I had planned on getting up early this morning and riding my bike 15 minutes to the post where I lock it up and a homeless man usually asks to watch it for me and then run along the path on the ocean. Last night I stayed up untili 3 am watching the Oscars. I never usually watch the entire thing. But I was enjoying TV in English and stayed awake and alert for the whole thing. And thought it was so funny/ridiculous- Melissa Ethridge giving her thoughts about how Al Gore is our hero and we need to start protecting our earth because we have all the resources to do so...after thanking her wife and 4 children. Needless to say, I didn't do my morning workout. And I still feel a bit tired but need to do lots of laundry and dishes. I stayed at Solonge and Emily's house for about 2 weeks during Carnaval and another break from the project because they live closer to everything in the city. My room here in Janga rains inside when it rains outside. Therefore, I came home to wet, smelly clothes and damp everything! My bed is also always covered with cement chunks from the roof that is not complete. I've gotten used to it, but I still grunt every time I have to clean everything everyday.
I was just talking to Ivandete (my Brasilian mom) last night about how I only have 4 months left. I've already been in her house for 4 months and it has passed faster than you can imagine. I have to admit that this thought of only having a few months left is a happy one. But it does make me want to make the best out of what is left. I wouldn't want to leave any sooner or any later...there are still things to come here.

Carnaval. One of the craziest events/parties I have ever experienced. Ask me when I get home. The stories could go on for a while. I'll just say that it officially ended on Tuesday and yesturday afternoon a bloco was going down the main street in my neighborhood. A bloco is a semi-truck with a band and dancers on top playing way too loud music. The holidays never end here.
And this is me eating the best mac 'n cheese sent from a sweet girl who I've never even met named Laura. She was a SALTer here last year.

Listening to Brandi Carlile "Story"

She is soo good! This song! OHH..this song...the lyrics aren't what I'm crazy about but her voice, the melody, the soul...ooooh!

CHECK THIS OUT! SECOND BLOG IN 2 DAYS!

I went to that dance class for the second time tonight. I was hating it the begining because I was dancing with this short guy (nothing wrong with being short) but he coudn't stay on beat. And when you don't speak the language well enough to speak in dance terms it makes it almost impossible to correct anything being done wrong. About half way through I started dancing with the boyfriend or husband of the teacher. We danced forro for a while and it was so good! I was dizzy afterwards and met 3 other people who live in my same neighborhood. We all took the bus home together.
There's this 12 year old boy at my project named Misterlanyo (sp?). He was one of the hardest one's for me when I first started. Totally didn't respect anything I said and would just get up and walk around and yell at other kids. Then I found out that his mom's boyfriend who lives with them beats her. He was telling one of the other teachers that he tried to stop him the other day and it wasn't good. Sometimes when Misterlanyo is being crazy and not listening to anything and punching other kids because he thinks he knows how to play soccer better than anyone else I go up to him and say something like, "hey, you don't need to do that. You're smart..." and then smile or punch him lightly on the shoulder and he gets this huge grin that he tries so hard not to let through. Then runs away quickly trying to hide his smile. Love this. Things like this make me love the project minus it's problems. Today we played soccer two on two. I was against Misterlanyo. I'm really starting to like it now that we seem to play it every day. Anyway, after we were finished he was lying on the ground and I walked over to him and said that he should play professional soccer some day. He asked me to repeat what I had just said even though I know he understood it. So I did. His face totally lit up. He just needs more affirmation and encouragement in his life. Man...it's such a blessing to able to provide a tiny bit of that for him.
Mosquitos are attacking! GOODNIGHT!

Active

Yesturday I woke up later than I wanted to. I rode my bike about 20 minutes to this dance place to ask them about classes but they were closed. So then I kept riding to the end of Janga, which is probably like 3ish miles. Not far. Got home, washed my clothes, sweat to death, showered, ate lunch and went to the project. We had nothing planned for my class yesturday because it's the first week back and I didn't know I would be in there alone. So I had then draw a picture of a dog and then I wrote "dog= cachorro" on it. Lame....so our second group of kids the second half we decided to play soccer. I have never really played before. So fun! These 12 yr old kids are soo good! And running barefoot on sharp grass with giant hard rotten fruit things that kill your feet when you step on em- pain! Made my first soccer goal in my life...that was exciting. When I coudn't breathe anymore and was dripping sweat the game finally ended and we won.
Last night I got to drive for, well, technically the 3rd time in 6 months, but the first time on an actual busy street. My 17 yr old "host cousin" Alan came with me. We went to that dance place to just watch a ballroom dance class. He was forced to participate because there weren't enough guys. Then about half way through they convinced me. I really had a good time...and still don't get how every single Brasilian can samba and I can't. I'm going back tomorrow. It's only 35 reais per month for 1 hr twice a week. That's like 16 dollars.
A baby just peed on me! UGH.... why won't her mom put a freakin' diaper on her? She says she can't afford them....so put a towel or something on her! eieieiei!