Parties

Here at PACA they celebrate birthday's a little differently than we did at schools in MI.  Once a month the room mothers come in with treats to celebrate all the birthday's for that month.  This month we had 5 student birthday's!  Here are a couple photos. 

A Brazilian birthday cake with "confetti".  

 The birthday kiddos

Singing "Happy Birthday" (also in Portuguese...I have got to learn this song!)

I was just thinking you probably might wonder if we do any work in 1st grade, so I thought I'd update you on our current topics.  I guess I don't post much about it because parties seem like more fun!  

In Language arts we are doing some testing to gain student levels, working on basic writing (subjects, nouns, capitals, punctuation), and working on Read-to-Self.  Today the kids reached their stamina goal of 12 minutes!  Here is a photo. 

In math we finished up basic addition and are about to finish a chapter on basic subtraction.  Next week we will begin addition strategies.  In Bible we started with Creation, then moved on to Cain, Able, Noah, the Tower of Babel, and are now at Abraham.  The story of Abraham is part of why I ended up in Brazil so I am really enjoying the chance to teach that.  In Social Studies we just finished our unit on the continents.  This morning one of the mom's came in and presented on China (she is from China).  It was very interesting and I learned a lot!  Now we are studying ancient civilizations beginning with Mesopotamia and then moving onto Egypt. 

I asked Josh, Brenda, and Jen to be my first dinner guests.  They have been so very helpful to me.  I also knew if it was a total flop they would be gracious. :)  We had the basics, spaghetti, garlic bread, fruit, broccoli (yes mother a vegetable!!), and brownies.  

Little Bathroom Story

Here's a little example of what adventures one might have not knowing Portugese in Brazil.

Last Sunday I was with some friends at the grocery store and they were getting in line to check out.  Now, here lines to check out take a VERY LONG TIME, so I asked if this might be a good time for me to go use the restroom.  I figured then we wouldn't all have to wait for me to go once we checked out.  They told me it was on the other side of the store, so I went over there but did not see signs anywhere.  The store has a pharmacy in it,  so I went to the counter and tried saying the two words I know that mean bathroom.  Evidently I have a really terrible accent because one worker went to get another and soon there was a group of about 4 workers trying to understand me.  Well I tried doing motions.  I tried showing them the handwashing motion.  They tried selling me soap.  Ok, that didn't work.  I thought of showing them toilet paper, but I couldn't find it anywhere.  Then I thought of a sure way to make my point.  I would do the world renoun 1st grader bathroom dance!  So I'm dancing and prancing and crossing my legs...nothing.  Oh boy, what to do?  The lady took me to a computer and started looking something up.  I motioned to let me try.  I went to Google images and looked up pictures of bathrooms.  Fail again...then I went to the best website... Google Translate.  I typed in "Where is the bathroom?"  All the workers laughed and laughed, as did I...and one sweet lady brought me to the bathroom.  SUCCESS!!

Its a Small World After All

Today I met up with Ana Carolina who was an exchange student with the DeRuischer's in Grand Rapids in 2005.  She took me around the city a little and introduced me to a couple of her friends. 

On the way home I took a photo of Estaiada Bridge which is a famous bridge here in Sao Paulo.

VISITORS!!

Marianne, Karin and their group came down this past weekend.  They are still in Brazil working at Restoration Ministries, but I was able to see them this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  It was such a blessing to see familiar faces and to be able to spend so much time with them!

Meeting up with the girls at their hotel

The largest bookstore in South America...dream come true for Marianne!!

Karin got sushi

Deborah and I tried on some fun sweater dresses at a local mall

Shay and Khamile at the mall

Saturday night we went to Casa Pizza

Fun little spot at Calvary church

The girls at church

Khamile eating a chicken heart!

Lunch at a Brazilian Churrascaria

 The bathroom has floss...

and Listerine!

How cool are these faucets/sink!!

We went to an outdoor shopping area in the Japanese section of the city

Khamile got the purse she had been looking for.

I found a coat ...its winter here!

