Today was my birthday! It was a wonderful day. I woke at exactly the time I was born 34, yes, 34 years ago today--9:25ish. I know, I said exactly but you understand...
Sierra and Joe had business up their sleeves from the minute I awoke. Soon, I was presented with a glowing cake--do you have any idea how hot 34 burning candles on a cake actually is? Unfortunately, the cake, however beautiful, was not delicious. I think they used mayonaisse to make the frosting. Let me tell you, it's not recommended. After the burning cake, thankfully we left for cafe de manha, brazilian style, at a local bakery and cafe. It was very nice.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing, waiting for a new mattress, that never arrived, and preparing for dinner with friends. Dinner was wonderful. Surrounded by good company, good wine, and great food.

Hello! The first week of 2007 has been one of relaxation and respite. My sleep pattern is completely thrown off, up all night wanting to sleep all day.

Thursday we went to the Lagoa and just enjoyed being outside and surrounded by grass.

Sierra skipping rocks in the Lagoa.
A lone fisherman, paddling out to "work".

Cocovado overlooking the Lagoa. We just walked for awhile on the Lagoa Thursday and enjoyed the cooler weather, as it's been rainy off and on since New Year's Eve.
The Christmas tree in the Lagoa was put up the week after Thanksgiving. We had gone to a little sidewalk restaurant that night to watch the lighting of the tree and the fireworks that followed. They light the tree each night now, and it's really more beautiful at night with the lights on, but we haven't made it to the Lagoa to actually take a night shot yet, so this picture taken during the day will have to do.

Sierra is off from school until January 30 and enjoying sleeping in, staying up late, renting movies, playing with friends, and essentially living without a schedule. I will return to work a few day earlier, January 22, to do some book clean up and then attend a workshop before teacher work days in preparation for semester 2.

WOW!!!!

That's the only way to describe our first New Year's Eve in Rio!! It was amazing! Sierra took a short nap before leaving the house last night around 9 p.m. All of us dressed in white, as the custom goes here in Rio. We headed to our friends' (Mara and Rodrigo) house for a bite to eat and cocktails before heading to Ipenema for midnight celebrations and The Black Eyed Peas!! We returned home sometime after 4 a.m. took showers, ate pizza, and went to bed!!! (sometime right before 5 a.m.) The pictures are better for sharing the experience this time... Mara preparing to serve desert.The "girls" before leaving for the beach.Joining the crowds on the beach for midnight toasts.A New Year's toast.

The 3 of us after midnight, listening to The Black Eyed Peas!!

The crowd to the stage.

Mara, Tati, Rodrigo's Mom, and Me enjoying the night!!!

Singing and dancing and smiling and sooo happy!
Bathrooms were hard to find and harder to get to. At one point in the night Sierra and I both had to use the restroom in an amazing way. So she and I, with Joe's escort, ventured through the crowds. On the way back, The Black Eyed Peas began singing "Where is the Love" (my favorite of their songs). I danced through the street, with strangers, the whole song, on the way to meet up with our friends. It was unbelievable!

Showered, fed and ready for bed!!!

The following list comes originally from a Breast Cancer 3 Day teammate and now friend, Tammy Gallagher in MN, via an '06 Fight like a Girl team member's blogsite (in WA). Thought I'd try my hand at the
Three's List (from RIO)...

1. 3 things that scare me:
Sierra's heart being hurt, being old and alone, sharks

2. 3 people that make me laugh:
Joe, Jim Carey, Jamie Fox

3. 3 things I love:
coffee, the beach, listening to Sierra sing

4. 3 things I hate:
I don't say hate, I try to NEVER use hate. so I'm changing this one to 3 things I don't care for:
deception, ignorance, war

5. 3 things I don't understand:
Stonehenge, gas prices fluctuating, the electoral vs. popular vote deciding who is elected

6. 3 things on my desk:
telephone, Portuguese-English dictionario, microphone for computer calling

7. 3 things I'm doing right now:
eating club crackers, blogging, listening the traffic splash through the damp street

