School Lunches

Brazilian schools do not offer lunches to the kids. Yes you read that correctly. That is because they only go to school for four/five hours a day. There are not enough schools for everybody so the younger kids go in the morning and the upper grades in the afternoon. Or something like that. They also do not get extra-curricular stuff either. They have to get all of that outside of the school system. We are lucky to be going to an international school that provides all of those things, along with a school day that lasts from 7 am on the bus till 4 pm off the bus.

The other day my youngest asked if he still had a lunch box. This threw me. School provides lunches. Why would he want me to make him one? This is how the conversation went:

Mom, do I still have a lunch box?

No sweetie, why?

Well, my friend brings in a snack for school and I want to do the same.

Okay. I can make you a snack. I think we have brown lunch sacks.

Thanks.

What do you want in the snack?

Um, cookies, a banana, and a sandwich.

(At this point I am thinking all it needs is a juice box and he has his lunch from school back in the States.)

Oh and can you get me a juice too?

Well not today because we do not have any in the house. I will have to buy them this weekend.

Okay, thanks mom.

So I made him his snack and he took it to school and ate it. And I am thinking where is he putting all this food? He is a petite child compared to his brother. If he ate his snack and the full lunch he would not want dinner, unless he has a hollow leg! Well I found out that he only eats the rice and beans and fruit and dessert at lunch. But still that is a lot and very filling! To me that is crazy though. Have you seen the lunch menu for school here? No? Well here is a typical week that I copied from the school website:

Monday

Salads: Lettuce - Tomato - Denise Gratin (Cheese ravioli, Turkey breast, mozzarella, cream sauce).

Main Course: Chicken with lemon sauce.

Trimmings: Cheese & Tomato quiche, steamed chicory.

Desserts: Papaya, pineaple.

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Tuesday

Salads: Lettuce - Tomato - Eggplant tempura (Eggplant, special flour, herbs), Manuela salad (Arugula, buffalo mozzarella cherry tomatoes, green apples & lettuce).

Main Course: Filet mignon in brown sauce.

Trimmings: Tuscany potatoes, Steamed Kale.

Desserts: Coloured gelatine, melon.

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Wednesday

Salads: Lettuce - Tomato - Sausage strudel (chicken sausage, onion, tomato, herb in pastry), Gleici salad (Lettuce, escarole, heart of palm, green olives, corn).

Main Course: Chicken in passion fruit sauce.

Trimmings: Mushroom risotto (Neapolitan rice for the younger children), Creamy carrots.

Desserts: Grapes, Lemon mousse.

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Thursday

Salads: Lettuce - Tomato - Adriana salad (Iceberg lettuce, endives, celery, mushrooms, almonds), Martinha salad (cucumber, tomato, onion, oil & vinegar).

Main Course: Sertaneja style meat.

Trimmings: Pasta in tomato sauce, brocoli.

Desserts: Apple, fruit salad.

Desserts: Apple, fruit salad.

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Friday

Salads: Lettuce - Tomato - Martim salad ( Bolied potatoes, brocoli, shredded chicken, fresh cream), Andrés salad ( baby lettuce, bean sprouts, asparagus, black olives & parsley).

Main Course: Roast meat in sauce.

Trimmings: Cheese & zucchini pie, Romaine lettuce in garlic cream (cheese pie for the younger children).

Desserts: Banana, chocolate brownie.

Note: Full grain rice, white rice, beans are served every day along with an option of fruit.
Note 02: Sauces & gravies are only given to younger children if they so wish.

Fillet mignon? Chicken in lemon sauce? Um, can I volunteer during lunch hours?

What She Said

I was out shopping today with my friend. When am I not out shopping is probably what my husband is saying at this moment. I will take the fifth at the question if I buy anything each time though. Today was fun, but in one store the sales girl had no idea what we were saying. Granted we were speaking English to each other so she could not follow that conversation. However, when we tried Portuguese she had no clue either.

In an informal research study we figured that since I do not look Brazilian, my Portuguese is not understood as well. We (my friend and I) have figured that the sales clerks take one look and say "She is not Brazilian and therefore does not speak Portuguese." Then when I do speak they are not prepared for it and do not follow the conversation. I admit, my Portuguese is not great. However, I am understood in about 90% of the situations, so OBVIOUSLY the problem lies with whom I am speaking. On the other hand my friend looks Portuguese, but is not, speaks less than I do, and is understood in about 99% of the situations. Go figure.

In our research we have found that when shopping together sales clerks look at us and ask my friend all the questions. If she does not understand the question she would look at me and ask "What did she say?" I would translate, she would respond, and I would translate to the sales clerk the response. (Outside of today, this does not happen much anymore since she has learned more Portuguese.) But, it's quite fun actually. The conversation would go like this:

1. Question
2. My friend looking at me "What'd she say?"
3. I translate
4. Friend's response
5. I translate

Now the smarter clerks figured it out pretty quick to ask me the questions. The others not so much. There are times when it is "What'd she say? What'd she say? What'd she say?"

