Time to go home!

I can't really tell whether I'm happy or not for flying back home...

I just got this flu that is making me feel awful! It's not the swine flu...thanks God! But still, I got high fever for the past couple of days...

Everything is ready for us to go home...we had some trouble packing coz my mom decided to buy a few too much stuff at Dollarama ( everything for 1 dollar!)...she even bought a wok pan at Ikea!!!!! Bruno helped her packing so everything could fit in her baggage!

Well, Bruno has download the pictures form my camera to his computer, so, I'm posting some pictures now:

Back from Utah

What a weekend!!! We surely had a busy weekend...but if there is something I could complaint about is that I didn't stay longer...

I'd waited for this weekend for the past two or three months...or whenever Rich announced he was going to marry Janae and I bought the flight tickets to go...

I still can't post any pictures coz I've to download them from my camera to my computer...unless I download all pictures I have ( about 400) to Bruno's laptop...which I don't think would make him very happy...

My mom is still talking about the kids and how lovely they are...

She has a bunch of stories to tell everyone...I could even mention some...but it would take me hours and hours coz there are plenty of them!

It was great seeing how big the kids are...and how this family has grown in such peaceful and beautiful way...

This family is such an example!

I really wish I could stay a bit longer...

I really want to thank all of you for being so friendly and for being so patient with my mom (and me!)...
And...a special thank you to Lyndon who spent most of his time talking to her in Portuguese and translating everything people said around her (I was starting to get a little tired of translating)!!

Rich and Janae, I'm really happy you found each other and I wish you two the best! Sorry for crying at the luncheon!!! hahahahah... Luv ya!!!

Back from Toronto

Here I am again....

On Monday we went to Toronto to sight see a little...the weather forecast said that it would rain during this week here in Montreal and would be sunny in Toronto...so, we didnt even have second thoughts...we woke up on Monday morning and headed to Toronto...a 8-hour trip...

We had walked a lot on the day before our journey, so my legs were still hurting and I could barely walk...resting my legs for 8 hours sounded really nice...poor me! When we finally arrived at our destination, I felt even worse...it seemed like my blood was cold and so that my muscles were lazy...

Well, I;ve got great stories to tell...no doubt, but I'd rather tell them in person!

Tomorrow...SLC here I goooooooo!!!

Montreal- day 2

Hi everybody! I know most of you haven't got the time to read my last post, but I gotta do this before I miss all stories.

First of all, my body hurts!!!!!! Yesterday morning we walked for hours and hours! Bruno, dad and I went for a long walk at the Mont Royal, where you can see the best view of the city ( pictures in my camera still)! My mom stayed home because since we arrived she has a fever! I bet it's more emotional than physical. At least this morning I can see she is much better.

In the afternoon we all took a bus and went to the Cirque du Soleil to see the show OVO, which celebrates its 25th anniversary!!! What a show! It was quite amusing realizing that most of the songs played were from Brazil, and they even sang in Portuguese! That's my second time watching gás shows! And I always feel amazed for the things they do on stage!

After that, mom and dad were too tired to do anything else, so we walked home with them and then left to walk a little more in the city. Bruno and I decided to see Transformers...in English, of course!! It was around 10pm when we arrived home under a heavy rain. We gás planned to see the firework festival,but because of the rain we had to do that from his balcony. Not bad,right?

Gotta go... We still have plenty to walk this morning !!

Montreal- day 1

Hi everybody!!! Here I am in montreal!!!! We had a terrific flight!! We arrived yesterday around 11am local time. I have some great stories to tell about this!!!! Ahahahaha
Well, first of all, I really thought I'd take some advantage on being one of the few people around here speaking Portuguese... Shame on me!!!! We were at the bagage claim area trying to get our luggage back and we couldn't find my mom's. I started teasing her saying that she would have to buy new underwear. Not my surprise, the guy from the airport started speaking Portuguese to me!!!! I was sooo embarrassed!!!
Then, we took a taxi to come to Bruno's apartment. He's got a fine place to live. Since it was close noon, we decided to have lunch. Near bis place there are some great restaurants to choose. We chose a Greek place! My dad used a Visa travelling card. That was his first time using it and we thought everything went just fine. Well, when we tried to use his card again in other stores,we realized that it was blocked and the waiter hadn't seen it!!!! We came back home quickly and returned to the restaurant to pay again our bill!!! The waiter's face and gratitude were priceless!!! The owner just couldn't believe that someone could actually return to pay such bill and that was the first time a costumer did that at his restaurant!!! We left the place quite happy (and surprised, I must admit) for being honest!!
I've already taken some picture, buy I'm using my brother's ipod to post!! I promisse to post some of them soon!!!

