Catching up

As usual, I haven't given much attention to the blog lately. Too much going on around here...
My classes started about a month ago...and I love every moment I'm there learning something new and checking all the things I was taught wrong! :)
Yesterday I even decided to try a few recipes I've always wanted to and never had the courage to do so. One of them was "Steak au poivre". Very nice, indeed. But, I also learned that I need to learn how to pick my steaks!!! And, for dessert, strawberry crumble. Yummy! First try and it has just became one of my favorites! Try it with Vanilla ice cream...

Steak au poivre

Strawberry crumble

Some new pics...

Month-watering

2013 Recipe book project is going pretty well.

Since I've decided that only tested recipes would be included in this project, I started making some of them this week. And I had a truly good reason for that: Bruno is home!

My mom wanted really badly to have a celebration for having him back home for a week (he'll live in Sao Paulo and came for a visit) and most of his friends don't see him in awhile. I needed people to try my recipes and approve them (or not). So, here are some pictures...

Food for...

The World Cup is over...FINALLY!

Of course we are all very disappointed about Brazil's performance...but, life goes on...and my life, in special, is going on 100 mph!

We're finally reaching the end of first semester and things are going pretty wild right now. I really can't wait to have it all done! Two more weeks...and I'll have a week for resting...yep, A WEEK! A miserable week for putting all my thoughts in order before going crazy again!

Also, this semester I decided to reach some of my dreams. Of course some of them will take longer than I expected, but I'm still pretty excited about it!

One of my first projects will start in about two weeks. I'm going back to college...after two years just working, my life was getting too "boring" and I decided to have something else to do...since I have no kids...no boyfriend...and no expectations on getting married for the next 2 or 3 years, going back to study seemed the best option so far! :o)

And, since cooking has always been a passion, I'll go for Gastronomy! Becoming a chef is the next goal!

By the way, inspired by Abby, I decided to go on with another of my projects: a recipe book. I won't post my recipes just because I want something that I can print and gift friends with it. I'm going to try all the recipes I've always wanted to try and take pictures of them and gather the best ones this book. I've already started writing some of the best ones down...unfortunately, my project goes on in Portuguese for now...but, maybe, the next step is translating it to English and gift all of you with a copy! :)

One for all

And the World Cup has begun....

Last Thursday we could watch the opening ceremony for the World Cup...a great show, for sure...but, the real show is the matches! No-one is more addicted to soccer than us, Brazilians...yeah, we do have a very good reason for it... we are the only country with chances of becoming 6 times champion...and, we are definitely fanatics about it... Brazilian matches are a good reason for not working or studying...most stores, public buildings, schools, companies close during the games...and, if Brazil wins...there is a huge chance of not opening until the next morning! Even who is not such a big fan of soccer, becomes an expert during the World Cup...and that includes me, of course!!!!

By the way...first Brazilian match happens next Tuesday (at 3:30pm here - I guess it will be around 10:30 am in SLC and 2:30 pm.m in NH)...you are all invited to watch the game and support Brazil!! :)

Also, today is Valentine's day in Brazil (no Missy, I haven't made it official yet)... and although I don't have a steady boyfriend, me and my friends are still celebrating the date... C'mon...isn't that a good day for fondue?!?!

By the way...winter is about a month away and the temperatures have already fallen...it is sooo good to be a bit cold!!!!! 72 degrees (or 22 Celsius) feels really cold for us!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!!

Bday celebration

I guess party is over today...

I love birthdays in general...but my birthday is definitely a very important date on my calendar...

Last night I had some friends over for a party...celebrating 28 years old requires a celebration, right? As usual, I spend my whole day preparing it...I like to do it all on my own... every single detail of it...and it was worthwhile!

I surely had a great time and can´t wait for next year!!!!

Nothing to declare...

Hi folks!

Here I am again...wondering what to post...and, as usual, nothing comes to my mind...I wish I were a bit more creative when it comes to posting...

April has finally arrived... and also, a new season...

I just love the Fall. Not only because it means my bday is coming...but usually, the weather gets much better around here... there's still some sun (in case you want to go to the beach or wherever)...but it's not as hot as it usually is during the Summer...