Lately the fun part is when I talk to the clerks in Portuguese and they cue to my friend with a look that says "What'd she say?" Then my friend would say the exact same thing and be understood. And I just want to say "Yeah, what she said!" But I don't know how to say that in Portuguese.

I have a dream. A dream that one day blondes and brunettes can go shopping together and be understood...

The Essence of a Conversation

The Brazilian Portuguese language is very interesting. When asking a question, such as "Can you..." you respond with "I can - eu posso." Or if you ask is something this or that? The response you get is "Is - E." Or it could be the all around word "Isso." This could mean several things. It could be 1. This thing here; 2. This one; 3. That's it; 4. Exactly; or 5. yep you got it correct.

My favorite word in any language is translated to the English word "sale"; favorite compound word is "shoe-sale." However, my favorite sentence is in Portuguese.

It is "Tudo bem."

What does this mean you ask. Well, that is the point. You can actually have a whole conversation with somebody with just this sentence. Here is an example:

"Tudo bem?"
"Tudo bem. Tudo bem?
"Tudo bem."

There. You just had a very meaningful conversation. You may be saying the exact same thing, but each sentence actually means something else. Here is the conversation in English:

Hey, how are you? (Hey, how's it going?)
Fine. How are you? (Great, how's it with you?)
Good. (Going well/fine/no problems/all's well.)

Can you see how many variations you can have? What is that like 15 combinations? Did I do that math right?

All with just two words. How awesome, and confusing, is that!

Lessons in Education

Over the past year we have learned to take advantage of moments to teach our children about life. We have tried to explain the benefits of education in interesting and fun ways so that they will enjoy school more, and also see the advantages of a good education.

We have probably not done this is the best way possible. Like pointing out the person smoking crack on the side of the street was doing so because he decided not to go to school. Looking back, this was probably not something we should have pointed out in the first place. Or how about pointing out the ladies standing on the side of the road "looking for rides" don't have a car because they did not finish school to get a good job in order to buy one. That was a good explanation!

Well, my husband has started to listen to talk radio here. He says it is very interesting, but mostly he hears about crime. We thought one story would make a great word problem for the kids:

There were 15 guys robbing an ATM. The cops shot 6 of them. How many are still alive?

That should get them interested in math, right?

In a Blink

As I sit here and write this at 1 a.m. I cannot help but think how amazingly fast a year can go. Last summer I was closing up a life in Florida - selling a house, visiting family, living out of a suitcase for six weeks, trying to keep two boys occupied for a majority of a summer without their dad. We were heading to Brazil to live. Many people thought we were crazy. We even asked that question of ourselves several times. Heck, I was taking my children to a country we never, ever stepped foot in before!

I remember that first flight to Brazil vividly. Lucky us were in business class that night flight. Not that I could sleep or anything. I remember the anxiety and the questions running through my head. Would I understand the language fast? Would I meet friends? How will the boys handle school? A Valium probably would have been a welcome friend that night.

Now, exactly a year later, on probably the same airplane, but definitely the same flight number, I still can't sleep. We are not in B class this time. Though I can see from where I am our seats on that "maiden voyage." Only question now running through my head is how fast will Portuguese come back to me? And I am way better prepared clothes and luggage-wise than last time. We, or shall I say my father-in-law, had a fun time trying to fit everything in his car! There is a lot of stuff you need to take (really read buy) when spending six weeks in the States. My mother-in-law said it looked like the miracle of the loaves and fishes the way the suitcases kept multiplying. But really I have to blame my husband for that. What sane man lets his wife loose for six weeks, alone, without him? - and with two credit cards and a check book! Come on!

I am excited to be getting back though. The boys get to start school in two days. I think they are happy about that too because I think they are sick of each other. And I want to cuddle up to my hubby. That is the first thing after a shower that I want to do.

Since we are returning 365 days after we first landed I felt it necessary to have a "New Year in Brazil" resolution. I am bringing with me Zumba DVDs and P90X...

The Story of the Peruvian Cow

I totally forgot about this until my wonderful husband reminded me.

We were in the of Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley sightseeing. While we were there we heard a cow lowing. And it did not stop. One moo after the other. If I remember the story correctly my boys asked why. My husband said it was probably looking for her husband because she wanted him to do something and was nagging. But he disappeared. So my husband decided to put words to the cow.

"Moo, I am allergic to wool, moo."
"Where are you, moo."
"Why are you not answering me, moo."

At this point our guide cannot hold a straight face. He is trying really hard though so as not to hurt my feelings I think. But of course, my husband does not stop.

