Going around

When your cultural shock starts to pass (or you think it is), then you want to make choices more consciously.   You know people tell you to act this or that way, but something back in your mind insists you should try something else.

I love walking. But my liking contradicts all the advices I get. Since I can't drive, public transportation has to be used. For ex-pats that means going taxing everywhere - or until you can get to next metro station. Well, they aren't wrong in their choice: if you, like me, can't speak enough Arabic, don't know the place yet, when obviously have no idea where the buses and trams are heading to (because there is no signs written anywhere - not in the stops, not even in the buses' front), then what you have to do is go taxing.

Locals, on the other hand, go by bus or tram. Although taxis' charge here is cheaper than in any other world capital, it's not affordable to people go to work or school everyday by taxi. And then, they know how to use the other kinds of public transportations, which also includes tuk-tuks and open-in-the-back trucks.

Where is walking? Virtually nowhere. No one seems to be able to walk 10 minutes or 1 km. And certainly not my 40 minutes walking to Arabic school (to go and come back, 80'). That may cause problems - or give you a funny story.

I was leaving work at 18:00, when I realized I didn't have enough money for the taxi. After considering the options, I looked at the sky... sun isn't so strong anymore and I like walking. So I decided to walk back home and calculated I would take about one hour. I had never done it before, but I had a map, right? Yep, until I get to one roundabout with many streets crossing and I get confused which street I should follow (no, it was not just going straight ahead). And them people started to tell me to follow the trams' rail.

That's what I thought they were telling me. Each time I stopped to ask, the advice was always the same. Until the trail ended and I ended up somewhere totally wrong - and I was completely lost.

Luciana goes all the way back. And then decided to ask once more (after all,I was walking already for 1 hour and a half!). A family is sitting on the pavement and when I ask for directions, I cause a comotion. "Habibiti, that's too far! You can't go walking!" - said the mom. She stops a woman in the street, who could speak English and this one is also mortified. No walking - take the tram, she advises. Okay, now I understand. All the time, I shouldn't have followed the tram's trail but should have taken the tram. 

Well, I'll have to take the tram, then. It was getting dark... and it was a new experience, anyway. Then, I learned two things: how to get the tram and why ex-pats probably don't take the tram. You only get it by chance. I waited for half an hour and it took about 5 minutes to my stop. So, if it comes, take the tram. If it doesn't, go taxing. Or walking - I still haven't given up. =P

Outdoors

I wanted to post something of outdoors. Work is going fine and learning Arabic is much difficult than I have ever thought it would be, but still trying to find my own way and there are already some things that I love doing here.

One of them is watching the sunset - although I don't do this very often. Folks, it's the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen in my life. I thought all the photos I had seen before had manipulated colours by software, but it is inexplicably true: the colours are magnificent, creating shades I never dreamed of existing. Just take the light... it's so powerful any time of the day, but during the sunset it seems to create some transparency. And the sun majestically setting in the horizon line always makes me speechless. Wonder. Astonishment. Never know what wish is stronger: whether I want to contemplate or to follow into the sun.

My photo is nothing. But I went to the desert yesterday for the first time I thought I wanted to share this with you. Had a nice time there, but hope to have lots of more beautiful sunsets for you. :) 

Coming back

Without internet at home, one hasn't much choice, but not to update a blog - especially when you have so much to do in terms of your adaptation in a new place. No crying, folks: I'm back again! =P

There are some nice photos in my mobile, but due to technical reasons, I won't be able to upload them now. Then, stay with a glimpse of my b-day: it was sooo nice! I even had a home-made chocolate cake à la Brazil.

If you have curiosities or questions, let me know in the comments. I have so many ideas to blog that I don't know how to start or what to choose from. =)

Safe and sound

I arrived well, never had such a tranquil flight and conections like this time and everything went very smoothly. I was received at the airport with flowers and amazing people, am a guest of wonderful family, have a caring boss and (bonus) have adopted the family dog, Bingo!

I am happy. =)

Small things, Important Stuff

It's been obvious that I've spent the last months saying goodbyes to everybody and everywhere. There are two reasons, though (besides the recommendation that is important to really "leave behind your homeland", as I've previously pointed out HERE). Firstly, the two other times I was abroad, I left many things unresolved in Brazil. These pendencies were prejudicial to me and I wanted this time to have nothing taking me back. Secondly, and this is a consequence of the first wish, I wanted to finish a cycle in my life. It may be that I’m close the thirties and have this feeling of new phase in life. It felt right and I really think it was the best choice I made.

