Sao Paulo Aquarium

Lately, we've had quite a bit of time to explore the city. It is nice-the traffic that is usually unbearable is virtually nonexistent as most Brazilians are off at the beach between Christmas and New Years. The weather has been rainy and overcast, so we've had to be more creative than just filling our time with the pool and Clubbe. On Friday we headed to the Sao Paulo Aquarium. Our first clue that this would be an interesting trip should have been when friends that have lived in Brazil for YEARS declared they'd never heard of the Sao Paulo Aquarium, let alone visited. The drive was a bit confusing-if you miss a turn in Sao Paulo you're out of luck. There are few left turns allowed and you can drive for miles and miles without ever seeing a retourno to make a U-turn. We recalculated our directions and ended up on the correct road, but there wasn't any aquarium in sight. There were, however, plenty of building with graffiti, stray dogs, and suspicious looking people. At one point I just begged Paul to turn around. I didn't care how close we were, I just wanted out of the neighborhood! Eventually we made it. The aquarium is small, but the kids enjoyed themselves. Sophie begged to bring a penguin home but mean daddy said no. A few pics from the day:
Penguins!













Noah preparing to watch the 3-D movie!



















Everyone was tired at the end of the day!

Christmas Recap

I wish I'd had warning that this would be the year that Noah would GET IT. Christmas Eve was normal enough-we set out cookies, opened a gift, and Noah penned a quick letter to Santa:

Apparently, sometime around 2:30 am it hit Noah that Santa was really coming. Tonight! He came into our bed and snuggled in next to me. I suppose that is my punishment for insisting the kids wear the special Christmas pajamas despite the fact that it was really warm that evening! For the next two hours he tried to lay still, be quiet, and generally be respectful of the fact that it was the middle of the night. Occaisonally, he grabbed my face in his hands and whispered "Do you think he's come?". Around 4 am Paul said, "Let's just get up,". Once you say that on Christmas morning, there' s no turning back. Up we were at 4 am! The kids (Sophie had come in just after 4) were thrilled to see Santa did find us in Brazil. I was thrilled I'd remembered to set up the coffee maker the night before! Paul made breakfast around 5 or so and everyone headed back to bed by 9.

We met up with friends for dinner that evening. The chaos of 8 children under 5 was a nice distraction from the obvious absence of our families this year. I think next year we'll make every effort to head back to the States in December and January. We did, however, make it through this year. Thank goodness for good friends, sweet children, coffee, and Christmas caips!

Feliz Natal!

Peace & Love

Love,

Paul, Abby, Noah and Sophie

When There Are No Words

Campinas and Iguacu Falls

As promised by Abby, there are photos of Iguacu Falls and the Jesuit ruins she and her friend Mary visited in Argentina. But there is also the thrill of Campinas (pronounced camp-penis for you non-Portuguese speakers out there, but certainly not a word that translates properly). The kids and I spent two days there with our friends Peter and Leca. We stayed at a hotel, but the gist of the visit was that we spent some time with Leca's family. They own a house in Campinas, the biggest "inland" city in Brazil (Sao Paulo is, for some reason, considered coastal, even though we have to drive over an hour to get to a beach). It's a city of about a million people, and is definitely a more laid-back and generally prettier city than SP. Leca's dad did some churraso (Brazilian barbeque) and I had some conversations on Portugese. Sophie's our real Portuguese star though, as everyone seems to comment on her fluency and pronunciation. Noah admits that Sophie speaks it better than he does, although I was complimented on my accent by her family... then again, they're very nice people and...well...maybe they were just being nice. There's a lot more green space in Campinas than here in SP, as well as several parks. Went to Bosky Park, which is also a small zoo. They even have sloths and capybaras roaming the park freely. Far from dangerous animals, they nonetheless invade the caged animals' habitats and eat their food. Poor turtles can't do a damn thing about it!

