Primeiro Sábado

Saturday July 27th

My first Saturday in Brasilia

We met at the school at 11am.


Liz (HR Manager) took us to the Hippie Fair (feira de hippie) to pick up anything we needed or just wander.  Some of us wanted to get lamps, clothes, jewelry, or just see what the fair was about.

Here's what it looked like:

The TV Tower.  The Hippie Fair has basically formed around it.

Danielle checking out the jewelry

I was concerned they were going to light this at some point! It would be an awesome bonfire, but not very safe in this environment of wooden stalls.

Kids only area - why do they never let the grown-ups jump on the trampoline or go in the bouncy houses!?!?!

Religious group marching and singing

We were getting a feel for the rugs to see which was the best.  People just walked over the rugs as we put them down - it was very odd yet useful.

Redes (hammocks) and rugs for sale!

 Ok,  there is a story behind this lovely looking concoction.  Friday night (last night) Angie told me about this food she would eat all the time and craved but could only get at the Hippie Fair.  She and Liz warned me not to get it as I have only been in Brasil for a few days and my stomach would not be able to handle it......


CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!

I was fine.  The only odd part was discovering the shrimp are not deveined or deshelled.

The gang eating together. Sue was in Sao Paolo for a conference and Mark was working on papers for his Masters.

Yakshi - who isn't here yet was getting on an airplane soon and would be landing in Brasil Sunday morning.  Liz was going to pick her up at the airport and Clarissa, Kenya, and I were going to join her.

Kenya and Sabrina drinking coconut milk

Kristi enjoying one as well.

Bob Marley impersonator   most of the time we could not tell if he was singing in English or Portuguese.

Pastel de queijo.   Cheese filled bread.  Deep fried - delicious!!!

Alana was dragged along by Liz to help us out as needed!  She was great and helped me order my pastel.

Katie (my buddy) and Liz

Danielle and I

We rock!!









After the Hippie Fair, we all headed home with our goodies.  I bought a lamp and a clock.

Vanessa (Tania's sister) lives in Brasilia with her family.  We were trying to figure out a time to meet and how to go about it.   We had planned for Saturday but it didn't quite work out so we decided to meet up tomorrow and see how the day went.


I went home and unpacked some more - not much :-)

Katie emailed at one point and mentioned dinner with some other EAB people.  We all met up at 204 and walked over to 201.

I met "The Collins family"   Kevin and Heather work at EAB and their children, Georgia and Sam, are in 8th and 6th grade - awesome people.  They have been living in Brasilia for the past year and Sam was definitely the one helping us at dinner.  Anytime the server said something we didn't understand, we would point to Sam and have him answer for us.

Walking from Quadra 204 to wherever we were going.  I just followed others and randomly took pictures "as needed"

Waiting for them to gather a table for our group.  It was 7pm and that is VERY early to eat in Brazil.  They weren't sure what to do with us.

Still figuring out where to put "the gringos"

it was "Restaurant Week" in Brasilia and places had special menus.  We were taking advantage and going to Dona Lenha for dinner.  A very expensive restaurant and only paying R$44 for a 3 course meal.

Ashleigh and Danielle enjoying the weather and each other.

Georgia and Sam were forced to seat together so the "adults" could talk.

This worked out ok as they shared a pizza and Sam was closer to the waiter to help translate everything.

Heather and Kevin - great people.

Potato cream soup. It was pretty good.

Potato = batata

Ashleigh eating her sopa de batatas.

Camarao tortilla.  The outside was edible.  Basically a really thin tortilla bowl.

My cereveja of choice.  Malzbier.  It is a sweet black beer.

ordering dessert = sobremesa (literally means "over the table")  but it means dessert so I learned that word early!!!

Georgia moved to the other end as Sam was getting a mousse and not sharing.

Caramelized pineapple with ice cream (sorvete) on top.

Sam's mousse.

Ashleigh's ovo = egg dessert.  It was pretty good even though it looks as though it's just a blob of peas.


















We all walked home and broke off as we approached our quadras.   Liz was going to pick me up about 7am to go to the airport so I wanted to unpack a little more and then head to bed.

Boa noite!!!

Fingerprints and Opening Ceremony Party

FRIDAY JULY 27th!


Breakfast at my apartment - Sucrilhos (known in the US as Frosted Flakes). Then headed to school to organize my classroom

This is my classroom.  I have 11 desks so far.

This is an eclectic mix of things left for me by Kathy!

MUCH APPRECIATED!!