Here I am....

Here I am...staring at my luggage...and wondering...shouldn't I pack some more clothes? I'm trying to take as less clothes as possible...and, after watching my mom packing...I got this weird feeling of packing too little clothes for a 15 days trip...

I've always packed winter clothes...I have no idea what to expect from the American/Canadian summer! If it's about the same temperature we're having right now, I should pack at least one more coat...

Tomorrow I'll get the dress I'll wear at the reception...I'm taking a scarf in case it gets a little cooler...

Hopefully I'll be ready by tomorrow...or Wednesday...

I didn't have much time to organize my life better...I just hope everything will end alright.

My flight is scheduled for Thrusday 9th, at 6:20 pm. Arriving in Montreal at 10am (+1 day). Heading to SLC on the 16th, around 12pm (I've to check that). And, arriving there at 7:54 pm. We'll stop in Washington,DC in the way to Montreal...and in Chicago in the way to SLC...I'm a bit concerned about the number of hours we'll have in these two airports...no more the 3 hours in each of them!

I wish I had more time to visit Twin Falls...it would be great showing my mom where I lived and studied...I'd love to see my old teachers...neighbors, etc. (I keep wondering, how old are those boys who used to live cross from us? They were really little...I still remember the cookies they made and the card wishing me good luck and a safe flight!!)...

Gotta go to sleep!

Hope to have some pictures soon!!!!

Few days left....

I've been counting the days to my trip...I'd be more anxious if I wasn't so busy right now. School is about to end the semester and I have plenty of things to do before thinking about packing...

Remedial classes for weak students, correcting tests, preparing classes and revisions for the finals, updating my teaching records...for my 6 groups...

I still haven't found a dress for Richard's wedding...but I promisse next weekend I'll find some time to finally buy one...

I actually thought about buying something after I arrive in Montreal, but that would be too risky.

Hope everything is a bit more organized around there than it is here!!! :o)

Valentine's Day dinner

As mentioned before...here are the pictures from our dinner:

Valentine's Day

Next Friday is Valentine's Day here in Brazil...and, as usual, me and some friends are going to celebrate it together...

It became a tradition for us...You've been celebrating Valentine's Day together since 2004 and we don't miss one single year... I usually cook for them...or we have a fondue (since it's almost winter here).

I always make sure we have something new to surprise my friends. This year I decided to make something so that they can all take it home, as a souvenir...here's the picture:

So....HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!

Sorry...I just couldn't NOT post

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frMz9s3OLwY

My new baby...

Cooking has always been a passion...something that I do for hobby..

Here's one of my new babies...Vanilla Ice Cream with strawberry jam and chocolate crust...except for the ice cream, it's all homemade! Check the pictures and tell me what you think!

Ready to go!!!

After almost 5 years...here I go againnn!!!!!!!!!!

Can you believe that?? I'll be able to attend Richard's wedding!!!!!!!  

I've talked to my boss and she allowed me to travel a week before the end of the semester...so, I'll be flying yo Montreal on the 9th, spend a week there before the wedding...and on the 16th (Thursday), I arrive in SLC around 8pm.

My mom has been so excited about this trip that I'm quite surprised!!! My dad decided to travel with us, but he's not attending the wedding...he decided to stay with my brother for the weekend instead...Bruno won't be able to go because of the work visa...he's trying to renew his visa and it takes a little longer than he expected and it won't be ready until the day of the wedding...so, he won't be able to leave Canada.

I really happy I'll be able to attend Missy's baby blessing (and my first American BBQ- will it be a traditional American BBQ?)... 

Just let me know if any of you want anything from Brazil...

Can't wait to post thousands of pictures from this trip!!!! 

Traveling plans

Hey guys...

