Welcome to the good life...

Where do I start? It has been so long! This blog is just an update on life after Rio. I have been having a blast! I have returned back to my "NORMAL routine" which consists of sleeping in, waking up to a full on breakfast spread, pilates and/or bike riding 20 something kilometers to neighboring towns, like a boss, eating like a beast,drinking like a fish, and other interesting things. I mean, if this isn't an ideal summer I don't know what is! (Hence the name of my blog entry).

I recently spent time with other family members who live in Boa Viagem on the beach and strolled down the soft white sand and cold surf in the am. Like a true pisces, I can't get over the beach scene here, it is truly out of hand and everyone tells me that it is nothing b/c the temperature and water is not ideal b/c it is winter here. Regardless, I can still tell it is gorgeous and plan on doing an afternoon at the beach when I go back there again in the next few weeks. I mean I cannot come back from Brasil without that Brazilian bronse factor! I also went to an art exhibit and saw the beautiful sculptures outside and inside and in true Melissa style I took pictures of EVERYTHING! LOVED IT! There were sculptures outside of theses women with typical Brazilian butts, which of course makes sense!

Later that weekend, I rode off to a neighboring town about an hour and a half away called Caruaru. This is where the official festival of Sao Joao, that my cousins have been planning for and which I have heard so much about, is going down. It is a rather rustic country town, very "differente" than that which I had ever seen before. The "aventura of Sao Joao", or opening ceremonies, of Sao Joao was to go down Saturday night. At lunch that day they told me that we would pretty much hang out that day and all go for a nap for a few hours in th evening and then leave around ten to go to the festival. That is when I knew this was no joke! They then proceeded to tell me that we would get back at sunrise. This is not a crazy concept for them, there parties all start late and you get home in the early morning hours. Upon arriving at the festival I was instantly taken back by how many people were there. I have never seen so many people in one place that wasn't like multiple leveled stadium. Everyone was eating, drinking, and dancing. Many of you have referenced samba in our correspondence, but at this festival they dance "fojo". This dance is typical of this part of the country and was originally called "for all" so that foreigners would know they too were welcome to join in the festivities. It is the complete opposite of samba, and I will do a demonstration when I get home. I was too overwhelmed to take pics, but some other people took pics that I will have them send me and I will be sure to take more pics when I go back next weekend.

On another note, I have been keeping up with my bike riding and will be sure to post a picture of that, b/c I am sure many of you would find it amusing and would like to verify that this is actually happening. A picture is worth a thousand words and if I was you I would need a picture to believe that this was actually happening to. Despite my weekly cycling/pilates, I have been eating and drinking like a beast! They eat smaller portions of a lot of different things at each meal. Rice, beans, salad, meat, etc. They eat well for breakfast which I am not accustomed to and eat a big lunch, and most of the time they eat a little lighter for dinner. There are lots of fruits and veggies too and everything is super fresh/natural. No preservatives and steriods here boys and girls, this is the real deal!

Well I don't too much witty commentary this time around, but I still having a blast! I am sure to have a new blog post next week when my cousin Alex comes into town as I am sure we will be doing a lot of touristy things and seeing the sites together! Stay tuned:)

Until then, I miss you all and hope you are doing well. I look forward to hearing from you either by blog comment or email & will attach the pics I promised from the bike ride, the Jack Johnson concert, & the beach/art.

THE RIO DEAL

Que pasa USA?!?

It is official, I have fallen hard for Brasil...I LOVE everything about it! I saw a whole other side to this beautiful country after having visited Rio! Before leaving, my cousin had said that is his opinion "Rio was the most beautiful city in the world". I smiled this claim off and assumed that he was just bias because he was Brasilian and what not. I assumed wrong, and swallowed my words the next morning when his claim became true after having awoken to look out my window to see none other than PARADISE! I am talking the

screensaver/computer backround image material here. It literally offered it all! The mountains are tall and green, and feel as though they are natures natural barricade to protect this gorgeous city. These gigantic mountains sit right on the coast of the beyond breathtaking sandy beach where there a plenty to see and do. Like many of you, I was curious about the beach scene, so here it is: the bodies were either rock solid or they weren't, but in any case, everyone was bronze and you got the idea that there was just an wave of care free confidence and acceptance. With regards to this self confidence and carefree lifestyle,generally speaking, it seems as if the superficial details that we as Americans thrive upon are irrelevant here...I gotta say, it is refreshing!

