"I know I'm always right at least 90% of the time."  lea_doll
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Bras?lia, Brazil
Joined: Dec 2007 |
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This journal is about my experiences and challenges living in a foriegn country and striving for independence!
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Here in Brasilia they are having a big city party to celebrate New Years. Fireworks, music, food. All in the middle of downtown. At first my husband and I thought we would have a midnight picnic by the lake and watch the fireworks from there. But we decided it might not be safe. Brasils crime rate is a bit high.
So we make other plans. We reserved a downtown hotel room with a good view for the fireworks and within walking distance to the big party scene.
I was totally excited until just now when my husband tells me he's accidently invited his parents to spend the evening with us! Apparently he was sharing our plans and they asked if they could join.
I have no problems with his parents... well actually I have a lot of problems with his parents. But I really didnt want to spend New Years with the old goats. I'm totally bummed.  | |
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I got that song "Me love" by Sean Kingston stuck in my head! But I only know that one line. "Why d you have to go away from all me love?"  He does write catchy songs. | |
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| I started feeling nauseous last night before bed. It went on all night and I'm still feeling it now. Whats wrong with me??? | |
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| We found the land we want to buy. Its outside of Bras | |
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I made it through my first Brasilian Christmas! 8)
We had a big party with all the traditional Brasilian holiday foods. Turkey, ham, rice, peaches, plums, and grapes. We stayed up playing games and drinking wine until it was almost Christmas day. Then they had an open prayer for everyone in the room. Kind of a thanksgiving sort of prayer. And then a recited prayer.
Then my favorite part was right after midnight everyone yelled Feliz Natal and went around the room wishing everyone merry christmas. It was nice.
My husbands grandpa asked one of the cousins how to say feliz natal in english. And the cousin said "f*** you". So this poor old man came up to me put his arms around me and said "f*** you!" I was so shocked but then busted up laughing. Poor vovo was pretty embarassed but it was the joke of the night.
The party went on until a little past 2 am. We opened gifts and visited. Then everyone left and we crashed. Woke up late the next day and had lunch at a rodizo resteraunt with the family. And the rest of the day my husband and I went looking for land to buy. We are buying land here and building a home. 
So that's it. My first Brasilian Christmas. Not bad.  | |
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I hate doing laundry. Back home it was something I would procrastinate until I was down to my last clean underwear. 
Luckily here we have a maid! She does all the laundry. Gathers, washes, irons, folds, puts away. It rocks.
Only I have one problem. Brasilians believe that the washing machine doesnt get clothes fully clean... therefore women wash their undies by hand.  And in the shower. I have to say I find this ridiculous. But my husband insists that I do it! We even had a silly fight about it. For some reason I just can't get over this. I refuse to do it because I just find it complete nonsense. | |
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So less than a week till Christmas and it doesnt feel like it at all to me. I guess the major thing being that it's HOT outside. I never thought I would miss winter...
Brasil lacks a lot of the Christmas traditions. No Christmas stockings, no egg nog, no christmas caroling, no angel tree, no cookies and milk for santa
They have a party that's similiar to New Years on Christmas eve where they countdown to Christmas day and hand out presents. Then Christmas day is spent going from house to house visiting family.
Oh and come to find out my husband still hasn't bought me a christmas gift!  | |
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| God, it's going on 12 am. My husband is fast asleep and I'm wide awake. He fell asleep on me right in the middle of watching Nacho Libre. Who falls asleep while watching Jack Black?? Oh well, I guess we'll finish watching it tomorrow. | |
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21 years old and I find myself married and living in a foreign country. Definately not what I expected. I always imagined I would be more than halfway through college with a decent paying job and working my way up in life. Still, I can't say I'm not happy with where I am right now. Life is good.
My husband Emanuel and I met on a online chat room more than three years ago. We fell in love and did the long distance thing (very long distance) for a while. It was tough spending so much time apart and not seeing each other when we wanted. So we decided the best solution for us was to get married!
We married October 4th, 2007. 2 1/2 months ago. It's been a challenge even in these first few months. There is so much to learn about being married... its almost scary sometimes. But we love each other and are making it through.
In the meantime, I've applied for my Brasilian Residency Visa. I was surprised how easy it was compared to the complicated process my husband will have to go through to get his American Green Card. It didn't take long to gather the necessary docs and turn them all in to the Federal Police. Any day now they should be knocking on our door to "check out" our living situation and validate it's a real marriage. Though I don't know why anyone would marry a Brasilian just for Brasilian residency purposes. It's common enough situation for immigrating to the states but it's not hard to get permanent residency here in Brasil legally.
Anyways, so after I get my legal residency I can start working. I'm thinking I'd like to teach english. English teachers in Brasil are in demand so I shouldnt have any trouble securing a job.
I'm taking private lessons to learn Portuguese. I wish I could say it was fun but its very rigorous. Something that was hard to understand that not everything translates exactly. You need to understand the idea of what you are saying... not so much the translation. Which is a hard concept to get at first. But I'm managing.
I'm also learning to drive a stick shift. Manual transmission cars are the vehicles of choice here in Brasil. And I wish I took my sister up on teaching me stick shift all those years ago. But I'm learning now so I can get myself around. It pretty much sucks having to rely on other people to drive you around everywhere.
Alright so I'm done writing for today.
Tchau! | |
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New Years in Brasil