We´re getting our tickets this month....probably in the end of this month, to be more specific....

My dad is not going anymore....Bruno has made a great offer to him this morning and he decided to travel to Italy in August instead to celebrate his 60th bday....so, it´s going to be only my mom and I...

We´ll leave on the 16th July, rent a car, go to the hotel, and then phone you to tell that we´ve arrived just fine... :o)

We´re trying to find a hotel near the temple, so it would be easier to all of us... I just need a car with a GPS device!! hahahaha...

We won´t stay too long coz we still have to fly to Montreal on the 19th...so, you don´t have to worry about us at all... :o)

I´ll give more details soon!!!!

I can't wait to see my other nephews and nieces!!!!

PS: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE!!!!

A time to remember....

Can´t wait to have more pictures taken....hope this is going to be pretty soon!!!!!

It´s todayyyyyy!!!

Isn´t that just great?!?!?!

Almost there....

Some people just can´t stand me anymore just because I keep a countdown for my birthday...

What can I do if I really enjoy getting older?!?!?!

This year I started just 20 days before...I usually start it 30 days before...so I guess the nightmare was a bit shorter this year!!! lol

Tomorrow I start celebrating...I don´t work on Fridays...neither Saturdays or Sundays...and...to make things even better...I won´t work on Monday and Tuesday (April 20th and 21st) because these are holidays around here...I just love holidays...specially when it´s near my birthday!!!! So, 6 dasy celebrating my 27th birthday....not bad, huh?

I´m already plannig my 30th birthday...can´t wait for that to come! I want a huge celebration before I give up celebrating at all!! :o)

Bruno arrives on Friday and I´ll have to pick him up tat the airport with my new car...and the car mp3 player he gave me as my birthday gift!! Gotta clean the car tomorrow...

Then we´re going to a Japanese restaurant...yummy!! After that, I´ve already set up with some friends to meet...

Saturday my mom will have some friends over....she has to celebrate her birthday as well, right?!

Sunday...the big day...no idea what we´re going to do...probably have lunch out (I really don´t want to spend my bday in the kitchen)...and my bf has already told me he want to take me to dinner somewhere...hope he chooses a good (and fancy) place!!!

Promisse to keep you all updated!!!

Easter time...

Long holidays are always good for some traveling....which was not my case..

I stayed home and had some fun with some friends and family (as possible)...

No chocolate eggs this time...but at least my boyfriend bought me lunch at a Japanese restaurant that we both love!!! :o)

Hope you had all a great Easter day!

More bdays coming....

I´m posting today just not to forget to posting tomorrow...

This past week has been pretty busy and full of birthdays celebrations....

Tomorrow I have two more birthdays to go....

So, Happy Birthday to Eraldo....a great person who was my student in the past January and became a great friend...

And, Happy Birthday to Rossini....my boyfriend´s uncle...he was the first person in his family that I met and has always treated me as family!

I wish them the best always!!!!!

Birthdays to remember!

Well, today I have a few happy birthdays to say....

Happy birthday to Julie....a great sister that always makes sure to keep in touch with me...and even has already taken a tour with me around my house and met my mom on Skype...

Happy birthday to my lovely niece Eliza who is becoming 2...and I wish I had the chance to meet...hope this is happening soon....

Happy birthday to my new friend, Marcos...a great person that surely deserves the best!

Wow....too many birthdays for one date!!!!!

Birthday Countdown

Yesterday I received my first birthday gift....Bruno has bought on the Internet my car cd/mp3 player...

I´ve already made all the arrangements to install it as soon as possible! I can´t wait to have some music while I drive!!!!!!

Isn´t that amazing being the birthday person?!?!??!

By the way...we have a birthday coming pretty soon in this family, right Julie??! I haven´t forgot!

And I introduce you...my car!!

Ok...Here´s the car...

I really liked Mike´s idea of asking you guys for a name...so...be my guest!!! Just in case...it´s not black..it´s dark blue, ok?!??!  :o)

Feeling great!

What a great night I just had...

