One Month is our new city

In the last month I have learned sooo much about myself, my family, my child, and my new home city.

I have learned that in Salvador, I do need to know the language, but I can function OK without it.  The need to do better than OK is the reason I have lessons with a private tutor 3 days a week for 3 hours each.  I have learned that you can actually sweat 24 hours a day and not die of dehydration.  I have learned that ants are the unoffical state creature of Salvador (we have 8 different types in our house).  Thus the state past time is killing ants.  I have learned for me the best by far cure for insomnia is standing on my deck in the wee hours of the night: looking at all the stars twinkling, listening the the waves hit the beach and the wind moving the palm fronds, and smelling the salt air.  I have learned I remember how to cook popcorn on a stove and how to boil a hot dog.  I have learned that pigeons are dumb messy birds that drink pool water, but have definite personalities.  I have learned that this paradise is far from perfect, but is good enough for me.

I have learned so much about my child.  Gareth has been an unique individual since the moment I knew he existed.  I have learned to expect the unexpected from him.  I also have learned over the years that I can never really know what he is thinking.   I have also learned that he will always teach me something new about the really imprtant things in life.

I was worried about how this move would affect him.  We tried so hard to educate him about what life would like here; as well as, have him involved in the process/decision to move here.  With that said until we were here, there was just no way for him to understand.  He is like me in that he needs friends.  I was worried about that with the language difference.  He doesn't like to stand out, it embarreses him, so I was worried about how he would feel being the new kid in school.  I was just plain worried like a mom does.

Gareth has done better than expected.  Even though many of the kids speak Portuguese outside the class, he has still been able to make a few friends.  I feel that once we are back to actaully being in school for an extended period that will get even better.  His love of soccer has just exploded and his skills and the aggressiveness that he lacked in the States has just taken off.  (I guess that is what happens when you play soccer 3 times a day at school).  He has found ways to find the fun in the worst situations.  For example the day I said he did not have to go to school becuase of the strike, and we could not go to the movies as planned.  He was excited that he got to stay in his underwear all day, and didn't see a reason to take a shower.

Emotionally is really how Gareth has blown me away.  There have been  momemts of tears where he has missed his friends and Tulsa .  We had some really hard nights where he missed his dad while John was in Houston.  During those times of holding him while he cried, he has shown me how neat of a person he is.  One night when he wss upset, I told him it was OK to cry.  He responded, "I know.  Brave men show their emotions."  Another time I asked if he wanted to go home, meaning back to Tulsa.  He responded, "You and dad are here.  We are home."  A final blow me away away moment.  We were sitting on the deck, and Gareth wasstaring out over the pool but with that look for staring in space.  I asked what he was thinking  He said that living here was one of the best things he has gotten to do.  I thought he was just giving me a line to get me to leave him alone.  But I asked why did he think that.  He said that at our apartment we did not have alot of stuff since ours is not here and we did not have alot things to go and do, so we got to just be a family alot and he liked that.  He did follow up by asking when would his legos and wii get to Salvador. 

As  Siliva finishes making breakfast of eggs, pancakes, and fresh mango juice, I just think how we are definitely on a roller coaster ride.  There are going to be some great ups and some big downs.  All in all I think we are going to enjoy the ride.