Unfortunately, this year some cities have been facing some disasters because of the rain...Rio in special...If you haven't watched the news, in the past few weeks Rio faced a storm in which many people have lost their houses and about 170 people have already died... That's truly sad!

Well, I hate talking about bad news...so, let's talk about something I love: BIRTHDAYS! I don't know if you guys haven't noticed, but nobody posted anything about Julie's bday... I was really glad I found her online these days so I could wish her a happy (late) bday... I wasn't in town...and Internet wasn't available where I was...so, I (luckily) only had the chance to talk to her a couple of days ago...

Hope this is not too late to wish her again a HAPPY BDAY!

By the way, I'm starting celebrating my bday on Thursday (April 15th) and I will only stop on the 21st ( national holiday here!!)...so, you are all invited to come! Place to stay and food are on the house!

The Blind Side

Yesterday, some friends and I were together at my place having a BBQ...we wanted to do something together to catch up with some other friends from college, but as usual, not many people showed up!

Well, after a whole afternoon eating, going to the swimming pool, and talking...we decided to go to the movies...

We didn't have many good options to choose from, specially because we go to the movies at least once a week...but, there were still one film that we wanted to see..."The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock. I don't know...but I actually like Sandra Bullock...her films are usually nice...entertaining...and that's what I want in a film...

If you haven't seen this movie...I truly recommend! It's based on a true story...she won the Oscar for best actress and this movie won a Gold Globe award...but, honestly, the little boy who plays her son in the story really caught my attention...the little boy is so funny! Although it's considered a drama film, I just cried once (I won't tell in which part just in case some of you haven't seen it yet)...

Wondering what to post....

Yeah...It really seems I've neglected my blog...but I do have a good excuse (do I?)... hold on...let me just remember what is that good excuse I mentioned...

Honestly, everything is back on normal...working...and working...occasional hanging outs...few exercising on my bike...and lots of rain!

Carnival was by the middle of February...we, as usual, stayed in Guarapari with my mom's family. I really enjoy being with them...but, this year I had some friends staying near my place, so I could enjoy it a bit more...it was awesome!

After Carnival, back to work! Fewer groups this semester...but I like doing my job with perfection, so it takes me awhile to prepare everything for my students. Also, we are working on a new project at school which is called "Cultura Experience" (Cultura Inglesa is the name of our school). It's about having English in real life...in other words, all staff members are supposed to speak English all the time with students, clients, parents and among each other. We know how difficult it is to learn a new language...and, if you don't really see a use of the language, you can feel that there is no progress on your learning...The problem is: not all staff members speak fluent English...at least the secretaries don't! So, in the past two weeks, my boss asked me to me in charge of training the secretaries to speak some English...of course, learning English in two weeks is IMPOSSIBLE! But that training just included some chunks , common expressions for costumer service, greetings, etc...while they keep studying at the regular course...

Well, I guess that's all! Hope I didn't forget telling anything!!!!

Vacations almost over...

I´m really enjoying my vacations to the full... I really needed some rest at the end of last semester! In Canada I could sleep as much as I wanted...I really had a great time there...I did everything I wanted and also rest! Could that be better? No way!

After arriving home, I had a temperature shock...but once Brazilian, always used to the weather! hahahahaha... I know that I breaking up a long relationship isn´t what we expect to happen during our vacations, but I kinda felt relieved. Seriously, although that was quite a hard decision, it was certainly the best one!

And, I´m so glad I had good friends around me. People who supported me and didn´t let me put myself down! I had tons of fun with them...and, I still have a few days left...

In two days Bruno arrives for an aunt 70th bday party...he´s making a big effort to come because this is the first time my aunt celebrates her bday...he´ll only stay for 4 days...isn´t that crazy?

Tomorrow some relatives start arriving at our place for the same party...everybody is really excited about it! I just love being among my relatives! They are sooo fun!

Ready to start again

Well, I´ve finally arrived home...

I arrived last Monday, but things were pretty busy in the past week!

I had an incredible time in Canada, but wished I didn´t have to return to Brazil...but...duties call!

