Sierra enjoyed playing Paddington in her class's production of "A Bear Called Paddington" this week. She was awesome! Totally getting into character. Here she is posing after the performance I watched Friday.

In the two pictures below, Paddington is making a "mess" in the tub while the other cast members sing and dance Splish Splash. Enlarge the tub picture below to see the bubbles.












Here Paddington is impressed with breakfast in bed the first morning in the Brown's home. Notice Paddington investigating the egg. :-)






The last shot shows Paddington convincing Sir Sealy to take back his daughter, whom he's bannished from the kingdom because she won't marry some smelly man. (Sir Sealy and the daughter are characters in a play that Paddington goes to see, but Paddington doesn't understand that it's acting since he's just a bear!)

Sierra did a beautiful job!! Many teachers commented on what a good performer she is. She enunciated her lines, maintained character even when the audience would laugh, appropriately, and even kindly coached her classmates when they forgot their lines. I am very proud of her. The BEST part...She LOVED it. She really enjoyed acting. I'm so glad she had such a good time.

Coming soon....
Sierra as Paddington!
Check back in upcoming days for pictures and testimonials of Sierra's acting debut!

I survived!!! 5 days and 4 nights with 70 eighth graders! On the airplane, in the hotel, on and off the bus, through countless parks and activities....what a week...
Where do I even begin to talk about what an exciting and exhausting weekend it was?

The first picture here is of me and one of my favorite students--Juni. She is both my advisee and my student in English class. She and her family have just moved to Rio from Norway. She is so sweet and many of my students, her classmates, say we are like mother and daughter. I chalk it up to the fact that we are both lighthaired, fair complected and attempting to learn this language.
This next landscape shot was taken while on a train ride through the edge of the Iguacu National forest. We spent 3 hours on the train, traveling over 125 year old bridges and taking in the lush and beautiful landscape.

The last shot is of the building at the botanical gardens in Curitiba. It reminded me of the St. Paul Conservatory at Como Park. Although the flowers were all outside on the lawns and most of the greenery inside was strictly tree/bush plants with very little flowering plants. The building is beautiful though. Mr. Luiz, the science teacher on my team is in the foreground with another of our students--Bia.

We teachers were all pretty tired when we returned to Rio at 8 p.m. Friday night. I was grateful to have survived. I miss Sierra and Joe while I was gone, although neither of them seemed to even notice my absence. (j/k)

It was a beautiful, HOT, spring day in Brazil. We spent almost the entire day at the beach in Ipenema! Sierra enjoyed her first coca. She had drunk the juice before today, but hadn't had them split it open for her to scrape out the "meat". Here she is with part of her coca, soaking up the sand and sea amidst her new Brazilian neighbors. Last night, spontaneously, she said to me, "Mom, I like it here!" If you only knew how great that made my heart feel! To the right, you can see the Brazilian airforce during a surprise air show this morning in Ipenema and Leblon. We were just lucky enough to be at the beach watching. We didn't know it was happening. There were 7 jets entertaining beachbums for about an hour.

By special request from Vicks, to the right, you have my best attempt at capturing a pic of a Brasiliero in a sunga! Actually, I think there are 3 who qualify in this shot. There were so many people on the beach today, it was hard to even see who was around you. Sierra walked 50 meters to get cleaned off in the shower, two times, and had a hard time
navigating her way back to us through the chairs,
umbrellas, and swimsuits! Good thing we were both watching.

Unfortunately, I don't have my camera every time we go out. Yesterday, I needed it on two ocassions. Instead of photos, I'll have to rely on my storytelling skills to transmit the events.

We went to the Lagoa with another family from EARJ for lunch. Jennifer is another expat teacher originally from southern California, her husband Valdir is Brazilian, completing his PhD in French, and they have an adorable 11 month old daughter, Sophia. Sierra has been craving baby contact as she misses our former neighbor, Destinee, her cousin Colin and our dear friends The Marins. So, Jennifer and I talked about a play date for Sierra to get her "fix". Also, we have been meaning to get together with Valdir and Jennifer in a social setting vs. work. The afternoon accomplished both objectives.

