what I learned in Brazil

So for the last two weeks I have been in the wonderful country of Brazil. I went down for a service project and learned a lot about the country and their culture. I learned a lot about myself. Im not going to give you a day to day run down of what I did for two weeks, if you want that, we can talk in person and I will show you some awesome pictures. Instead I want to share with you some of the things I learned some funny, some a little more serious.

I learned that I can sleep anywhere, under a seat, on a plane, on a bus, in a car, in the cement, on the carpet, on tile. I can sleep sitting up or laying down.

I learned that Tam airlines is the bomb.com. They give you candy and water when you get on. Their snack is way better than peanuts, and if you are on a redeye flight… they give you a packet of things including socks, a toothbrush and paste, eat plugs, and a comb, and their blankets are way better than the cheap crappy ones delta gives you. Also they gladly give you seconds if you ask for them.

I learned that Brazillians don’t flush their toilet paper. That was weird to get use to.

I learned that in brazil, leisure time is just as important if not more so than work. It’s a good day if you get in 4 hours of working time. Also it shocked them how much we liked to work (they had no idea.. cause to us, we didn’t work at all)

I learned that Brazillians eat A LOT, and when I say a lot... that’s an understatement. I never once felt hungry. Ok that’s a lie… I felt hungry twice. In two weeks. We woke up and ate. Then a couple hours later had snack time. Then lunch, which sometimes lasted for hours. Then midday juice and crackers. Then dinner and finally a midnight snack before bed. Wake up and repeat.

I learned that its perfectly ok to have hotdogs for breakfast.

I learned that the preservatives in our food is what makes us Americans fat, because brazillians eat way more than we do, they just don’t eat the crap we eat.

I learned that chocolate on pizza is delicious

I learned that Brazillians don’t need much sleep. They go to bed late and wake up early.

I learned that all the hype about Rio being super dangerous is a lie. Its just like every other big city ive been to. I didn’t feel any more unsafe than I did in New York or Rome.

I learned that I never feel clean in humidity.

I learned that I knew nothing about Portuguese. And now I know how to say the necessities: yes, no, thank you, nothing, everything good, lets go, bathroom, good morning, good night, knife, spoon, fork, clock, table, cup, blender.

I learned that brazillians are a lot better at picking up English than I am at picking up Portuguese.

I learned as much as I awkwardly smile and laugh when I am uncomfortable.. I do it even more when I don’t know what people are saying to me.

I learned that flirting with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you is even harder than flirting with someone that does.

I learned that as long as I don’t open my mouth I look like I could be from southern Brazil

I learned that even though driving in brazil is crazy, i felt more safe there than I do driving around Utah.

I learned that brazillians love their hatch back and the game slugbug (or fuska in brazil) is still fun there because the old VW beatles are everywhere.

I learned that my hair does crazy things when I just let it do what it wants, and I actually missed blow drying and straightening my hair.

I learned that in brazil its ok to be 25 and be married to a well off 55 year old, because better to marry someone that is that old that can take care of you, than a loser that is your own age.

I learned how much I really love the grid system in Utah, I was there for two week and never really got my bearings.

I learned that Americans really are kind of rude and think the world revolves around them. Also that nothing screams American tourist than wearing a 4th of july tshirt and carrying around a book about the sites.

I learned that you can actually learn a language from watching movies and listening to music. (I met a girl that spoke really great English and learned it all from movies and music)

I learned how great google translate is when you are trying to communicate with someone that doesn’t speak the same language as you.

I learned how fortunate I am to be living where I am to have the things I have, and to have the opportunities I have.

I’ve only been back home for one day and I already miss it. It makes me so sad to think that I will probably never see the people that I met again. I woke up this morning craving brazillian rolls, scrambled eggs, peach juice and fruit for breakfast... but ended up eating my usual America breakfast: hard boiled eggs, toast and carnations instant breakfast...

and now some pictures from the trip:



the beach at florianopolis
Rio De Janeiro at night
Scott and shad working hard ripping tiles off the walls
The Crew of VIDA
The cute kids we took school kits to
Anna trying to talk to some of the kids.... they loved us.
The botanical Gardens in Curitiba
Working hard at the school for the deaf/hard of hearing
The students with hearing disabilities and us.
Giving a lecture to the college students
The univesity we presented at
Chillin on copacobana beach
An art museum in Curitiba
The curitiba temple

Paranoia?

Ok, So I got this email from my aunt Pam today. Is it any wonder that girls are so terrified of Rape, Murder, and Abduction. This stuff is pounded into our head from birth. I know it is a dangerous world out there for girls, but this stuff gives me nightmares. The mind is a crazy thing, and if you constantly tell a girl she's going to have stuff like this happen to her at some point in her life.... that's gonna do some serious psychological damage. The most vivid dreams i have are ones where I am being chased by a Rapist... seriously I have those. When I first moved into the house I live in now there was a screeching cat outside and it woke both my roommate Tera and I up, and what was our first though? Rapist... She pulled out the last piece of Info on this page 'the Crying Baby Theory was mentioned on America 's Most Wanted when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana' and we didnt go back to bed for hours... I guess what I am getting at is... its important to be cautious in ALL situations, but you are just as likely to get killed in a car accident... everyone is cautious when they drive (for the most part) but ive never met someone who is always paranoid of death when driving.. So be cautions, but don't let paranoia rule your life.

And with that... Here is the email:

Because of recent abductions In daylight hours, refresh yourself Of these things to do In an emergency situation...


1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :
The elbow is the strongest pointOn your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!


2.. Learned this from a tourist guide.
If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....Chances are that he is more interested In your wallet and/or purse than you,And he will go for the wallet/purse.RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, Kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole And start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars After shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit(doing their chequebook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this Is the perfect opportunity for him to get in On the passenger side, put a gun to your head, And tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR , LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.. 

If someone Is in the car With a gun To your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, Repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine And speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat They will get the worst of it . As soon as the car crashes Bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body In a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting Into your car in a parking lot, Or parking garage: A.) Be aware: Look around you, Look into your car, At the passenger side floor , And in the back seat B.) If you are parked next to a big van, Enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims By pulling them into their vans while the women Are attempting to get into their cars. C.) Look at the car Parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, And the passenger side... If a male is sitting alone In the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted 
his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point:
Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird.. The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door..' The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. the Crying Baby Theory was mentioned on
America 's Most Wanted when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana

10. Water scam!
If you wake up in the middle
of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a
burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your
 outside taps full ball so that you will go out to investigate and
then attack.

Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbours!

avocados

So usually I sit down to blog for one of three reasons: Either i just feel like blogging, something awesome has happened to me, or I am putting off something else i should be doing.

Today, its the first reason, and when given the following equation

A + B = C.

(A) being I just feel like blogging and (B) is I have nothing cool to blog about. Then (C) has to be that i will most likely blog about something random that happened to me. So here we go....

Grocery shopping for me is bad news. I try to only go once or twice a month because I am the girl that goes into the store with the intent to buy only milk bread and eggs and comes out with candy, random beauty products, a movie, ice cream, something that was one sale that i've always wanted to try and... milk bread and eggs.

Today however I did it! I successfully went into Lee's with the intent on only buying one Item and when i checked out, I only had avocados. Avocados are my recent addiction. I eat one every day. I get excited to go home and make a wrap so i can put half the avocado on it, and eat the other half guacamole style with chips. I don't know why i think they are so good, but they really are so good. Yesterday i ate my last one, but i was really craving one again today and so I over came my spending spree all for a delicious avocado.




And on another random note: I leave for Brazil one week from today! AHHH!