I felt terrible when I landed...the heat was insupotable and I really had a hard time trying to figure out what to do to keep cool...actually, I couldn´t...I was in such a bad mood...willing for a nice cold shower and a cold bedroom...and, none of them was possible at the time...

The city was so hot that even the pipes from the shower were heating the water...and there was nothing I could do to cool it down!

I was better the day after day...but, getting used to the time zone difference...that was quite hard too... One week later and I´m still having problems to go to bed early...

Also, last week I took one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to take...I broke up a 3 and 1/2-years relationship. It was really hard for me...but I´m sure I´ll survive...and meet someone who is worth the time spent...

By the way... 2010 began full of surprises, huh? I still can´t believe I´m going to be an aunt again!!! Rich and Janae...do you guys want me to have a heart attack? Your kids will be sooooo cute!!! I can´t wait to see their faces (or..do you think you will have one one?? I love being an aunt...I want tons of nieces and nephews!)...and CONGRATULATIONS! I´m really happy for you two!!! Love you lots!

Here I go again..

Just one more week before going back home... do I want to go home? Not really... I really feel that I will miss the weather...the cold, freezing weather...I'm serious!

Last weekend we went skiing again...honestly, Bruno and some friends went skiing and snowboard on Saturday... I had a little injury on my right leg...I really thought about giving skiing another try...but, we arrived at the mountain too late and there were no teacher available...that wasn't so bad, though. I guess I wouldn't have survived my first 15 minutes on the ski.

On Sunday we went to a brunch (ow, I love brunches!)...it was quite nice! And then, Bruno's friends took me shopping...and that's when I hurt my leg once again...leaving the car I felt it soooo bad!!! I arrived home...took all the pain killers Bruno prescribed and went straight to bed!

Today I felt sooo much better...so, I decided to take a walk around the city (Bruno has worked the whole time). As you can all see, I'm a very lucky person...and not clumsy at all...so, after leaving the first souvenir shop, I pass thru the stairs and almost felt on the middle of the street...and guess what part of my body felt it the most? My leg! Not enough, I entered a second store...and, as in the first, I almost felt on the floor as I was leaving the store...Did it hurt?? A lottttt!!! I almost cried! I couldnt start crying like a baby, I know...but I really felt like... I tried to continue walking so nobody could notice...until I finally find myself lost! :o)

I'm sooo glad I can speak English and ask where to go...otherwise...I would still be lost in Montreal!!!!

Gotta go...I was supposed to go swimming with Bruno, but I dont want to hurt my leg even more... he really wants me to go and watch, though!

Have you all a great week!!

And...happy (late) bday Jared and Mike!! I haven't forgotten the date!!

Winter sports...

This trip has made me think about many issues in life...and winter sports is one of them!

There is probably a reason for me being born Brazilian... calm down...I'm going to get there..

Bruno and I were discussing what a "typical" Brazilian should be... And here we go:

- Brazilians love soccer...playing and watching

- Brazilians love BBQs and if they could, they would have one every single weekend

- Brazilians in general love going to the beach

- Also, they love Carnival and Samba school parades

- Feijoada and caipirinha are typical dishes/drinks for some reason, right?

- They love soap operas

- and some others I can't remember now...

Since I was born in Brazil...as a "typical" Brazilian, I should suit these "definitions", right? So, let's check the results...

- I like soccer, but I don't watch or play it (unless it's the World Cup and everybody else is doing the same)

- I love BBQs...I would have it every single day (I guess that suits a bit)

- Going to the beach?? Has anybody seen my skin color?

- Carnival, for me, is meant for just one thing: being with family and relaxing..and Samba school parades? Give me a break!

- Feijoada is too heavy for my stomach and caipirinha has too much alcohol.

- Soap operas are cool...not all of them, of course!

If we take into consideration everything I've just written , I was born in the wrong country... do you agree?

Thinking this way, I thought that I may had any skills undeveloped for winter sports... and I was sooooooooo wrong!

After my experience on ice skating, I decided not to give up on trying and went to a skiing mountain resort on Sunday... I knew that learning how to ski wouldn't be the easiest task I had ever tried...but I couldn't just not do it...

