15th Birthday

In Brazil when a girl turns 15 it is a really big deal.  They often have a huge party.  I was able to attend one last night and it sort of felt like a wedding (without a groom).  This one was held at a church which is great because then the party isn't so wild.  The girl, Carolina, walked down the aisle in a beautiful gown.

She sat on this chair that reminded me of a throne.  Her parents came down the aisle before her and after her was her brother.  He took off her flat shoes and put on heels to symbolize her moving from childhood into womanhood. 

Her youth group friends came through this beautiful heart decoration and gave her different keys that they placed on a chain.  They were to remind her of different character traits she should have: generosity, humility, kindness, etc.

Her friends choreographed a song that they performed for her.  

The pastor preached and there was more singing.  Afterward they had snacks.  Here is a picture of Carolina and the family I went with.

Fabulous First-grade Fun!

We finished our first Read-Aloud, The Boxcar Children.  Its one of my favorites and the kids loved it!  To celebrate I used the cookbook to make some Boxcar Brownies.  My teacher aid, who is a senior, came over one afternoon to help make them.  The kids were so excited!

Tuesday afternoon we had our September birthday celebration.

Happy Birthday to our two September Birthday Boys!

Wednesday was the annual Walkathon to raise money for clean drinking water.  The money will be split between a group in Africa and one in Northeast Brasil.  The kids did a great job and we all had a lot of fun!  Its been cool here lately so it was perfect for running/walking.

Afterward the kids all got giletto...a little frozen Popsicle type treat.

Reading Contest!  Friday was the kickoff for our reading contest month.  The theme is Read Around the World and the whole day was packed with fun activities for kids and parents. 

The day began with an assembly explaining the contest, expectations, and prizes.  The 3rd graders put on a very cute skit.  Then we went to the library where we heard a couple stories on Egypt (since we have been studying that country).  After that Ms. Kim read to us about Korea and taught us how to do a little Taekwondo move.  

Mr. Lima had a fun art project for us to do.  We made statues like those found on a little island in the Pacific that the kids have been learning about with him.  

A local ministry for poor and street children came and performed Capoeira- a kind of war/dance.  The students even got to give it a try and they were great!

In the gym there were scooters (my favorite of elementary gym class!), a climbing rope/ladder, and of course futbol (soccer)!!

Next we went to the computer lab where the kids played memory games matching flags to countries.

Later in the day some seniors came in and read to the kids.  When they finished one of the first graders read.

What a great start to a fun month!  

A Few More Firsts

This week a friend showed me how to take the bus to the grocery store (where to get off etc.).  I made a few 1st time purchases.  A few people asked me about cheese per an earlier post.  Well, here they have a cheese called Prato.  Its about the closest thing to cheddar.  I saw some at the store and decided to try it.  Its blander than cheddar, but not bad.

I saw these and thought...oh wow!!!  Blueberries!!!  When I opened up the container to eat them I thought, hmm these smell like grape juice.  Well come to find out, they are grape juice grapes!  They are really sweet and delicious, but they have a really hard seed in the middle...don't break a tooth!  The taste definitely makes up for the hard seed though...mmm!!

While at the store a guy came up to me and asked me something.  There was no way I could pretend I didn't hear him since I was the only person around and he was right next to me so I finally said, "No fala Portuguese."  (I don't speak Portuguese.)  He said, "Oh, do you speak English?"  Yes!!!!  I replied.  We got to talking and he has lived in Chicago and actually attended PACA!  I asked if it was obvious I was American.  He smiled and said yes (I think it was kind of like YES...YOU SCREAM AMERICAN!!!).  He added, "But I thought you knew Portuguese."  Then I said, were you trying to ask me something earlier?  He said "Yes, where are the peaches in this store?"  I said, "Hey, I think that is the first question I can actually ANSWER in about 2 months!"

