Beijossss!
When I think about the fact that I have been here for one month, my first reaction is, 'no way.' It really does not feel like I could have possibly been here for an entire month. Where did the time go?? And my second thought is that I have learned so much in this past month, I can't imagine where I will be by the end of these 10 months. This past month has been nothing short of a wild ride. It has been filled with lots of language learning, misunderstandings due to language learning, laughter, delicious food trying, some tears, meeting people, heading to the rodeo with new friends (a really popular event here in my city), traveling to new cities, learning my way around the city, among many other things. Here I am learning a new job, learning a language, learning about myself. It has been hard at times, but so beautiful. I am beginning to feel a sense of belonging in this family, house, my school, the city, and country as a whole. It has taken a little figuring out, what life here looks like for me. But I think that first leap is the hardest with all of the adjusting that is necessary when undertaking any new life change. But it only gets easier as the days go on. I have met some incredible people here who have honestly been an answer to prayer, as community is a necessity. And I have been humbled by their generosity, kindness, and patience with me in everything. So with that, here's to the month and the next 9 that are ahead. Beijossss! ^^^ a spontaneous weekend trip to São Carlos, a nearby city to visit some friends. ^^^ when snuggly bugs wake up and come find me in my room. ^^^ trips to the market here in Piracicaba and a beautiful view of Sao Carlos. Açaí is delicious! I would best describe it as a slightly similar consistency to frozen yogurt, and you can add anything you want. One of the popular choices here is my favorite so far: adding granola and leite em po.. which is powdered milk. Yum! And on the right is a pastel.. also delicious!
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haha okay, so it definitely does not say that anywhere in the bible. But we do.. we have internet at our house finally! I haven't had the chance to post since arriving here, but it is true.. I am here, I AM IN BRAZIL! It is something that I honestly say out loud a few times a day to remind myself. Because it's not as if the language, culture, people, traffic and food are enough to tell me otherwise ;) But one of my absolute favorite things is that every night before bed, I walk out onto the patio off my room and I look out at the city skyline.. it's something else. I would love for everyone I love to experience it with me! Anyways, since being here for a little over a week now, I have been just taking everything in and trying to learn in every moment. Each night before bed I write down a few moments that I don't wanna forget from the day. We'll call them chronicles, The Chronicles of Pira or Os Chronicles de Pira. I feel like they properly sum up what many of my days have consisted of and looked like since arriving and beginning to settle into my new home here in Brazil. Read what you will, leave when you need, but this has been some of life here for me! Os Chronicles de Pira 1.0 30th de Julho 1. upgraded to first class free of charge 2. laying in my very own hotel room for the night, our house isn't ready to move into yet 3. I'm actually in Brazil, what?! 31st de Julho 1. buying imported shampoo isn't the cheapest thing ever, I should buy local 2. fancy lunch meals with fancy family 3. açai-orange juice at a cafe 4. teaching the kiddos how to use 'God Bless You' or as they say 'a bless you' *that's what they hear 5. making a room a home 1st de Agosto 1. a little man and his tin of dinosaurs as a wakeup call at my door 2. my first guarana *a brazilian soda 3. no carpet means you wash your dirty feet before climbing into bed at night 2nd de Agosto 1. angolan chickens invade the park 2. learning words and little accents 3. Brazilian coffee is GOOD 4. exchanging stories from abroad 5. my first reais *brazilian currency 3rd de Agosto 1. Gabi's first day of school here we come 2. touring schools for Arthur 3. setting up my Portuguese class times.. it's real! 4. pão de queijo for days and I'm not hating it 4th de Agosto 1. a leaky bathtub is no good, especially when you realize way too late-water everywhere 2. our first morning on our own- we rocked it 3. making little friends in Arthur's class & communicating on the same level *he was 2 haha 5th de Agosto 1. singing songs to the shower and bedroom 2. an overwhelming afternoon at the mall by myself, attempting to figure out the internet 3. my first time talking with my people in too long and how refreshing that was 4. my first purchase all alone.. I bought 'Cidades de Papel' *PaperTowns by John Green 5. driving for the first time in Brazil, ahhhhh *no one died and we all arrived safely, success. 6th de Agosto 1. little crabby shower takers 2. when you don't have internet yet, you watch all the Portlandia that's on your computer 3. day two of driving in Brazil.. okay okay, we're getting there, but those narrow roads.. ai! 4. looking out off the porch off my bedroom at the city's beautiful skyline before bed is just my favorite thing ever 7th de Agosto 1. skyping with Jose while he made me go order starbucks.. I was terrified 2. ^^^ I tried ordering a vanilla iced latte and got a hot regular latte.. we'll take what we can get 3. hanging out with new friends at their apartment is good.. pizza and talking is good everywhere 4. doce de leite & brigadeiro.. holy yum 5. ringing the light switch instead of the doorbell.. not my best 8th de Agosto 1. a day with the house to yourself means you watch Scandal for lots of minutes 2. out to eat & only Portuguese is hard 3. my first capirinha- so strong 9th de Agosto 1. trying whatever new foods are offered 2. spending the day celebrating father's day with new family! 3. the 'most Portuguese spoken' day was today with very patient family 4. soccer games on tv instead of football 5. a little peanut who just turned 1 year old & happy birthday songs in Portuguese.. I should really learn that 6. tapioca for the first time, delicious. I can't wait to try different types ^^ this is one of the beautiful views out the front of our house looking into the city center. I just love looking out at that city skyline.. I can't get enough of it. So here's a grateful heart for what I've experienced thus far and everything that is yet to come,
Cheers! This is family. They are home to me. They love, support and cheer me on in wherever my life leads. They celebrate with me when I'm getting ready to leave, and miss me when I'm gone. They love me so much that they are proud of my adventures, even when it means leaving them, my home.
