Rain, Rain, Please Come Our Way

According to Sam who read a local paper, it's been 123 days since it's rained in Brasilia. 

According to another online paper (which I can't count as reliable), it's been closer to 130. 

Either way.  We need rain. 

To stop the dust.  If you dust anything, within an hour, it's covered.

To green the city.  Everthing's orange.  The trees are bare.  The ground is dust.  It's just ugly.

To change moods.  Last week I could blame the full moon.  This week, I'm blaming the heat and dryness for crabby moods.  Mine included.

Today we were complete psyched out.  Around 3:45 everything turned dark.  The wind surged and knocked down lots of branches. This is a definite sign of rain.  Alas, nothing.  Just more leaves and branches on the ground.

As I rode up to my apartment this evening,  the beagle lady (aka my neighbor) was in the elevator.  We talked about the rain in Portuguese.  We were both complaining because it was soooo hot today.  I've found highs for today between 90 - 94 degrees and it was SUPER humid.  Then I said I thought it was going to rain but it was a joke.  She agreed.  She told me it's going to rain tomorrow.   I replied, "That's what I've heard everyday for the past week."  We both laughed. 

I know she's lived here a long time, so we'll see if her prediction is correct.  I read there's a 20% chance.  Over this week the chance of rain increases to 40%.  Cecilia, the Brazilian Social Studies teacher, says it will rain before October.  Seems like there's a pattern.  Let's hope they're all right!  Please!

Goin' Toe to Toe

Yesterday you took the quiz.  Well, it really wasn't much of a quiz because you all know me so well. So here's the recap of almost one week ago.

Last Tuesday was International Peace Day.  The Lower School participated in a Peace Day assembly. Prior to the day we made peace pinwheels (link here) so we'd celebrate "whirled peace."  Different grade levels prepared artwork and songs and poetry.

At 8:10, the kids grabbed their pinwheels and we headed to the auditorium.  We didn't sit in our usual place.  We were assigned to the balcony.  This is a big deal when you're in third grade.  The 4th and 5th graders sit up there.  Never us.  We hiked up the stairs and found our seats. 

As we were finding out seats one of my students totally bit it.  I was surprised since this student is not klutzy and has pretty decent gross motor.  I shrugged it off as just a random occurance and found my seat in the middle of some of my boys.

The assembly began with a youtube video of K'naan's song which was popular during the World Cup Wavin' Flag.  We had a great time singing it along while then the fifth graders entered the stage and sang their own remix of the song with EAB lyrics.  At this point I noticed a problem.

To our surprise, in the front row were several parents.  The balcony seating is such that the front row it set back and thus people in those seats have a difficult time seeing the stage.  The parents were leaning forward and had children standing on the ledge (that's another story).  So, me being the good teacher I am, saw there were better available seats for the poor girls stuck behind these oblivious parents.

I slipped down the row while the students on stage transitioned.  I stepped out into the aisle and fell.  Not a little but hard.  Where there should have been a step, there was air.  Apparently in the auditorium design only in the balcony which is without stair lighting they have stairs which span the length of the aisle but inbetween there are shorter steps which do not.  I didn't realize this and fell.

When I fell, I landed first on my right arm and breast.  Ouch!  Then as I fell further I felt my right ankle (yes that one) twist and my left big toe did something.  Right away I was just shocked and in instant pain.  Our two third grade assistants, Valmir and Rennan, were right there and jumped up to see if I was okay.  I definitely wasn't then so I sat there for the most of the assembly.  At some point to test out if I could walk I moved up a row but I had stopped thinking about the assembly and only about my ankle.  Was I going to have to go back into the stupid boot again?  Seriously?  I was so careful and this is what I get for trying to do something nice?  I was frustrated!

At the end of the assembly, we stood up and walked to plant our pinwheels.  Throughout I could only think about my ankle.  This really sucked because as my students were doing something pretty amazing I was focused on my stupid ankle.  I hobbled back downstairs to my room with my class and sent them to Portuguese for their specials.  At that point I was forced by Erica and the boys to sit and ice.  While I was in the middle of trying to do some work I realized that I looked ridiculous, my ankle really hurt and decided it better to go home. 

In typical Megan-fashion I got upset.  The boys made a plan while Erica was away for a bit, to take me home and Valmir would sub the rest of the morning.  It was only a half-day so my teacher guilt was limited.  I got a ride home from Vanessa who was at school for a meeting .

So yeah, while the rest of the world was celebrating International Peace Day with pinwheels and assemblies and poetry, I was celebrating it from my couch with pillows propped up under my legs while I iced my ankle and toe. 

