September 6, 2012
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What Independence Day Means to Me
Tomorrow is Independence day in Brazil (since 1822). Living Stones/Cajueiro Claro is having a consession stand at the parade tomorrow. I’ve volunteered to make “biscoitinhos americanos,” which is how I have translated “snickerdoodles.” I wonder if anyone will buy them?
I’ve also given up my weekend to the girls. I know I shouldn’t be inwardly groaning, but I am, so I guess that is a sign I am growing old. I promised the girls in Cajueiro Claro we would do a girl thing when I got back. The first words out of their mouths when I arrived? “Remember, you promised!”
So they are coming over. No, I am going over. I will take a bus, then a motorcycle to go out to get them, then walk back a couple miles with them and their bags, catch a bus back to my house where I will feed them food and go sleepless for the next 24 hours. Ahhh. But it will be lovely. And I am smiling inwardly already as I imagine their glee. I am a pretty cool person. Especially when I look at myself from a 12 year old girl’s eyes.
I live in an apartment in the “big city” of Carpina (60-80,000 people). We will make home-made pizza and then walk around the “praca,” watching all the older kids make out and giggle at everyone else not making out. I will take them to Mr. Mix, which is the cool place to go because it has 29 different flavors of milkshakes. Milkshakes are the new big thing in this town. They’ve never had one.
I will then make breakfast of some kind, and we will catch a bus to church. After church I will make lunch of some kind (by this time they will insist on having meat, if not beforehand), and I have permission for us to use the pool at the international school. Yesssssss. Hoping they have slept (or allowed me to sleep) sufficiently, we will then take a bus or Kombe back to the entrance of their town, where we walk another couple of miles, wet and with their things, to deliver them safe at home.
I will then make use of the Monday and Tuesday off (Not only does the country have Independence day on Friday, but my town, Carpina, has their town anniversary on Tuesday, making for a five day weekend), and sleep. In the end, we all win.
