12:30 am December 21st 2012. What will happen today???
7am Sunday December 16th Kerri picked me up and we headed to the suburbs. She gave me a tour of her school and then we went for breakfast at the Blueberry Hill- or something. We went back to her place to digest and relax.
We watched some DVR'd TV and then part of "the Grinch." Then we got ready and headed into the city to meet up with Kate and Dan Ferrario.
Kerri and I went up to Ravenswood and went shopping at Target while we were waiting for Kate and Dan. Then went to their place. It was great seeing them and Kate took us to a cute little shop nearby and I found some pretty cool presents and cards. I think the store is called "Hazel."
We didn't get to spend too much time with them as we were going to 5pm mass at OSP. We went and I found my usual spot. I saw many people and before I could run up to the choir and grab Megan, she ran down and found me. I've missed her!!! We said hi quickly as she needed to get back up to the choir and I greeted all the awesome people I haven't seen in 5 months.
Mass was good, as everyone was getting ready to go up to EM (Eucharistic minister), Keara came over and told me I could go up and distribute the bread, so I went up to the altar. It was cool to be a part of the community again.
After mass, I made everyone walk over to Dylan's for food and fun. I ordered their breaded mushrooms and chicken quesadillas.
It was nice to catch up and see people- which was the point of this trip. After dinner, Kerri drove us back to her place and I crashed before 11pm. I must have been super tired.
So I could use her car, Kerri woke me up to drive her work early Monday morning. I then ran a few errands and went to sleep for an hour before heading to the south side for lunch with my advisory girls at Portillo's.
I met up with Kaitlyn (new advisor), Margie, Mya, Michelle, and Yesenia and got to eat cheese fries and enjoy a shake!! It was awesome to catch up with them and hear about how senior year is going.
We hung out for a few hours and then I drove over to UNO to see Ellen for a little bit and catch up on how UNO was doing. It was frustrating to hear what has and hasn't changed. It was awesome to hear about some of my girls were doing and how much they had improved.
I drove back to Naperville and picked Kerri up for dinner. We were meeting Erika at Homerun Inn- I've actually never been there before.
Since I was eating pizza the next night, I didn't order pizza there which doesn't make too much sense since it is a pizza place. I ordered pasta and had mozzarella sticks as an appetizer. It was good but a huge portion of pasta. I also drank multiple hot chocolates as it is really cold in Chicago ( and surrounding areas).
Kerri and I picked up a pumpkin pie on the way home and enjoyed a few pieces once we were watching movies at her plae. I fell asleep again before 11 - Crazy!!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
5 months later
It's midnight the morning of December 12th. In 72 hours I will be on a plane heading to Atlanta then onto Ohio to celebrate Christmas with family. I fly back to Brasil in mid January a few days before school starts. It is very strange to think about the time 5 months ago when I was first heading to Brasil. Before I began working with my students, before I had a maid, before I met all the wonderful people I have been working with.
The past 5 months have been an incredible journey and I will miss being in my own apartment and having Maria clean my clothes and do the dishes. I will miss talking with Teresa and Kevin everyday about students and popping in to see Sue and Sabrina as well as randomly seeing Clarissa, Ashleigh, Emily, Kristi, and Yakshi in the hallway. I will miss meetings with Kenya. I will miss hanging out with Danielle on the weekend and going over to Mark's for football.
I will not miss watching TV on my computer instead of an actual TV. I will not miss the lovely bugs flying all over the place. I will not miss having to translate in my head before I start talking and still sounding like a dork. I will not miss cooking dinner for one. I will not miss my night porteiro - I will miss Jackson (day porteiro). I will not miss Math class. I will not miss my bed in Brasilia - soooo excited to go back to my king size bed.
It's very odd to begin to dwell on how my life has changed in the last few months and even odder to reflect on how it has stayed the same.
I'm nervous about living at my parents house for the next weeks and not having my own place to go to. We'll see how that goes.