My Desk

After working in my classroom for awhile, we headed out to the Federal Police to do some paperwork and have them register our fingerprints.


There was a line at the Federal Police Station (in the airport) and Clarissa and Mark offered to wait while the rest of us went to find some food.  It was lunchtime.

We walked around the airport and weren't able to find a quick place to eat, so we sat down here at this restaurant and ordered quickly.

Kenya talking and explaining what she was going to order.

Kristi and Emily ordered Capresi sandwiches.  This is what came out.  Looks amazing but not quite what was expected.

I ordered a ham and cheese sandwich. I forgot to take a picture until halfway through.

As you can see, I didn't really like it!

Our server.  He was great

 My dessert (minha sobremesa)

Cheesecake with guava

Sobremasa de Kenya.  Chocolate ice cream (sorvete)










We finished up our food and hurried down to the Federal Police.  Clarissa had just been called in and Mark was still waiting.  After about 10 minutes, Mark was called in and Charliston went with him.  Kenya came back and we sat for about 3 minutes when Clarissa came out and was all done. I followed a lady back, Charliston handed her my information, and she asked me some questions - in Portuguese - and I tried to answer them.  After a little effort, she began typing information into the computer and I would verify it.  She finished with me very quickly and sent me to get fingerprinted.  I followed Anna into a little room and we spoke in Portuguese to say hi.  She decided I understood Portuguese and began talking to me.  I interrupted with my favorite phrase - "Eu não falo Portuguese" 

We attempted a bit more in Portuguese then she just smiled at me and motioned for my hands.  Kenya joined us about now and was waiting for her turn with Anna.  Kenya is a native Spanish speaker.  Anna and Kenya began speaking and doing really well.  I understood every couple of words or so, but got the gist.


I was done with the fingerprinting very quickly and went out of the office to make room for new people coming in.

After everyone was done, we headed back to school.

I continued to work in my classroom and at about 4:30 Kenya reminded me we were all meeting at Libanhaus.   Kenya, Clarissa, and I walked over to Libanhaus and met up with Liz there.  We joined tables together and started the Friday night "work is done for the week" party!!




Clarissa trying to avoid the camera

Danielle trying to avoid the camera....

Mark ignoring the camera

Liz encouraging more pictures with the camera.

The Gang

Sabrina and Katie

Clarissa and Kristi

My dinner.  Kibe Libanhaus.  Some type or Arabic meat and fries.

Kenya eating the kibe too.

Beth ordered Smirnoff - REALLY???  I guess she has been here long enough she can order non Brasilian beverages.

Mark ordered  Meat and Cheese.

Emily with her Esfirra de frango - it's pretty good!

Ashleigh drinking her cerveja

Liz, Joao, and Giulano

Ashleigh and her pizza.

The waiter wanted to show us what was in Danielle's drink.

Liz being anti-social

What was left of Ashleigh's pizza.

What we were able to see of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.

Kenya was getting hit on by guys at the table over - one bought her this movie.

Joao brought us a beverage to try so we passed it around the table.

You can tell by our faces how much we enjoyed it....

Clarissa

......

Kristi.....

Sabrina.........

Katie is saying no too....

Joao decides to have us try a different liquor.

What do you say Ashleigh......?

Emily?......

A third drink?????

Wait a minute???   Is it clear or white???

Giulano, you do first.

Alright, I'll try it.


hmmmm tastes like black licorice

Emily is going for it.

Liz is definitely willing to drink some.

SOBREMESA!!!!

Eu gusto sobremesa
I like dessert.

Sorvete de murango
Strawberry ice cream.

Random guy walking through the bar selling jewelry.

Cheers to our first week in Brasil!!!

Salute!

Joao brought us a bottle to drink the next time we were all together!

We left after the Opening Ceremony ended.

We cheered for Brasil and we were the only ones in the bar who did.  Liz said, "What are you doing?  It's not the World Cup!"







We headed home and since most of us live in the same direction we started walking that way.   On the way, we passed this cute tree which is hiding a mailbox.   You actually have to duck under the tree to post mail!!

An up close look at the mailbox.

Our hodgepodge group walking home.

We had talked Danielle into hosting an Opening Ceremony party.  Mark and I were the only ones to make it that long, so we headed to her place to continue the party.

Danielle's hallway











Danielle's apartment.   UH uh huh!   You didn't come over.   What happened in Danielle's apartment .... stays in Danielle's apartment.


Next time be ready to make a night of it!!!


Boa noite!