and we're off to the beira-rio!

My first soccer game in the Beira-Rio with my classmate Audrey.

four months flew by

Tonight we went to Andre's band's show! Lots of fun and lots of good tunes.

the big brother

Happy Birthday Wesley!

turkey day

Today is Thanksgiving. But being in a different country has made my observance of this holiday a little different! Instead of waking up to the smell of a tasty breakfast (who knows, pancakes? bacon? toast with the egg in the middle that my mom makes just the way I like) which I would enjoy while watching the Macy's Parade I got up at 6:15am, scarfed down some oatmeal and caught the bus to not be late for my 7:30 class.

I decided against attending my afternoon class which would require me to eat at the University Restaurant. Dining hall food--I don't think the government would let me back into the country if they knew I ate that on Thanksgiving Day! This was my Thanksgiving meal:

A little unconventional, and no site of turkey, but still tasty!

And since it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie, that's what I made! Quite a few disasters (including accidentally dropping ALL of the pumpkin puree I strived so hard to make in the sink, burning the pecans, burning my thumb, and spilling pumpkin down the middle of my shirt) but it was well worth it! My first pumpkin pie!

See how excited everyone is?

The dinner table, thanks to the lovely cook Laura Kohmann.

The traditional Thanksgiving drowsiness.

blog 2.0

This blog is now available in a variety of languages! Okay, by variety I mean two. But still, pretty cool! I figured it'd be a good way to train up the Portuguese! If you want to check it out, the link is to your right...

baa, que tri!

Want to convince everyone you're an authentic gaucho? Gotta learn the lingo! Here's a list of some of the essential phrases you'll need to get by here in the south:

• baa - wow! expression used for really good things or really bad things
• que tri! - how cool!
• barbada - piece of cake! something really easy
• bacana - cool
• guri - boy/guy
• pia - young lad
• (bem) capaz - no way, yah right
• tche - hard to define. sometimes it means you. just add it to the end of sentences and you're good to go.
• assar uma carne - barbeque!
• Fulano - any unspecified person, so-and-so, Joe Shmoe
• Sicrano and Beltrano - Fulano's friends, unspecified person of secondary and terciery importance
• gremista - Gremio fan
• colorado - Inter fan
• rango - food
• pila - nickname for the currency (I think it comes from an old currency they used to use.)
• cafundos - not even the middle of nowhere, but the edges of nowhere
• inho - just had "-inho" to the end of everything and you'll sound more Brazilian

Okay, these have nothing to do with the south, but they're fun nonetheless!

• pochete - fanny pack!
• brega - cheesy
• pantufas - slippers
• exibido - show off
• desastrado - clumsy
• trilhasonora - themesong, soundtrack
• manha - knack
• pedalinho - paddleboat
• defenestrar - to throw something/someone out the window

the "turma"

Meet my Bible study! Don't they look like fun?

so much good/thanksgiving prep

2 Corinthians 9:8-12

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor, His righteousness endures forever." He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also the overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

cronk's

With a name like that, how can it NOT be the best ice cream place in the city?

two bus stops away

Welcome to downtown! On my days off I love taking a little trip to the center. There's always a ton of people and lots of hustling and bustling... Here people rule the streets, fruit and newspaper stands on every corner, lots of cafes and Rua dos Andrados has all the shopping you could want!

Probably one of the most recognizable buildings in Porto Alegre, this is the Public Market. It's huge! Built in 1869, it's a great place to go grocery shopping, even if it does smell a bit like fish!

This is the inside. The bottom floor is shops that sell all sorts of produce, meat, nuts, seasonings, baking supplies, sweets, breads, etc. It also has an artesan section with lots of handmade items. The top floor is all restaurants.

"levo minha cuia para onde eu for"

It was a hard choice, but after a turn about the Mercado Publico and some help from Vanessa I found a cuia that had my name written all over it. Give me some erva (tea leaves) and hot water and I'll give you Rio Grande in a cup!

My very first cuia! This is VERY exciting.

friday

My classmate Vanessa and I took a little trip downtown to take advantage of the ever so popular book fair while it's still here. Afterwards we stopped in for a snack at McCafe (they have an overwhelming chocolate croissant and according to Brazilians the best espresso!) and then she showed me some of her favorite places downtown.

Exploring "Casa de Cultura"

a very BRIGHT church that happened to be across the street

books, books, books!

Everyone loves a good book fair! For the past two weeks a whole section of downtown has been turned into a huge outdoor book fair, the largest in the country.

I'm stocking up on some reading in portuguese...I just hope it will all fit in my suitcase!

Nothing better than lunch with the gals and a walk through piles and piles of books!

if you give a brazilian a cookie...

my not-so-little little sister

Some of the many reasons why I love my sister:

1. She has curly hair and is really pretty.
2. She is artsy and makes cool things.
3. She is the best companion for car dance parties.
4. She laughs at my jokes. Okay, sometimes...
5. She lets me talk to her in Portuguese.
6. She loves people.
7. She knows all the words to Bicycle Race and Bohemian Rhapsody.
8. She lets me borrow "her" car when I come home.
9. She has many great things to look forward to in life.
10. Basically, she is way cooler than I am.

Happy Birthday, Melissa!

a sunday afternoon stroll

Sundays here in the south are lovely. It's a day to relax and take a turn about the park with friends and family. What could be more enjoyable--people watching, fresh air and some sun, maybe a little chimarrao? Anyone?

a new understanding of an old promise

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Comfort = Parakaleo (Greek): to call to one's side, summon, address, speak to, admonish, exhort, console, encourage, strengthen, beg, entreat, instruct, teach

What if comfort was not what we westerners consider comfortable? What if instead of a state of ease and satisfaction, relief, and freedom from pain, the kind of comfort promised to us was encouragement and strength to endure the suffering we will certainly face? It is a summon, an invitation and call to draw closer to God.

what a disaster!

Need I say more?