I'm excited to visit friends and family and want to get updates on their lives. I'm excited to go to mass at OSP again.
I'll keep you updated!
Meghan
The past 5 months have been an incredible journey and I will miss being in my own apartment and having Maria clean my clothes and do the dishes. I will miss talking with Teresa and Kevin everyday about students and popping in to see Sue and Sabrina as well as randomly seeing Clarissa, Ashleigh, Emily, Kristi, and Yakshi in the hallway. I will miss meetings with Kenya. I will miss hanging out with Danielle on the weekend and going over to Mark's for football.
I will not miss watching TV on my computer instead of an actual TV. I will not miss the lovely bugs flying all over the place. I will not miss having to translate in my head before I start talking and still sounding like a dork. I will not miss cooking dinner for one. I will not miss my night porteiro - I will miss Jackson (day porteiro). I will not miss Math class. I will not miss my bed in Brasilia - soooo excited to go back to my king size bed.
It's very odd to begin to dwell on how my life has changed in the last few months and even odder to reflect on how it has stayed the same.
I'm nervous about living at my parents house for the next weeks and not having my own place to go to. We'll see how that goes.
I'm excited to visit friends and family and want to get updates on their lives. I'm excited to go to mass at OSP again.
I'll keep you updated!
Meghan
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
HSBC Caixa Automatica
I have not blogged in quite awhile. I'm sorry. However, I had to blog about tonight.
So my life in Brasilia has been bumping along fairly well. Nothing amazing to report but also nothing horrible to speak of so I haven't posted. It got to be some time and it just kept going by so oh well, I'll get to it this weekend. Then the weekend would arrive and the daunting task of updating you on my life for the past 3 months just seems insurmountable.
Oh well.
December 4th 2012.
It was an "F" day at school which means I taught my "F" period, then "G" period, Physics for "H" period, lunch, then "E" period. After school I worked with students until about 6pm then headed home at 7pm. Let me back up to lunch today.
During lunch, I grabbed my purse and walked down to the HSBC ATM, caixa automatica, because I needed to pay Danielle back for dinner and to get money for Maria since it is Tuesday and she will come tomorrow morning. I had attempted to get money out yesterday but they were fixing the machine. I went to the alcove and the ATM doors were open - obviously again not working. As I left for the day, I went to check one more time and the machine looked ready but it wasn't turned on. At that point, I also realized I did not have my debit card - only my credit card. Luckily, I discovered that before I biked in the other direction and realized it when I got to the store.
I headed home to check for my debit card and eat dinner while there. I took a little longer than I planned and at about 9pm headed to Pao de Sucar and the closest ATM.
They were closed. I am shocked and don't know how to have a full conversation but ask the lovely gentleman *sarcasm* blocking the door where the closest ATM is from here. He tells me it's right behind me and assures me it will take my card. Sweet, no big deal. I get into the ATM area of the bank and my card is rejected.
There are 2 women (mother and daughter) also using the space and I ask them if they know of an ATM which will take my card. Pao de Sucar is the answer. I explain (in not fantastic Portuguese) that it is closed. They begin Google searching for the closest ATMs I can use.
As they continue discussing my options, a man walks into the ATM area as well - it's a very large space and has about 20 ATMs lined up next to each other. They explain the situation to him and he begins giving multiple directions and options in very quick Portuguese. They then also explain it's for me and I only understand a little Portuguese.
He asks where I am from in English and I tell him Estados Unidos. The younger woman says, English, I could have been using English.
We spend quite a bit of time on Google with no results discovered. Then they decide to take me next door as the "Garcons," waiters, know everything about the bank options. The waiter we speak to says he doesn't know but there is a possibility of an ATM in 304/305 Sul.
So I had ridden to Pao de Sucar in 207/208. The women (Louisa and Elena) asked if I had a car and I let them know I had a bike and would be ok. All 3 of them were worried about me biking over/under the Exio (bright yellow street between 200/ 100s). Elena then drove me in her car.
