Hello from Brazil CH1+2
Leecia Mc Namara
Hi..
To those of you who have received this, just delete it :) To those who aren't interested, just delete it :) I put a lot of detail for those of you who want each detail, so sorry to those of you who don't..
Lying on my bed (Abel's parents bought a new double bed base for me to use) with the ceiling fan on while I'm typing this.
Let me start from the beginning..
CH1: When we left Jhb on the 1st of Nov, we were sitting in different seats, but swopped with someone.. we were in two seats next to the window.
The flight was good.. I watched about 3 movies and tried to sleep (which usually isn't a problem, but it was this time). The food was good – chicken, mushroom sauce and veg, and then the 2nd meal was a vegetable quiche. I tried to drink as much water as possible on someone’s advice.
There were a couple of South African men on both legs of our trip, that were embarrassing to our country.
When we flew into Sao Paulo, I couldn't believe how many high rise buildings it has. It is a huge city! (Abel says he'll take me there sometime, so I can see a little of the 5th biggest city in the world). The flight was about 9 hrs.
On entering Brazil, I was asked nothing. The woman just pointed to my nails that were painted the same colour as hers, as if to say “good taste”
Our first drama took place there: Abel's cell phone fell out of his pocket on the plane. Fortunately prayer worked and we got it back! While this was happening, I was mistaken for a Brazilian by a couple of ladies.. that was cool.
When we booked in for the next flight (prayers answered - weight of bags were exactly right – we were worried we’d have too much), we went to eat a famous cheese puff thing (pao de queijo) and drink Guarana.. both are very good. Abel does that every time he gets back to Brazil. We waited for about an hr to get the next flight to Curitiba.
The flight to Curitiba took about 45 min – we were seated separately and he didn’t bother to get me a seat near him. We had a sandwich on the flight. I was surrounded by the vulgar South Africans, who told me to come party with them wherever they were going.
When we landed it was late evening, so I got to see the beautiful city lights on the descent.. also a big city. By this time I was exhausted and Abel told me I look horrible.. just what a girl wants to hear [I know what he meant though :) ].. fortunately we were fetched by someone that I met (& was comfortable with) in South Africa.
We stayed at her flat (she still lives with her parents) for the evening. They had food ready for us.. eat, eat, eat..
CH 2: For the next 16 days, we stayed at another friend of his, Jessica. She speaks English, so it made it easier for me.
Her flat is in the center of Curitiba, across from the oldest university in the city - Federal University. It is also across from a park with one of the many bus stops. It is a busy area.
Over the 16 days, we visited his friends (most of who speak English), who made home cooked meals or took us out to eat. Food is big here. We ate at an Italian restaurant in an Italian style area (Santa Felicidade), which can serve 1000 people – it is buffet style.. chicken and liver, risotto and potato salad and lettuce with bacon on the table, while waiters bring different pasta dishes.
We also were taken to another buffet place (Batel grill).. wow.. it had a variety of meats – steak cuts on skewers that they walk around with, pasta too, like in the Italian buffet place. You could dish up a variety of salads and dishes: arabic, japanese (sushi). It is an expensive place, so it was a blessing. Another friend came from Sao Paulo. He took us for pizza. We went to a German pub where we had some German sausage. So, eat, eat, eat..
Other things I’ve eaten or drunk are: Sugar cane and lemon juice and also coconut water (vendors on the side walks making and serving it), coxinha (pear shaped pastry with chicken and cream cheese inside), quindim (coconut pudding – yellow filling), pastel (pastry with meat or cheese or.. filling), bread rolls and other foods made from Mandioca root, and lots of other things that I can’t think of now. I’ve enjoyed the sour juice of the Acerola plant too.
We saw the YWAM base where we will be from Jan. I will be in a small room with someone else again – I expected it, but I’ve had my own spaceous rooms since I’ve been away from YWAM, so it’ll be an adjustment again. Most of the people at this base don’t seem to speak English. There is another South African there (didn’t get to meet him, but it seems like he speaks Portuguese) and a girl from New Zealand. She is married to a Brazilian. They want the base to be more international, so they want some or other English course there too. They present the Bible School I did in Muizenberg, but they give the students longer time to rest – 2 days instead of 1. I’m jealous, but I’m glad for them. It is all in Portuguese, so I can’t do anything with or for them yet.
Other than that, we went to his church, which is English J and to the homecell which has been praying for him (now us) and youth service, which are in Portuguese. I’ve tried singing the Portuguese songs with them, but it is difficult – most of the time I can’t keep up with the words.. a bit frustrating. It is exciting and inspiring to see how many of the christians here are using their gifts, talents to spread The Word. 4 of the ladies in Abel’s church are currently in SA with the girls that was on Abel’s team, and then they going to Botswana. Other friends use circus style dancing too. I must be honest, I feel a bit untalented (if such a word exists) in comparison to some of his friends talents.
We also did things he had to do, like visit banks, voting, etc. He took me to see parks and things: Oscar Niemeyer museum (didn’t go in) – famous architect, Polish village museum / park, Japanese garden, Botanical garden – where many people jog, exercise, have picnics,etc. We were in one section that had plants and they gave us the option of being blind folded so we could feel and smell the plants. It was fun.
Oh, I was taken to have my nails done by the leader of the Portuguese homecell. (She is a doctor.) This is something common for the woman to do weekly – manicure in which they cut the cuticle off (not just push it back) and paint the nails - costs between 8 to 15 reias.
Well, hope that is good enough for now.. I’ll continue with CH3 in the next email.
Love and miss you.
Take care of yourself. Let me know how you are please.
Beijo
Leecia
P.s. I’ve attached a link about Curitiba, if you want to know more about where I have been and will be from Jan til Apr.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curitiba