So Abby's afraid that I'm going to post about how I'm a "hero" for keeping the kids by myself for five days. Well, I am a hero. The kids were well-fed, well-clothed, well-kempt and generally happy for five days. I do have a newfound respect for single parents, and hope to never be one, for more reasons than one.

I'll let Abby do her own Iguacu/Argentina post, as it makes much more sense for you to read about it from the traveler herself. But here are a couple of pics from Campinas:


The kids at the roomtop pool at our Campinas hotel.Noah in front of the tapirs at Bosky Park

A Good Time Was Had By All...

I returned from my amazing trip to Iguacu Falls today. There really aren't any words to describe The Falls-beautiful, spectacular, unbelievable...none of them quite convey the beauty of that area. I got to spend much more time in Argentina than I originally thought I'd be able to, so that was a treat. Minus the 20 hour bus ride, midnight bus tow, passport mix up, wild coaties, and begging to use reais instead of pesos throughout the Argentinian countryside, we had a wonderful time. I arrived home to find my apartment freshly painted (chocolate brown, cafe au lait, and robin's egg blue) and my family smiley. The kids were eager to share their adventures in Campanis and show me pictures of the tapirs and toucans they saw. Everyone is happy and we're excited to enjoy our first Christmas in Brasil. I have lots of pictures to share, but for now the 5-day pile up of laundry is calling my name (but only for two weeks until Katty returns!!).

The Christmas Concert

This blog hasn't given any very Brazilian updates for awhile...all of that should change in a few weeks! Beginning Wednesday we will have many weeks of travels and adventures to post about, but in the mean time, just the usual around here. Today the kids had their Christmas concert. It was great-they were adorable and no tears! We were definitely like all the other parents smiling and waving like big goofs to get our children to see us-just the things that annoy us as teachers!

Getting ready for the concert this morning.

Here's Noah with his class...

After the concert, Noah's teachers invited him to stay the whole day today (he normally leaves at 12) and he LOVED it! He ate lunch in the cafeteria and rode the bus home with his friend. He'll start full day sometime this spring, and after today, he is very excited!

Noah actually singing!

Sophie discovers her hands about halfway through this video...

The best picture we could get of Sophie. The two year olds were harder to see!

All the kids together!

The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and other holiday fun

We had a calm, low key weekend. There were a few last minute shopping trips and an evening party at my principal's house, but all in all it was pretty relaxing. I did, however, just make a page long to-do list in preparation for this week. Tomorrow Noah and Sophie have their holiday concert, Tuesday is the last day of school for students, and Wednesday is our last day of work FOR FIVE WEEKS!! I also leave for Argentina on Wednesday, Paul's going to Campanis with the kids and friends Thursday and Friday, and our apartment is being painted! It's a full week for sure, but in the best possible way.

Here's our Sugar Plum Fairy this morning...

We may stick with swimming for awhile longer...

In other exciting events from the weekend, we got our tree up.

We made decorated cookies with friends, although Sophie tended to eat every cookie she decorated!
It was a fun weekend in preparation for the crazy week ahead!

The Problem with Being Bilingual

Noah and Sophie have both become very proficient Portuguese speakers. Our nanny, Katty, has very limited English so they learned the language very quickly. Noah, being a bit older, tends to think of what he wants to say in English and then try to translate it into Portuguese. Sophie, on the other hand, moves between the two languages much more seamlessly. If you ask her a question in Portuguese she will most likely answer you in Portuguese. If you ask in English, she'll respond in English. The problems creep in when the kids run into certain words that have meanings in both languages.
The other night I read The Polar Express to the kids. Near the end of the book, when all the children enjoy hot cocoa on the train, Noah started remembering drinking hot cocoa with marshmallows back at home. Immediately Sophie became absolutely disgusted and with the idea of drinking hot cocoa and did her best, through her cute stutter that appears when she tries to talk too fast, to tattle on Noah for using "bathroom talk". You see, Sophie wasn't old enough for hot cocoa last year and so her only reference for cocoa is here in Brasil. In Portuguese, coco is poop. With that being her only understanding of cocoa, I'd say she was rightfully disgusted by the idea of drinking hot "coco".