As we were sitting at a Churrasca (barbeque place) on the Lagoa, Joe looks toward the lake and spies a vendor passing by selling Globos, a common brazilian snack, similar to a funion but not an onion flavor, they are made with Aipim (yuka). They're actually one of my preferred snacks here. Anyway, the point is not what the man was selling the point is that he was wearing one of those umbrella hats!!! Joe immediately said, "Ah, you need your camera for a picture of the man's hat to send to your mom!" All of you who know my mother, know that she loves her silly, carnival like accessories. The windshield washer glasses, the kazoo, harmonicas and the Umbrella hat!! We had a good chuckle at the fact that fun and crazy Brazilians like Mom exist.

Then, we rented a 4 passenger bike thing. I guess I'm not sure how to describe it. It's like a cart that you sit and peddle around. I remember seeing this same contraption on the boardwalk in Galveston, so I think it's a popular beachfront/lakefront passtime. Sierra was in the front, small, child seat, Joe and I were on the benchseat peddling. The "bike" has a canopy. We peddled around the Lagoa, which is about 5 miles (7.5 km). 1/2 way around we passed an area that had many many splatterings of white on the trees and the sidewalk. Joe says to Sierra, "Hey, Sierra what do you think this white stuff is. Mom doesn't think it's bird poo but I do. What do you think?" Sierra turns and says to me, "What do you think it is mom?" As I'm saying, "Well, bird poo..." Sierra gets splattered!!! Right at the moment we were discussing whether or not it was actually bird poop, a bird pooped, it hit the canopy and splashed all over Sierra sitting in the front!!! I laughed until I cried. Luckily Joe had a napkin in a plastic bag from some place he had been, he started carrying it in his pocket in case of emergency. Sierra was able to wipe off the poo from her face, arms, legs, hair....A person couldn't have scripted the event to occur in the way it did! So, Joe and Sierra decided that it is now Mom's turn to be pooped on as Joe was pooped on while sitting in a lawn chair at Grandma and grandpa's before we moved, Sierra got it here, Mom is next! Let's hope they are not correct!!!

Today looks finally sunny. I think we will head to the beach. I feel like I just woke up but it is all ready 10:30. I am traveling this week for work. We take the kids to Curitiba, Brazil for 5 days. Should be interesting. As long as I can get myself to the airport on time, 6:30 a.m., I'll feel fine. Much love to all of you. Big hugs and huge kisses!!!

We spent this morning horseback riding in the mountains. Here is a picture of Sierra getting ready to go. The stirrups were a little short so the farmhand cut a new hole in the strap to shorten the stirrup for her. She rode this very gentle, old man horse (the horse is 20 years old). She did beautifully!



We rode leisurely for about an hour to a small waterfall and lagoa with rocks where we saw a hermit crab and adolescent tadpoles making their way to the pool of water. At this stop we let the horses rest, stretched our legs and after a short rest ventured back to the farm. It was a beautiful day!!! Rain was predicted, but we only experienced a few light sprinkles as we were mounting the horses and beginning the journey. The rest of the time it was overcast and cool. It was a perfect day for a ride. And the scenery was unbelievable. The foliage in this tropical climate still takes my breath away. The plants and flowers and fruit trees growing all around us is unbelievable.

The mountains are full of banana trees and the people who live there make their living growing, farming, and selling bananas. About half way up we were delighted to see two horses with large baskets full of bananas on their backs while the farmer walked slowly behind. The horses appeared to have muzzles on their faces made of woven basketlike materials, perhaps bamboo, I think they may have been feed sacks for the animals, but that was not confirmed.

When we turned the road to come back to the farm, we could sense the horses were smelling "home" as the pace of their gait increased and they started vying for first place. Sierra's old man horse decided he wanted to take the lead. I think our guide from the farm got a little nervous that the horse would go faster than Sierra wanted, but he didn't. Sierra remained calm, steering the horse all the way home. She told me the trick was that she talked to the horse the entire time. Thanking him for carrying her the whole way, understanding that he must be tired and thirsty, and reassuring him that she is grateful for his help as she wouldn't want to walk the path up the hill we were traveling! She's so thoughtful!!