"Moo, I am cold, moo."
"Moo, get me some water, moo."

My children are hysterically laughing and joining in with the mooing. I really appreciate this but have a good sense of humor. So I add a comment or two.

"Moo, you are not touching me for years, moo."
"Moo, you can find your own dinner, moo."

Later we head off to another tour location. As we were going down a big hill in our tour van, my boys spot two steers. "Dad, look! There are the male cows!"

These steers were hanging out along the side of a field along an embankment. If you were walking along the road, the steers would be just feet from you and you would not know it due to the bushes they were "hiding" in. Of course, my husband commented on how they got away from their wives nagging and were hiding from them in this field. It would take a lot to get back up that hill. The steers were in no hurry to go and attend their cow wives needs.

You know, the garbage does not take itself out!

I have never been so thirsty in my life

Recently the family visited Macchu Pichu. I have spelled this several ways since I have no clue how many C's or H's are in the words. But, you understand. I was going to title this blog "If you build it, they will come" but I thought that might be too cliche. I mean, the pre-Kevin Costner Incas probably thought that, but no. My title is "I have never been so thirsty in my life." Why? Well because, oh my goodness, I have never been so thirsty in my life! This was way more than Zumba class thirsty. This was "my tongue feels like a wool carpet" thirsty.

So we finally reach Cusco after several hours of travelling. If you haven't read my travel blog yet, do so. That was an adventure in itself. Well Cusco is 12,000 feet in elevation, which is very dry and the air is thin. I did not have too many problems with the altitude though. Do I need less oxygen for my brain? Well I am sure there are several answers from my family about that one. But my husband and boys didn't either so whatever anyone says, it will transfer to them too. Silence? Thought so.

Okay so we go from Cusco to the Sacred Valley to acclimate for a few days. According to my husband, the Sacred Valley looks like Scottsdale, AZ. I have never been but, and no offense to AZ, I am sure Peru is just a bit prettier. Here is our hotel.

Can't beat that with a stick. Anyway. So here we are and our guide tells us to drink lots of water, Tea made from Cocoa leaves (yes the same thing that makes cocaine), and don't eat a heavy meal the first day. Check, check, check! But we did not realize that a lot of water would be more than 2 liters a day! That first night we woke up several times not being able to swallow we were so dry. I think I downed two bottles of water myself that first night. Holy cow!

But goodness it was fun, and cold. That we did not expect, though we packed for cold. Every town we went to, besides Lima, had a parade or a festival. Fireworks at all hours and tons of music. Javier work us up a few times saying "I see lights" thinking they were UFOs. No only fireworks. We visited Urubamba and Ollaytantambo in the Sacred Valley. Then we tool the train to Macchu Pichu. How these Incas built this city I do not know. Hey, I could have used that title "We Built This City." But unlike Jefferson Starship, it was not on Rock and Roll, just rock. How did they build it without iron tools? And how did they build it without falling off the mountain?

We were in MP (easier and I can spell it) for the Winter Solstice - June 21. One day a year the sun hits all of these places within the city to make shadows of creatures, the Inca cross, and things like that. Yes, I missed the picture through the Sun Temple Window (below), but we are NOT going to talk about that. My children would appreciate me not bringing it up.

Really the blog for MP should just be pictures because you cannot write the experience well. It is truly awe inspiring what these people did. It was an experience of a lifetime. But we did have fun too. We made some funny pictures...

Yes, Ricardo and Ian were standing on another terrace. I however, had nothing under me for two hundred feet. We also had a photo contest. Ian and I won. we are the first two pictures.

Ricardo thinks he would have won if he had a Corona in his picture. After MP, we headed for Aguas Caliente to take the train to Cusco. The city looks like a Disney planned village really, except for the dirt and the wires right next to you at the restaurant tables.

Cusco was an experience. Of course, we do not have many pictures of Cusco because the town had so many people visiting for Corpus Christi and then their holiday the next day. If you have never seen a Corpus Christi parade in Cusco, please YouTube it. Very interesting. We were also there for my youngest's birthday. So we took him to the Irish pub next to the Catholic Cathedral (where else would it be?) for a pint of Guinness and some Sprite. There are also Inca ruins around Cusco as well. We saw several places that the king, no not Elvis or Richard Petty, but some guy with a really long name, like ten syllables long, went to. We just called him Bob, much easier. So King Bob went to these temples to speak with the mummified ancestors and such to get advice. Me I just call my mom. Look at the picture below. the mummies were in those crevices. Um, yuck?

We went to Lima as well. If you have never been, it is like NYC without the tall buildings, but on the ocean. We had such a great time. I hope I did not forget anything. If I did, you can blame it on the lack of oxygen. Wait a minute. I'm not there anymore.