The status now is my arm is still really bruised.  I definitely am going to have a lovely calcium or rock hard, egg sized, growthy thing in my right bicep for life.  My ankle's swollen and a little tweaked but slight.  My biggest problem is ironically my left big toe.  I didn't realize you could do this, but I believe I've sprained it.  Seriously?  I sprained my big toe?  Only me. 

This means in addition to the continued rice-ing (rest, ice, compress and elevate) and ibuprofen popping, I'm also wearing my tennis shoes with everything.  And no, not cute tennis shoes.  I have to wear my like workout Addias ones.  Remember the temps here are in the 90s and fashion in Brazil is well, much more sheiky than the U.S. so I'm definitely getting checked out by neighbors, colleagues and random strangers on the street.  And no skirts.  When it's hot.  Yuck. 

I went toe to toe with Peace Day and I think Peace Day won.  I got whirled but I missed out on the peace. 

Quick Quiz

The following picture is:

A.  A dragon fruit sliced open for some cocktail making.

B.  A bruise I earned this week during an assembly.

C.  A new color inkblot test we're using with one of my students.

I think the answer's pretty obvious.  I mean, you all know me pretty well by now.

I'll write more tomorrow but I will tell you that the bruise wasn't my only injury. 

No new boots but I do have special footwear. 

Feelin' Batty

This week I was sitting on my couch in the evening grading homework.  Not my ideal way to spend an evening but being a classroom teacher it's just part of the job.  As I was sitting there, suddenly out of the corner of my eye I noticed something by my window.  As I turned, I realized it was a large bat flying into my apartment.  I scrunched down on the couch, papers on my lap while the bat glided down toward my coffee table, then swooped up over me and the couch toward my door.  It seemed like an eternity before I saw it again so I stretched up and peeked over the back of the couch toward the door.  I caught a glimpse of it gliding back up from the floor and back toward the window.  Out it flew.  Whew.

Definitely a moment where I was appreciative that bat sonar works so well and additionally that it's year two because I would have screamed last year which probably would have changed the entire situation and resulted in adventures for both the bat and myself. 

Do I think I need to get screens though?  Never!  This just adds to the excitement of life here.  And the cicadas are out so I'm sure some of them will come to visit in the next few weeks.  Better get my cup and dustpan ready.  I do believe in catch and release.

Canoa Quebrada

I've decided to make this post about my trip a photo one.  I know the photos help you to better see things, duh, but also, having written a 10 page paper today, I'm feeling, for once, a little more short-winded. The town is cute.  Small and quaint and lovely.  For the first time ever, I saw adults playing on the beach in the sand.  Not just worshipping it.  The waves were rough due to the wind but I have to say even in the middle of the day, on the beach, it was cool. 

 Canoa Quebrada from the beach by our pousada.  Taken on an easily morning walk with Sam.

Yummy breakfast.  Oh, how you can get used to this.  Fresh fruit, freshly squeezed juice, bread, ham and cheese and coffee by the pool.

 La Dolce Vita's pool.  Taken from our penthouse room.

Sam, Kathy and I exploring the town.  It was hot during the day so everyone hid by the beach or stayed inside.

The crescent moon and star are the town's iconic image.  Interesting because this area of Brazil is known as the sunrise coast, not sunset.  The story I found out about it goes something like this:
There was a traveler from the Middle East visiting the area.  He saw that a local artist carved images into tortoise shells.  This traveler asked for the artist to make one for his love which included the moon (rebirth, femininity) and the star (luck, guidance) and it stuck.  Do you believe this tale?  I'm sure the Goo and my mom don't!  Love you skeptics. 

On the top of the cliffs.  While there I realized I'd been to two oceans in less than two months.  Pacific and Atlantic.  I'm pretty spoiled.

 Sam and Kathy (KD) in front of the Atlantic. 

 KD and I on the cliffs.

Okay, so this was the scariest stairway I've ever walked down.  It's kinda (take that as loosely as possible) attached to the sand and sandstone cliffs.  Really wobbly and bendy but it was so worth it.

 We walked along this deserted strip of beach. 

Along the way we found lots of washed up sea creatures including a sea turtle, porcupine fish, some fish with long stinger looking things and lots and lots of shells.  We also found this cool old sailboat.  These are the popular fishing boards in the area.  Opted not to go on a ride with the rough waves and me being proned to seasickness.  KD got soaked to take my photo.  So did her purse.  I did ask.  At least mom, you're not the only one to ignore my wave advice.

 Analyzing the town's symbol.  I opted for photos while the two debated about how it was made.

