Tuesday, August 25, 2009

A SNAPSHOT OF OUR DAILY LIVES






Well, as usual, I have not been able to blog as much as I would like. We finally got internet at the house but there was a mistake with the installment and it is pretty slow. We hope to have the problem reconciled quickly (quickly is not really a reality in Brazil)! Marko's schedule has been busy dealing with computer gliches and various other issues that have arisen with the house. I have a full schedule including taking care of the kids and the household, as well as Teaching four English classes a week. I have never considered myself a teacher, but God has opened the doors for me to teach in Brazil, so I am stepping out in faith. This just sort of fell into my lap and I believe that it is what I am supposed to do. I left the United States with plans to pursue my Master's degree in Counseling. I still have that desire, but here I am in Brazil doing something I never would have planned on doing, and I am enjoying it! I am currently taking an on-line course called TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). Who knows, maybe I will enjoy it so much that I will switch my Master's degree to TEFL! I am so open to what God has for me. A common phrase that Marko likes to use is: "I just work here"! In other words, as Christians, God is in control of our lives and we are just trying to be obedient and walk out the plan He has for us. His plan is frequently not our plan, so we try our best to listen and be obedient to the call-even if it is teaching English in Brazil!

I thought I would give you a little snapshot into our daily lives. Marko and I have a goal of waking up at 5:00 every morning to do an interactive bible study. We do not make it up at the same time every day, but we are committing to at least 3-4 days a week. It is a little difficult right now in that Gabriella's bedroom is the living room and she wakes up very easily! We wake the boys up at 6:00 to get ready for school which starts at 7:00 (and here I thought school was early in the U.S.)! Marko makes the kids breakfast while I go on a walk/run around our neighborhood. I get back in time to drop Marko and Noah off at school directly across the street.

On a typical day Gabriella and I will then walk into town to do our errands. It is about an half mile walk to the grocery store so we don our flip flops and head out. The walk into town is easy but the walk back can be a little challenging depending upon how many bags of groceries we bought! I have yet to master the art of purchasing just the right amount of food so that we can carry our grocery bags comfortably. Usually I get home with red marks on my wrists from supporting the majority of the bags (Gabriella always seems to come down with some excuse as to why she can't carry more than one or two bags)!!

We get home in time to do some American homework and hang out with daddy before picking the boys up at 11:30. The boys come home and we either make lunch in the house or walk next door to our neighbors restaurant. We can go to their all you can eat buffet for $4 Reais which is equivalent to about $2.00 American-depressing I know!!! Imagine if we could eat so cheaply at home!

After lunch we hang out as a family while Gabriella gets ready for school. We drop her off at 1:00 then come back home and tackle the boys' American Homework. We want to make sure they keep up on their American studies because their school in Brazil is 100% Portuguese speaking so they are not getting much out of it academically (yet).

I am not sure what happens to the afternoon, but it always seem to fly by. We usually we end up at CTMDT where Marko G. works in the school store. He helps cook and clean and is paid with free food. He is so adorable in his apron. I will have to take a picture of him to post on the blog. While Marko is working hard, Noah is usually playing hard, and mommy and daddy are studying. Noah as you can guess can typically be found running, jumping, or climbing something! On hot days we are down by the pool for part of the afternoon. The water is freezing though so it is usually just the kids who are swimming! At this moment it is 4:00 P.M. and we are hanging out at CTMDT waiting for Gabriella to get out of school at 5:30.

We will pick her up on our way home for dinner. Evenings are spent as a family or with friends eating Brazilian Cuisine! One night our neighbors came over and taught us how to make homemade bread. We started the process at 7:00 and the bread was not finished until 10:00 so that is when we ate dinner!! Imagine these loaves of bread sitting in your stomach all night! I woke up with a seriously bloated belly! No wonder I am gaining weight!

The picture of us standing by the cement wall is of us talking to our neighbors. If we want to borrow something we just stand on a stool and pop our heads over the wall. It is pretty "Legal" (cool)! Our neighbors are amazing. We have a brother and sister who live on one side (Geslaine and Claidson). They are 24 and 26 years old and such great neighbors! Geslaine is a our local dentist and she saw Marko for free a couple of weeks ago! Our other neighbors (the ones with the restaurant) have two teenage daughters who love to play volley ball and watch movies with the kids. Last night they brought spaghetti over for Noah because he has been sick and pretty much home bound. I did not think I would like having neighbors so close, but truly it has been a blessing! I could do without the barking dogs, however!

Some nights we eat dinner at our friends pizza restaurant. Danhilo and Claudia have been a huge gift to us. Danhilo managed Domino's pizza in America for about seven years so his English is good. He has helped us tremendously to settle into life here in Brazil. Claudia is one of my English Students. They serve the best pizza I have ever had. It is a secret family recipe and I SO want to steal it and bring it back home!!! I am kidding of course, but I am now ruined for any other pizza.

Well, that about covers our typical day. It is not so different from home except that we walk everywhere and we are never alone!!

2 comments:

  1. JUKS,

    Great stuff. Missing you guys, but love hearing about your adventure. The kids look great.

    love dc

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  2. You DO all look great. WOW is all I can say here (in a good way:))...miss you

    ReplyDelete