Well, I´ve been in a Backstreet Boys mood lately...and tonight I started listening to the song  "As love as you loved me"...that song brings me great memories...that was the first song I heard in English that I could actually translate to Portuguese...and I was only attending those silly English courses (which I teach nowadays!)!!!!! And that song makes me remember one of those simple moments in life that you never forget... I had just arrived to the US...and I guess I was going to the movies or something with Jared and Julie...Jared was driving...Julie was on the seat next to him..and I was on the back seat...when this song started playing...the three of us started singing together...that was the only song I actually knew how to sing!!!  hahahahahhaa

Then....to make my night completed...Mike has told me everybody´s user name on Skype...and Julie was online!!! After so many years (I guess we haven´t spoken for awhile...), I could talk and SEE her and the kids!!You have no idea how silly I was feeling after saying good bye...I really didn´t want to let Julie hang up the phone...soooooo sad!!!!!!! Anyways, I´m really glad I could talk to her and the kids...and it feels really good to have Skype and be able to share a bit more!!!

Julie...now that I have shown you the house...and the room you´ll be staying...pack your bags and come with Rich and the kids....I´ve already promised to babysit them!!!! :o)

Mike...thanks for telling the family´s user names...

Missy, Rich, and Mom...I´m still waiting for you to accept my request!!!!

PS: The car is about to come soon!!!!!

New car!

Hey everyone!

I´ve got good news...I finally bought my first car...

My dad had always bought the cars I had so far...and, last Monday, I ordered my first car...I can´t wait to have it here with me!!!!  The saleswoman told me that it would be ready in 20 days...

That´s my first real material achivement...and I couldn´t be happier!!!!

Hope this is going to be a years of achivements....

Dreaming...

Last night I had this weird dream...

I don´t know how many of you are familiar with the Dodds family, from Twin Falls...but one of their kids, Steven, died about 10 years ago...time passed soo fast... and remembering of his death still brings tears to my eyes...

Steve was an amazing guy...one of the cutest ones in High School (the other one I´d rather not mention! :p)...loving...sooooo polite...so friendly....a huge fan of soccer (he was the goalkeeper for the Bruins soccer team)...he had this amazing smile than usually comforted me when I was home sick...first day of school, he was the first person that came to talk to me...and he was wearing the Brazilian nationl soccer team shirt just because someone told him I was Brazilian...he was the first I could eve ask if he had a date for the dance (although I swear that was not for myself!)... 

I have so many good memories of him that still today I find quite hard to believe he has gone...and I have never had the chance to thank him for being such a nice guy...

Well, this is not the first time I dream about him...he comes quite often in my dreams to say hi...and to say that he´s still waiting for the Flamengo shirt I promissed him before I left...I never had the time to buy the shirt and send him...everything was so fast...but, at this time, he spent a little more time with me...For the first time he told me that he hadn´t died...he was still here...and had travelled for some time...but he´s still here...

I woke up this morning really felling his presence...and, as I write this post, I´m tearing apart...

Ten years has passed and there still few good people I can´t forget...I wish I had kept in touch with some of them...and I still hope to see these people once again!

CAE exam

Last week I finally received my CAE exam result...

Well, before telling whether I passed or not, I´d like to explain what the CAE exam is...

This is an English exam from Cambridge University that is accepted all over the world. It´s official name is Certificate of Advanced English. It´s divided into several sections: listening, writing, use of english, reading, speaking and I guess another one which I can´t remember how it´s called!

I had to take this exam in order to keep my job as an English language teacher...the place where I work is responsible for applying the test here in my city, so...they told me that I "should" do it. And so, I did. I hadn´t studied a lot for this exam and on the day of it I was carring papers and more papers in order to review one or two things before actually doing it. I was a little concerned about my writing skills...we´re supposed to write as advanced english speakers...which means, almost as a native speaker! I do believe my English isn´t that good...and there are still a bunch of things that I must learn before considering myself an advanced speaker...well, anyways...

Last week I could finally get my results...they separate each section and grade each of them...the grades are "Exceptional",  "Good", "Insufficient" and something I can´t remember...and here were my grades: Use of English: good! Reading: good! Listening: good!Speaking: good!The other one I cant remember: good! Writing: close to the exceptional line! Now I ask you ladies and gentlemen: what did I do to deserve such good grades???? In the end, I passed...with a B...

