September 7, 2005
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Today is Independence day in Brasil, which basically means you have a 4 to 5 hour parade. I starting wishing everyone a “Feliz dia de Indepenencia” but Karine said they are not patriots, they are nationalists, and don’t really put much store in the day. I sure enjoyed the parade, which consists of all the schools of the town (there were tons, I counted at least 5) where all the students (at least high school) marched along with the marching bands.
I am getting pretty settled in here, although weird things do happen. Karine has been getting on my case about taking two showers a day. I said it was enough to expect me to speak the same language and to work on other cultural aspects when I get the language done. But to please her, I ended up taking a second shower (even though I really wasn’t dirty—I dunno, I have this thing that I like to be dirty and sweaty before I take a shower). I found a rather liked it and it was refreshing as I jumped into my pajamas (I figured I might as well change, even if it was 8pm) I had just finished when Talma comes in to call me to go to prayer meeting. Ugg. See, this is what happens a lot…I have no clue what is going on, so when I go ahead and do something, it gets in the way with their plans. It was alittle hard to swallow and then jump back into my clothes and head out the door.
They have broadband here, so I will be using their computer to send e-mails…if I am sending things to the wrong people or not to someone or making spelling mistakes, it is because the computer is set in Portuguese, meaning I really have no clue what the settings are, and the keyboard is different. So just let me know if you want me to fix something.
Yesterday I spent the entire day in high school. 8 classes—two being chemistry, and two physics. Yikes. I am going to school with Raquel again, and I really enjoy it, although Tuesday she has extra classes (most days there are only 5 classes). That was a lot of Portuguese. During the History class the kids got really rowdy and the teacher asked me what classes were like in US schools…and I had to tell her they were pretty much the sameL. Being around high scholars all day, I have been analyzing them. I have decided they really have no idea what kind of power they have. I mean, if they wanted to, they could easily take over the classroom…it’s only one teacher. But they are so self-absorbed and worried about fitting in that *luckily* they never realize their power. Instead they individually make silly disturbances, trying to draw attention to themselves. Those that do lead are mostly faking it—they are not leading because they know who they are and what they want in life—they are leading because they have stumbled upon something that makes them feel powerful. So high school is full of little groups of wandering, wondering kids trying to find out who they are and the point of life. If they do start to actually move in a specific direction, it is because someone got out of this self-absorbed life and said “Hey y’all, let’s go this way” and they followed because they have nothing better to do with their life. So often they think and settle for the whole point of life being instant gratification and doing as little work as possible. This becomes their life motto—this goal that does not even satisfy you for one complete day, let alone a lifetime. Enough theory.
I had to use the restroom and found it was quite an ordeal. I guess they had a problem with the students and toilet paper, so now they do not put toilet paper in the bathrooms. To use it, you have to get it from the library. So (since I had a full bladder, I had to go through this TWICE) you have to walk to the library, ask for the toilet paper, walk through the hall with the toilet paper (as if I don’t have enough attention walking anywhere—I speak English and am wearing a skirt—when they have a uniform with pants), use it, and then walk back and return the toilet paper. Quite scandalous. And what was worse was I was the only one doing this…hmm, let’s not ask what everyone else was doing…
So, Friday I am bringing my own toilet paper to school (to heck with the books, let’s stick with what is important!) to the guys there, I look like a walking green card flashing “free ride to the US” and so every time I pass I hear attempts at English and “Hi girl!” most of the time I put on my mimic voice and say “Hi boy” back.
I helped Raquel with her English homework (that was probably illegal, but hey, I like being good at SOMETHING) and all her friends wanted to check theirs by itJ. I hope to report many more interesting observations about high scholars in the future. Today I had my first stick shift diving lesson. I went to watch David, and it was so funny because Daniel (David’s cousin) and I were in the back trying not to laugh and encouraging David along. I was trying to listen, but Tele was teaching him in Portuguese. Poor guy, then at my turn he had to explain the whole thing over again in English. I kept killing the car trying to start out in 1st, but by the time I get there, shifting up is no problem. Of course, we haven’t added cars and situations…when we started getting close to a bump, I immediately forgot about the clutch and slammed on the breaks like it was an automatic…opps. That is a big no-no. but other than that…I’m doing well.
Wow. You know how God always stays with us? Isn’t that awesome? God has shown me so many different things recently, but I doubt so quickly. One decision isn’t all it takes…you have to keep making the decision over again as you continue to walk in the path of that decision (it is so easy to turn to the right or the left instead.). I was reading Psalm 139 in my Message Bible and I had to write a note in it “I think one of the main reasons I love God is because He KNOWS me—and he loves me still. That’s a pretty selfish reason but it’s true.”
Psalm 139: 3-6 “…You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there too-your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful—I can’t take it all in!”