After walking along the beach we needed a break.  We found this great bar along the beach.  We sat in the sand.

 Enjoying a cold beer and some fries.

 Our view.  The boys were playing soccer before they went into the water.

 Whew.  We made it back up the scary staircase and got this view of the cliffs.

 This was the view from my bed.  I slept in the loft.  Sunrise, sunrise.

You gotta love a photo that reflects the ocean in your sunglasses.  I walked by myself along the beach our last day.  God, it was gorgeous.

 Could I have taken a more stereotypical Brazilian beach shot? 

 I loved the seacreatures whose airholes reopened after each wave.  What surprised me the most were the different colors of sand for the creatures.  Why are there all of these colors?  The beach's sand did change color in different areas but do different colors equal different creatures? 

 One of the bars along the beach. 

 The stairway up to town. 

 Our room

 The stairs to my loft

 The view from our balcony

 My bed

 Our pousada's pool

 We stayed upstairs. Our room was called "Dolce Vita."  It truly was the sweet life.

 Last moments in town

It was the perfect trip with the perfect people.  When can we go back?

Snap. I've Got the Power!

Literally.  After yoga today, I walked home with Hayes, said a quick goodbye and came up the elevator ready to prep some chicken for our dinner tonight.  As I turned the corner, made a quick call to a friend and opened the door.  I flipped the light switch in the kitchen only to find that it didn't work.  Strange.

So I flipped the switch in my dining nook.  Nothing.  Instantly I knew what had happened.  My power'd been cut.  I was still on the phone with said friend and mentioned it.  They asked me to check my neighbors but I knew that if the elevator worked, it was me alone.  I quickly hung up before saying something mean (I've done that to this person before) out of frustration.

Then I called Hayes to let her know that I had a "slight technical difficulty" and could we move dinner to her house.  I filled bags with the contents of my fridge and then my phone rang. 

For some reason I thought it was the power company calling me.  Seriously?  Why would the power company call?  I then heard, "Megan Looney!"  So strange since I hadn't heard my Vonage phone ring.  Could that be Captain Obvious that since your electricity was turned off that's why it went straight to your cell phone?  It was Jez.  We hadn't chatted in forever!  She, Baby Ruth and her hubby are doing great and settling in as new parents.  So great to chat but suddenly I got overwhelmed with getting the power back on.   We'd chatted for about half an hour when I cut things off and felt the urgency to get my power back. 

So I gathered up my bags and headed across the lot to Hayes building.  We started cooking and she was wonderful to call CEP, Brasilia's electric company.  They said I had outstanding bills and the only way I could get my power tonight was to pay by using the internet.  I had brought my bill with me and tried logging onto HSBC's website to pay.  There I found out I needed a password from a letter I'd received in the mail.  I came back home, first found a flashlight and then found the letter with the code I needed.  I quickly walked back across the parking lot to her apartment.  Luckily she's one of the 205 girls.

We logged on, only to have to log off another time and realized that the password I thought I'd set at the bank a couple of weeks ago wasn't working.  I had to come back again to my apartment with my Maglight to get the real one.  Luckily the ever so thoughtful Davina had not thrown away the old envelope I'd written it on.  I then walked back over to Hayes' apartment and was able to set my new password.  Yay! 

Then we realized I needed a bar code to pay the bill.  It's common here to pay your bills at an ATM machine and scan the bar code.  So, she called CEP again and found out we could go online to get it.  So another new password, well, not so new but one I can remember, and a log in later we paid both bills. 

I paid both the bills which I already thought I had paid and we called CEP's other number.  This time the woman speaking with us wasn't quite as friendly as our first rep.  Erin, of course being as sweet as she is and Portuguese perfect navigated through her questions, shared our payment numbers and all was set. 

Then, 2.5 hours later it was time for dinner.  They told us it would take about 4 hours for me to regain my power.  That meant electricity returned at midnight.

Around 9:30 I started to get tired.  Also, I'd crashed Hayes' apartment for such a long time and put her to work.  It was time to head home.  We made a hairdrying plan so in the morning if my electricity still wasn't on that I could dry my hair at her place.  I returned home, took the elevator up and hoped for the best.  I put my key into the lock and opened the door.  I saw a faint green glow from my ipod speaker.  Yes!  The power was back!  And now, here I am 30 minutes later finishing up this post. 

So what I have I learned?  1.  Now I'm all set for paying my electric bills online.  2.  Even if you do think you've paid all your bills in Brazil, don't think it's true.  Even if you don't receive them in the mail, it's your fault so stay on top of things and pay attention.  Gee, if that's not obvious.  3.  I'm very lucky to have Erin Hayes as my friend.  She's awesome in every sense of the word.   4.  I'm gonna sleep well knowing that my alarm will go off when it's supposed to because "I've Got the Power!"