Surprisingly, this evening my bum is not too sore. I feel the saddle, but it is not too terribly uncomfortable. I have to admit the 2.5/3 hours on horseback was extremely refreshing. There's nothing that compares to the feeling of being out in the open air with the animal and nature. Not to mention enjoying it all with fabulous company. This is the second "tour" type activity we have done with a tour company here in Rio. We have used the same company both times: rio hiking. The guides both times were phenomenal. Great company, knowledgeable about vegetation and area, and kind. We will probably hire them for other trips while we are here. I am now considered a "client" vs. a "tourist" as I have used them on more than on occasion. :-)

Well, here are 3 pictures of the toucans that were noisely playing outside my classroom last month. The two birds successfully distracted me from completing over an hour's worth of work (I hope my boss doesn't know this blog address!) I couldn't stop watching them. They were so loud, colorful, wild, and smart. One would call to the other, when the second replied and flew near the first they fed each other and continued a lunchtime conversation! It was an amazing display of natural beauty! I realize the pictures aren't the greatest in quality, but they should provide a visual. :-) p.s. you may have to click on the picture to enlarge it enough to actually see the bird.

Students at left hard at work on the finishing touches of their movie. Ms. Florence in the background overseeing their decisions.


I really wish that movie files weren't so big, and I could upload a couple of the digital movies the kids have made during class to this site. I am so impressed with the work the kids have done over the last 2 weeks. Some of them would impress Steven Spielberg! Amazing ideas and creativity and symbolism not to mention the fact that they were all engaged 100% of the time.


2 computers...6 kids and all of them working! It's almost unheard of.






I am adding a few pictures of kids working on their projects. We've been talking about ways of sharing this work. The aged old question: What happens now? has come up at lunch with a couple of staff members. Students have electronic portfolios, but the movie files are too large to allow 21 digital movies to occupy the server space. We will certainly create DVD copies of all the movies for each student and me to have a personal copy. I am also considering sending one copy to Oak View in MN for the English teacher there to use as a way to introduce the novels to her students. I haven't talked to Liv or Rachel directly yet, so I'm not sure they would even want them, but it might be a cool idea. Kids sharing what they've read, interesting one another in a particular title, trying to outdo each other in product. I think it's a rather intriguing thought. We'll see.

Ziggy Marley and Rio de Janeiro....
2 of my favorite things
Life doesn't get much better than this! Saturday night, or more accurately, early Sunday morning, Ziggy played live in Rio (Lapa technically, a district of Rio near Centro and a short city bus ride from home) and I enjoyed every minute of it despite the fact that I returned home only at 4:45 a.m. The clouds and rain made sleeping most of the day Sunday easy after a late night. Thankfully, I had all of my work done, nothing pressing for attention, Joe watching over Sierra and her friend, and I was actually able to sleep.

Ziggy started at 2 a.m. What an experience! He recently released a new album, "Love is my Religion" but continues to resemble his father in sound and stage presence. He didn't do anything acoustic, which was a little disappointing. When I saw him in 2001, he did a whole set without the band and covered several Bob Marley songs--my favorite acoustic version "Redemption Song". Although he covered many of his late father's music, Ziggy's new music is really good and the crowd participation last night was quite the experience to be a part of.

Ok, she's a superstar!! Sierra participated, per invitation, in the senior fashion show last Sat. She was FABULOUS! The first shot to the right is her on the catwalk with her senior escort and the second is taken at our front door in her sassy Brazilian outfit! She was actually nervous, which surprised a couple of upper school teachers who have come to know her as her routinely outgoing self. She managed to overcome her anxiety before showtime though and smiled grandly around the stage! I was so proud.