This week I went running at a nearby park.  They have these pieces of equipment that I thought were for kids, but evidently are for exercising.  I was trying one out and there are two stations facing each other.  As I was using it another lady came up and used the other side....no concept of personal space here. :)  So our faces were about 6-8 inches apart and she starts talking to me.  Well, I pretty much try not to talk at all because I don't want people to know I don't know Portuguese, so I just smiled.  I figured, well I guess its still pretty obvious I have no idea what she is saying so I told her I don't speak Portuguese.  Anyway, we tried to talk some.  I thought it was interesting she thought if she said a word over and over ...slower and slower ...that I would get it.  I thought, lady you could say that word 100 times and I would still have no clue what it was.  Anyway, I think we became friends? :)  A couple days later I went running there again and saw her and I think we exchanged a friendly greeting. :)

Speaking of running, today the mom of one of my students took me to a club nearby where we could go running.  It was sooo beautiful and the air seemed so clean!  My favorite part was the Bamboo Trail.  There were stalks of bamboo on either side anywhere from 10-40 feet making a canopy overhead.  It was sooo beautiful!!  We also saw these cool animals by the water called capivara.  They look like giant beavers.  In addition there were many beautiful birds.  It was really refreshing!

Today I had my first pigeon experience.  I was sitting at my computer working, and another worker was leaving my room.  He said something, and I turned around to see/hear a pigeon flapping its wings right toward my face!  There is a chance I may have let out a scream, and the pigeon flew out the classroom door. I had been warned of this, but I must say it caught me off guard!  Those birds are bigger than you would think...at least when their noisy wings are flapping toward your face!

Tonight I went to my first basketball game.  It was against our rivals and was really close.  The boys won by two points at the end!  The seniors had a taco dinner beforehand to raise money for their class which was fun as well.  

This week we got our first electric bill.  I thought, wow this is cheap!  Then I realized, oh ya, we don't have heat! ;)

Getting a lesson from my student!

Today marks 2 months since my arrival!

Last weekend I had the opportunity to spend some time with a student and his family.  On Saturday they took me to an aquarium and I had dinner at their house.  Claudia, the mother is a wonderful cook!  Her sister also lives with the family so I was able to meet her too.  

This family also had me over for dinner on Wednesday night and my student gave me some Portuguese lessons.  He would read a page of a book to me and I had to try and read it back to him.  It was fun as he played teacher and tried to fix my mispronunciations!  He told me he is going to give me a Bible Verse and spelling words to memorize in Portuguese!  Yikes, I better work hard!!

Before dinner the boys washed their hands and I thought their sink was so neat, so I took a picture.

Sunday night I went to their church and they had me share the story of how God worked to bring me to Sao Paulo.  The father translated for me.  The father is in charge of the mission and evangelism department of the church so he was preaching that night.  He was a professional Division 1 soccer player here in Brazil and he also traveled to Europe and played there.  Now he is a full time missionary with Ambassadors.  

Egypt in 1st Grade

We have been studying Egypt in Social Studies.  It ties well with our Bible stories on Joseph and Moses.  Here is some of the fun we have been having.  Isn't first grade great?!  I kind of like it. ;)

We talked about how Egyptians invented paper.  They used papyrus plants to do this.  We had to weave our paper together, press it flat with stones, and leave it in the sun to dry out.

We studied the pyramids and talked about what kinds of treasure were inside.  We even had a chance to build our own pyramids in groups using Legos.  

I think today was everyone's favorite.  We learned about mummies and we "mummified" a stuffed animal graciously donated by a student. :)  Step 1: Cut him open and remove the insides (or guts according to a lovely 1st grade boy) except the heart

The kids here have their packets with the steps for mummification.  

Here we are removing the body parts.  This was probably a lung or something.

 Then you have to wash the mummy.

Next you dry it with special salts. 

 We wrapped in in strips of linen (or toilet paper) with special treasure inside (fake coins).

Placed it in a coffin,

and finally put the coffin in a "tomb" filled with special treasure.

The girls singing "Pharaoh Pharaoh"...  I think this was the "O Baby let my people go!" part.