Cold in the heat.

So... I have a cold! Lost of rest and tea for me. Having a cold in a tropical climate is super strange! I have the cough and the exaustion.... and the headache. Buuuuuut... I just want to get up and go! The weather is so nice! I want to go to the gym and play capoeira and hang out with my brazilian family... but I have to rest. Julia has been presistant on me resting and getting lots of nutrition. She is quite the mommy! Hopefully I'm better soon! I hate being a lazy ass. <3 Thankful for my Julia to take care of me and my Nana to take care of my family.

Flower @ the museum we went to last week

What I've been up to...

While I've been here I have done so many things! I've just been so caught up in the enjoyment and transition in life that I have not posted anything about it. The time has come!

When I first arrived here we had a mini party with snacks and friends to welcome me. I got to meet the new baby Lia too! She is so cute and adorable its unbelievable. Things were fairly calm after that for the first few days aside from RUNNING into a bookshelf and acquiring 40+ bug bites. The city has also been working with the water so we were out of water for a few days (although we bypassed this problem with a nearby apartment).... and then a water powered electrical dam failed thus we were without electricity for a night/early morning. Thus... the fans were not working and were very hot :p After all of this we got to spend the weekend in Aldeia, a suburb like area that is in the mata (a small forest like area). This area is always interesting and fun to visit because of the diversity and abundance of nature. This home also had many dogs of all sizes... so I felt right at home. While spending the weekend there I also got to visit the Zoo with some friends. Of course, I loved going to the zoo! There were lots of birds and monkeys to see. I had wonderful food throughout the weekend and lots of friendly people to welcome me into their homes and show me around their city. During the week I've been studying my Portuguese and working out at a nearby gym. Its awesome to live in the area that I do because everything is within walking distance. I can go to the grocery store, the bakery, the mall, the movies, restaurants, the gym, the museum, the park.... anywhere! (Except the beach, the is a little bit further). A nearby friend Joao has been showing me around the neighborhood and taking me out for treats and helping me get silly things like a working cell phone sorted out. Thank goodness for help! Of course there are more friends and more activities.... mostly eating, drinking, talking and being merry. This weekend we are having Thanksgiving! It will be so much fun (although I have mashed potatoes at least 4 times a week... I can't wait to have more <3 those mashed potatoes!)  I also got to visit the big Virgin Mary statue and tie ribbons for my wishes and prayers. That was very neat, and super Catholic of me. :) My Portuguese is getting better little by little.... and I've planned a big vacation to Bahia in January. I can't wait! I'm sure there are many things I am forgetting but for now this will suffice! The adventure just gets more and more epic and yet still feels as comfortable as home. Its so wonderful to have a loving family here to take care of me and to care for. How blessed I am! Can't wait to see what happens next. <3 Oh! and I was here for the election! Glad to have voted before I left :) exciting and different to watch the election from a different country.

Here I am, in paradise :D

I made it to Brazil! I've been here for about two weeks now (crazy!) and I'm finally getting settled in. I've been going out with new friends and trying to get my sleep schedule on track with everyone here. I even started to going to the gym down the street by myself! I can't wait to really understand the language and be able to live here like I want to. However, the way things are, I am still enjoying myself. I get to live with my best friend and her baby girl! Lia! She is so beautiful and growing so fast! What a privilege it is to be here. I'm so grateful for everyone in my life who has made me strong enough to do this, and reassured me every step of the way. I love my friends, family and life. I thank whatever gods may be for so wonderfully blessing me :)

Let's go to the beach, beach lets go to the beach...