Yesterday started with a quick trip to Petropolis, the city in Brazil where the royal family settled when Brazil was colonized by Portugal. It is aproximately 1 1/5 hours by car from Rio. This first shot is of the royal palace. Although the royal family has no governmental authority in the country any longer, decedents of the royal family still live at the estate in a home behind the palace. The palace and gardens are very beautiful. The royal family also is not as wealthy as a person might guess a royal family to be, as when Brazil was first colonized even though the monarchy was here, they still sent all the riches and gold back to Portugal. Very interesting history here in Brazil.
We also drove past a former hotel/casino where many famous Hollywood actors have stayed throughout history, including Fred Astaire! The German influence on the architecture of the city was interesting to see as well. The hotel/casino looks like a Swiss Chalet or something one would see in Vienna.

While in Petropolis, we also stopped at Casa de Santos Dumont, the man of aviation in the country. Below is a picture of Sierra--"looking off in the distance" while standing on the stairs leading to the house. (It's the way she wanted the picture to be taken). The most interesting part of the structure of the house was the stairs, which were cut so that you had to step on the right side of the first step and proceed up, or down, in that pattern. Santos Dumont personally designed these stairs because he was a firm believer in the superstition that one has good luck if they always begin with their right foot forward! The next picture is of birds of paradise growing in the gardens at the royal palace. They are a beautiful flower. One of many beautiful plants found in the tropical climate of Brazil.

On the way to Petropolis from Rio you travel a winding road up and through the mountains, leaving Petropolis you follow a different road to go down. The royal family chose Petropolis to escape the heat of Rio. About half way up, traffic suddenly got really bad. We spent many minutes at a complete standstill and then we would creep forward a few meters and stop again. Then, we realized that we were seeing many people walking from ahead with crates of beer! 12 bottles to a crate. I watched one man take a bottle out of the crate being carried by another, seemingly stranger, and they were cordial to each other. There got to be so many crates of beer being carried that our driver rolled down his window and asked a passerby, "has there been an accident up ahead with a beer truck?" Sure enough!!! A semi carrying beer had taken a corner too sharp, his load of crates of bottles of beer must not have been secure and several hundred crates fell off! In the process, a few thousand bottles broke on the side of the road, but several dozen crates survived the fall and became open market for anyone passing by! It was quite funny. Had I thought of it at the time, I would have taken a picture of the broken bottles on the side of the road because it is indescribable. We were offered beer by pedestrians, but we declined as we were in a vehicle. One can never guess what they will see when they adventure out in this country.

I am going to close and publish this post and later I will add some more photos as Sierra was a model in the upper school, SENIOR's Fashion Show at EARJ last night!!! I will share those shots in a few.
Much love and beijos to all...

Thumbs up Dude!!! Mom and Sierra photo op!

Sierra's first Brazilian dress, she's sooooo happy. Look, she's modeling!!!

We made it to mass today finally for the first time. Given the language barrier and lack of attention to time, before today we were always either late or early. Today, however, we made sure we made it. I understood about 15% of the homily, in Portuguese, but the music was phenomenal! And the order of mass is the same around the world, so I could essentially follow along. Here are a few pictures from this morning before we left.

Hope this finds everyone healthy and happy. I'll catch up with more later. Much love....

Just thought I'd add a few more shots. We're keeping our fingers crossed for a nice weekend. I'm working on this electronic/digital movie project with my kids right now at school and the days fly by. I'm giving them 2 weeks to finish the project. I need them to have it done by the 11 of Oct. as the 8th grade travels to Curitiba Brazil the week of the 16. The trip will involve additional projects and assignments, so they need to finish this one first. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

The project after Curitiba will involve some type of community service as we are having the kids analyze "Quality of Life" as defined by multiple factors: education, environment, leisure time, habitat, economics, love/relationships. Curitiba is ranked 3rd best quality of life or place to live in Brazil. I am anticipating working with the area of habitat as I think it would be a phenomenal experience to work on something with the fahvelas (slums) here to rebuild or build housing. I'll keep you all posted.

Until then, here are a few more shots. Some from the balcony of the apartment. I need to pinch myself sometimes when I sit out there and realize what a beautiful landscape I have with the trans atlantic rainforest in my front yard, the atlantic ocean across the neighborhood next door and the mountains just behind me.

Natural wonders are breathtaking. Our God is an awesome God. The picture of the domelike structure is the Rio Cathedral. I find it rather unique architecture for a church. Don't you agree?

