14 October 2012

I am now the proud owner of a Movitel wireless modem.  That means I'm able to access the internet on my

very own computer now. From the relative comfort of my mosquito net.  Tomorrow I

have my first Portuguese test, so I guess the purpose of this blog is to procrastinate.  I'll

tell you about my daily routine.

The view from here

 I wake up between 6:15 and 6:30.  I waddle sleepily into the bathroom and pick up the balde 

(bucket) and carry it outside to the small fire where we always keep a pot of hot water.  I

usually run into my Mae somewhere between the bathroom and the front door, I say "Bom dia".  I

bring the bucket into the bathroom and dump the hot water into the small plastic panela in the

bathtub and add a bucket or two of cold water.  I crouch in the tub and splash some water around

for a few minutes.  Then, I get dressed and eat breakfast.  Breakfast can be anything from a

plate of bread and peanut butter to fried baloney sandwich or fried eggs.  This morning we had

french fries and bread and a tomato-cucumber salad for breakfast.  yum!  After I eat I go to

class.  I either have language or technical training (usually a combination) from 7:30 to 4:30

or 5:00 pm.  In the afternoons I come home and say hello to my family and then either do some

homework or go back out with friends to drink a coke at the local barra. I return to my house

around 7pm (that's our curfew) and take my second bath of the day.  We eat dinner around 7:30

and then around 8:30 I go back to my room and do more homework and go to sleep.




I help out with chores when I know what I'm doing.  My host-family has set the bar really low

for me.  They're constantly oohing and ahhhing when I do things like:  sweep.  "Sabe verrar!"

"You know how to sweep!"  and then they clap.  or "Sabe lavar louca!"  clap clap!  "You know how

to do dishes!"  My Mae was really really impressed when I ironed my clothes... I guess it's hard

for them to imagine that I am a competent adult when I speak like a pre-schooler...

The waterfall

More waterfall

A street near my house