So, although these past few weeks have been rough for me, we've passed the 6 month mark since I have moved to Ji-Paraná, I was delighted by a package from my grandmother containing books, Reese Cups and what else? ORGANIC FAIR TRADE CHAI TEA! It's the small things in life that make all the difference and my grandmother's packages always seem to arrive in tune with when my PMS is just starting to get out of control. Always!
Anyhow, the subject of this post is also the inspiration for this new post today. New Friends! Over the last few days I have been searching a website called gringoes.com, a site for foreigners who are living in Brazil) and managed to find ONE post about Rondonia. I quickly messaged the girl who had posted about her upcoming move to a city not too far from me and consequently I have made two new friends! The girl I sent the message to is on her way to Brazil within the next few months and she shared a website with me of a fellow American who is in Rondonia, a bit further away, but regardless, it made me overjoyed. I quickly went to her website (http://sixdegreessouthlatitude.blogspot.com/) left her a message and not even an hour later, I received a phone call from the other American currently lost in the Amazon, Jessica! We spent almost an hour on the phone talking about our lives, how they have changed since we moved here, our husbands, dealing with buracracy, working, teaching English and her new school which, although was set to open up on Monday, due to the national holiday, was moved to tomorrow. I have a feeling Rondonia's first American Social Club is starting to take root! ;)
I spent the morning planning out my next career moves and if all goes well, by the end of the month I may have some interesting news to share! Just stay tuned!
On another note, Rondonia is situated just close enough to the equator that we really don't experience much difference in weather except for the rain. There's the rainy season and the dry season. The dry season was almost unbearable at points due to all the dust in the air and the heat that never ended. I was so excited when the first few rains fell and have been announcing that I am excited for the rainy season to kick into full gear. However, little did I think this through. Mosquitos multiply in the rainy season. I've already started lighting up mosquito coils at night and am getting ready to order some Skin-so-Soft from one of my friends who is an Avon distributor. (My vovó swears that the body oil is the best bug repellant on the market!) One of the best things about the rainy season is how the landscape changes from dry to clean, crisp and green. This weekend I will take my camera along as I head off to our friend's farm to take some pictures of what I consider the most beautiful hills and mountains I have seen in Brazil. I need to do some more research on the geology of Rondonia because around her farm there are tons and TONS of big rocks. Just random huge rocks in the middle of nowhere. I'm extremely intrigued and now I want to know what type of geological past this region experienced to know why those rocks are there! If anyone knows of any books or websites, send them along!
That's all for now as it is already midnight. I went for a run tonight and am exhausted. Tomorrow I'm joining a gym. (Mind you, I have been saying this for over a week now...) I need to get some type of structure into my unstructured life and with the end of the school year not too far away (2 weeks!) I'm going to need something to entertain me!!!
Boa noite!
Hi Becky!
ResponderExcluirFound your blog and I'm now following you! If you look at my blog, I've got almost the complete list of expat bloggers in Brasil, so make sure to take a look at it!
BTW, I really like the name of your blog!
How long have you been in Rondonia? There is an American Woman in Rondonia too who blogs, her blog is called Titia Amor, I have it linked on my blog.
Welcome to the family!
Abracos,
Alex
Whoops, saw you are already following titia amor, haha!
ResponderExcluirI also saw under the "blogs I visit" a blog called "say yes to Hoboken." Are you from NJ? I live only 30 minutes from Hoboken and NYC!!!
Abracos,
Alex
Hey! I found you via Jessica's page (Titia Amor)! Nope, I'm from PA--I just love the crafty idea's on the Hoboken blog! I hear you are getting ready to study abroad in Sao Paulo? What school are you going to be at? I did 6 months at USP. If you have any questions, let me know! :)
ResponderExcluirOi!
ResponderExcluirYes! I'm going to be going in January 2013, so I still have some time!