After one hour lesson, I learned something really valuable about it: I'm just not into winter sports! How is that possible? Easy question...after one hour of lessons, I just learned that throwing myself into the floor would make me stop for sure...falling was quite fun...if I had just realized how painful that would be on the day after...

Not happy about being all sore, I went swimming yesterday with Bruno...I felt pretty good after swimming...but when I finally arrived home, I really regretted on going swimming... I just can barely move...unless I take two Advil pills...

Just don't think I won't try ice skating or skiing again...just have to feel good again before trying all that...

Tomorrow we're going swimming again...wish me luck!!!

Such a great fall...

Hi everyone!

I'm still alive from this New Year's Eve... not that Bruno and I are party/night people kind, but we had great fun during the last day of 2009!

Montreal woke up yesterday in a very cool mood (-5 degrees Celsius) and we decided to go walking to Old Montreal, where you can find the biggest outdoor ice skating rink in Montreal. You guys probably know my great ability on winter sports, right?! - maybe Jared and Missy will remember better my experience on ice sliding in 19980 - So, Bruno convinced me on trying ice skating..and since I'm here willing to try everything I wouldn't back home, I did it! Can you guess what happened? I was going quite nice when I had my first fall...what I fall, I must remember!...but I handle myself putting my both hands to soft my falling! I do wonder whether would be better just let myself fall like any other normal person...

You also probably know that the more confident you get, worse the fall is...then, my second fall was really a disaster...I felt on my left arm...Bruno couldn't laugh this time coz he really thought I had broken my arm...fortunately, I just got an injure and fell sore all over my body today... not big deal...

After such adventure, we went back home walking and stopped at a St. Urbain restaurant for lunch (at 2 pm!)... good food...nice price...and a very bad heating system! They also have a great cheesecake!! :o)

For New Year's dinner, Bruno and I had just some salad, "farofa" (a Brazilian dish) and chicken! We were supposed to go out to a pub near here...but, it started snowing and we just watched the fireworks from his balcony...great way of beginning a new year, isn't it??

Hope you all had a fabulous beginning of 2010!!!

And...just to end 2009, here are some of my favorite pictures so far...

Here are some pictures from Bruno's camera!

Here I am...

I really wish to post some pictures of my trip..but I promisse to post them as soon as possible.

But, here we go...there are a lot to post today, though.

First of all, I bet some of you have already heard about my 48-hour trip...still, let me tell you everything about my own perspective..

For the first time I was feeling really calm about trip...I'm usually very anxious about big events...and traveling can be considered a bit event...Xms for itself is also considered a huge event for me...so, traveling for Xmas would be something that could make me lose sleep. But that was not what happened, and I felt oddly calm (I guess I've already mentioned that on my other post).

Leaving Vitoria was a piece of cake. My flight took off just on time...the plane wasn't so crowded...no turbulences...and my luggage weighted only 15 kg (or about 30 pounds). I arrived in Rio about one hour later and took the bus shuttle to the International Airport, where I was supposed to take the plane to Washington,DC . I had plenty of time to get my bag, take the plane and arrive at the other aiport in time for checking in. Well, on the way to the airport, Bruno called me saying that my flight was cancelled...CANCELLED?!?! Yeah...mechanical problems...and there were no way of replacing the passengers to another flight or plane. So, the company sent us to a hotel...13 hours later, we were ready to go...that meant, there were no flights to Montreal from Washington after 8 p.m which was the time we arrived there! So, on the 24th of December I had to spend the night at a hotel paid by the flight company...ALONE! I wasn't really happy about that, but after a 10 hour trip, I was so exhausted that all I want was SLEEPING! Understandable, isn't it?

On the 25th I finally arrived in Montreal...and spent 1 1/2 hours in it..coz we left from the airport straight to New Hampshire!! At least that was the best thing that has happened after all!

We checked in at the hotel about 10 minutes from Missy's house and headed to her house to see them! I'm glad I read the blog often, coz her snowman was still there showing us the way! :o)

Missy and Lyndon couldn't treat us better...they made a delicious Xmas day dinner and my mom and dad felt really comfortable with them and the girls! It's just impossible not to surrender to the girls' smiles! They are extremely cute and sociable!!!