Now, my new goal is to study for the CPE exam...Certificate of Proficiency in English...if I pass...I still don´t know when I´m going to be ready for this one...but, if I pass...I will be considered a native speaker of English!! How cool is that, huh???

Working...working...working...

January is usually a weird month for me...

I´m not a big fan of the summer season, but there´s nothing I can do about, right? So, I try hard to enjoy it.

We´re having some friends of mine over...They´re staying in Guarapari with my mom...tomorrow I´ll pick them up so they can enjoy Vitoria a little.

While, I´ve been working a bit this month...There´s nothing to complain about it coz my group is simply amazing! Really!! That has been my best group so far...it will be quite hard to let them go at the end of this week...I really feel I got connected to the whole group and made great friends with them. They are mostly my age and most of them share the same thoughts...maybe that´s the reason I liked thm since the first begining. Very friendly and funny people, I gotta say!

Happy New Year!

Ending the year always brings us some unique moments...

Bruno arrived on the 24th of December to spend Christmas with us. We didn´t do much...but I guess we did enough. We went to church to thank God for all blessings He gave us during the past year, then came home to have dinner. 

Marconi was with us, so after having dinner at my place, we had to go to his house to dinner with his family...I´m glad they didn´t force us to eat too much otherwise I would had had a breakdown!

On the 26th Marconi and I travelled to visit his grandparents on the north of ES. We were supposed to be there before the 24th, but things got a little messy around here...I had to work until the 20th and he got a job interview on the 22nd, so we had to put off a few plans for the holidays.

A friend of Bruno from Chile arrived to spend New Year´s eve with us in Guarapari. Loreto is her name. She is very friendly and kind. My mom is having a whale of a time having her around. She tries everything my mom or dad gives her to eat. Poor Loreto! She´s been really nice to my parents accepting everything they offer! I bet if any of my host family members were here, mom and dad would do the same...I just hope it doens´t scare people!!! Here are some pictures of our New Year´s eve celebration:

         

There are some other good pictures on Bruno´s camera...I just can´t tell where it is...

As soon as I get the other pictures, I´ll post them!!!

Hope you had all a great end of the year and I wish 2009 to be a great year to all of us!

Brazilian Cuisine

Hi everyone!

I'm here today to talk about a web site which I've just found and really enjoyed. It's called Cuca Brazuca...it's a webpage in which you can find some Brazilian recipes in English...I really enjoyed the videos they posted!

If you ever have the chance, try to make "brigadeiro" and "bobó de camarão"...you'll probably love them (kids will love brigadeiro!!!)

Here are some videos I decided to share with you:
http://www.cucabrazuca.com/brazilian-cooking-video-recipes/brigadeiro-brazils-famous-party-treat/

http://www.cucabrazuca.com/brazilian-cooking-video-recipes/bobo-de-camarao-a-delicious-brazilian-fish-stew/

http://www.cucabrazuca.com/brazilian-odds-and-sods/aquarela-do-brasil-disney/

By they way, that's the web site I'm talking about: http://www.cucabrazuca.com/

Have a great week!


PS: Mom and Dad have arrived from the US...

Getting my visa!

Hi everyone!

Now, it's official! All I need now to visit all of you is a plane ticket!!! :o)

Yesterday my parents and I had a visa interview at the American Consulate...I was a little appreensive because I couldn't prove my incomes were enough to afford a trip...but we tried a family tourist visa, so it became quite easier...

The interview didn't last more than 3 minutes!

Mom and Dad will take off on the 28th November...and returns on the 07th December. I still haven't decided what I want them to bring me...after so many years, I really can't remember all the things I loved about the US!!!! :o)

I guess it's time for me to come back and figure this out!!!

Getting together

Last night we had another get-together dinner at my place.
I love having people around...specially, around the table.

I made dinner for 9 people and we had an amazing time. Friends are always welcome to make us laugh once in awhile! :o)

I'm glad my friends don't mind doing all the washing up after all!

