Heads Up

Hello my fellow bloggers! Guess what? I'm a couple days late (or a week) but I'm coming to Rio!!

But of course I am not coming for fun. Boo to the hoo for that. I am coming because I am in need of a document. Remember a couple of days ago when I asked for a little help ? Well things have gotten interesting since then.

If you are look for some answers here they are. So after Corin left a comment on that post she suggested contacting the embassy. They should have some answers for me. Turns out they DO! There is this thing called an inscription letter that lists all your legal names, your parents name, your date of birth, and place of birth. Which is excellent considering I don't have any documents (aside from my birth certificate which is a whole other problem in itself) with my parents name...which here in Brazil they don't like...seeing as just about every legal document here shows your parents name. *sigh* I'm having all kinds of documents issues. Anyway going back, you can get this paper and it should solve problems. Well, supposedly.

So the interesting part, is I was planning on trekking it out to Governador Valadares today to go talk to the Federal Police about my problem. But yesterday while I was at work, the Federal Police came to ME! Well, actually, they came to do my interview (the one that makes sure I actually live here, with my husband, in a "true" marriage kind of way) and it went fine. Except for the part where everything was a mess. That was embarrassing, but I wasn't here...so I pretend it's all good. Thankfully my sister in law was and Sidnei arrived right as they were leaving. Things should be good on that end.

Anyway they told us to solve this problem, we needed to talk to a specific guy that handles foreigners, except he's the boss and comes in when he wants to. (how very typical) So I waited to call this morning to make sure he was there. Want to know the funny part? He's on VACATION. (also very typical) But we talked to another girl, who INSISTS, that the South Carolina state government must change their document. Which, um, is NOT going to happen. She also insisted the catorio would add a statement onto my translated and legalized Brazilian marriage certificate stating that I was allowed to use my married name. I am going to go talk to them today (I know the big wig at the one here, husband of another teacher), but I don't think that is going to fly either.

So the point being, I'm going to go get this document. Is the consulate far away from the bus station? (I'll be going by bus) Will I be okay all on my lonesome? Anyone want to have lunch while I'm there? :)


(Did any of that make any sense people? I'm on a holy crap I need to get this resolved and the PF are not being helpful tailspin.)

(Oh yeah, if you are coming to Brazil with a loved one? For Pete's sake, just get married here and save yourself the hassle.)

The Circus

I love going to see the different Circus's that come to town! We went to yet another circus. This time it was Marcos Frota's Circus (honestly, I don't really know who he is, besides that people seem to know him, and apparently his wife is famous). It wasn't the best show I've ever seen, but it was fun. The best part is we got to take Ana Beatriz (Bia) with us! She was SO CUTE. She loved the show and would clap and laugh so hard!

Looking for some help

So here is the thing, I'm having some problems with my Brazilian documents. The latest drama is this...

I got married to Sidnei in the states. In the states (at least in South Carolina) you go get your marriage certificate a few weeks before you get married. You put your legal name on the documents (which at the time is your maiden name). You get married, send in your license with all the signatures, get a copy back, and you take this copy and go to all the different departments to change your name. Which is what I did.

In Brazil, it's different. You go get your license the same day you get married. They ask if you are going to change your name(From what I've been told) and on your marriage certificate goes your married name.

So the problem is this...my marriage certificate has a different name than my passport...and all my other documents. They don't like this so much. I got a letter last week, asking me to come back to the federal police (2 hours away) to discuss this discrepancy. (yay!)

So what I want to know is...anyone out there have any similar problems? I know most of you got married when you got here...but I'm trying to find out what they are going to want from me. I was thinking maybe my birth certificate...maybe old passports? I have everything with me...but *le sigh* the process to get things certified, translated, etc....I don't even want to think about it. Help anyone?

**edited to add: my marriage certificate was translated, signed off by the judge, and I was given a "Brazilian certificate" here. The PF still don't like it!

Newest Residents

So last weekend, Sidnei received a phone call at the ungodly hour of 9 AM. (Don't judge, it was the weekend, we are waking up every weekday at 5:30, and we're sleeping before we have kids, k?) Generally my husband is one who loves to wallow in the bed until about 11 or so (stop judging)...but after this phone call, he jumps up, yells at me to "put some clothes on and get in the car". Curious enough to do this, but too sleepy to ask why, I did.

We get to the downtown of Ipatinga and we are looking for someone...who, I might ask? "A friend." Helpful.