The next day was also an amazing day. Missy and Lyndon guided us to two very nice places for cheese and jam tasting (yummy!!!)...and some other stuff!

Claire and Sydney just did a great job being so nice to us (strange and noisy people)...and it was really hard for all of us to say goodbye.

Bruno has already invited them for a weekend in Montreal with us...and I really hope they could come...

Dad and mom leave tomorrow, but I'm staying until the 18th January!

Well, I guess that's enough for a post, right?!

Hope you all had a great Xmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It´s time to fly!

Hey everybody!

Everything is ready for me to go...

I've been thinking...that's the second time in my life I actually travel abroad all by myself...the first time I was 16 and I was heading to my exchange program...11 years ago! Wow, time flies, doesn't it?

Until this morning I was feeling strangely calm...I'm always so anxious about everything...and it seems that I just realized I'm going to face -4ºC while I'm facing a 37ºC weather right now...

I have almost finished packing my stuff...there are a few things I'm going to use before I actually close my luggage. And the feeling that everything is going right, freaks me out! How is that possible? No worries at all???

I bet I'm going to miss something at home and I'll just realize that tomorrow morning, when I finally arrive at my destination!

And, I just hope no snow storms come on my way until I put my feet on the ground! :o)

I don´t know if I´ll be able to talk to some of you to wish a Merry Xmas, so... have you all a happy Xmas!!!

Missy, we´ll arrive there on the 25th! I can't wait to see the girls!!!! Gotta take thousands of pictures!!!!! :o)

9 days left...

and guess what? No packing so far!

I even dreamed this morning about losing my luggage and not packing what my mom had asked me to do...

I've gotta do that pretty soon, otherwise I'll actually forget something behind!

Any orders?

Bruno's getting older!

Today is Bruno's bday!

Mom and Dad have already arrived in Montreal to celebrate his bday with him...

Too bad I can't be there so we could do something together!

Fortunatelyt, in 20 days I'll be there too!!! :)

Traveling again!

I should start this post complaining how I would feel alone this Xmas since Mom and Dad are flying to Montreal on Dec. 1st and won't come home before the 28th. But, life is a box full of surprises, isn't it?

This week, after being working a lot (yesterday I worked for more than 12 hours!), I had some wonderful news: I'M GOING ON VACATIONS IN JANUARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got really excited because I really thought I would have to stay during the summer in case they needed... but, I can tell that my family got even more excited than I did...

Bruno started saying that I should speand Xmas in Montreal, then. Well, I thought that maybe it would be a good idea, but I was a bit concerned about the tickets at this time of the year. And, to my surprise, Bruno found some really nice cheap tickets on the Internet...so, my mom decided to give me the tickets as my Xmas present!!!!!!!!!

In conclusion: MY FLIGHT TO MONTREAL LEAVES ON DEC. 23TH AT 6:30 PM AND ARRIVES THERE AT 10:30AM LOCAL TIME! Isn't that great???

Now, I've to hurry to find winter clothes (which I believe will be worthless!) and get everything ready before semester finishes coz I know how much work watis for me at the end of it!

That's only one thing I regret...I won't be able to visit you guys this time...maybe, I can convice Bruno and my parents to drive 3 hours down to New Hampshire and visit Missy! :o)

Back online!!

Hi everyone!

For the past 5 days, I was off! Not because I wanted to, but because of the raining season. Yeah, we do have a raining season! It started last Wednesday (Oct. 24) and it has caused us a bunch of problems...

The whole city is covered with water (I'm glad my neighborhood doesn't face this problem)...in the other hand, we found ourselves going to one room to the other placing some buckets all over so our furniture wouldn't get wet! Can you believe that we've lost two internet modems because of the rain? Last Saturday, a friend of my dad even had to sleep over because he couldn't reach his own garage!!!!!

Here's a picture I found on our local newspaper:

I just hope everything will be back to normal in a few days!!!

By the way...happy (late) Halloween!!!

"Little" Brother

Although he is quite taller than me, he'll always be my little brother...