Muitos beijos para minha amigas e minha familia! (ha, the Portuguese is coming along!)

Greetings and kisses to all! I can't believe it's the middle of September all ready! The time is flying past us. I looked at a friend's blog this past week and she had several pictures posted. It was really fun to read and view, so I decided to add a few more shots for you all to eliminate the boredom of my words. The first above is taken from our balcony overlooking the pool area. Sierra is on the left and a "friend" from the apartments is on the right. The way that children are able to communicate absent of language continues to amaze me. Two weekends ago at the beach she spent an hour and a half playing with a young girl in the waves, using what little Portuguese and English the other knew and laughing a playing the whole time.
Likewise, my Portuguese is coming along. This past week I had several drs. appointments (all routine, trying to have a dr. before any type of sickness appears and I'm in a pickle to find an English speaking dr.) and I was able to communicate with the office staff IN PORTUGUESE with relative success. There have been a couple of other times that I found myself in a conversation with a vendor or a waiter and I'm understanding what's being said, MORESO, I'm responding--correctly! It's a really cool feeling. I still have difficulty comprehending given the Carioca accent. For example, Joe and I got into a taxi yesterday afternoon to pick up Sierra from a play date. I said the name of the street, Pacheca Leao. The taxi driver responded, blah blah Chocolate. I said, Que? He repeated, Pacheca Leao....The whole time he was saying the same name I was saying and I thought he was saying Chocolate! UGH! It was funny once my translation device clicked in my brain. I laughed, padded the cabbies shoulder and said, Sim, ta, obrigada. Every day is still an adventure and a learning experience.
The second picture above was taken tonight as Sierra laid on my bed and wrote in her Journal! YEah!! She's writing almost every day. Either journaling or letters to friends/teachers at school. You all must know that the writer/English teacher in me is quite proud of this new found pattern. Not to mention the fabulous archive of her experiences here that she is creating for a lifetime.
The third picture above was actually taken the first week we were here. This is the infamous day that Sierra fell into the water fully clothed because the waves were stronger than she thought and she didn't outrun them. I love the shot of her and Joe with niether of them knowing I was taking the picture and the ocean in the background is of course just the perfect landscape for such a shot.
Sierra has a running count of the animals she's seen. It started with the Toucan at school. I had seen two chirping to each other outside my classroom and then feeding each other, and she saw one the following day near her classroom. Then she was able to see this other four legged creature that is the mix of an anteater and a raccoon. I'm not sure the name (Lontra?), but they are very common and pretty cute. I remember seeing many of them at Iguacu Falls in 1995 while traveling. They are perfectly harmless and fun to see. One of Sierra's friends' mom's fed it a donut so the kids could see it before it shyed away. But the BEST animal spotting to date happened yesterday afternoon on the walk to Sierra's friend's house RIGT OUTSIDE our apartment building, crawling on the powerline was a MONKEY!!! Sierra had been waiting since our arrival to see a monkey. We were walking, something caught my attention, I looked up, thought it was a squirral and at closer look...IT's a MONKEY! Very cute, striped tail, little white face and just running along the electrical wire trying to get to a spot close enough to jump onto a tree! It made our day.
School is going great, for both of us. I had the ultimate teacher trial today I must say. The past week I have been planning with the middle school technology teacher for a week in the computer lab to teach the kids how to create imovies and podcasts. The collaboration and working out details was time consuming but exciting. We arrive at school this morning to find no power! The ultimate teaching using technology fear. In the storm we had last night/this morning a tree landed on two of the main power lines leading into school and we were without power for most of the day, the kids never did have computer access today. We are still not sure if the problem will be corrected tomorrow or not. We modified today and have a modified plan for tomorrow should we need it, but we are keeping our fingers crossed that the electricity will be fully restored by the morning. You have to laugh to keep from going crazy.