I was a little worried but am very glad I took her up on it. Louisa was with us and they were trying to figure out where to go once we discovered the waiter had not given us good advice. We asked someone else. They pointed us in another direction and went to another gas station which did not have an ATM. We continued driving to a 3rd gas station and no luck. As we left there we saw a Pao de Sucar and went there knowing they had a cash machine. They had Banco de Brasil and my card is not accepted there. We asked for more directions and got back in the car. We stopped at a 4th gas station and they said no but the next one over has a 24 hour ATM. We drove 2 blocks down and there it was in 306/307.
I went in to get money out and everything was great until I got to the part when the money is dispensed and the machine said -translating here - you card cannot do that at this time. It took my pin number and then after I asked for money it accepted my alphabetic password but once it got past that NOW MY CARD CANNOT DO THAT!! Freaking out a little at this point.
I try again. This time almost right away it says my card doesn't work. I CANNOT give up. These nice women have driven me around the area for over 25 minutes THIS HAS to work.
I try one more time and have NO difficulty at any point - Go figure. I take my money and leave. I hope back in the car and Elena drives me back to my bike in 207/208. I try to give them money and say thank you ALOT but they say no problem and head on their way. I biked back home and realized I have been gone almost 2 hours on this crazy adventure to get money.
WOW!!
Phone calls and then bed to start a new day tomorrow. 10 days until I fly back to the states.
Boa noite!
So my life in Brasilia has been bumping along fairly well. Nothing amazing to report but also nothing horrible to speak of so I haven't posted. It got to be some time and it just kept going by so oh well, I'll get to it this weekend. Then the weekend would arrive and the daunting task of updating you on my life for the past 3 months just seems insurmountable.
Oh well.
December 4th 2012.
It was an "F" day at school which means I taught my "F" period, then "G" period, Physics for "H" period, lunch, then "E" period. After school I worked with students until about 6pm then headed home at 7pm. Let me back up to lunch today.
During lunch, I grabbed my purse and walked down to the HSBC ATM, caixa automatica, because I needed to pay Danielle back for dinner and to get money for Maria since it is Tuesday and she will come tomorrow morning. I had attempted to get money out yesterday but they were fixing the machine. I went to the alcove and the ATM doors were open - obviously again not working. As I left for the day, I went to check one more time and the machine looked ready but it wasn't turned on. At that point, I also realized I did not have my debit card - only my credit card. Luckily, I discovered that before I biked in the other direction and realized it when I got to the store.
I headed home to check for my debit card and eat dinner while there. I took a little longer than I planned and at about 9pm headed to Pao de Sucar and the closest ATM.
They were closed. I am shocked and don't know how to have a full conversation but ask the lovely gentleman *sarcasm* blocking the door where the closest ATM is from here. He tells me it's right behind me and assures me it will take my card. Sweet, no big deal. I get into the ATM area of the bank and my card is rejected.
There are 2 women (mother and daughter) also using the space and I ask them if they know of an ATM which will take my card. Pao de Sucar is the answer. I explain (in not fantastic Portuguese) that it is closed. They begin Google searching for the closest ATMs I can use.
As they continue discussing my options, a man walks into the ATM area as well - it's a very large space and has about 20 ATMs lined up next to each other. They explain the situation to him and he begins giving multiple directions and options in very quick Portuguese. They then also explain it's for me and I only understand a little Portuguese.
He asks where I am from in English and I tell him Estados Unidos. The younger woman says, English, I could have been using English.
We spend quite a bit of time on Google with no results discovered. Then they decide to take me next door as the "Garcons," waiters, know everything about the bank options. The waiter we speak to says he doesn't know but there is a possibility of an ATM in 304/305 Sul.
 |
| Reminder of my life in Brasilia and where things are. I live at the star and work at the arrow. |
So I had ridden to Pao de Sucar in 207/208. The women (Louisa and Elena) asked if I had a car and I let them know I had a bike and would be ok. All 3 of them were worried about me biking over/under the Exio (bright yellow street between 200/ 100s). Elena then drove me in her car.