We finally find this friend. He has a bag. With a box in it. When I open the bag, I discover the box also has holes, which I find alarming. So of course my immediate question is, "is there something alive in here"??? I guess I should have been asking, "was" ....Thankfully, despite our smart friend, no harm done. Everyone made it out alive.

Let me introduce you:

Here in Minas, we call them Chapinha. They are also known as Canário da terra . (At the top left of that page, you can switch it to English) And this is of course courtesy of my go to bird expert Danielle! All I had to say is it was yellow and tiny and she was all, is this it? Clicked on the link, and there were my birds. She's good!

I'm not really a bird fan. I like to look at them..in their natural habitat. They are beautiful. But in all honesty, I don't love them in cages. I feel really bad for them. At first they were really nervous. They seem to have adjusted. I have not...I don't know why birds make me nervous but they do. But when I call them now, they chirp at me, which I think is cute. And Sidnei loves his birds. He goes to them before he leaves for work and it's the first thing he comes to see when he gets home. I've known for a while that he's been wanting birds, he's always liked them. I just didn't want to have to clean up after anything else. Of course he swears that will be his job. But ha. Just ha.

I want to name them. I can't think of any good names though...help? Any suggestions?

Hello my friends from up North!

Here's the thing, I grew up in Southern Virginia. In the country, like an hour from any type of civilization. But I loved it. I have the accent. Listen, it's a PEE-CAN PI. Okay? None of the pah-kan stuff! Kenny Chesney's Back where I come from can make me cry big fat alligator tears on the right day and I litter my talking with southern expressions and a good y'all for effect here and there. And of course, let's not forget Gone with the Wind. Scarlett's famous "I can't think about that right now, I'll just think about that tomorrow" has become my personal favorite quote as of late. (Don't hate, I can't help where I grew up)

Anyway, the thing about that is, is that I now have a problem. I didn't venture up north very often and so I don't know much about it. Now, I have a private student who is leaving soon for Cambridge, MA to study abroad at a school called NESE . Help anyone? Anyone from around that area? Tell me things she just HAS to do and things she should probably just avoid all together! She will be there October to January, so she will be there for the holidays. Any fun holiday stuff I need to tell her about??

Thanks for all your help (y'all)!

Here I am!

It has been so. dang. long.

Here's the thing. I stopped blogging for two reasons..the first is my school schedule has been a little crazy. It is keeping me busy and I really love it!

The second is that I didn't want to complain all. the. time. But here's the thing: It keeps me sane. Things here have been difficult. So first, my apologies for my complaints. And most importantly, a big thanks for always being in my corner.

Moving right along....

I really love working at my school. I really feel like I got lucky. I feel like I have a good boss, who has always been fair with me. But most importantly, I have made some really great friendships with the other teachers there! Also this semester was my first semester teaching kids 7-9. I absolutely LOVED it. It was really so much fun...I don't want to teach regular people anymore. So today I'm going to end my post with some pictures from the semester with my kids.

Here is one group, showing off their actors they made for the story, "The Emperor's New Clothes"

This group is my youngest...they are a lot of fun...but challenging at the same time!
These three girls have been at the school together since they were 3. We had good times, we had bad times. Sweet faces right? Let's just say.... we all survived this semester!
Don't tell anyone, but this is by far my FAVORITE group. They were so much fun! I hope I get this group again next semester :)
Here they are dancing to the music we have to sing every.single.class. Every once in a while I let them go crazy with the dancing..it was one of those days.
At the end of the semester, we combined two groups for a movie day. So after filling them with soda and popcorn, right before lunch, we also gave them a big fat cupcake. They loved it. And well frankly, so did I!
I can't wait until next semester starts! I am slowly but surely pushing out adults and getting more kids classes. The school really isn't thrilled since "I have such a high level of English, they would rather put me in higher levels", but I really love it. And I want what I want! Not only that, but I have heard horror stories about teaching the teenagers...and I'm just not quite ready for that. The kids don't really understand that I don't understand all their portuguese (especially because holy crap, they talk REALLY fast), so they don't use it to their advantage. Teenagers however, in my opinion would have a field day. We had a spanish teacher one year when I was a sophomore in high school and english was her third language...and not her best. We were NOT nice. I would say I regret it...but she kinda deserved it. Anyway, I remember how we were...I'm not ready for that. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I'm not thick skinned enough.

Anyway to wrap up this book...LOVE the kids. Can't wait to do it again. For now I have a break in the day, and I am only working at night. So it's like semi-vacation. But I'll take it!

And I'm backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. Let's hope I stick around because I missed you guys! And I so wish I could come to the blogger meet up on the 16th! Keep having them, I swear I'll make it out to see you all soon!