In any case, I fell in love with the beach and other forms of natural beauty that I encountered. Two of the most iconic tourist spots and natural beauties of which I am referrencing is Pao de Azucar and the statue of the Cristo, both of which were breathtaking! Pao de Azucar are essentially two ridiculously large mountains attached by cable car. We stopped at both mountain tops, looked out to the ocean and city views...it was the kind of place that I literally could have sat and stared at all afternoon. While I was checking out the view, I noticed a big crowd who turned out to be watching the taping of a novela that is very popular here. Next it was off to see the Cristo statue, which I had always admired and constantly looked for whenever we were driving around town. It was BREATHTAKING! Much larger than I could have ever imagined! A picture just does not do either of these sites justice, especially El Cristo.

Along with the natural belleza of this beautiful city, there is a thriving city life complete with **** restaurants and **** stores. I have been eating like a beast! Please note, this is my way of hinting to you that when I come back like 10 pounds heavier, don't lie and say otherwise, b/c we will both know you are lying. With regards to the shopping, the stores have really pretty stuff, and I love paying attention to what is in style, what trends are similar and which are different! What stores are a big deal here and what American brands are popular here. Everything is much more expensive, and I am always a bit financially conservative on trips and like to be in the clear until the end when I go $buck wild$. To which my parents are surely cringing right about now, but don't worry...I am just living out your ever so popular last words to me "you are only young once"! Changing the subject, I am also in absolute love with the architecture here. It is a fix of old and antique, gothic/European style cathdrals, banks, and other buildings and then there will be a modern highrise across the street. LOVE THIS MIX! In a further attempt to "do as the locals do" I went to the theatro the other night to watch a play in Portuguese called "En Fin Nos". It was about a married couple that gets locked inside their bathroom and I came to learn that you can learn a lot about a person when locked inside a bathroom. It was super cute! I was worried that I wouldn;t understand anything, but I understood most of it! Patience and practice leads to progress. I know that little nugget was worth needlepointing on a pillow, you're welcome. All in all, I haven't stopped and it has been truly a pleasure to visit Rio and I hope to do so again very soon!

I managed to attach some pics. on here, but for those you who have facebook my first set of pics is already in an album, but I need to upload the new ones from Rio. In any case, I am having a blast and adored my time in Rio.

As for my current status, my little cousin's first birthday is today so they are having a party tonight and so we've been setting up for that. Tom. I am set to go out with one of my younger cousins to drink/dance, so that should be interesting/fun and then Sat. night I am going to the Jack Johnson concert! He is all the rage here so I am pretty excited:) I will upload more pics and keep y'all posted soon. Hope all is well. Miss everyone & hope to hear from y'all soon:( XO

Greetings from the one, the only, beyond b-e-a-utiful Brasil!
Estoy adorando a todo, es lindo,lindo,lindo!
Allow me to begin by saying that I promiseto get better with my blog posting, now I have resolved my internet situation so you will be hearing from me a lot more often. I guess I can just start from the beginning and clarify what some have been curious about, this being my short but sweet encounter with a Brazilian soldier on the plane. Brace yourself, because from here on out it is going to be a long winded and ighly descriptive update on the last week/my culture shock!
I hopped on the plane and was anxious to see who I would have the pleasure and or have to endure for the next few hours of tightly confound, high altitude,poorly ventilated captivity. Much to my dismay a tall, bronzed gentlemen appeared. I didn't think too much of it at the time, but within five minutes,in true Melissa fashion, I started chatting it up! It turned out to be quite the bicontinental and bilingual conversation. He turned out to be a Brazilian soldier, I know, I know...men in uniform, but there are less attractive uniforms you know! For those of you thinking you are one step ahead of me and that the poor guy had no choice in the matter, think again! This was a totally mutual, in fact it was by far the most genuine,intellectual and yet funny friendship in my book to date. For those of you clinging to your chairs thinking that this I totally bypassed the eat, pray, and went straight for love, think again! In part because I am a true fat kid and am not oing to pass up food, but it also turned out that Sgt. Sweety turned out to me a husband an father of two.Not about to pull an Angelina! I know, I had you going for a second there right? You have to admit, that would have been way too Nicholas Sparks/RomCom style. Not too mention, he had serious baggage, and I had already overpacked!