8. 3 things I want to do before I die:
publish my master's thesis, earn my PhD., be an agent for change in as many kids as possible

9. 3 things I can do well:
sing, write, parent

10. 3 things I can't do:
samba, stay mad, bite my nails

11: 3 things you should listen to:
your heart, your intuition, your mom

12: 3 things you shouldn't listen to:
gossip, heavy metal music, the little red guy who shows up on your shoulder sometimes

13. 3 things I would like to learn:
to play the piano, to be more patient, Portuguese

14: 3 things I watched as a kid:
electric company, fame, the dukes of hazard

15: 3 things I drink regularly:
coffee, water, coke

16: 3 favorite foods:
cashews, picanha (it's a cut of beef in Brazil, and better than any cut I've ever had in the states), avacados

Well, here it is. Presumably boring to read for many of you perhaps, but novel entertainment for others I suppose. Right now something for me to do instead of finishing that almost done thesis mentioned in #8. Yeah, Procrastination should have made the list somewhere!

Mom and Sierra Christmas morning. Can you tell it's only 6 a.m?

Greetings and Happy New Year to all!
I wanted to get this website out:
http://www.nokia.com/A4254113 As Nokia cellular company is attempting to connect 5 countries worldwide ringing in 2007. We are lucky enough to be going to one of the named five cities' parties with THE BLACK EYED PEAS!!! in Ipenema. We are all very anxiously awaiting tomorrow's festivities. Rio is one of the top ten cities in the world to celebrate the New Year and from the testimonies of friends, both locals and expats, it is the experience of a lifetime. Sierra is gearing up for the big night as well and is cooperative in the anticipation of needing a nap before our adventures begin. On Nokia's list is New York as well, so it is possible that we could virtually party with our friends abroad this year! Look for us, we'll be wearing white.

Merry Christmas
everyone! The first Christmas in Brazil was wonderful! I hope you all have enjoyed the time with the ones you love.

Well, as a tradition anew, we started with "family" gifts today. Starting with me (mom) at 9:30 this morning, one of us each alternated opening one present each hour. Sierra's most asked for gift is pictured here--Rolly Shoes! By 4:30 this afternoon, Sierra opened this present. She was actually speechless for a few seconds. Then she read the directions, assembled the wheels, and gave them a spin!

She quickly realized they are harder to use than it appears when she's seen others in the malls skating away in their tennis shoes! I can't wait for Santa to come!!! I love Christmas morning more as a mom than I ever did as a child! Believe!!!

Peace and good cheer to all! Happy Holidays.

I think this picture is best titled "the look". She's a total fish.

Will swim the whole day if we let her.

And look how strong she is!
Ahhh, summer in Brazil! Beijocos para todo mundo.

The weeks have been extremely busy as we finish up the first semester at EARJ. From my previous post, you know I went last weekend to Buzios with "the girls". There were 20 of us total for a girls weekend on the ocean at a very charming Pousada in the beach town Buzios. This is a town I had visited while here in '95, but I can't begin to describe how much it has grown and changed. I have to hand it to the tour industry for spotting a good thing when they see it; however, I think I preferred the town when it was a quaint beach town. Many more trendy shops and restaurants, fewer off the beaten path locations...McDonald's even found Buzios! What a shame. Nonetheless, a good time was had by all. This first picture is of me and my friend Suzanne at a crepes restaurant the first night.

