Who let the frogs out?

February 2, 2012

            Alright, everyone…here we are at the start of February…it has been about two weeks. So far I have survived. I am better than I was to be quite honest. Don’t think that everything is peachy, but it is becoming less traumatizing. I know many of you may think I am just a drama queen, which I can accept. However, if you stayed here I wonder how crazy you would get. =)

            Well, the way Trent and I are handling my stay here is manageable. He has me come out on some days and lets me stay home on other days. Off and on approach helps me adapt better.

            Yesterday, we went out with Raphael to The United States of America Embassy!!!! (We went there to register, so they know we exist here and where to find us) Wow, can you imagine my excitement!!!! American soil, is what Raphael calls it. When you step in it is like stepping into the United States, but when you leave you are back in Brazil. Hahahahaha. Let me tell you! Whoa, I was so excited because I feel so far from home. I saw the American flag, which was so big, and red-white-and blue. Everything was so beautiful inside, even though really it was small and plain. I was amazed though. They had things in English. The secretary spoke English with me. The forms were in English. The registration person who helped us is actually a member of the church and he works at that Belem Embassy location off and on. His family is there with him and their stay is for two years. They leave in six months to their next location. I felt so at home. Everything worked out great. I asked for advice…what he told me was “well, you lock your doors as you would in Cali, you want to wash all your produce because there are no regulations on pesticides here and they use a lot because there are so many more bugs. You want to protect your Passport because it is very valuable in the black market…if it goes lost or stolen to report it immediately (can you say with me-freaky!!!) and he said to travel and check out more of Brazil because there is more to see and more developed parts worth seeing.

            I was relieved and so excited. We walked around Belem, took a bus to the mall. Now, the walk was pretty amazing I have to admit. Not as bad as where we live. The streets were kept up nice and neat. The roads and sidewalk were broken up a bit, but not too shabby compared to what I live in. The smell is not as crazy, funky. The heat is not as hot either. (You must be wondering with me, why aren’t you living in Belem then? Well, it is just one of those things-which helps me appreciate life that much more) The buses were AMAZING! They looked just like the buses in good ole USA. They were clean, and had handicap spot on it, unlike other buses here. The ride didn’t seem as scary. We got to the mall and it was so COOL! I am telling you, I feel Trent is playing a sick joke on me with where he is having me stay. LOL. The places in Belem seem so much more normal. However, the bridge over the creek or whatever you want to call it smelled soooooo bad!!!! Why? Well, it is the above ground sewage. EWE!!! You gotta take the good, the bad, and the ugly. I liked focusing on the good!!! Back to the mall. Okay, so we walk in and we find me the cutest, cheapest, PINK phone. I had no cell and now I am powered and ready. We just window shopped. I looked at clothes, really interesting Brazilian souvenirs. We walked and walked and walked. No, seriously we walked a long time because the mall had like 8 floors it seemed like. I have never been in a mall that big. It reminded me of the labyrinth or the castle in Harry Potter. There were like secret passage ways ( I’m kidding of course, but you would be inside then all of the sudden outside in a parking garage then inside again. ) They had a whole floor dedicated to food (food courts) and candy. There was also a game or arcade store or hang out place on the same floor. On another floor was the movie theatre. There was just no end to the fun. I am sure it is like Disney Land, even though I have never been to Disney Land. Okay, so we hung out and chatted with Raphael. Yes, Trent still has to translate everything, but I am learning still. I catch a few phrases. We each got our own meals at the food court. Emily- Chinese food, Trent-Brazilian of course, Raphael-Hamburger, fries, and a soda. (Each of us desiring a place we may want to be <me not China, but USA home Chinese takeout).  So Raphael was hilarious all night. He was singing, “Who let the dawgs out! Whoo Whoo!!” He sang the USA anthem. On the bus, Trent asked him something about water. Then he took is free cup from the hamburger place (Bob’s-or something like that) and pretended there was water in it and that it was freezing cold. He offered us some and we declined. He then said, “Okay” and poured it out. He was so silly. Made the scary bus ride not seem so bumpy and hot. He has been a lifesaver since we have been here. We both would go crazy if it weren’t for his kindness, generosity, humor, and support. He is one of the things that is helping us to cope. Good guy. J

Portuguese lesson:

            Practice with me…don’t leave me hangin’.

            Alright. Here we go:

            Ele (elee) esta (ehstah) commendo (coemendo). (He is eating).

            Ela (elah) esta nadando. (She is swimming).

            O Homen (omen) esta bebendo (buhbendoe) (The man is drinking)

(plural) Os Homens estao bebendo. (The men are drinking.)