Today is Richard's bday... and, since I'll have a very busy day today, I thought that maybe it could be a good idea to post my bday wishes early this morning, so I don't miss it! :o)

Rich has always been a great little brother...I know he's the only younger brother I've got..but it feels great having him as family...too bad we live so far away from each other! But, as I said on his wedding luncheon: Rich, you'll always be in my heart and thoughts! I love you, buddy!!! And I'm really happy you found the perfect girl for you!! Have a amazing bday!!!!

Dad's bday!

There are a few things really amazing about having two dads: celebrating their bdays, celebrating Father's day twice, being certain they'll always stand for you (no matter where you are) and your kids - maybe someday for me!, and some others...

Today's my 2nd dad's bday! And there is only one thing that I'd love to say: Dad Mark, I love you!!! You're the best American dad someone could ever have!

And here's one of my favorite pictures of him:

Cookies

Here I am again...

Sometimes I feel really embarrassed coz I wish I could post a bit more...I wish I had enough to talk about...

We had a great family weekend at my uncle's ranch. It was gr

eat

being around family. Since my aunt died about three months ago, my uncle feels a bit lonely, so we are always trying to be near him, specially on the weekends when he goes to the ranc

h with his son and daughter-in-law and grandkid. They usually stay there coz that's the place he feels the most comfortable. We also love spending the weekends there... Unfortunately I had to go on Saturday morning, so I spent less time that I really wanted

to.

We are planning now a long holiday to get some more peop

le

together and make a "Survivor" weekend...that was my cousin's idea...one day, the married women cook all meals, the other day, married men cook all meals, and on the third day, single people cook... Well, not only cook, but do all the work: cooking, serving, cleaning...That will be fun!!!!!

Btw, today I taught my students to cook! Yeaaahhhh....we can

teach that to them too!!! We made Chocolate Chips cookies!!! Isn't that amazing??

Check out the pictures!!!

New projects

Hi everyone!

Before I start watching the film "The Others" with Nicole Kidman, I decided to post something...People told me that is a good movie...so, I've to give it a try! I'm pretty scared by this kind of movies, so I turned on the lights before pressing play...

Another thing I'd love to share with you...after reading JJ and Rich's (Kiki's???) post...I felt really bad for myself since my little brother is able to sew and I've never touched a sewing machine before...for that reason, I've decided to learn patch-working... would that be too much for someone who can't sew? Well, I'm pretty good at cross stitching...maybe it will work for me, right?

So, that would be lovely if you could share your experience on patch-working...I've already bought a magazine which teaches us how to make wonderful things...but, those kind of magazines are pretty hard to find around here...patch-working is not a Brazilian thing, you know...

I've also found some pretty amazing small projects on the Internet and printed them already...I just can't say whether I'll be able to make them...

I'll try to buy some fabric next week to start...I really want to make an apron for myself and I was trying to find a project of a chef or something related to kitchen so I can print/copy and put it on.

Well, the movie is about to start...

Miss you all!

Really busy week!

Tomorrow is still Thursday and I wish it was Saturday!

We have a very busy week and I've been really tired!

First of all, it was dad's bday on Monday...well, I don't think Monday is the best day to celebrate a bday....specially a 60th bday! But, we had about 40 people over for dinner! And, guess who cooked! My mom and I! I had worked the whole day (from 6:30 am til 6:30 pm) and still had to cook for all those people! I don't complain about cooking for so many people...but at the end, I couldn't feel my bones anymore...

Tuesday I usually work in the mornings, but not in the afternoons...however, a friend from work got sick, I mean, really sick...and I was asked to replace her in the afternoon...so, I did...another 12-hour-shift! Lucky me I love teaching...

Today, as usual, teaching in the morning and in the afternoon...wishing I could go home and rest...at least I was able to do my job...

Well, my friend hasn't recovered yet, and I've been asked to replace her again...and I still have to teach private tomorrow evening...will I handle all that?

I'm glad Friday I just have a meeting at lunch time and my group starts at 6pm...I will have plenty of time to recover myself from the week...and get ready for the weekend (which will be as busy as my week!)

Dad's bday is coming!

Wow....dad is becoming 60!!