Just Breathe

So, here I sit in my bed looking out to the Atlantic Ocean. The waves seem a little rough this morning. The blue is deep and dark through the palm froms. Why is the ocean so dark this morning? The palms are swaying in the breeze and adding just the right background music. Sleeping in a loft here is like sleeping in a tree house. Best views, great breezes.


Sam's up early again off for a swim and run on the beach. KD's sleeping away. I can hear that. I also can hear mice or bats who live in the ceiling of my loft. After one night of poor sleep, my Ipod's drown out the rodent squeaking, the "bum che" of the late night car bases and the early morning rooster call. I'm really loving Canoa Quebrada.

We arrived late Friday night to Forteleza where we were met by a taxi driver who drove us to Canoa Quebrada. His sign said Kathy, Dolce Vita. We are definitely living the sweet life here. Our pousada is awesome. It kinda reminds me of Melrose Place's organization around the pool. Cute small villas surrounding the pool alongside lounge chairs and tables. There are some awesome lounge seating which we haven't gotten to enjoy yet. Hopefully today or tomorrow.

The town was originally found by some Italian hippies. In the past few years they've changed the streets into cobblestones and updated things. It's got sand creeping in from all sides. Besides restaurants and touristy souvenir shops there's not much else. There's one main drag called Broadway that has lots of pizzerias, chopperias and other restaurants mixed in with the shops. Won't be doing much shopping here. Not a bad thing but it's so cheap. Water costs $3 for a 1.5 liter bottle. Last night we had an amazing churrasco dinner for only R$25 each. That's like about $14 for beer and a Brazilian bbq in a great setting tucked back off the street. I was worried that it would fill with Forteleza's folks and be similar to Sao Jorge last year. So not true. It's busy but not so much that you feel stifled or like you're crowd dodging.

This vacay is truly what the dr ordered for me. Friday was probably the worst day of school I've had so far and I'm anticipating, actually I know, next week's gonna be bad as well. Not the place to gripe about it but with already having one of the most challenging starts to a school year I've ever had, vacation was not a want. It had become a need. Why is my 12th year in education going this way? Why am I on the verge of tears and into comatic states daily? And people wondered why I needed to get out of BSB for 4 days. Whatever!

Canoa's just what I needed. Each day I'm here my level of stress and frustration decreases. This morning I'm trying to use the ocean as a symbol of releasing my stress. It's taking away everything. I need this so I can have a clear mind. With wave that comes in, it sweeps some of the stressors away. Out of my life. I just listed and have now deleted some of the stressors because 1. not appropriate and 2. writing them made of think of more. Yuck. Okay ocean. Seems like you and I are gonna have to work on this one for a while. Problem 1. Yeah that one. Sweep it away. Take it to some other continent. Far, far away from me. What you all can't see is that as I sit typing in my bed I'm pausing regularly to breath and close my eyes. Be aware of what I'm doing. Be conscious since lately I haven't been able to do that. (So far I've spent an hour writing this post because I'm just trying to quiet and slow down my mind).

Our time here's been quiet. Time at the beach. Time at the pool. Time in the pool. Time exploring town. Nothing spectacular. Just goodness. Yesterday I did grad school reading and work poolside. Man, I need to find a place in BSB like this. Visually amazing and calming. I know I can't have the ocean but I'd settle for the pool and loungy seating.

Today we'll eat breakfast. Swim and lounge around the pool and elsewhere. Then our plan is to go on a dune buggy (dune boogy if you are from the NE) ride later this afternoon. It's hottest here in the morning. Then we'll come back to Dolce Vita. Maybe a little more pool time or siesta and clean up for dinner.

Sigh. This is what I needed. Breathe. Visualize. Be calm and feel the calm wash away it all away. Yoga's been teaching me about this and having a little practice, even just the breathing on my own helps. Namaste.

Dreaming of Broken Canoes

I should be heading to bed but it's hard when this is where I'm going to be on Friday.

Not sure if I'll be on that dune buggy but if I'm invited, then maybe. 

Is it bad if randomly during the school day I think of Canoa and just sigh? 

And when I should go to sleep that I instead am reading about the beaches, kitesurfing and dune buggy rides? 

Nah.  That's how it should be.  Just gotta make sure I don't daydream too much.  I give enough grief to my students about it, probably should make sure I'm not the one doing it.  Well, maybe I can manage just to do it during specials.  Wish me luck!