Thus, for the last time, some highlights of the last goodbyes in the last weeks:

·         At the big Goodbye party, I’ve got two little plants. I found this highly interesting, because they were very beautiful but the ones who gave it to me, didn’t mind that I would enjoy them for just two weeks, since I can’t take any vase of flowers with me. They were tokens of friendship that I really appreciated (and thanks to dad, they are in good hands!);

·         We went to a last football match. I support Atlético Mineiro and we won the match, but it wasn’t the best one… I liked to spend some nice time with cousins, brother and his girlfriend and to have some spare time amidst all the craziness of arranging things;

·         One week later, mom did a family lunch to fifty people, which were family plus close relatives. Even grandpa (!) was there, which made it one of the most important moments;

·         I went to granny to bake “Five Plates Biscuits”, which are a traditional delicatessen from Minas Gerais. Yummie plus GREAT TIME with a GREAT WOMAN;

·         We had another small Goodbye party – which was very nice. As in all parties, we took photos, smiled, hugged, kissed, laughed and I’m truly full of gratitude for all amazing friends and relatives that I have;

·         I went with my parents and siblings to dine out – delicious fish and chips… on the Brazilian fashion, though.;

·         Phoned, talked, e-mailed, texted lots of friends – but couldn’t reach a half of all those I wanted to talk to;

·         Had a last bowl of acai-berries cream, a last “pastel com caldo de cana” (a Brazilian pie with sugar-cane juice) with my brother, a last “pão-de-queijo com cafézinho” (traditional cheese scones from Minas Gerais with coffee on the Brazilian fashion) wit mom;

·         Mom took two days off work to be with me. Nothing could crown it better than this. Without her help, I wouldn’t be able to take off.

Well, you see that I really tried to concentrate on people (and food, but the latter was unintentionally – it came with meeting people).

Too big a post, I will write more next about future plans and great expectations!  =)

Happy Easter!!!

If there is something my parents did teach his children is that Easter doesn't have anything to do with the business or the consumption of chocolate. In Brazil, we don't have many traditions to celebrate this date, so they didn't replace anything to the sole tradition spread in this country, which is to pay 120 reais (about 60 USD) per kilo of chocolate in the shape of chocolate eggs - a price that you wouldn't pay for any food.

Therefore, with the true meaning of Easter in mind and maturity already there, I made up my mind to look after the traditions which enrich the life's rituals, like the special occasions.

I could write a huge post about all the traditions I've learnt, but I want to talk about those traditions related to food (although the religious celebrations in community are the most important kind of traditions). And I'm talking neither about chocolate, nor about codfish.

Since I didn't find out about any Brazilian gastronomic traditions (if they do exist), let's have the foreign ones. One of them is the Simmel Cake, a rich English cake of dried fruit covered and filled with marzipan. You can find more about the story behind the cake HERE.

Because there is no marzipan to buy in my city and I don't venture to make my own marzipan, I cover my cake with dark chocolate ganache and put eleven "chocolate" eggs (well, no one would honestly call these terrible low quality thing chocolate, but the producer, and maybe not even them). This is a photo of my Simmel Cake:

Please, take into consideration that this is not a gastronomic blog with professional photos. ;-)

I have true original English recipe - I didn't pick one from the internet. =P It's good that I only eat this cake once a year. [smile]

Of course, end this post listening to the great J.S. Bach to celebrate this day to the most!!!!

Big Farewell Day

Yesterday was the Big Farewell Day. It was simply FABULOUS to meet more than one hundred people and to feel sooo cared and loved by so many. =)

Put your name here if you were there: thank you very very much!!!!!!

If you weren't I don't think I can describe it properly. I was actually out of my rotation line, if it really exists. But it has been one of the most beautiful times in my life. Family, friends, relatives and community friends - even former workmates!

A big thanks goes to Geraldo who organized everything, to Edith & Abilio who played, to Luis for the moving letter, to Tércia for the genial gift, to everybody who wrote messages, who contributed somehow, to the parents who took their lovely children (Ernesto, Gabriel and Mateus), for everybody who took pics (don't forget to send me them), who came to hug me etc. I love hugs.

Well, you see this doesn't give much of a picture, I know. Sorry. Last thing I can tell is that I am now pretty much concious that I am indeed going in just a few days. 12 to be more exactly. =)