Sunday, August 19, 2012

Milestones in life

When raising a child there are milestones that make you stop and think about your child when they were younger and how fast they are going up.  For me milestones don't seem to be the usual thigs like learning to walk or first day of kindergarten.  Those times were exciting, don't get me wrong, but they are exciting events. I seem to be struck by nostalgia with the unusual milestones.

Friday night was one such milestone for me. Gareth lost his last baby tooth.  That is the last time the tooth fairy will sneak into his room, the last time he will wake up excited about the gold dollar that was under his pillow. 

Thinking back about all the places that Gareth has lost a tooth was fun and sad.  His first 6 teeth he had pulled because they would not fall out even though the adult tooth was growing in behind it.  The first tooth he lost on his own he knocked out while diving behind our big chair in the living room during aneft war.  Then came the tooth he lost at Oneok stadium in Tulsa during a baseball game.  Eight teeth were lost while here in Brazil (1 at a middle Eastern restaurant during dinner, 1 at the beach, and 1 on the airlplane flying to the US)  Another tooth was lost while in Houston to get our visa.  The next to last tooth was pulled by Dr Todd in Broken Arrow since the adult tooth was once again missing the baby tooth.  The final tooth was pulled by Gareth.  He could not sleep, so he pulled his tooth while in bed and woke us up at 11 pm with a bloody mouth and wondering if the tooth fairy would still be able to come that night.

Now that I think about it the progress of losing teeth is on par with the chaos of our life.  It is sad to see that part of our life come to an end, but I figure there is another stage that is beginning.  Now on with the adventure of raising a child.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Back in Brazil

After a 5 week break in the US, we are now back in Salvador.  Actually we have been back a week, but it has been a whirl wind week.  We arrived on Friday, and John's boss came to stay with us on Sunday.  Gareth began the fifth grade on Monday.  The big excitement was the movers arrived with our container on Tuesday.  John and his boss got to help with the movers for a few hours before they had to fly to Mossoro for 10 days.  Thus I have spent the last 4 days unpacking boxes.  I am down to the boxes that John needs to unpack.  All the others are completed.  I still have clutter to put up, but the boxes are empty.

Today I have been just relaxing.  It has been rather nice.  The temperature is like a nice May day in Oklahoma.  I have 2 loads of laundry on the line drying in the sunny breeze.  This morning I made mango juice, pineapple juice, and passion fruit juice in my new juicer.  I also made a nice salsa.  THe kitchen is still small and the counter space is way to little, but having some of my favorite kitchen tools makes cooking so much more enjoyable. 

I took a little time while Gareth and friends were playing to relax in green patio chairs my parents gave us for Easter one year.  They are perfect for our pool area.  I know laying out is a no no these days, but it sure feels nice to sit the in sun with a warm breeze blowing in the palm trees while reading a good book. 

Being back in Brazil is feeling like being at home again.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Winter/Summer Break

On June 19th Gareth and I flew back to the U.S. for 5 weeks.  It is actually winter in Brazil, so they call it a winter break.  But for us who are going back to 100 degree it, it is summer.  We are using my parents house in Mississippi as our home base, but we will doing some traveling around including going back to Tulsa to see friends and doctors.

We have now been here a week and wow has time flown.  We are slowly seeing people that are in our lives, but we have also just been taking it slow.  The first couple of days, I did a mad dash through stores buying summer clothes for us all before they all gone.  Gareth was going to need shorts to last until next spring, so I had to buy things in multiple sizes.   

It is interesting to see how much we have become Brazilian.  I noticed yesterday when Gareth was handed a spoon at the Chinese restaurant he said obrigado which mean thank you in Portuguese.  He did not realize it, and I did not mention it to him.  I find myself doing the same thing.  I also miss the fruits and veggies we enjoy in Brazil.  So many of our meals are more than half fruits and veggies, not the case here.  I am having to watch what I eat as American food does not agree with me as well as it used to. 

I will enjoy every minute of this trip to my childhood home, but I feel that we have a home in Brazil also.