On to the more relevant update, I am ADORANDO a Brasil! It is unlike any place I have ever been! I literally haven't stopped since the moment I landed, which has been my saving grace and kept me from thinking of home, not to mention that everyone has been so hospitable around here that I literally feel like I am home. With the minor exception being that I don't wake up to a four course breakfast among other amazing perks! (photo on fb of my cafe de mayana=amazing!) They eat like kings at every meal, it is not just one plate of one thing, but rather a variety of differemt things (pastries, fruits, veggies, juice,meat, etc.) I have been "experimentando" all the time, they literally want me to try everything! As a result, I went crazy on Thursday and did a little triathalon Recife style! I took a Pilates class, a "hydrogenastia" class, (both of which I loved), and last, but certainly not least a falsely advertized method of cruel and unusual punishment in the form of a 38 kilometer "scenic stroll around Recife at night". Lets just say I am lucky to be alive and still have a scab with an imprint of the bike petal on my leg. Yeah, good times! They kept asking me "Donde esta la fortaleza Americana?" (Where is the strength/energy American?) To which I responded with the little amount of breathe that I could manage to utilize"Miami".....they laughed,me-not so much! In any case, it was still a good time and amazing workout from which I am sure my butt is sure to benefit from.!

This whole "Americana" thing reminded me of my portugese update. Spanish has definetly helped me get by, and I cannot imagine surviving here for so long without it. They recently complimented me on my attempts and said not to worry that it was only week one and I was speaking fluent portunol (accento didn't work, mt apologies). I then have plenty of time to transform portunol to strictly portugues. I understand most things and if I don't they explain it differently until I get it! By they I am of course referring to the four ladies that maintain the house, cook, look after the children a.k.a. my bffs and daily tutors, along with every other member of the family young and old! I prefer it this way, it is a lot more practical.

As for this week, I just got back yesterday from Porto de Galihas,a small beach town about an hour and a half outside the city that they frequent often in the summer. It was raining, but still beautiful and we went into town and ate at the amazing restaurants and shopped at the cute little shops. I LOVED IT! As for this week, they have surprised me with a trip to RIO!!!! I leave Wednesday and return Sunday! I am BEYOND EXCITED, I have heard so much about it and now am seeing it with my own eyes! That blog is sure to be good!See, I told you I haven't stopped!
Hope all is well and look forward to hearing from y'all:) XOXO

Here goes nothing...the intro.

Bom dia a todos, At last the day has finally come and my blogging process has officially begun. Just a quick recap, the main purpose of my blog is to document my summer trip and keep my friends and family posted in a convenient way. Just a few weeks ago, on my birthday my parental units threw me for a loop and surprised me with a trip to Brazil for the summer. My mom has family there and I will be staying with them, for two months. I am BEYOND THANKFUL AND EXCITED about this whole process. Before this opportunity presented itself, I had gone to sleep away camp a few summers ago with my cousin for three weeks. Something tells me this is going to be different! More than anything, I will not have a partner in crime, and thus will be a "one man wolfpack". Yay me!To be honest I don't know what to expect, but I do promise to keep up with my blog and enjoy myself. I don't know what to expect in the least bit, but I do know that I will miss all my friends and family back home, and thus do my best to keep this blog updated and will look forward to hearing from y'all. Disclaimer: As most of you may or may not know I am quite the social butterfly (in person, via text, via email, and more importantly via blogging from Brazil!) I will try to make these posts as interesting as possible and share every detail with y'all, because that is so my style! So this is the intro. to what I am sure will be a wordy, descriptive, random, and hopefully witty/moderately entertaining blog. Thank you all in advance for following me and PLEASE be sure to write to me and keep me posted while I am away. That is all for now, but rest assured that I will keep you posted on the preparation process! All my love, a thankful and excited traveler