Tomorrow is my dad's bday...he's not the kind of guy who enjoys partying as much as my mom and I do...but he has agreed to celebrate his 60th bday...last year Bruno convinced him to do so, but he was a bit reluctant...

I've been thinking....how many people in the world is as blessed as me? Who in the world can say that he/she has two amazing fathers? And, three mothers? That's true...I have so many people watching for me... I love being someone's daughter!!! :o)

Well, tomorrow will be a loooonggg day!!!

Why learning a language requires so much effort?

Nothing really interesting has happened in my life since my last post...I haven't done much either...

Well, until this week...Since my job requires a really good English, I decided to join a study group with people who will take the CPE exam (Certificate of Proficiency in English), which is definitely not my case. As I've already posted, I took the CAE exam, and the CPE would be the last one.

I've always felt that despite all my efforts to have a good English, that wasn't really enough. And, somehow I was right! We had two meetings this week, and I felt kind of dumb near some people who hs been studying for the exam for the past two years...I know they've been studying since then and that was my first week...but I felt a bit frustrated...Should I be reading more in English? Writing more? Watching more movies without Portuguese subtitles? I even borrow a book from the school's library ( Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon) to start my journey on keeping myself a bit more updated!

In case you have more suggestions how I could learn even more...be my guest!!!

Father's day!

Here we go again....another Father's day!!!! My dad doesn't really enjoy Father's day...for him, it's just another Sunday...and, since his bday is coming quite soon, he'll only get ONE gift this year...on his bday!

It will be his 60th bday and mom and I don't want it to

pass without a nice party! So, last night we decided to do something...We've got t

wo weeks to get everything done!!!

By the way, my mom has just told me that the missionaries came to bring the DVD the missionary from the Temple Square promissed us. One of them was Brazilian and the other Sister was from Provo!!! My mom spend quite some time with them (I was working at the day) and told them all about our trip...the wedding...the kids...and so o

n... They even offer help cleaning the house!!! Can you believe that??? Poor girls!!! I'm glad mom said "no"...otherwise, they would leave my house before midnight!!!!

Well, I've to go now...we're going to have lunch out today!!!

Happy Father's Day to all!!!

Back to work and kids...

I just love being home again...traveling is a great thing to do...but I really enjoy being back home...and, specially, being back to work! A weird thing to say...but I do love my job! Not to many people can say that, right?

While at the hotel in Provo, I took some time to watch TV...you know, practice a bit more of English...and there was this advertisement from a certain college...and this girl is saying that not too many people could actually say that they loved their jobs...and then I thought that I was glad I was one of these people who actually liked what is doing!

This semester I got one single group of kids...they are about 7-8 years old...and...oh my...they are soooooo smart!!! I love having them around!!!

By the way...I already miss the kids...too bad I couldn´t catch up with Julie and the kids...I´d love talk to LL about soccer (and maybe, play a little!!!).

My mom was really impressed about the kids...and she keeps talking about them all the time!!! I bet she misses the kids as much as I do! She kind of felt what it is like to be a grandma with Claire and Sydney! So funny!

Well, Bruno is trying to convince Mom and Dad to join him for Xmas in Montreal...he says that December is not that cold...should we believe him? That would be fun!

Just one more thing...I´ve sent a file with all pictures from the wedding that I took...Have you all received it? It´s a zipped file, so I´m not so sure if you could open it...If you didn´t get it...or couldn´t open...just let me know....email me so I can check if there was something wrong!!!

PS: Although I felt myself back in Idaho, I found this truck parking in some small town in the way to Toronto...isn´t that awsome?!?!!

Home sweet home

I still don´t know the real reason why I got so sick...since I boarded on that plane in Montreal to return to Brazil I haven´t felt more than a running nose! No fever...no body aches...no coughing...no burning eyes...just this stupid nose that insists on running!

I was quite happy today to go back to work...am I workaholic? Oh my...

I won´t spend too long today posting anything...I just want to say that everything went perfectly...and I miss SLC and Montreal already...and, of course...pictures from Montreal (just in case some of you couldn´t see my pics on Facebook!)... There are about 400+ pictures...so, I really have to choose just a few...

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: