My Baby Goes to Camp...Sierra and the rest of the 4th grade from Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro left this morning on a 5 1/2 hours bus ride to a ranch outside of Sao Paulo for a week long retreat. They will return on Friday afternoon. She was so excited, so in a state of anticipatory, that she woke 3 times in the middle of the night, thinking she was about to vomit. I am afraid to report that she has my anxiety gene (I get terribly nervous the night before "firsts"). This morning she was a little nervous and a little uneasy, but overall excited. A quick hug and kiss, with her pillow sticking out between our bodies, and she was off on her first week long adventure away from home or family or a computer or the phone or... ME!

I'll update again when she returns most likely full of stories on Friday afternoon!

As I feel sorry for myself, for being sick and sleeping the majority of the last 2 days, wanting to go back to bed yet again as the fever doesn't seem to want to break, I was reminiscing about our wonderful holiday in Ilha Grande. I revisited the pictures, filed safely on the computer, and came across this one again of Sierra and Sophie playing near the water as we waited for our boat to arrive. Ahhh, the sand the sun the feeling of health...one day it will return.

Sisters...Rain rain go away!

One thing you can't control is the weather. We all know this. It's inevitable that when you plan something that depends on good weather, it rains or storms or is too hot or too cold. That is exactly what happened for half of Dana's visit to Rio--home to one of the most famous beaches (Copacabana) in the world. When people come to Rio, they anticipate endless days of sunshine, walking the beaches amidst people skantily clothed in efforts of keeping cool. However, it has been raining in Rio since Feb 3rd. Almost nonstop.

A little rain, however, does not interfere with the fun Sisters can have when together. Because no matter the weather, the location, the event, Sisters know how to enjoy being together. We manage to fight our way through a crowded blocos during Carnaval in Rio, in the rain, dripping with sweat. We manage to go to watch the SuperBowl on one television, in an overcrowded bar in Rio, hearing more English than imagined possible. We manage to spend an entire day playing cards and drinking beer on the veranda in Rio. We manage to drive to one of the most beautiful beaches--Grumari--on a cloudy, overcast day in Rio. We stay out the rain in anticipation for 4 days on an island, cruising through the waters in a private boat, eating fresh seafood.

Because Sisters don't need sunshine in the sky, we have sunshine between us and within us and through us. And it is that sunshine that eventually comes through in laughter and smiles and the creating of happy memories. Sometimes you just have to create the sunshine!

OR...We find any sunshine we can! Dana and Sierra emit sunshine where ever they go! They even brought out this sunshine the overcast day on Grumari.

And when the rain in the city doesn't stop, Sisters drive...far enough away...chasing the sunshine on the horizon...to a beautiful beach...ready for adventures.

To an empty beach just waiting for us to pull up and drop anchor.

To the beach waiting for us to swim ashore, search for shells, shuffle our feet through the sand, bask in the sunshine, burn to a crisp, work up an appetite...search for somewhere to have lunch...And Sisters continue to shine as they are guided to the most adorable beachside restaurant. With a pool for the kids to play in while the adults experiment with exotic drinks and equisite seafood dishes...Sisters laugh in the evenings, when crab hunting is a fun way to pass the time and an exciting way to build courage.Sisters laugh, no matter the situation. Even when we get stalled in the middle of the boat passage, in shark infested waters, Sisters still laugh...Sisters jump in the water and try to paddle the boat to the marina with their own feet in order to refuel and continue their adventures...because Sisters know how to find the sunshine!Sisters find the beauty in the simple things. The simple places that most people pass by without a second glance.The comfort things that only Sisters appreciate in the same way.

The only bad thing about Sisters is having to say goodbye because they live their days thousands of miles apart.
The only way to say it is using an expression in Portuguese: Eu tenho muito saudades pra ela!! And my Sister has only been gone 2 hours.

Hangin out and havin fun!!!

Ela Chegou!! (She arrived!)

I am happy to write that my sister arrived safely yesterday afternoon. This morning it is raining, but the clouds appear to be breaking up, so when we leave home in the next few minutes we will put swimwear under our clothes just in case...

Many fun days ahead!

Joe took these two pictures last night while we were waiting to eat. With it being the same angle of our faces, I realize how much we look alike!

Here's me (duh!).

Here's my sister. Scary, isn't it?

Visa worries, crazy travels, and one sister on her way.

I posted a few months back "ode to my sister" (I don't know how to do the fancy links, so you'll have scroll through several dozen posts to find it again). Well, the subject of that very post is currently enroute to--Rio!! After several stressful weeks waiting for her passport with visa stamp inside to be returned, she is actually boarding the first leg of her journey as I type this email.
See there were a couple of mix ups with the processing of the visa. The first, her error (and quite understandable for someone acquiring their first Visa to an international destination). The second, I feel the consulate website error (they increased a fee by $30 and didn't publish the increase until after the first of the year and after she had sent the paperwork through). The final stage really wasn't an error. Rather, it was a very clear example of how things get done (or not) in Brazil--SLOWLY! Her flight left VA this evening. For the past 3 days she has been greeting her friendly mail carrier awaiting the necessary passport. For the past 3 days, the passport has not been amongst the other items delivered.
Feeling rather frazzled, my beautiful sister hounded the post office and the Brazilian Consulate in Washington DC trying to determine what day the envelope in fact left DC. Come to discover, the envelope was sent in the mail on January 30th! Did I mention her flight is today FEBRUARY 1?
At 10 this morning, my sister sped across town, to the Post Office, to personally pick up her mail for the day. Sped back home to complete her packing that was put on psuedo-hold in the absence of the passport, trek to the airport only to find...
The flight to Newark to connect to the international flight has been CANCELLED!!
Have I ever claimed that traveling is easy business? If I have, I apologize now for misleading you. It is not easy. It is not stressfree. There are no guarantees.
Well, "No problem" says the friendly Continental airlines ticket counter employee, we'll re-route you through Houston.
"There's a flight leaving for Rio tonight at 9:05, let's get you checked in all the way through."
But wait. Hold on. "You'll need to check with the gate attendants when you arrive in Houston. It seems that flight is full."
"We'll just check your bags all the way through."
Dana calmly replies; "Ah, ok. I guess." and proceeded to the departure gate designated for her first leg.
It was about this time that I phoned Dana to find out her status and her ETA. She was rather calm considering. Then again, after the stress of the past few days waiting for the mail, connecting to an all ready full flight is small potatoes.
In thinking about our 10 or more flights back and forth since moving to Rio, I remembered that a "Full Flight" almost always means One Vacant Seat. At this rate, it's a good thing she is flying alone. I don't really think they would have put her through to Houston with unlikely chances. Do you?
By this time tomorrow, we should all be jumping in the streeets, enjoying the blocos of Carnival in Rio and looking forward to many sunny days on the beach. Keep your fingers crossed that when the plane arrives in Rio tomorrow at 1, she is in fact on it.