We've also struggled reading the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom here. I love that book, but boom boom in Portuguese means your bottom. So once again, my little rule follower insists we cannot read a book that uses "bathroom talk" (as in, discussing your backside). No amount of explaining really changes her mind. We've shelved the book for now!

'Tis the Season

I have a lot of guilt about Christmas this year. Our tree is very bare, we mistakenly left our stockings packed away in Virginia, and I've done very, very little shopping for the kiddos. I felt so very proud of our advent calendar last year-all the little doors opened with a message about some fun outing planned or a small gift. This year, though, without the usual trimmings and conveniences, I've kind of lost my way. The fact that it is sunny and in the mid-80s is throwing me for a loop as well. When I saw this video I remembered what is most important this time of year...



Christmas morning will be different this year, but I hope for all of the right reasons. I have a few plans in the works, but I don't want to give anything away quite yet. I will say Paul will be getting both his biggest gift and smallest gift ever this year.

Thursday Nights

Thursday nights are very special around here. Typically, that's the night we have dinner with our very dear friends Leca and Peter, and their baby Julia. The kids adore Julia-gasping with adoration at every new accomplishment she has-"She can stand!" "She wants YOU, mama!" "She really likes Toy Story!"-they dote on her as if she were a long lost sibling. Leca is the Reading Specialist in the Lower School so we have tons to talk about. Peter is Paul's Humanities teaching partner. Oddly enough, Peter grew up in Northern Virginia. A match made in heaven! We usually alternate between their apartment and ours, but in the last few weeks we've discovered Pasta Night at the Clube. It's perfect-dinner with friends and NO clean up! It is made better by the fact that Leca is a native Portuguese speaker and can order our capirinhas exactly the way we like them. We are so very lucky to have them in our lives here! Friends take on a whole new meaning when you are a world away from your family.

Thanksgiving Recap

Last week was a bit of downer...lasagna on Thanksgiving, no family around, and a full five day work week. We did, however, make up for it on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday our school sponsored a Thanksgiving Feast. It was amazing! I did some Christmas shopping with the local artisans set up in the gym, the kids ran around the soccer field, and we all enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Sure, cranberry sauce served in a Dixie cup is a little different, but the spirit was the same.

Sunday we traveled out to Embu and dined with friends at a gorgeous house. The grounds were beautiful and the weather perfect for enjoying the pool. Swimming on Thanksgiving is definitely a first! All of us had a wonderful time!

The cafeteria set up for Thanksgiving.

The kids enjoying the festivities.

Yummy!

Friends in Embu

Noah

Sophie Bella

A good time was had by all!

Up next, a weekend of crafting...we need to prepare for Christmas! Two weeks until I head to Argentina/Iguacu Falls!

Noah makes a statement...

Noah loves to draw and leave notes all over the house. Sometimes we'll return home to find upwards of 15 pieces of paper scattered around the house with various messages, stories, and information scrawled on them. The other day I came home after work and found this:
For those not familiar with the art and craft of deciphering four year old writing, it clearly states:

Boo VT Go Virginia!

All the way in Brasil, he remembered the important game this weekend.
Go Virginia, beat Tech!

Happy Thanksgiving

This is about as much Thanksgiving as we will get tomorrow.

It is really just another normal day at school. Lucky me, I'll be leading an inservice just about the time we'd normally be sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner. No festivities tomorrow, but a few planned for this weekend. It is a bit depressing. Everytime I begin to think about it I just focus on the positive-2 1/2 more weeks until Summer (Winter) Break.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ibirapuera Park

We're on the the tail end of a four day weekend! Even though the weather hasn't been great (which is why we didn't head to the coast in the first place) we've managed to have a good weekend.

