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