I was a little worried but am very glad I took her up on it. Louisa was with us and they were trying to figure out where to go once we discovered the waiter had not given us good advice. We asked someone else. They pointed us in another direction and went to another gas station which did not have an ATM. We continued driving to a 3rd gas station and no luck. As we left there we saw a Pao de Sucar and went there knowing they had a cash machine. They had Banco de Brasil and my card is not accepted there. We asked for more directions and got back in the car. We stopped at a 4th gas station and they said no but the next one over has a 24 hour ATM. We drove 2 blocks down and there it was in 306/307.
I went in to get money out and everything was great until I got to the part when the money is dispensed and the machine said -translating here - you card cannot do that at this time. It took my pin number and then after I asked for money it accepted my alphabetic password but once it got past that NOW MY CARD CANNOT DO THAT!! Freaking out a little at this point.
I try again. This time almost right away it says my card doesn't work. I CANNOT give up. These nice women have driven me around the area for over 25 minutes THIS HAS to work.
I try one more time and have NO difficulty at any point - Go figure. I take my money and leave. I hope back in the car and Elena drives me back to my bike in 207/208. I try to give them money and say thank you ALOT but they say no problem and head on their way. I biked back home and realized I have been gone almost 2 hours on this crazy adventure to get money.
WOW!!
Phone calls and then bed to start a new day tomorrow. 10 days until I fly back to the states.
Boa noite!
Real World Pirenopolis
VACATION IS HERE
I got ready for Pirenopolis the night before so everything was ready to go. We were meeting up at the taxi point close to my place in the morning.
When I woke up the next day, I realized I had quite a bit of time before I had to get out of bed and get on the way. I began reading a book. I received an email from Debra (trip coordinator) to pack sheets and towels because the place we had rented did not have them. The sheet was fine, but trying to fit the towel in my small suitcase didn't work so I had to upgrade to the medium one and repack.
I got halfway to the taxi point when I realized that while I repacked to fit my towel in the suitcase I had never actually put the towel in. I texted Kristi to let her know I was late and then went back and grabbed my towel.
Debra, Krisit, Leah, and Ashleigh were waiting when I made it over the taxi point. They had called for a taxi and when the guy showed up he said he wouldn't take all of us because it was too many, but we must have looked pathetic enough because after a minute of us figuring out who would go now he said ok all of you can go to the airport.
Hertz Shuttle
Drive to Pirenopolis
LOST!!!!
no cell service
5 hours later
Real World Style!!
Maria - amazing
Sunburned
No money
drive home
Football with Mark
I got ready for Pirenopolis the night before so everything was ready to go. We were meeting up at the taxi point close to my place in the morning.
When I woke up the next day, I realized I had quite a bit of time before I had to get out of bed and get on the way. I began reading a book. I received an email from Debra (trip coordinator) to pack sheets and towels because the place we had rented did not have them. The sheet was fine, but trying to fit the towel in my small suitcase didn't work so I had to upgrade to the medium one and repack.
I got halfway to the taxi point when I realized that while I repacked to fit my towel in the suitcase I had never actually put the towel in. I texted Kristi to let her know I was late and then went back and grabbed my towel.
Debra, Krisit, Leah, and Ashleigh were waiting when I made it over the taxi point. They had called for a taxi and when the guy showed up he said he wouldn't take all of us because it was too many, but we must have looked pathetic enough because after a minute of us figuring out who would go now he said ok all of you can go to the airport.
Hertz Shuttle
Drive to Pirenopolis
LOST!!!!
no cell service
5 hours later
Real World Style!!
Maria - amazing
Sunburned
No money
drive home
Football with Mark
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