This weekend was just as adventurous. Friday night was the all school Christmas party hosted by the headmaster and his wife at their beautiful home in Jardim Botanico. Many people attended. There was plenty of food and beverages, a dj and lots of chatter. Since we were minus a sitter, I went solo and Joe stayed home with Sierra. It was a nice party. Sunday we spent the day lounging at the pool. Sierra was a prune by 4 o'clock.
Saturday mornining we met a new friend, Kathleen, in Ipenema at the CCAA (a worldwide language institute) and drove to Riachuelo, a neighborhood on the other side of Rio from Gavea, for Sierra to "work". Kathleen records children's stories for the language institute, and Sierra is a prime candidate for the position! We all went together along with 3 other children who have worked with Kathleen for about a year. We spent 3 hours at their recording studio, and Sierra recorded! And, Sierra was paid! Yes, at 8 years old, she's working. haha The results of her Paddington performance last month led another teacher at EARJ who goes to church with Kathleen to recommend Sierra, so we got the call. Sierra loved it! The studio is state of the art and exactly what you would see musicians use to cut a CD. Not to mention the element of acting and reading and language, which are all right up her alley! It was very neat. Likely, Sierra will work through this new year for Kathleen and perhaps after that as well. On Saturday mornings, Kathleen takes the kids to Riachuelo to the studio and then returns to Ipenema. There are wonderful benefits to this "gig" aside from the fact that Sierra really liked it and worked well with Kathleen, the other children who were there were really good kids, seem to come from good homes, Americans, and polite. Along with acquiring Portuguese, comes a level of influence on the existing language. Brazilians who speak English use a certain accent, of course, and at times, since our arrival, I have heard this accent in Sierra's English. The recording is added grammar, speaking and listening practice in native English that will only re-enforce her native language. For that I am happy. And Kathleen is a really cool woman. Originally from Colorado, living in Brazil for 34 years now and still a total product of the 60's "man". :-) She was fun to meet and talk with. She is also good friends with Mark McFarland, an upper school Spanish teacher who was here in 1995 when I first came to Brazil. McFarland backpacked to Brazil from AZ in the early 70s, and he has been an icon of sorts for me since our first meeting. Good people.

Girl's weekend in Buzios!!! Need I say more? Happy Holidays all!

After the busy day at school yesterday, we assembled and decorated our Brazilian Christmas tree. From the photos you can see Sierra is almost taller than the tree. No, she hasn't grown 4 ft. since our arrival! The tree is just short. :-)















Then I looked outside, and the rain was so heavy that from a distance, if you squinted, it almost resembled snow falling! Could we have a white Christmas in Rio? Doubtful!! Nonetheless, we all enjoyed listening to Christmas with the Steeles and Jewel, extended Sierra's regularly 8 p.m. bedtime to 9 and thought of our wonderful Christmases past along with the present blessings in our lives. Many hugs and warm wishes to everyone!

Busy Day.....










Sierra had a Portuguese performance today. Here's her teacher and she is next to two of her friends, Ashlyn and Christina.









Here are the girls singing and gesturing along to one of their songs.










And Sierra acting the part of a snail...not sure where the umbrella plays into the costume of the snail, but I think we're supposed to use our creative minds.










Here are two of her pieces of art! I love the winking sun rising over her house!!!

In thinking about our daily routine, I realized that there are many things we are all ready taking for granted in our environment. When I think of all of you, I can visualize--for the most part--where you are, what it looks like on your commutes to work, what your homes are like, what the weather is like...in talking to my mom last night on the phone and assuming she knew what capoeira is, I realized although you are all in my heart every day, you are not at my side seeing the same things I see. So, it is my mission this week to begin taking pictures of the "ordinary". To give you a sense of what day to day is really about for us here. To give you a visual when I mention that we snuggled in front of the TV and watched movies eating popcorn.



Here at right are two pictures of our living room from each end,
looking out toward the veranda and looking toward the entry door. Sierra happens to be sitting on the couch at the moment studying her times tables via flashcards. We spend a lot of time in this room, many times watching SpongeBobSquarePants on DVD (I hear the theme song now as I type) with Sierra...I never realized how totally silly that cartoon is until watching the same ones over and over and over and over and over again! But, if it's not SpongeBob it's High School Musical which I have seen now too many times to count but I can tell you that I can sing along to all the songs without watching the words on the bottom of the screen. However embarrassing that may be to admit, it scores me big points with my girls at school who all love the movie as much as Sierra. Disney sure hit it on the head with that one.

Or, perhaps you've wondered about where I do the cooking? Here is a picture of what is considered an "Americanstyle kitchen" from the laundry/maid area looking into the kitchen and toward the backdoor, which we never use. But if you believe I do ANY cooking other than frozen drinks in the blender, you are sadly mistaken! lol
I actually love our kitchen. We have much more counter and cupboard space than what is typical in a Brazilian kitchen. We recently got a new refrigerator that nicely chills our juices, soy milk, water and Cerveja (the most important beverage to have ice cold).

