Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to my friends all over the world!

Live well, Laugh often, Love much!

=)

I am back!

Hello Everyone!

Not sure if I have had visitors here lately, because I have been totally out of the virtual world.

Two years has passed by since I came back to Brazil and lots of things has changed in our lives: Friends getting married and having babies, people changing jobs or going back to school, a few visitors from the US, a few visits to the US, some brokenhearts, new friends, old friends...

I do have a new job and live in Campinas - SP since last June. I have been busy and very tired, but I promise I will try my best in updating my blog more often from now on, even if only to post a new picture or make a funny comment.

If you still visit my blog once a while, please let me know and leave a message! I would love to know that we are in touch after so long!

For all of you, a picture of a beautiful sunset taken from my balcony in Santo Antonio do Pinhal - SP:

I am back!

=)

Cara's Visit

Hello Everyone!

As I said, to celebrate my one year back home, I have Cara visiting me in Brazil.

And here a picture of her with my Parents and Cookie and another one of us, having some Cachaça, the liquor we use to make Caipirinha, our national drink.


Cara, so glad you could spend the weekend with me and my family!

My friends, hope to have you all here in Brazil. You guys are all invited!

=)

1 Year

Hello My Friends,

Yes, today I celebrate my 1 year back home! And to celebrate, I had a special guest from Maine: Cara. (Pictures to come.)
It was great having Cara here! Cara, thank you so much for coming and spend the weekend with me, my family and friends.

If my life is totally different here from the US? Yes! But I cannot complain, at least I can see my parents almost every weekend and you guys know how badly I missed them.

Since I am back home, I lost so much weight (ask Cara, she can confirm!), I have changed jobs twice, I have been so busy... Can you believe I have friends I haven't seen yet? It is true! Time goes by so fast and when you realized, one year has passed by and you haven't done all the things you have planned.

But I have good news: I am not commuting to work anymore. That very busy life was killing me and I decided that I have more important things to take care and I need more time for myself. It is time for another change. Time to prioritize my life and my precious time - no 5 more hours in traffic everyday.


Now, that's how I am gonna spend the next couple weeks: relaxing and enjoying myself! I deserve it!

=)

Lazy Weekend

Hello!

Finally! The weekend has arrived and I can relax and "recharge my batteries", enjoying the company of my parents and playing with my dogs.

I've been working from 8am to 10pm almost every day in the past 4 weeks, so you guys can imagine how tired I am, specially if compared with my work-life in Portland, when I used to leave the office at 5pm sharp.

Today I just stopped by to say "hello". Hope you all have a great Sunday!

=)

Not at This Time...

Hello Everyone!

I know, long time I don't post any news here. But I have been exchanging emails with some of you and sharing my crazy routine.
Yes, I am still commuting to work everyday and I spend 4 hours a day stuck in traffic. Plus, I have been working from 8AM to 9PM 4 days a week and I am very, very tired.

Anyways... World Cup is over for us. Very sad, specially because you guys can imagine that every day of game was like a holiday here in Brazil. Everybody wearing green and yellow, parties everywhere... And the best thing was: we were working half a day only! So, too bad we didn't make it until the finals, but that's alright, because Argentina was sent home earlier today, so we could not celebrate our victory yesterday, but we did celebrate their lost today!

I bet you guys are enjoying the nice weather in the US. It is winter in Brazil, but the temperatures are not too bad. I could go to the beach last weekend. And we have so many beautiful trees that blossom during the winter. Look at these pictures from my parents house's backyard.
Hope you all are doing well. Miss you all!

=)

Happy Mother's Day!

Hello Everyone!

I am pretty sure you guys also celebrate Mother's Day todat in the US. I am here, enjoying the day with my loved Mom.

Hope you guys are spending the day with your Mom too!

=)

Happy Easter Part 2

Cookie wants to say Happy Easter to everyone!

=)

Happy Easter!

To all my friends:



Happy Easter!!!

Hugs from Brazil.

=)

Portland State of Mind

Hi there,

My Brazilian Friend Carol, who lives in Portland, sent me this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDUot-ajq3w

It was very nice to seeing the places and building that I used to walk by everyday.

=)

Weekend

Beach, finally!

I haven't been at the beach since I got back home. Can you believe that?
But last weekend I finally found some time in my crazy schedule and decided to spend the weekend by the ocean, just relaxing and enjoying the sunshine.


Look how beautiful Ilhabela is...













It is soooo good to be back and have amazing beaches and sunny days most of the year!

Hope all my friends from ME are not freezing there...

=)

Carnival!

Hello My Friends!

I know, long time I don't post anything... As you guys already know, I have a new job since the beginning of January and I am so happy! I've been work as a crazy person, but I am loving it! There is no routine and everyday I am in a different site, knowing new people and learning lots of things!
Yes, I am still commuting to São Paulo everyday and having no time during the week to do anything, but I cannot complain. Hopefully I will move to São Paulo in April, so I will have more time to internet, workout, skype more often... And maybe go back to school.

I've been extremely busy with my new work, but last week I found some time to relax and enjoy Carnival with my family and friends. As some of your guys know, my parents and a few friends compete here in their city during the Carnival and they won last year. This year, since I am back to Brazil, I was "invited" to join their group. It was fun, fun! They put 350 people together in a big parade at the streets. Here you can see a picture of the group getting ready for the 5 minutes of fame. (The quality is not so good, I took with my cell phone...)


