It's been a pretty laxed week...maybe it has alot to do with the upcoming holiday, Corpus Christi Day...maybe it's just that Brasillians are just super laxed in general...either way, though...
Wednesday was my first full comfy routined day. I got up, drank coffee, got dressed, rode to UFSC with Cris, got to lab and even though I haven't started on my research project yet, I did some work on facebook and read some emails. I'm just now getting used to the diet situation. So it feels good. It makes me feel much more like myself. OMG!!! Lunch has been AMAZING!!!!! Lots of fresh produce and grilled meats...so good, so good...can't even explain...I love that Dr. Padua always comes to lunch with us :) then after a good lunch, we had a much needed expresso break...of coarse!!! I like it, I'm beginning to feel like it's a part of my own culture...an hour and a half later, back to lab!!!
I was going to ride home again with Cris, but Wednesdays are her long days...she had a seminar at 6pm and wouldn't be able to leave til like after 7pm...so...I rode the bus!!! Rimenez 100%, TOTALLY hooked me up with how to do all that...I mean, and this may sound incredibly bratty I'm not denying that, but i've NEVER ridden a city bus before. That and I've only ridden those yellow schools buses a few times for field trips and stuff. What can I say, my mom's only "job" has been to raise us kids so she was always driving me around!!! What I'm basically getting to is that I was asking Rimenez ALOT of stupid questions, at least I felt stupid asking them, hahaha...it was all good though. He even drew my a map of the paths that the buses go in and went with me to my first bus riding experience. I think he was a little concerned for me, it was cute...once I got into the terminal, a point where he couldn't pass, I kinda just looked back at him and awkwardly waved goodbye. It is sad. I don't know why. I wanted him to come with me. Now that I think about it, it was very dramatic. Once the bus marked "333" to "TriLag" took off, I saw him standing by his car still...put a little warm, soft spot in my heart :) I didn't recognize anything for the first 15 minutes...hmm....I'll have to admit I was getting a little nervous...finally I saw familiar surroundings!!!!! I made it!!!!! Pretty much all by myself!!!! It felt good. What's interesting is that at first, I felt a little ashamed having to ride the bus...I don't know why, probably because I'd never HAD to do it before, but that's the norm here. Everyone rides the bus. I love how the "TriLag" terminal is right by my gym "PowerFit" both of which are situated at the end of my residential street!!!!
I walked home from the terminal all proud of myself...it had been such a good day!!! Got to talk to Dr. Padua and Rimenez. It was fun talking about what my schedule would be once I started my project. Pretty much whatever I wanted it to be!!! I told Rimenez straight up that I wasn't necessarily a morning person...he took it well!! I feel like they all "get me". Can't wait to do this!!!
I went to the gym to sign up and actually work out for the first time!!! The girl at the front desk was gorgeous, of coarse. So I was intimidated by that along with the intimidation of having to deal with the fact that she didn't speak English and my portuguese sucks. We made it work. She wasn't so friendly, but...whatever. I've done that to people back at home before. It's nothing personal I don't think. It's just that sometimes you're just not in the mood to think about communicating in another language. It's tiring. And hard. Sometimes hispanic people will come into my office that only speak Spanish. I know enough Spanish that I could probably try and figure out how to help them...but there have been times where they would say, "Se habla espanol?" and I would respond, "nope." It's rude, yes, and I don't do it all the time...but...it does happen...so karma's a bitch I guess...it sucks being on the other end of that. I asked that girl, in the worst, most broken portuguese, if she spoke English, and all she said was, "no." I don't even think it was the "English" no, it was "nao". Followed by a blank stare. Not even a smile. Hmmm...ok, I get it. Cause I've done it to people before. So being that I'm in her country, I tried my best to recall any portuguese words I've ever heard...it worked. I sucessfully joined a gym and was even able to ask for a locker key!!! So, yeah...one word conversations that can only be done in the context of the immediate situation...pretty doable. Give me a break though!!! I'm totally trying!!! I would even rather have the natives speak to me in portuguese even though I wouldn't understand a word. Just to keep hearing their language. I want to learn. I actually don't want you to direct me to someone who speaks English!!!
Brittany and I wanted to go somewhere for dinner. I facebook messaged our new friend from Cafe da Lagoa...he blew us off...I don't like that, hahaha...I will give him a bunch of shit for that later, the next time I see him :)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment