Painting and cooking? YES

The past week in our internship we had to paint Ccj's rooms before they started working again next week. In our first attempt we were divided in two groups the ones painting and the ones making lunch for everyone. I did not have any clothes to paint so I decided to cook for like 30 people with Cindy, Cristina, Berkeley and Michele. We made pasta! Alfredo sauce, tomatoes sauce and chicken. However, after lunch we all help the group painting to paint. If there is something not missing in this study abroad group is the ability to work as a group and achieve great results. While painting the group was singing and having fun even they were so tired. Serving other bring so much happiness that it does not matter how hard the service is. What it is important is that we are serving and making a positive difference in someone's life. Moreover, service is so great that we are making a difference in own lives too. So friends! if someone needs your service and it seems to hard do not worry! wouldn't you do everything to be truly happy? Service bring real happiness and not only for you. Serve every day and you would see miracles every day...

Fun Fun Fun!

Who says something bad cannot be the cause of something good? Well I say it can! here are some proofs! On the 4 of July there was a bus strike hre in Recife and that is our medium of transportation. so without no bus Tawnya and I had to find a TAXI to get to school, but because buses were not working that day traffic was crazy. We made to class safely and after class we had a 4 of July party! with the student from the immersion program at ABA!

After the party because of the strike we took a Taxi yayy! to go to downtown and visit the biggest library in Pernambuco and then a relaxing boat ride through three different rivers. The boat ride are given by a restaurant next to one of the rivers. In the pictures underneath there is some pictures of the restaurant and one in the boat. The boat seats were different instead of line of seats, they were like restaurant tables :). We had so much it was a great day and then we came back home in a Taxi! so Tawnya and I did not have to walk as much as usual for the first time we came back home relax and not extremely tired.

JUst GoOd Ideas!

Today I went to eat at a different mall at Recife and I found what you can see in the pictures. I found in the middle of the food court sinks with soap and paper so you can wash your hands before eating and after :). I never seen this outside a bathroom I do not know you. Then when I was throwing my garbage I saw three different garbage cans one for organic garbage and two other garbage like cans, plastic etc. So I talk to my Silvia my hostess about and she said in Brazil  recycling is important and that is why she has two garbage cans in the kitchen, if not the garbage people divided the garbage :D. So coool every country should have this and the sink idea is not bad.

American School of Recife!

Today! We had the opportunity to help a group of students of an English immersion program with their English. This students participated in a program to go to the United States, but did not make it. However, because of their English skills they have the opportunity to go to different locations in Brazil to improve their English.

As and American students we had to teach them about different sports famous in the United States like American football, basketball, baseball and soccer (even though they are better :)...). If you know me you know I am terrible at sports so I actually just watched, learn and took pictures :) and a picture with my new friend Lara.

It was great meeting them because I know as international student what is to learn English and to apply to an American college. Moreover, colleges in the United States are so different from the ones in Latin America and is not easy to be even with Americans, but it is not impossible. If you have a dream well a good dream fight for it at the end you may be the an open door for others to reach their dreams.

 We found a Mormon in the group! and he is going to Utah in the fall!, but all these kids have the desire to go to college and hopefully some of them in the United States. Here are some pictures of the group teaching the high school students the different sports.

Graffiti!

Saturday, we went to a favela or poor area in pexinhos, where we became graffiti artists( in our dreamss) jajaja and we decorated the house's fences with graffiti. I had to work with Michelle, but we had next to us an amazing graffiti artist Alex(the guy between Michelle and I) . So even though we were intimidated with his help we ended up doing our first graffiti design! that you can see in the pictures above. In that community I saw the poorest living conditions I have ever seen in my life. Houses look like they were abandoned, garbage everywhere, mud, dirt... I even saw a whole family that what they had for lunch was a sardines can. so when you feel like you want to complain about what you have do not! If you have where to sleep, a family and what you eat you are by far rich! Nevertheless, regardless there poor conditions they where happy and glad we went to bring some beauty to their community. It was tiring working for hours under the sun, but worth if I could I would do it everyday and maybe I will as good as my friend Alex :).

This is his creation!

Gabriel!!

This is the son of Silvia who I live with. The cutest little guy I have seen here :). He loves to play with me an Tawnya and talk to us even we only understand when he says chauuu! The picture above he took because if there is something he loves is taking pictures, believe me he loves it. Most Brazilians I have met here carry a smile like him. No matter if it is raining or it is sunny he always have this smile that remembers me there is always something I can be happy about.

Caruaru, The capital of Forro!

Friday, we went to Caruaru that is like 2 hours away fro Recife to see a quadrilha dance presentation. Caruaru is known by its greats "Festas Juninas" and because of it is known as the "Capital of Forro". I could not agree more when we went the whole city was turned into a huge fair! With live singers and dance presentations, food, rides etc. Caruaru is also believed to have the best  São João party in the world!. On the pictures above you would notice some interesting things I found... First, the pregnant black sculptures where everywhere what they mean not sure and then these funny signs. The first one basically says "a son is like a fart only each person bears his own..." deep comparison. The second one says " A woman leaves a rich man without money and a poor man without shame" hahaha. I just wonder if I buy one of this signs where can I put it any ideas?