This week marked one month in Brazil. The time is going quickly; we are all still adjusting, yet starting to actually feel "at home", which is a great feeling. The weather this week has been cool and rainy. Coming from MN, I have gotten a little bit of grief from a few friends for claiming that it is cold. However, for anyone who has lived in a more humid climate, it is known that a wet cold is different than the dry cold of the MN winters. But, no, there isn't any snow--except in the bad dream I had last week. It has snowed in RIO! What a nightmare! I guess I am missing the beach as we haven't been since last weekend and this weekend isn't looking promising. :-)
Experienced my first fire drill at school this week and I had to laugh when we were congratulated for clearing the buildings in 11 minutes! I remember days at Oak View when we were encouraged to speed things up because it was taking 90 seconds to clear the building. We were celebrated for getting the kids all down to the soccer field in 11 minutes! Perspective I tell you is an incredible thing!!!
I am attaching a couple of pictures today. They're from a couple of weeks ago, but I figured it was time to put another shot or two for people to view. Vicks is still waiting for a picture of a hot Brasileiro in a sunga (speedo) but I have informed her that she will have to wait until the weather gets a little better. Until then...you all get a shot of Sierra with her birthday cake and another of Cocovado (Christ the Redeemer).
We have made friends with our portiero (doorman), Washington. He speaks like Donald Duck to Sierra (in Portuguese). You all didn't know Donald Duck was bilingual did ya? And he is adding English words to his vocabulary. It is kind of sweet when we walk by and he says, "HeLOW." with a big smile. I told him the other day that his English was coming along nicely and he got very embarrassed and said, NO!!! It is nice to come and go to such a friendly face. Perhaps one day I'll have a picture of Washington to add to the blog so you all know who we are talking about.
As I sit and think about what else there is to add here, my mind is drawing a blank. We have been thinking of all our family and friends celebrating the "end of summer" as this weekend is Labor Day in the states. Ihope you all got the chance to enjoy a barbeque or two and maybe some bocce ball in the yard with those close by. We are anxious to see if Brazilian Independence is anything compared to our favorite American Holiday--The Fourth of July! We'll let you all know after next weekend.
Much love and biejos (kisses) to all!

Oi! The days go fast and the nights go faster! I have no recollection of how many days we've actually been here, but I can say that at a meeting after school yesterday, I found out that we are technically in the 4th week of school! Seems almost impossible to be true. Especially since my first unit was supposed to only take 2-3 weeks and we need another 2 weeks to finish.
The students are different than I expected. None of it in bad ways, just different. They are definitely ESL students and I am continously reevaluating how I am teaching. I am a writing, reading and language teacher. Many staff and students alike come to me for English advise, just being a native speaker on campus gives you the authority. The students, however, are appreciating some of my teaching methods, which are slightly different than what they are used to.
This past weekend was both busy and relaxing at the same time, if that makes any sense. It's kind of oximoronic, but there is no better way to describe it. Sierra had a sleepover with a friend and was sad to come home. I think she was afraid the fun would end. She received a second birthday party invitation at school today, and she continues to smile every morning on the way to school and talk my ear off every afternoon on the way home.
Since she was sleeping over at a friend's on Sat. Joe and I took advantage and ventured out to Santa Tereza with a group from school. We had a nice evening of music, conversation and Chopp (beer). Came home late, slept in, napped the next day, and waited for Sierra to return. Sunday I think was the first day I actually felt "at home" since our arrival.
We also ventured to an art crawl of sorts in a nearby neighborhood. Found a charming ceramic vase and it looks fabulous on the dining room table for our weekly fresh flowers.
My language instruction begins Thursday this week. I will study for an hour and a half 2 nights a week and I am anxious to get those underway. There is a certain isolation that accompanies not being able to communicate with the man at the store on the street on the bus or anywhere around you for that matter.
The weather has been cool. I would guess in the low 60s. It feels very cool--I dare say cold. We haven't had a beach day in a couple of weeks, since our friends Tania and Kirstin were here visiting. I am hungering for the sand and the sun, but it will come in time I'm sure. Until then, we're actually wearing our long pants and long sleeves.
Sierra started volleyball and gymnastics at school. She has each two afternoons for an hour after classes. It works out perfectly for timing when I am contractually finished with the day and still gives her time to begin her homework before she and I head to the shuttle to come home. She is really enjoying both. Her volleyball coach speaks very little English, so she is exercising her observational skills as well as her volleyball skills.
Not sure what the weekend will bring. I tell ya, in MN I thought I worked for the weekend...when there are so many things all around to see and do, a person really starts wishing for the weekend! It's pretty incredible.
It's been great hearing from family and friends throughout the days. An email here and a reply to this blog there are welcomed signs of life outside of this huge city. Keep them coming.
Oh, one other thing, I gained authorization from Hamline this week to begin my action research with the students. I only needed a letter showing approval from the school to be sent to St. Paul for the official go ahead, so I am thinking that I will stick to my original intended date of graduation of December '06. Pending nothing too crazy comes up between now and then.
Love to all...

