long time...jammin'

So i know I havnt written in forever.
i know, excuses excuses.
but I was sick, and then my internet broke. and then I got lazy.
So ill just talk about this past weekend. because there is no way i can remember everything/write it all down. plus that would be a lot of stuff to read. and nobody wants to read.thats boring.
então, didnt do too much this past weekend, but I did go to JAMNOMAM (read Jam no MAM, or in english, jazz at the museum of modern art) check it out here- JAM no MAM
and it was AWESOME. I really had been having saudades for NOLA with all of the talk about the new semester starting, and some fresh live jazz really made me feel a lot better. but the first couple of sets had more of a caribbean vibe, which was different and didnt make me miss NOLA more, but made me appreciate the culture that bahia has to offer. And then the last set was an entire orchestra! it played several numbers, and then had a "duel" with the jazz combo. Most def one of the most interesting musical experiences. and for all about $1.50 US. :) even better
ps, still not fully into classes and its offically the 4th week of school. One teacher just showed up for the first time today, and i have a class friday that the teacher has YET to show  up.....oh brazil....

Que Saudades...

So, Ive kinda hit that spot where im starting to actually miss things from the states. Not miss as in i wish i could go buy taco belll right now (although i DO miss me some taco bell) but as in the lifestyle there. Im not really in a routine yet, but everything isnt new either. Especially with eveyone talking about going back to Tulane now or very soon, it has actually occurred to me that I will not be there this year. I am starting to miss the people in the states. Its different than just being in NOLA--because I cannot pick up my cell phone and text or call people when i want. Things here are so expensive tooo. I do really miss how cheap they are back in the states. No kidding guys, they keep the sunblock behind the counter with the cigs. Because its THAT expensive. Or even just like going to the salon. Today me, Soraya, Bella and Rafa went to the salon to get Rafa´s hair cut. que cheio! It was sooo crowded. But that is normal here. The entire place was packed full of people, all talking very loud. When I go to get my haircut, honestly I enjoy the peace and serenity of my salon. And I mean yall have to remember, I love talking and being with people. But here sometimes it is just too much. Oh yeah. and that whole talking in Portuguese thing. I am getting really tired of that. Of not knowing words. Of being pegged as a foreigner as soon as I open my mouth. I am always having to be on the lookout for trouble because of this. For example, just yesterday night, 2 of the kids in our program got robbed on a fairly large street at 10:30pm. I am constantly having to look over my shoulder. And its tiring.


SO thats my rant about missing the states. I mean, theres a plus and a negative to living anywhere in the world. I know I just talked about a lot of bad/unpleasant things, but there really are a lot of positives as well. Obv or I wouldnt still be here.

To go along with this, I am going to post one of my favorite photos that always makes me have saudades. :)

Me and Daddy. And Catalina in the background. :)

fazendo biscoitos! (making cookies!)

So I decided to make some all american cookies the other day, since im starting to miss my home cooking. The first difficult task is finding all of the ingredients....in another language! I wish I had taken some pictures of that.....
However me and my new lover, Andre, proceded to make our cookies yesterday afternoon, after i THOUGHT i had all the materials I needed.
QUITE wrong.
After searching forever to find a receipe sem honey, brown sugar or corn starch (all normal things an american household would have, btw) Andre found a brazilian receipe for cookies. mistake number one.
As we made these "cookies" we were like, this is WAY to dry. So we added milk.
now gallery, please think what is cookies + milk?
cake.
sooo basically after almost burning down Andre's apartment trying to figure out how to work a gas oven, we ended up with these (delicious mind you) but cake cookies.
after we had to finally give up and battle my evil grandmother, cooking the cookies in my apartment.
hahaha
next task- make southern style biscuits! :)

amanha menina, amanha...

So TIM is the cell phone company I use here. And pretty much everyone uses pay as you go phones. So it would be the day that I run out of money/credits that the TIM system is not working. Except no one bothered to tell me that until after I went to 4 different stores to try and buy credits. I would like to point out that the first store I went to was the TIM store.
*sigh*

P.S. I am experimenting with colors and fonts....ill eventually get this blog thing down.

Rule 6

It is not strange to be asked to go with your mom and her boyfriend on their date. Or for everyone to share their ice-cream.

My tummy :(

Unfelizemente, my tummy has had some problems in brazil.
All the food differences and the stress have gotten to me.
BUTTT......
I saw this doctora the other day, and she gave me the most awesome meds ever.
Estou melhor!
:)

Rule 5

road signs, traffic lights and especially traffic lanes are all just suggestions in brazil

ilha dos frades (island of the friars)

so my friend ben and I went to ilha dos frades this monday and tuesday, and had an awesome time!
we slept on the beach, and walked like 7 miles around the island. :)
it is an ecological preserve, so the scenery was GEORGOUS.
just getting there was an adventure.
I shall post photos later.