy, takes up a lot of space, and does not need to go. It's for that reason that we've already begun our initial packing. 

At least I can confirm that those shoe boxes and the magazine are not mine

We have bought our suitcases and are now ready to begin the real packing process, even though E has been slowly packing away clothes in his smaller suitcase. He knows what he won't wear before we leave and what he wants to take with him (i.e. new shirts and socks) so that can be packed away now. As I'd mentioned earlier, I have two piles of mostly books and papers that I planned on taking with us. Now with the luggage staring me in the face, I've had to reconsider my options. I packed up 5 grocery bags of books and will be donating them to my co-workers tomorrow. I figure if I've read it once than that is enough. Because let's be real, only so much is going to fit in our 6 suitcases and 1 box (plus cat sans carry ons).

These are our new upright Samsonite (chic, I know) suitcases. I kept stressing to E while we were at the store, the importance that they must be large, durable, and expandable - so we didn't buy anything smaller than 30". We've also bought a heavy duty box that I can jam full of 70 lbs of books; I just don't know how we're going to lift it, but I guess we only need to do that a couple of times.....and didn't I marry an MMA fighter? Well, yes, yes, I did :). E also bought a duffle bag-type suitcase which is very large and has wheels. All of our suitcases are cloth. And all of them come from Ross so we got awesome new luggage for a decent price. 


I need to also make a mental note to call TAM and find out how much we're allowed as far as carry on baggage because I heard it's not very much. And then we have the cat so that'll add luggage. We're really going to have an adventure at the airports. That's a fact. But with that being said, this is definitely not my first time traveling/moving abroad and I have had to deal with situations similar to this before so we'll figure it out. Plus, we still have another month, I just wanted to start packing/planning now so I know what we're up against and I can decide on what is really important/necessary to take with us. At least we made a list (which of course we also had to shorten, crossing out items that we now realize that no-way-in-hell will fit in our luggage).

We're getting there folks.

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

Cheers to Not Going Alone

I've been doing more and more thinking about the actual day that we move to Brasilia and may I say, I'm increasingly becoming more excited. Big surprise, I know. See, the last time that E and I really traveled internationally together was when he moved from Brazil to the U.S. (I say "he" because I arrived first and then returned to get him). We have traveled outside of the U.S. together, but our drive across the Canadian border to Niagara Falls and our cruise to the Caribbean don't really count. I mean, we don't even have stamps in our passports to prove we even left the country. Therefore, now that we're moving all the way to Brazil, I'm feeling quite excited. You know how I much I love to travel. travel. travel. And travel abroad is even more exhilarating. Add that to moving abroad and you can imagine how I feel. The thing is that I love to live overseas.  

It's actually kind of funny that each time that I graduate from school/college I'm simultaneously preparing for a move abroad. In high school it was my adventure to Bolivia to be an exchange student. Two months after my college graduation I embarked for Brazil to spend a year teaching in the rainforest. Fast forward 7 years and I've graduated again and now I prepare to head off to Brazil (again) in fewer than 6 weeks. Each time in the past I was going alone, unfamiliar with my destination, yet extremely excited about the adventure and the unknown. But this time is different. Brasilia is still a city I can only daydream about since I have never visited it nor thought much of doing so in the past 5 years or so. However, I'm not going alone. I don't have to worry (though I never really did previously) about not having any friends or not knowing too much about what to expect. Yes, I've been to Brazil before, and even lived there, but I still don't know what my life will be like there - as an expat in the capital with a job similar to the one I have here.

This time, this move abroad, I will not go alone. I will go with my husband. Oh yeah, and the cat :).  Not only do I get to travel again with E, which I love, but I also will be able to hold someone's hand as I move from my old life to my new life. I will already have a friend, I will know someone else who's going through the same uncertainties as me, and I can double my luggage allowance. 

Driving Miss Davis

Moving to a new country means selling your car. Or cars. The latter is our case. We have two automobiles that we need to get rid of - as in sell - before we move. We have made the decision to first sell my car since I'll be out of work in a few weeks and my school is located only 6 miles from our home. This works great for me because my husband takes me to work at picks me up. It's like having my own private chauffeur.


It actually works great because he can take me to work and then can go directly to school from there; he can then pick me up once he's finished teaching his class. I love it because when he picks me up after work the car is cool and I get door-to-door service. When I drive myself I have to get into a steaming hot car after work and then wait for the hot air to escape out the windows while the air conditioner is cooling down. That takes time and makes me cranky. I'm also not a morning person so I enjoy being able to sit back and relax while someone else drives.  PLUS, I can always use the "I gotta go my husband is picking me up" excuse to sneak out of work once the bell rings at the end of the day. Not a bad deal.


So.....if you live in the Orlando are and are looking to buy a used car in good condition, let me know :). I feel like we'll be even more ready to move once at least one of our cars is sold. These things can take time and with everything else we need to do to tie loose ends, whatever we do now to move is less that we have to do later. That's what I'm hoping for. No stress as we reach July. Only shopping and packing. Shopping. Now that sounds like fun.


I think it's good "practice" for us to share a car for the next couple months. I mean, we're not sure how our transportation will be in Brasilia. See, cars are really expensive in Brazil and at the same time I'd love to be a one-family car. I think we can easily make this work. We just have to maybe plan out who will drive when. I mean, unlike Florida, Brasilia has public transportation so if we can't both be in the car one of us can depend on another form of transportation. There are buses, a metro, and taxis. And my school will pay for my transportation to work so we don't need two cars. But we will need one. However, at this time we don't intend to jump into any car purchase. We'll get a feel for things and take our time with buying a car so we can be smart buyers.


Obviously having a driver would be ideal, even though I do enjoy the independence of having my own car. But it looks like I'll only have a driver for the next 3 weeks of school. I'll be sure to milk it while it lasts.

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.

Brazilian Fighter, right out of the Amazon (Manaus)

Jungle Boy - Garoto da Selva

I know I have mentioned previously how proud I am of my husband for his success in MMA and for pursuing what it is that he loves; but today I have even more of a reason to "shout it from the roof tops". He was recently interviewed by Manaus Fight who has written a blog article about him and his experience in MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It explains his "history" with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA as well as highlights his accomplishments and just portrays him in a positive light. He definitely deserves this. And.....love it! So again, please visit the blog about....

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

What's really cool is that the article is the first of its kind because it's bilingual and I wrote the majority of the English part. The interviewer then translated the biographical information into Portuguese. Well, I translated a teeny bit :). The end of the article was written by Jefferson Palma de Paula, of Manaus Fight, who put a nice touch on the interview about my husband.

Congratulations, E! Parabens!

And a special thanks to Jefferson from Manaus Fight.

Oh yeah. Interested in MMA? Read this funny commentary written about E's win from November 2010. It can be found here at MMA Spot.

Our 4th city together

I was just telling my husband (E) tonight, as we took a walk outside, that we will soon be moving to our 4th city together. Sounds like more fun for us to experience together.

Can't wait for more adventure...him and me.

So far we have lived together in....

Manaus (Amazonas)



Clermont (Florida)



Orlando (Florida)

 And soon we'll be in...

Brasilia (Distrito Federal)