Big adventures this weekend. Major hiking, to the highest point in the Tijuca Forest, in the mountain photo if you can see the profile of 'sleeping giant' we were on the top of his nose. Also visited Cocovado and Sierra was amazed!! I'll write more text soon. I wanted to get some more pics. uploaded. We are enjoying our paradise!!!

Here are a couple of shots inside my classroom and from my classroom door. It really is breathtaking all around. Peace to all!

Finally some photos. Sierra on her first day of 3rd Grade!!! Sierra in her new bedroom--furniture is being delivered today!! Amazing full moon from the Veranda!! We watched it rise and could literally see it move. And my amazing Birds of paradise flowers--my total favorite!!!

Hello!! WE are finally here! Today is day 4 in Brazil and we are loving it! I am completely overwhelmed with work. I have had 2 days at school, officially, and I still don't quite understand the student schedule. Students begin on Thursday and Shaysann, the Middle School principal was kind enough to highlight some "helpful" students in each of my classes in case I needed extra direction/remediation with the times and classes. A lot of adjusting is to be done!
Saturday we spent exploring Gavea, our neighborhood...found a coffee pot at Americanas Express (it's like a mini-mini-mini Walmart) up the street. 2 days of instant coffee and it was time to give in. It was surprisingly not too expensive. We are supposed to go to the "big store" in Barra sometime in the next week to purchase a few other essentials. Right now the big need is a trash can and hangers. We are making due without them though. I get to order the furniture for Sierra's bedroom. All it had in it when we arrived was her bed, so I will pick out an amoire for her clothes and a nightstand for beside the bed. I am bringing home a catalogue tomorrow so that she can have a voice in the selections. It is kind of a pain right now since her clothes are instead in the front bookshelf closet and her toys are still in her suitcase, but getting to pick the furniture out of the book is an added bonus that is worth the momentary inconvenience now.
Sunday we ventured to Leblon to the beach...not in our swim wear as it has been chilly and rainy since we arrived. Sierra learned the hard way what the current feels like in the ocean when she was trying to outrun the incoming tide and lost. She ended up soaked, sandy and salty head to toe. Scared her to death at first, but Mom and Joe's laughter helped alleviate the fear. It really was kind of comical.
It is winter here and although it is nothing compared to the winters in Minnesota, it is surprisingly cool. My feet have been feeling it the most as I only have sandals to wear at the moment.
My boxes arrived at school last week, before me, and we are anxiously awaiting our boxes at the apartment as they contain a few things we are looking forward to using--namely a Spatula! :-0
The internet connection at home is touch and go. I am trying to get the kinks worked out this week so that I can have regular access in the evenings and not feel quite so isolated. I have to admit not having a phone that rings is kind of nice. I really want the internet for news. I feel like a typhoon could hit us and we'd never know. Ah, that brings me to language....wow! I wish there was a translation CD I could install in my brain! Some of my knowledge of Portugese from 11 years ago is coming back as I hear it all around me, but not enough to effectively communicate. I feel so ignorant at times. Joe and I have been working with the lesson CDs we brought with us and formal lessons should start for me and Sierra through EARJ soon. I am very anxious for that.
Other than the above, we are transitioning well. This is definitely the largest learning experience of all our lives. Oh, I forgot to mention that at our opening staff meeting at school Monday the headmaster announced that this will be his last year with the school. Seems administrative turnover follows me where ever I go.
Pictures will come when internet connections at home are better. :-)