People often ask me what has changed since I've moved to Brazil. There are things that I notice, things maybe others notice more than me. I'm not sure. But here are some basics: My most intense conversations are with bugs. For example:... Continue Reading →
We live in a changing world - my first big trip through Europe I was scrambling for Euros whenever I spotted an internet cafe to quickly write error-laden emails home (due to whatever language keyboard quirks I was dealing with)... Continue Reading →
My first visitor! I think a place truly starts to feel like "home" when you have someone visit and you get to play tour guide. I'm fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine to be one of those "Jungle Cruise" guides... Continue Reading →
In some ways, it doesn’t feel anything like Christmas. It’s certainly not cold. I'm sitting on an ice pack, drinking a sweating margarita, directly in front of a fan on a setting so high my eyelids feel like they're peeling off my skull. I haven’t seen or smelled a single Christmasy smell (I’d settle for a tiny pine tree swinging from a rear view mirror).
A few weeks ago, desperate to get out of dodge and with an inviting four day weekend ahead of us, we rented a car for a mini-holiday. Being on the road in any capacity in Brazil is an adrenaline rush... Continue Reading →
Nothing is quite so beautiful and terrible all at the same time as an all-school Christmas musical. Our first rehearsal was Wednesday, and I was shaking with silent belly laughs, tears streaming down my cheeks from watching the little kids perform.
Wednesdays are hard, man. Even spelling the word is hard. (Am I the only person who still has to go "Wed-nes-day" in her head when writing that one out? Along with "def-in-ite-ly be-a-u-ti-ful." Every time. And I'm 30. And teach... Continue Reading →
This weekend I went on my first backpacking trip in Brazil. It was something I had signed up for in September, when everything sounds like a good idea. The trip was postponed, and rescheduled, and then it was rainy season,... Continue Reading →
maybe the best part about any job are the unspoken parts. the bits that aren't explicitly written into your contract. the subtext you create. for me - I am thankful for the many times each day I am reminded what... Continue Reading →
I'm sharing in Chapel next week. Our theme is "Missionaries" and mission trips have completely shaped my life for the last seventeen years. In case some of you don't know the story, I thought I'd practice my chapel share a bit here.... Continue Reading →
Think of Brasil and what comes to mind? Quick word association: beaches, waxing, caipirinhas, bottoms, futbol, bikinis, Carnaval, Big Jesus. <-- those were the super scientific results gleaned from my roommates. I don't think it's a coincidence that many of... Continue Reading →
We had Character Day on Friday at our school, as it was "I Love to Read" month. Each class has been reading a book and they dressed up as characters from things like Charlotte's Web and Matilda. I took the... Continue Reading →
Sunglasses Always Fit 