            A Mulher (mulyere) esta escrevendo. (The woman is writing).

            (plural) As Mulher estao escrevendo (The women are writing)

O minino (meeneeno) esta coziando. (The boy is cooking)

A minina (meeneena) esta cozinando. (The girl is cooking.)

Here are some phrases.

 Mi disculpe (meh dehsculpeh)

(I’m sorry). Lamento (I’m sorry for what happened to you).

Obrigada <feminine> Obrigado <male> (thank you)

 Denada (jehnada) (you’re welcome).

Com lucensa (Comb lusensa) (excuse me)

Sim (seem) (yes)

Nao (nah) (no)

Alright,

Now onto crazier things.
 
So Raphael thinks I’m crazy for wanting to scrub the floor by hand. They just use a broom with a cloth. Okay, I was brave and got on my hands and knees and scrubbed the bathroom floor. Guess how beautiful it turned out!!! It was shiny white and made me feel super proud.

            Here is the crazy part. I have this thing about bugs. I got plastic and the two inch tape Trent got for me and I went through our place and taped all the nooks and crannies. I used the plastic for the bathroom window because as you remember the carved out stone window has no screen, so friendly bugs, centipedes and frogs come to visit. Well, I was so proud of my debugging and cleaning that I felt that the likelihood of any visitors would come in mainly from the front door.   Can you say with me, Wrongo!!!! Well, things were going smoothly until I went in the evening to the bathroom. I turned on the light. Guess what I found…wait for it, wait for it….

            Ah, you may have guessed right. FROGS!!! Everywhere. Like 600 of them. Nah, just kidding. I was freaking out to the 600 level, but there was more like 6 of them. So I looked at them, they looked at me. I slowly closed the door part way so they don’t fly at me, not like they would. But hey, we are in Brazil-The AMAZON. Who knows what tricks they have learned. Yet, every time I see a frog in our bathroom, which in the past it has been about 2 or 3 at a time and I lecture them each time. I tell them, “You know, you really can’t be here. This is my home and you really need to go. I understand you are frogs and in here seems like a nice place to hang out, but you just have to go. (Then I kindly remind them) You are lucky you are not a bug because I would RAID you up like no other. Anyways, so I flicked the light off. I felt creepy crawly goose bumps all up and down my spine. I demanded in a text for Trent to call me. I was freaking out on the phone, telling him that there were SIX HUNDRED frogs in our bathroom. He said in a serious tone, “really?” “600?” I said, “well no I am exaggerating, but it feels like 600”. Then he goes on to ask, “How did they get in there?” I said, “Uh, I don’t know. They are hanging out on my plastic window”. (like they own the joint). Needless to say, he asked if I was okay and told me everything would be okay and that he had to get back to work. Man, who do those frogs think they are?!!! Well, Trent told me that they heard about me and rallied up their friends to come back and taunt (or haunt, you take your pick) me. Either way, I locked myself up in our room, awaiting for him to come home and deal with the problem….My Sherlock holmes intuition tells me that the only way they would have gotten in is through the sink pipe. Can you imagine! Six of them, saying “Hey let’s travel up this lady’s sink pipe and put a little scare on her like she hasn’t felt since she has been here- (then the gang together chant) Yeah, who does she think she is coming in on our turf, lecturing us that we have to leave”. 

So, I need to go the bathroom REALLY BAD!!! But Trent is not home yet to save the day…yikes.

So, when we went to Belem, things were a lot better. I hear Brasilia is a lot better too. It is almost futuristic from what I hear-like George Jetson time. I look forward to maybe visiting there. I really want to check out Rio or Sao Paulo, I hear those are great cities too. A lot more developed.

The theatrics are real, to a certain extent. I go crazy at some things, but I really am doing quite well. I am trying to learn how to adapt. I am trying to love or improve what I have.

For the first time, I have been discriminated against because of my religious affiliation. I didn’t know it would be like that here. I could be handling it worse, but I have chosen to take the point of view that I can respect what others believe and hope someday others can grow up and do the same. (Oh, I need to be careful with my passive-aggressive “grow up” bit.) I just get somewhat flustered with the lack of respect and courtesy for someone’s differences. Yes, I realize that I too have been showing lack of respect because of my complaints about their Brazilian culture at times( but I never do it to them), but at least I am aware it is wrong and I am striving to be humble as much as I can and appreciate the differences for what they are and what I have gained from it. I am learning so much more by being open.

So things have been good, scary, fun, and difficult. The ups and downs are okay because I have been learning from them. I really am enjoying myself. I enjoy most days, and days that I don’t I try to see the good in it, even if it takes me awhile.