In just 5 shorts day, I will be embarking on something of a journey that has been a dream for as long as I can remember. For many years it has been one of my biggest aspirations in life to live in another country for 1-2 years and becoming fluent in another language besides me own. To fully immerse myself in unknown beauty. But I always wondered if I really had the ability, the drive, even the courage to make this dream a reality?
So this past year when I was going to be graduating in December and working in eau claire only through the end of spring, I began to think and dream.. I was going to be free as a bird. If there was any time that I could make this long time dream a reality, it was probably going to be now. And while deciding where I would most want to go, (I was thinking Central/South America), I had been building beautiful friendships with a few Brazilians studying in Eau Claire. I immediately thought that if I was already getting to know Brazilian culture, people, and language through these individuals.. why would I not choose Brazil!? Also that this country is home to people who have grown to be such dear friends to me. So, Brazil it was! Last fall is when I began the process of looking for opportunities in Brazil. I was willing to aupair, teach, pretty much anything to get me this dream that I was clinging to. Months passed and I still hadn't found anything concrete. At the end of May was when I finished my job in Eau Claire and would be moving home until I found something in Brazil. And who knows how long this could be. As I was doing some serious conversing with God one evening, I realized that I had never really consulted Him with this whole process. I had never once asked Him what He thought about it all or even asked for His blessing. And if I had, it definitely wasn't sincere. I wanted it bad enough, so I was going to do what it took to get it. There came a time when I realized how much I had been shutting God out of this huge process, I had to cry out to Him and ask for Him to have His will in my life whatever that meant. For Him to take away Brazil if that's what it meant. And for the first time, I really had surrendered the idea.. which by the way was one of the hardest things to do. To let go of something that I had been holding on to so tightly and invested so much of my time and energy into, just to let go seemed almost impossible. But when I was thinking about it.. how could I not let go and give the reigns to a God who knows what is best for me and has my best in mind. To give the reigns to a God who knows my dreams and passions and even put them there, but also cares for my heart and knows what it needs more than I even do. So there it was. I was moving home with not a job, not much of a community, and a loosely held dream. Now I know that things don't always work out this way, in fact they often times don't which is why I am completely humbled by God's grace and mercy to me... but within a week of moving home God had graciously given me a beautiful family to work for. He had opened a door and you bet I was going to walk through it! Throughout the whole process I was almost forced to surrender this idea daily still because it is somewhat of a grueling process applying for a visa if you've never done it before. But all the while knowing that my Jesus had my best in mind. With that said, it's been a wild ride thus far. Last saturday I checked the status of my visa and it said authorized, then this wednesday I received the actual visa in the mail. I held it in my hands and just about cried. I am five days out from walking into a whole lot of unknown, extremely excited but also slightly nervous. But I hold on tight to the promise that I do not go alone. I walk in confidence trusting and knowing that this is where my Jesus is leading me and He goes with me and before me. I have moments where I don't even feel like I deserve this because it's what I asked for in my stubbornness and now I am getting to do it. But I told myself that because God is giving me this opportunity and I definitely don't deserve it, there is nothing I can do but give it back to Him. So I go into this with hands open wide, a heart ready to serve and love to whatever capacity, a quiet soul to listen and learn, and wide eyes to take in all the beauty that I am anticipating. God has prepared me for such a time as this. Brasil, ate em breve.. beijos! .. my uke got some much needed attention, I'm grateful for that guy.
.. the search for a new show to invest in didn't take too long after all. .. hello Scandal, looks like we'll be spending a lot of time together. thanks katie. .. having visitors gives you an excuse to explore neighboring towns you wouldn't have before. .. opendoor coffeehouse is a gift to the greater mayville area. .. momma's birthday is in LESS THAN A WEEK! .. thinking about Paige having a baby just makes me happy, she'll make a real good momma. .. last friday I got to talk with holland on the phone, thanks Jesus. .. if it all works out, I leave in 12 days. Umm excuse me, what?? .. summer = good smoothies .. paying bills never was fun, but adult life calls. well kind of. .. a spontaneous 24 hours trip to eau claire is always a good choice. .. I could sit in my room all day, it feels like home, I just love it. .. the music of pride and prejudice is really the most beautiful. this summer is all about the here and now and having wide eyes to appreciate each and every day for what it holds. Jesus is showing me what this looks like and giving me the opportunity to surrender to His will in my life by enjoying the here, and the now. don't waste a single day of the here or the now, friends. //days of thrifting and froyo to go// //hours of skyping with my little costa rican froomie// //homemade cotton candy// //and pizza.. all of the homemade things// //day trips to chicago// //getting to spend time with this baby momma, what a treat// //new coffeehouses and friends from far away places in theresa to say 'see ya later' //24 last hours in eau claire, road trip with little angie, and a receipt flower//
Two months is too long. Here's proof that my last weeks in Eau Claire and beyond really did happen. And here I sit.. in good ole theresa, wi. If you're bored, come on down. Theresa will gladly open its arms to you. So, cheers to it all and to the One from which all goodness flows.
It may be a little late, but you know what they say.. 'better late than never!' I got to spend this day preparing an Easter brunch for the first time in my life. I generally just partake in the eating of the Easter goodness, but this year I got to celebrate the risen Lord with my two dear friends from Brazil and I thought... hmm, I can cook them a traditional meal.. let's do it! So a phone call with momma retrieving some recipes and a few stops at the grocery store later.. here was our meal! ohhhh, and get a load of this ;)
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This life is not my own and so I choose to take the hand of the One who knows what lies ahead. Along the way we sing, we dance, we are learning portuguese and living in Brazil, and always gazing on beauty.^^^^
bind my wandering heart to Thee Archives
March 2016
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