I was pondering the same thoughts of sharing what we see day to day with all of you last week while walking through school. I have uploaded a couple of pictures in past blogs of my classroom and the view from my door, but I haven't really taken pictures of the hallways or the layout of this beautiful campus where I'm working.

Many of our families complain about the fact that we neighbor the largest favela in Rio (favela=shantytown/slum). But there isn't another campus internationally that outdoes the beauty of EARJ. The relationship with the people living in the favela and the school has historically been amiccable. Any conflict we have heard thusfar is unrelated to school or anyone at school. I keep my fingers crossed that when they are able to build the new campus out in Barra, Rio (which is like Miami in Brazil with a replica of the statue of liberty in front of the mall and not somewhere I would choose to live while here) we are financially able to maintain both the Barra and the Gavea campuses so that I am able to remain where I am currently. That is a few years from now though and many things could happen between now and then. Until that time, I am thoroughly enjoying the beauty that surrounds me daily and push aside any worries regarding things I cannot control to a later date.

I would have included pictures of our bedrooms, but they are not presentable. Although the rest of the house is clean, the beds went unmade this Monday morning and a few straggling clothes line the floor/end tables. We'll save pictures of those rooms for a later day if it becomes worth worrying about.

Hopefully this gives you some insight into our daily lives. :-)

By the way... capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that is very popular. It was originally invented by slaves as a way to exercise and build strength in preparation for escape. The art is very entertaining to watch. Unlike other martial arts, the competitors never actually make contact even though it appears that at any moment a leg will collide with a head...

I will end with another picture of my beloved child, who continues to amaze me with her compassion, intelligence, humor and charm. She LOVES Brazilian fashion--go figure--

Paz e amor (Peace and Love) to you all!!!!

Today was another wonderful day in Rio. We spent the morning relaxing at home, and we ventured toward the beach this afternoon on our way to the Hippy Fair in Ipenema. Stood for a while and watched a GREAT volleyball match. I have to say our time spent at the Hippy Fair today involved more English then we've heard the whole time we've been here. It is a very popular tourist location. Essentially, it is an open air art fair with several hundred artists selling their goods. The pictures to the left are two of a painting we purchased at the end of our browsing. We actually watched the man paint the picture. It was phenomenal to watch him complete the masterpiece. There are five artists from a local fahvela who paint every day at this particular place in the plaza. The men were very friendly. We understood basically everything they communicated to us, which was a really cool feeling. And they invited us to come visit in the plaza any day and enjoy cerveja with them. :-) It was a wonderful end to a relaxing holiday for all of us.

Greetings to all and may your travels to be with family this week for the holiday be safe and relaxing!

Sierra and I enjoyed some girly pampering Friday afternoon by getting pedicures together. Her feet are as ticklish as mine, and we both grip the sides of the chair when they take the pumice stone to the bottoms. We giggled and chatted and tried to understand the women giving us our pedicures enough to explain what we wanted. As you can see, the results are good!

We have a 3 day week this week, off today and Friday. Only about 3 weeks remain of this first semester. It is amazing how fast the time is going. I can't believe it's all ready Thanksgiving week. Enjoy the turkeys and stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and pumpkin or sweet potato pies, depending on your family's traditions. (Or, pecan rum pie, which is really good also)

Many blessings to all of you. I am most thankful for the family and friends in our life. We are truly blessed.

Life is all about perspective. I read the following quote on a blogsite of a friend and had to share with all my friends and family as well.

"One of life's best coping mechanisms is to know the difference between an inconvenience and a problem. If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire-then you have a problem. Everything else is an inconvenience. Life is inconvenient. Life is lumpy. A lump in the oatmeal, a lump in the throat and a lump in the breast are not the same kind of lump. One needs to learn the difference." ~Robert Fulghum
Makes you stop and think, doesn't it.

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!