Mom and Dad are traveling to Houston,TX and Orlando,FL in the end of this month...Bruno has finally convince them to meet him to celebrate his 30th birthday in the US (Canada is too cold for my mom)...They are going to Disneyworld for 5 days and then visit a friend's couple who have been living in Houston for about 8 months or so. I'm glad they have accepted to go, but kind of frustrated that I can't join them during this trip (someone in this family has to work, right?)! I just wonder how they're going to survive without speking English! :o)

Next week we're going to try to get the American visa...this is my dad's first visa interview (and his first passport as well!)...We already got the Canadian visa, so I guess we'll make it! To bad they don't give us a 10-year visa anymore!

Halloween

Hi everyone!

Halloween is not the most famous holiday around here...which doesn't really mean some people don't celebrate it! To be quite honest, some friends of mine are celebrating it tonight...

Since I work at an English language school, we did celebrate halloween with lots of candies, games, spooky rooms, prizes for the best Jack O'Lantern and so on...Kids and teenagers struggling for "halloween gifts"...eating...screaming...running all over the place...oh my! They really have lots of energy!

Tonight I'm going to another Halloween celebration...we're not supossed to wear costumes, but black is crucial! I bought a witch's hat for the school halloween party, so I guess I'm going to use it just for the fun of it!

We have to take something to eat and to drink for this party. Instead of buying something, I decided to make it myself...I really like its results and thought would be a good idea to share with you my "work of art"... :o)

Pics

PICS FROM PHOTOFUNIA.COM

Have fun, everyone!

Just another post

There isn't much to say today...

I just need to write something to show how frustrated I am during this past week...

First, my boss told me that I'm supposed to stay working during our summer break (January-February) even having no classes at all...so, I won't travel to visit any relative I have...

Then, I just have to accept the fact that my bf has just traveled to Europe for studying and he's going to stay there for at least 13 more days (he left last thursday)...

I'm taking CAE classes (certificate of advanced english from Cambridge University) and I just realized my writing is too "basic" for them! At least my listening skills are going much better on my practice tests...

Well, of course I still have a few things to be grateful for...a great friend of mine, who got married in the US and has been living there for about 2 and 1/2 years, is coming to visit and is bringing her 2-years-old son!!!! I'm really excited to finally meet him and see her after all these years!!!!!

Idioms- origins

Hi everyone!!!

After a busy and kind of frustrating week, I'm back here to post the origins of a few idioms...

So...here they are...

On the grapewine

In the 1850s in the USA, just after the telegraph had been invented, hundreds of miles of telegraphs lines were being built everyday. In 1859, a man called Coronel Bee tried to save time by using trees to carry the lines, instead of wooden poles. The trees continued growing and the wires stretched and broke, hanging down to the ground like grapevines. During the American Civil War Coronel Bee’s telegraph became a joke, and they used the expression to refer to inaccurate messages or misinformation.

To let the cat out of the bag

During medieval times, baby pigs (piglets) were usually sold tied up in bags. This was a way of keeping the animals calm and stopping them from escaping. If you opened the bag, the piglet would often jump out and run away. Some dishonest traders would catch cats, put them in the bag and sell them as piglets. Thus, letting the cat out of the bag means revealing a secret to the wrong person.

Can't hold a candle (to someone)

Before electric lights, if someone needed to do something important in the dark, such as doctor performing an operation, or a musician playing a difficult piece of music, they needed a helper to hold a candle to provide light while they worked. Holding the candle is, of course, an easier job. Even so, the person who held the candle still needed to understand a little about what the doctor needed to see, and therefore the job was often done by an apprentice. To say that one man cannot hold a candle to another is like saying that he is not even good enough to be his apprentice.

Worth its salt

During the time of the Romans, salt was extremely useful, both for preserving meat and to make food taste better. But it was also very rare. Many Roman soldiers received some salt as part of their pay (the word “salary” comes from the Latim “salarium”, meaning of salt) and it is probably among the Romans that a soldier was worth his salary, i.e. a useful soldier.

Wearing your heart upon my sleeves

The expression dates back to one of William Shakespeare’s plays, Othello, in which one of the characters says: “I will wear my heart upon my sleeve”. The character was using the expression to mean that he would pretend to be open about his emotions, telling Othello everything he felt in order to deceive and eventually destroy him. Although this usage is slightly different from the modern one, the expression developed and became more general in meaning over time.

Well...long post, isn't it?

Hope you all have a great weekend!!