Thursday morning we headed to Ibirapuera Park. This park is very well known (probably because it is over 1.6 million square meters) and we'd read and heard lots about it. We were anxious to see what it was all about. We managed to find the park in a timely manner without getting lost-this in and of itself is a major accomplishment. The weather was sunny and cool, and because it was a holiday, the park was packed. After a picnic lunch, we went out exploring.

We saw some baby geese,

a good view of the city,

rusted out playground equipment that was fun nonetheless,

and this cute family.

On Friday, after such an exhausting Paulistinoesque day, we recovered with a few comforts of home...

Starbucks,

pumpkin muffins,

and a trip to Sam's Club!

We got a package...

Packages are very exciting around here! When we brought home a box on Wednesday afternoon the kids couldn't wait to open it.

There were holiday decorations,

books,

and, of course, peanut butter!

But the best part of the package...

the bubble wrap!

Adventure!

Adventurous is a word that has NEVER been used to describe me. Never.

Until now...

I decided to join my friend Mary on a trip in a little under 4 weeks. We are headed to Foz do Iguacu!



I'm a little nervous, but very excited.

What a way to spend a Saturday...

After a quick visit to the Santo Amaro markets this morning I arrived home to find the house in total disaster. You know, every single dish left wherever it was put down, peanut butter without a top, jelly across the counter, and Sophie looking worse than ever. So horrible that when I gave her a bath she kept asking me why I looked so sad. It was only her horrible blisters that were making me wince. Paul made his second trip to Einstein to get Sophie checked out. I, on the other hand, had the tough job of taking Noah to the pool to enjoy our beautiful day. Turns out Sophie has impetigo and is on antibiotics. I know it looks more horrible than it actually is, but I really hope she feels better soon.

Poor Sophie

Poor Sophie. Sophie who wears 10 outfits a day. Seriously. Sophie that steals my $18 lipgloss and applies it like crazy. Sophie that has our baba wearing purple everyday because she loves it so much. Sophie that could have had this song written about her.

Our poor Sophie woke up this morning and looked like this...



When we were trying to explain she couldn't go to school today she demanded to know why. When Paul showed her herself in the mirror she immediately burst into tears. I don't blame her. This picture doesn't do it justice. A friend commented, "She looks like she has a favela on her face,".

I thought maybe it was the sandpaper like tissues that we've been using to wipe her nose. Unfortunately, I really think it is this.
Poor Sophie.

New Purchases!

We did some shopping this weekend. We attempted last weekend, but the horrible maps and directions made us abandon our plan not once, but twice. This weekend, however, we were very successful!

In order of importance from least to greatest...

Yes, that's a television. No, I'm not really proud of this purchase. I sort of feel like it was inevitable and I guess I'm glad to have it-despite the fact that I woke up to Paul and the kids playing NCAA 2009 at 7:30 this morning. We do have a firm no television during the week rule though...

A new, cordless phone. The school gave us an old fashioned corded phone and we really felt the need to upgrade. Or at least be able to move further away than six inches from screaming children when necessary. The phone is being charged in the photo-we don't usually keep our phone on top of the stove :)

Next up, a rug to cover the white floors. Our previous rug (now relocated to the playroom) was just too small and shed constantly. This one is MUCH better!

Finally, our most important purchase...liquid hand soap in a pump bottle! No more bars of soap! It cost a pretty penny and I don't know why, but this makes me VERY happy!

Christmas Picture Rejects

This one is sort of cute...except Baby Olivia looks like she's passed out after a long night...
Evidence of the chocolate bribery wasn't supposed to show up in the picture...
That squeeze was just a little too tight...

In the end, I think we got one. Now, I just need to figure out a reasonable way to get the cards mailed out from Brasil!

And the verdict is...

So there's the answer to the questions about how Halloween is celebrated here. Although I understand that it's not universally celebrated in Brazil, I can guarantee that it's taken quite seriously at the Escola Graduada. This parade was led by percussionists throughout the entire school. Sophie was a bit overwhelmed, but for good reason. Now we can push on toward a Thanksgiving in Spring on a day when we'll be teaching rather than feasting. Who said international teaching was perfect?