And yes, they (actually, we - I was there too!) won the competition this year and we are the champions for the second time!
Here is my Dad with our trophy:


And Mom and Dad with me. (Look at my eyes... So tired... 5 days of Carnival is not for everybody...)
Party is over... Now, back to my crazy life!

Have a great weekend! (It is soooo hot here in Brazil...)

=)

News!

Hello Everyone!

I know, long time we don't talk. But you all probably know that I am living a crazy life since last October, when I got a job in São Paulo and started commuting everyday, spending almost 5 hours a day everyday in the traffic, living in São José dos Campos and working in São Paulo. They are less then 100 kilometers apart, but the traffic in São Paulo is insane, and sometimes it takes me almost 3 hours to get from my Aunt's house to work.

So when I get home after work, usually about 9:30pm, I have no energy to work on my blog, update my facebook and etc.
I promise I am going to try to write more from now on. I miss talking to you guys and knowing about what you are up to.
It is fun, because I post here, and people email me with their comments and news. So, it is definitely a way for us to stay in touch.

And I have good news: I've got a new job! Yes, it was my New Year's resolution #1, and on January 8th, I could finally change jobs. The old one was nice, but not the kind of experience I was looking for. Now I am going to work in a big Spanish company, in Human Resources too, and I am very excited! The job is in São Paulo, but not as far as the other one, my schedule is going to be more flexible and I am going to work with very competent people. So, yes, I can't wait to start my new job tomorrow.

I had the last week off, so I spent the last 7 days sleeping a lot (tomorrow I have to wake up at 4am again...), enjoying my free time with my family, riding my bike, working on my tan...

Here is a picture of Faria Lima Avenue, one of the most famous in São Paulo. Here you can see how the traffic looks like on a week day, at 5:30pm.

The other one is a teeny view of São Paulo and its high buildings, also known as the "stone jungle".And here, just for fun, a shot of Raja, hiding from the thunders inside of my parent's closet.

Hope you all have a good day and a wonderful week!

=)

Happy New Year!

Hi there,

We all know that Brazil is famous for its Carnival, one of the biggest popular celebration in the world. But I am pretty sure you all know about our New Year's Eve in Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, where millions of people go to celebrate the turning of the year.
The fireworks start at midnight, and the stations are located in boats anchored at the beach, and it lasts about 15 minutes.

We have some traditions in Brazil to celebrate the New Year. The first one is that most of the people wear white for the parties. Also, you can add some accessories, and each color has a meaning: red is for love, yellow for prosperity, green for good health. Black is not an acceptable color for the occasion.
Lots of people also bring flowers to the beach and throw them in the sea a few minutes before midnight. It is an offer to the Gods.

It is a huge celebration in Brazil, specially because it is summer time here, so a great time to go to the beach. If you are looking for an special occasion to visit my country, it is a good idea start planning your next New Year's here with me.

=)

Happy Holidays!

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick message to wish Merry Christmas to all of you!

Our Santa is very "summery". Have you ever thought about Christmas without any snow? We have - and we love it!

=)

A Day of Chaos in São Paulo

Hello my Friends,

This is a picture of Tietê River, in São Paulo, in a sunny and calm day.

Yesterday the picture was a little bit different. It was a crazy day! It was raining in São Paulo for over 12 hours and the Tietê river inundated the roads . It was chaotic for the 3.5 million cars that drive in São Paulo everyday.






Here you can see how bad was the inundation.





We got stucked in traffic for hours with no chance to get out of the car or go anywhere. The firemen were asking us to stop trying to enter in São Paulo and go back home, and we had to do so. After almost 4 hours, we decided to go back home.

The weather has been totally crazy here and everywhere. I heard Portland had almost 70F one day and snow 3 days after. Last weekend we were wearing long sleeves in Brazil, what it not usual for December. Where is our Brazillian summer???

=)

Sharing

It's amazing how simple things can make us laugh. I saw this picture and thought it was so simple and so cute...


Just wanted to share with you guys.


And keep in mind: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."


=)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello My Friends,

I know, I am one day late... But I am sure you guys were all busy yesterday eating lots of turkey and you didn't have any time to check emails or my blog. ;)

I just want to wish you guys Happy Thanksgiving!

Hugs from (warm) Brazil.
=)

Dinner with Friends

When I was a WAT (Work & Travel), I went to Six Flags in Springfield, MA. I think most of you know that.

I met great people there and we try to see each other as much as we can.

So last week we went to a Mexican restaurant in São Paulo. Nothing better than good food and great friends!


Hope to be able to do the same thing with my friends from Portland anytime soon. Hope to see you guys, here in Brazil or in the US - but only during the summer!

Have a great weekend!

=)

Suddenly, 30!

Yes, now I am part of the club: 30 years old.
But I feel great, besides the fact that the first thing I saw in the mirror when I woke up was a HUGE gray hair.

Last Friday, I started my day waking up at 4am, as usual. Had to go to work, but I had to work only till noon. After, I had lunch with my Godparents and went to my parents house after. At night, celebration with my friends.
By the time I went to bed, it had passed more than 24 hours I was awake. I am too old for this "Brazilian way to party."

After, I spend Sat and Sunday relaxing...

In these pictures, my new co-workers and a few fsome of my friends.

You guys, my American friends, were missed here...

=)