Festas de Sao Joao

The festival of Saint John is how it translates is actually on June 24th.  Here is Salvador is seems to be celebrated all month long.  The celebration is bigger here than Christmas.  I have received many explanations of this celebration from a harvest festival, to Saint John performing a wedding, to a bandit that stole from the rich and helped the poor. The purpose in the festival seems to have gotten a little lost to this outsider. 

Even though no one gives me the same answer of why they are celebrating, the festivities are very fun.  At the beginning of June many streets, stores, and houses were decorated with strings of little colorful flags and kites.  Fireworks stands started popping like mushrooms, as well, as places selling firewood stacks for bonfires.  So far we have attended 3 parties.  At the parties everyone dresses up like country people in plaid shirts, tattered pants with patches, and straw hats.  There are usually at least one band that plays the Brazilian very of country music.  We eat corn on the cob, boiled peanuts, a cake made of corn meal, and grilled meat on sticks.

This year we were around for the first 2 weeks of Sao Joao, so we only got to catch the beginning of the excitement before we flew home for winter break.  Next year, it might be worth staying in town to experience the festival.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Last Day of School

Gareth finished fourth grade on Friday. This is a huge milestone for him as well as for us as a family.  When Gareth began this semester he knew no one at school, we barely knew how to drive to school, we had no clue where to buy our groceries, and most improtantly how to communicate with Brailians. 

At breakfast I asked him if he enjoyed it here at school.  He paused and said that yes he liked HIS school.  That one word means soo much.  It made me teary.  His road from it being the American school to it being his school was very bumpy but not worth dwelling on.  He has found a way to fit in and belong.  Does he have tons of friends and is always smiling when I pick him up, no.  But in 6 weeks when he begins 5th grade, he now has a foot hold, people he likes and likes him, and a desire to go.  Best of all he finished the semester with 3 A's, 1 A-, and a B.  That is more than I expected, but I am very proud of him.

After I returned from dropping Gareth off from school, I paused on the outside stair landing to watch the monkeys play in the banana and papaya trees.  I was thinking about him saying it was now his school.  I realized this is now my home too.  I now know where I like to shop for food, I have learned how to relax and trying to do anything, I have learned to accept most of the creepy crawlies and flying things that are in and out of our house, I have made some amazing friends, and have found my comfort here.

As I watch Gareth splashing in the indoor jacuzzi (the pool is a little chilly this time of year without the heat pump on) I realize life is good.    

Monday, June 4, 2012

I went shopping

Today and friend and I took her driver and went to Porto Sauipe, about an hour north of Lauro Frietas.  We were on a mission to find the basket and rug store.  This town is Mayberry size.  We had to ask 3 people where to go.  Once we found the location, it was not open.  So a man on the street told us where the owner's house was, and we went to her house.  She walked to the store and opened for us. 

I have seen baskets and rugs made of palm fronds and ocean reeds before.  What I like about her pieces is the color.  She has the blood red, royal blue, hot pink, and a true black.  We found out that her whole family does this as their living.  Their prices were fabulous.  I bought 4 neat pieces including a big basket.  I also ordered a large carpet of cream, dark brown, and red.  My carpet will be about $50 US and be ready in 4 days.  It would take me 6 months to make something this size.    I am very excited to go back and pick it up. 

I was overwhelmed about all the choices of bags and purses.  When I go back I will buy more pieces now that I have a a better idea of what is available.

Fun Weekend

This past week-end we were the such the social butterflies.  John and I went to 2 parties, and Gareth went to a party and a sleep over.  The events were very fun.  It is interesting to me to see how different places have fun different ways, but it ends up being about socializing and friendships.

 Let me explain further.  The parties here are soo much more dressy than I am used to.  The dress I wore to the party Saturday night that was an out door party was defintely contail if not pushing semi formal.  To the day time party, I wore a very nice dress.  The clothes were different than the parties we attended in Oklahoma.  The food and wine is more formal.  But the conversation, the laughing, the great memories that are made are the same.  No matter where we live in the world, is a nice feeling to be able to enjoy other people.