I'm probably going for a year, but I'm trying to see if I can get them to split it 6 months in Rio and 6 months in Sao Paulo. I think I'll probably be at PUC in both Rio and SP, although I'd rather be at USP. How did you like SP? Did you stand out a lot or blend in more than in Rondonia? I was interested when I read your comment on Lindsey's blog that there are lots of Gauchos in Rondonia, I did not know that!
Hows Ji-Parana? I've heard it's a very fast developing city.
Abracos,
Alex
That is so great. What are you studying? It would be great to split the experience up between the two big urban centers for you to get a feel for both... if you could throw in Salvador or Manaus it would be even better for you :)
ResponderExcluirI didn't really like SP much because its just seriously a giant giant city. I am not necessarily a country girl, but I like being near nature... hearing the birds, etc... and i also like to run, so after my first pathetic attempt at a jog in Sao Paulo went down the drain with my first asthma attack in years I started counting down the days back to Rondonia. I love my life here, it's totally laid back, relaxed... churrasco every sunday on the farm... you know :)
In Sao Paulo you will find a bit of everything. Pay attention to how the natives are dressed and COPY that. if not, you risk getting robbed at point blank like my one friend. She got robbed 3 times, in the same location, by the same guy, in the middle of the day with a gun at a bus stop in Vila Madelena, not a shady place in SP. I lived nearby in Pinheiros which was really really really nice. I can make an announcement on my Facebook to my Sampa friends to see if anyone needs a roomate once you get your situation all figured out. Everyone's always looking to 1) rent out a room and 2) get a chance to practice english! obviously, you will speak more Port with them but they loved asking me "how do you say this... how do you say that..."
Rondonia (obviously as it is in the interior) is an immigrant state. I have no problems blending in here (save for my clothes and shoes). We actually rent from a Gaucho here and we drink Chimarrao with him in the mornings and in the evenings, and during the day he drinks tereré with us, as my husband's family is from Mato Grosso do Sul (being close to Paraguay=tereré culture instead of chimarrao).
Ji-Paraná is really growing before my eyes. New fancy restaurants and stores are opening every day and even more important is the investment that is coming from outside the city (including international investment). I'm really enjoying living here as it is just big enough it has everything (except a shopping mall) but small enough that I pretty much am able to know everyone through social networks. If they don't know one of my brother in laws, my husband or their father, then I am convinced they don't exist! Even a girl who I just met who is going to be moving to Rondonia about an hour away from me has a friend in Florida who knows my husband, lol.
Keep me up to date on how your exchange program develops. What will you be studying at PUC? I have friends who did some classes there last semester in Sampa so I can also hook you up with them if you are interested! Networking! :)
Thanks again and I'm glad you stopped by my blog. I'm so excited to be back into the blog-o-sphere. It's been TOO long!
Tchau!
Becky
Oi Becky,
ResponderExcluirMy major is a mess right now and I'm in the process of changing it, so I'm not sure what I'll actually be studying unfortunately. All I know is I need to get the credits to transfer.
Yeah, SP has mixed reviews. I guess it depends what you like. I love both huge city and out of the city as well. I live super close to New York and basically in a megalopolis here, although it's not as dense as SP by any means. I'll definitely give it a chance =).
That's too bad about your friend getting robbed. The story is almost ironic though! Bad things happen everywhere is the way I look at it, because in the past year I was robbed twice, once on the street and once on a train (two weeks ago) in a 50 minute standoff, it was pretty intense. I wrote a blog post about it a few days ago, if you want you can read it here (http://bossabreezes.blogspot.com/2011/11/so-what-did-you-do-this-weekend-ah.html)
That's wild about how close knit your town is, thats definitely something special! Crazy that the girl moving there know a friend who knows your husband!
And of course,I would LOVE to have some contacts from Sampa! It would be awesome, really! Thank you and I really appreciate it!
Aren't blogs just great? I have to admit I was skeptical of them a few years ago but I'm so happy I made mine because its given me valuable information and has helped me make new friends all at the same time.
Ate logo,
Alex