Ok, things have been crazy around here, I have been home for about 3.5 weeks now, with 2.5 weeks to go (I have a possibility to extend).  Though I know my grandparents read this, I feel that the information out there is important for all to know, even if my father and possibily mother disagree.  This is an email I just sent out to my bosses, ( Read more... )

In many ways, my mom and I are similar...we are both extroverts, love helping others, and are workaholics.  We both have a built in compass in our heads, where we can remember directions, or where places are located even if we visited it once years before.  Volunteers are constantly surprised that I seem to know how to get around, sometimes better ( Read more... )

Yesterday was nerverecking.  7 hours of surgery, and I was really far away.  The surgery was supposed to be done at 2pm, and at 1pm I started getting anxious.  By 3pm, I was going nutty, by 5pm I was almost in tears.  That is when I got ahold of my brother, and he told me the good news, the surgery went well, my father just got done, and he will be ( Read more... )

Ok, it has been too long since I have done a legitimate update.  Its just been that every day things would change in my life, and in my father's so that I felt that it would be premature to update on it.

Here's the deal:  I will be heading home for 45 days to the States on Tuesday, May 1.  Coincidentally, that is the same day as my father's birthday ( Read more... )

My sister sent it to me, and I thought it was funny.  Grandpa, this proves that yes, though I have left Brazil really young, the first half of my life still lives in me!

You know you are a Brazilian if...

You didn't know anything about bills until you came to the US.

You still wear speedos to the beach or pool!

You like Guarana better than Coke.

If ( Read more... )

As I am learning, emotional stability does not exist in the weeks following the news that my dad has cancer.  One moment I am great, the other moment I am fighting back tears.  During my time in Brazil I would be laughing one minute, and the other running up and down flights of stairs to get all of the bottled up energy out.

After spending a week ( Read more... )

Life could not have been going any better.  After 6 weeks of househunting (many obstacles in the road), I found a great house and family to live in.   Relatively affordable, with cable, internet, kitchen/laundry room access, and close to everything.  I joined an awesome gym, and have lost about 15lbs since I left  Santo Domingo in December.  Though ( Read more... )

You know, there are times when I wonder how useful my time is here, there are times when I am like "is this worth it," there are times when I just want to get out of here....  But, there are days like today, when I get a glimpse of the impact I have made in someone's life.

I was in the Peace Corps office, reviewing Volunteer reports (read: tedious ( Read more... )

Yup, in the last full day of BA, I decided to go to the zoo, botanical gardens, and purchase shoes.  Now the makeover is pretty much complete. hehehe

I may go to the museum of modern arts tonight, lets see how it goes!

My day consisted of ( Read more... )