It is amazing the people that you meet while you are walking down the street each day. Sorry, had to do that. We have been in Brazil for almost two years now. We have met a lot of fun and interesting people from all over the world. We have friends from England, Scotland, France, The Netherlands. We have an Irish friend as well. She is Republic, not Republican, which means she is from the independent country and not from the IRA. Which believe it or not is confusing to a few people in Britain. We have also met some very nice Brazilians. It is truly fun to learn about different cultures and languages, even if it is English but spoken differently.
Our children go to an international school here in Sao Paulo. We have heard stories that they will be invited on private planes to go skiing in Chile and such. But we were like, no that will never happen...
My youngest son is very outgoing. He makes friends at the drop of a hat. So when he was invited to a birthday party, we thought okay that is great! We were thinking the 4 hour Brazilian party from 7 pm until 11 pm on a school night. Because that actually happens. So I get the call. They will be going to the family's cabin a few hours into the interior. For the weekend. Okay, this is new. Sure no problem my son can go. Then two days before the trip there is a change of plans. Oh, we decided to go to our beach house instead because there is more for the kids to do there. Okay. Hmm, do I go to my cabin in the mountains, or do I go to my beach house? Decisions, decisions....
Next friend comes along. Hey do you and your dad want to go with me and my dad for a father son weekend? That would be great, but we already have plans. We can try a different time. Okay, two months later, can you go now? Well I can but my dad will be out of town. No problem you can go with my dad and me. Okay, where are we going? To our beach house on our island just south of Rio. We will take our plane there and come back the next day. Well that sounds fun! And it was. There was the private beach, the boat to go tubing behind, the walks to take to talk about private stuff that is really important to an tween. Apparently, my child did not have to pick up anything including his clothes. The maids did it. And if he wanted anything to eat, even ice cream during the day, the maids dished it right out. Well that is nice, they brought their maid? No, the maids live there. Well okay!
It has truly been an experience living here. I wonder who we will rub elbows with next?
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Desensitized
I was told the other day that my blog entries are getting fewer. This is true actually. I was writing about adventures at least once a week when I moved here. This year, you are lucky to get one a month. Desensitized? Most likely. What I thought was really interesting two years ago, maybe even just one, now, not so much. They are everyday occurrences now. And while my relatives in Germany or my friends in Switzerland get to galavant all over Europe, we are pretty much homebodies. So in an effort to entertain you, I have decided to write today about something I have written many times about, driving.
I know, that topic again? Well it is the most interesting one at the moment. I do have another on the docket (can you believe I actually had to look up the spelling of that word?), but you will have to wait for that. I will need a topic for next week right?
I have friends here that have drivers. I feel very sorry for them. Not because they get to sit back and relax and play with their iPod while someone else lugs them all over creation and back. No, it is because they cannot experience the euphoria of driving in Sao Paulo. They do not get to experience buses from one far lane wanting to turn right, across 4 lanes of traffic. They don't get to be that person who has to stop and wave to others so that they can turn left from the far right lane. No avoiding potholes or missing manhole covers. Sometimes this is all the entertainment you can get in a day.
For example, like today. One son was with friends, one was sick, and my husband is traveling for work. What is mom going to do today after church? Nothing. So the only interesting part of the day was the drive to and from church. Three fun things stand out in my mind for today. One; I was about two minutes out from my complex on the major frontage road when I had to change lanes. The reason? Someone missed their turn and instead of going the long way around, they decided to go in reverse about 100 yards so they could turn right. I and several other cars had to avoid hitting them. Two; I am in line to turn right to get onto the bridge to get onto the highway. There was a car stopped in front of the lanes. He needed to make a u-turn. So he parked his car lengthwise in front of us until our light turned green so he could u-turn. And finally three; I had to slalom on the way home. That is the ski thing right? Where you weave in and out of the flags? Well, instead of flags it was cars. I was driving along and then someone going 20 kph slower than me (I was actually doing the speed limit, they were not) decided he liked my lane better to drive in than his, so he switched in front of me. Thank you! And no, there was no one in his lane in front of him. Just wanted to be in my lane. So weave around him, then there was another, then another. I think since my husband's car is so dirty someone must have written in the hood "Please cut in front of me." That is really the only explanation I can think of.
You see? All of the fun you could have behind the wheel. And to think, some people never get to experience it.
I know, that topic again? Well it is the most interesting one at the moment. I do have another on the docket (can you believe I actually had to look up the spelling of that word?), but you will have to wait for that. I will need a topic for next week right?
I have friends here that have drivers. I feel very sorry for them. Not because they get to sit back and relax and play with their iPod while someone else lugs them all over creation and back. No, it is because they cannot experience the euphoria of driving in Sao Paulo. They do not get to experience buses from one far lane wanting to turn right, across 4 lanes of traffic. They don't get to be that person who has to stop and wave to others so that they can turn left from the far right lane. No avoiding potholes or missing manhole covers. Sometimes this is all the entertainment you can get in a day.
For example, like today. One son was with friends, one was sick, and my husband is traveling for work. What is mom going to do today after church? Nothing. So the only interesting part of the day was the drive to and from church. Three fun things stand out in my mind for today. One; I was about two minutes out from my complex on the major frontage road when I had to change lanes. The reason? Someone missed their turn and instead of going the long way around, they decided to go in reverse about 100 yards so they could turn right. I and several other cars had to avoid hitting them. Two; I am in line to turn right to get onto the bridge to get onto the highway. There was a car stopped in front of the lanes. He needed to make a u-turn. So he parked his car lengthwise in front of us until our light turned green so he could u-turn. And finally three; I had to slalom on the way home. That is the ski thing right? Where you weave in and out of the flags? Well, instead of flags it was cars. I was driving along and then someone going 20 kph slower than me (I was actually doing the speed limit, they were not) decided he liked my lane better to drive in than his, so he switched in front of me. Thank you! And no, there was no one in his lane in front of him. Just wanted to be in my lane. So weave around him, then there was another, then another. I think since my husband's car is so dirty someone must have written in the hood "Please cut in front of me." That is really the only explanation I can think of.
You see? All of the fun you could have behind the wheel. And to think, some people never get to experience it.
Friday, May 4, 2012
You have to sing this...
When we try to explain how we feel
That we still love your city after all that we've done
You won't believe me
All you will see is tourists who came
to Buenos Aires to visit
but, we didn't see anything lame
we had ate yummy steak, we had to make change
Couldn't stop taking many pictures
Looking out of the window, staying out of the rain
So we chose the BA bus
Running around, trying everything new
everything impressed us all
we never expected it to
[Chorus:]
Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is we spent so much money
All through our fun-filled days
Our mad excursions
we made our purchases
Don't keep my receipt
And as for lost fortune, who's to blame
My husband would say it was me
but I really think it is totally your fault
There was Recolleta
There was the Tango Show at La Vantana
La Boca and Caminito
We love you and hope you love us
Don't cry for me Argentina
[chorus]
Have we said too much?
There's nothing more we can think of to say to you.
But all you have to do is look at us to know
That every word is true
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)