Day One

Today was my first full day in Brazil.  Catanduva is beautiful and my family is more than I could have asked for.  I will try to recount for you the happenings of today, but my brain is so overwhelmed by the amount of new things I am trying to learn that I am finding it difficult to form sentences and remember details!  But here goes! This morning I woke up and was a little surprised by my surroundings, having temporarily forgotten that I had in fact gone to Brasil.  After getting up and starting the unpacking process, I had breakfast with my host sister.  I had chocolate milk, and here in Brasil milk comes in a cardboard box!  I talked with my host sister and grandmother for a little bit, a conversation that was lacking on my part, and then finished unpacking my room.  I love my room. It is small and orderly and has a gorgeous closet that can store all of my clothes.  When that was finished my host sister started making lunch and my host grandmother took me on a walk to get some ingredients from the store a few blocks away.  She had me bring my camera, completely supporting my photo addiction!  The city is beautiful.  There are many trees along the streets and the sidewalks are tiled in beautiful patterns.  But the most beautiful thing of all is the Portuguese.  Obviously, Portuguese is everywhere.  Written on signs, spoken by everyone (including me!), and in the music.  This is a language learner’s dream. 

After we got the ingredients we went on another walk down the street.  I am never really sure where I am going when someone tells me to come with them because, quite frankly, I don’t understand very much!  But it definitely gives everything a sense of adventure. Anyway, we wandered down the street, my grandmother telling me about her city, pointing out things for me to learn and having me repeat her words.  She is an angel, so she is so sweet and very spry.  She is also very eager to teach me Portugêse.  At one point today she took me to the garden and taught me what each plant was.  

Anyway, we stopped at this small truck on the side of the road that was selling fresh fruit and vegetables.  The man spoke with my grandmother and me, learning that I was from Estados Unidos and very happy to hear that I could speak a little Portuguese!  He gave me a green fruit, pink on the inside with seeds, for me to try.  It was delicious- something I have never had before!  He thentalked to me about how eating the fresh fruit and organic vegetables is why he looks like he does at his age! 

After this we had lunch and talked some more.  Soon I went on another adventure, this time to run some errands and get a uniform for my school, as I soon found out.  We stopped at a small shoe store and my sister bought my Brazilian shoes, flats that were a little dressier than my flip-flops.  A necessary item.  My sister also took me to a Brigadeiro and ordered five mystery items!  She explained them to me in Portuguese but it wasn’t until the waitress brought them that I realized they were small truffles, each with a different flavor.  One bite of the strawberry, or morango, one and I experienced heaven.  If I gain 50 pounds in Brazil, it will be because of Brigadeiros.  I also got to go to my school and meet some of my classmates, all of whom are very nice!  I look forward to getting to know them. 

This evening for dinner my host dad brought me and some of his friends from work to a small shop down the street where we ordered Pastels.  This fried-dough-sandwich-thing is incredible!  I had one that was savory (I honestly do not know what was in it, but it was good!) and one with chocolate that was delicious! 

And at the end of the day, I can honestly say that I understand twice as much Portuguese as I understood this morning.  And this is thanks, not only to this crazy, total immersion, but also to my amazing family here who are so very loving and patient with me.