Sunday, June 21, 2009

How long have I been here again?

Time just seems to be passing me by...one day quickly fades into another and I find it hard to keep up! I realized today that this week will mark a month for me in Brazil! A MONTH. How did that happen? Have I really been away for a month? Have I really been with Sidnei for a month? It's just hard to believe that time truly passes by this fast!

So what have we been doing for a month??

We bought a bed!:


And then we realized our clothes couldn't stay like this forever:


So we bought a guarda roupa! What is a guarda roupa? For those who are not familiar (like myself) they don't necessarily build closets here with the houses, so you buy a guarda roupa, which is a closet in a really big dresser form. Not the greatest picture, but here it is being built:


And finished: (and yes, it is quite shiny,but I'll put up a better picture later!)


Aside from those fun things, we have had to go and take our marriage certificate to be translated and then sent to the judge to be officially recognized here in Brazil. Who knows how long that will take.

Also we have been running around to MANY government and public offices trying to get all of Sidnei's documents straight since he has not used them in a long time. Here if you don't vote and your CPF is not active them everything is basically frozen. And you need your CPF to do basically everything. But now we seem to have everything taken care of, I hope!

The language seems to be coming along. I am happy with being able to understand as much as I do and frustrated that I can't understand much of what is said! My vocabulary is building everyday and I know that all this gibberish I hear around me will one day turn into actual words! And will actually have meaning behind it! I am definitely excited for that!

My Brazilian family is wonderful! They are so good to me and want very much to help me adjust to life as best as possible! And they talk to me...whether I understand or not. Which I am grateful for!! Though they do try to help me as much as possible and we seem to communicate well despite our obstacles!

Anyway to make a long post longer....things are good here!

Now if only I could make the electrical shower head give me hotter water....I'd be set!

16 comments:

That Girl said...

Hey, lady. I've been MIA in the blogging world for a good month now, but I've been thinking about you! Sooooooooo glad you're with your honey. Everything else will work out if you're together.

(Pssst. To get hotter water, turn DOWN the shower. There's only one temperature, so you can only adjust the pressure; the less water that flows through the coils, the hotter it is.)

Kerri said...

Wow! It sounds like you are doing so well! I'm happy for you. I would be so scared to go to a new country where I couldn't understand the language, but it sounds like you are doing very well with it. Good job! Hey, I know that your husband is a convert to the church, but I am wondering if any of his family has joined the church. If not, I bet this will be great for them to see how it has changed his life.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure you will be speaking portuguese before you realize it! :)
I'm gald to hear from you agan!

Loved the new layout!

Beijos!

Anonymous said...

So glad things are going so well! Wow, a month..already?

Love the new blog design!

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

I, too, like the new design!

That is weird they don't build closets.

Lisa said...

Electrical shower head?? Isn't that like dangerous? :)
Glad to hear things are going so well for you and Sidnei; what a blessing.
People didn't build closets here a long time ago. You had wardrobes.

Take care,
Lisa

Shannon said...

WOW! A month already?!

So glad to hear you're adjusting well!

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Wow! A month! I can't believe it.

I'm so glad things are going so well for you.

When I went to Nicaragua, I never got that shower thing to work!

BTW, Google is not forwarding custom domains, but my blog has been updated, please head over.
http://www.reallyareyouserious.com and update your subscription:)

Ballerina Girl said...

Stephanie...
I love the new Brailian colored page! Looks great!
It sounds like you are adjusting well. You are staying so positive through it all...
must be that love thing right?! :)
So glad to hear it!

BG

Unknown said...

Yay, it looks like things are going good so far!!!

Eve said...

I love the new background - it seems to fit the new theme of your life! :)

Wow - has it really been a month already? Time sure does fly when you're happy and enjoying life!

Samantha said...

Well, I am very excited to learn that you have to provide your own closets there. :) Who knew? :) Looks like you are having a GREAT time, and you deserve it. Hope you get some more hot water soon!

lovelydharma said...

Hey did you do that new layout yourself? It's awesome!

Another thing you might want to look into is if the resister in the electric coil needs to be replaced. They don't last forever. It only costs about 6 bucks (reais) and depending on the model you can probably figure it out yourselves. Resistencia I think it's called. We just changed ours and I'm really glad for that hot shower now that it is FIFTY DEGREES outside!

;-)

Beautifully Simple said...

So glad you are adjusting well..

started following your blog about 3months ago.. and i feel like i know you already.

LOL

I like the makeover on ur blog...

definitely a sign that youre embracing all of brazil's culture and Color!

mmay you continue to learn and adapt to your new environment!

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

Electrical shower head? That sounds like a dangerous combination. :P

I'm glad things seem to be coming together for you guys. We've been in Alabama for a little over two weeks and it still seems surreal that we actually moved and have to start all over in this new place. Slowly but surely, right?

Vanessa Rogers said...

I love how your doggie is sniffing your suitcases in that photo! Glad to see he made it safely as well.