Grandma

Today Grandma met Jesus.  She has a perfect body and I'll bet she is making some amazing music up there on a heavenly piano!  For now though we enjoy a little of the music she created here on earth. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgGVAg5fbb0&list=HL1377037551&feature=mh_lolz

I only have 2 decent photos of her on my computer down here, but the music is fantastic. :) 

Christmas 2011 with Grandpa and Grandma

Another Christmas

Initial Impressions

Thoughts:
Philippines compared to Brazil
Traffic: U.S. fastest, Sao Paulo in the middle, Manila slowest
Pollution: U.S. cleanest, Sao Paulo in the middle, Manila highest concentration
Bathrooms: Unlike many places on the Philippines all the bathrooms (so far) have had flushing toilets, seats on the toilets, toilet paper, running water, and most have soap!
Language thoughts/stories: went to use the microwave for the first time...all the buttons are in Portuguese...figured it out on the 2nd try!
Washing machines: had to ask for help 3 times so far due to Portuguese...P.S. There is no hot water, but there are dryers!!!  (no dryers in the Philippines)
Food:  Good so far...lots of rice, beans, meat and white bread...I was hoping for some good fruit, but that might come with time.  It is winter here!
Water:  Accidentally bought some with "gas" (carbonation) opened it up and it exploded! :)
People here speak less English than other big cities I have been to.  I was told this by an ELL professor who has taught all around the world, and from my own experiences I would agree!
School:
Lunch is provided every day...and its really good!!  Not making lunches each night is AMAZING!!
I get 2 prep. periods every day and 40 min. for lunch!!!  What??!!
We only have staff meetings once or twice a month and the one we had this week was a P.D. session on ELL learners...totally applicable!!
Duty: I only have one duty (lunch or recess) each day every other week!
Recess:  The students get 3 recesses a day...a total of 50 minutes!

First Days of School and Church

The first week of school went really well.  So far the students are well behaved.  The parents are very supportive and we work with Google Translate to improve our communication.  I think that is my new favorite website!!  I am learning the curriculum, schedule, and how things work here.  We begin each day with devotions which is such a wonderful experience.  Even though some are in Portuguese, it is still encouraging to begin my day in that way!

Here is a photo of my class taken this morning.

Here is a little video of them singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider in Portugese.  They aren't quite with the CD, but that's ok. :) It was fun for me to hear them sing it in English and then Portugese.  I'm sure its very normal for them, but it was new for me!

The past few Sunday's I have attended church with Josh and Brenda.  Dave and Jan Santos, from Grand Rapids, have started a church near-by that they attend and it has been nice to go with them and experience a Brazilian church service.  Brenda often translates what is going on for me!

Church building in process

Dave and Jan

A song you might recognize in Portugese

Making a Cake in Sao Paulo

Last night I attended an amazing birthday party for a lady who was turning 40.  We all  brought something and I was asked to bring a chocolate cake.  Simple enough right?  

Here's the steps:

1. Ask someone to take you to the grocery store.

2. Have a friend take you through the store telling you/reading to you what things are.  Be thankful you could find a cake mix!  (Less ingredients you have to have someone help you find!)

3. Have another friend take you to the store that sells powdered sugar for frosting. (Do a quick Google search 1st to convert standard to metric so you know about how much to buy.)

4. Ask another friend for a mixer, measuring spoon and pans.

5. Use Google translate to read the cake directions.

6. Use Google to find a metric to standard measurement converter.

7. Turn the dial on the oven back and forth until you find a temp. close to 350.

8. Make cake and put in oven until it seems done. (P.S. If you go upstairs to do laundry, remember that you cannot read anything on the machines so you may have to find a friend to help you start the laundry... and it might take longer than you anticipate to get back to your apartment where the cake is baking.)

9. Take the cake out and let it cool.

10. Search for something to put it on.  Find a pizza pan and give it a go!

11. Make frosting and frost cake.

12. Wash and give borrowed cake making equipment back.

13. Take cake to party where they make it look cool with little desserts around the edges and sparkly candles!

Can I just add this Garden Party was amazing!  Here are just a few shots. It definitely needs to go on Pinterest!!

The girls