Fun with friends in Atibaia….

Three weeks ago I had the chance to go to Atibaia, a mountainous city close to Sao Paulo, to two interesting events. The first one was On the same weekend we celebrated our “lovers day” here in Brazil, I remember I owed you all some pictures. Below there are the pictures of the house we went to. I say ‘we’, because this is the place people from church usually gather on the long weekends. We also had one of the pastors of our church conducting a Bible study on Christian relationships. Too bad I was so concentrated on it, that I forgot to take pictures…. Anyway, here goes the house

Below, there are some more pictures of its outside and some of us inside it as well. As it it winter here, we all thought we were blessed with a sunny weekend. Some of the guys and girls went outside to play soccer….and yeah, the pool was not used.  In the evening, we all stayed  be the fireplace when not watching any gross movie( they always manage to choose the ones no one likes..) we sang…

       click to see larger

Below, there are pictures also taken in Atibaia, but at a friend´s house. It was Chrysane´s and Beto´s( couple in front of the cake) wedding anniversary. Their 10th! We went there for some nice time and great dinner…Yummy…

Take care you all!

Something more on my city, Sao Paulo

Paulista Avenue

Many people in Brazil use to joke about making tourism in Sao Paulo, saying that the best thing about it, is that the city is not too far from Rio. A funny joke, but nothing more then a joke. Actually, in a country with dozens, hundreds of cities and towns by the sea, these people got used to the idea that there is nothing better for a vacation than sea and sand. So, what can we say about places like New York, Paris and Tokyo, just to name a few. Are all of them boring places? Sao Paulo, with its 17 million people, is the largest city in the south hemisphere. A place absolutely full of exciting things to do everywhere. Music, arts, museums, culture, excellent restaurants, dance, opera and a lifestyle that can’t be matched anywhere else in the country. Also an industrial giant, commercial metropolis, where dozens of different languages are spoken, this immense cultural melting pot is always remembered in the country as the place where money is, a place where everything is available. Definitely a place for people who enjoy the best and refined things in life

Centro in the downtown district is a financial and cultural center that’s still home to the stock exchange and many banks. This historic district is drawing new momentum as revitalization efforts take hold, the area is around Praça da Sé and Praça da República , the two sections of the city bisected by a broad avenue, the Vale do Anhangabaú.

Nightlife offers all sort of attractions. From laid-back jazz clubs to full-on techno. The swinging Vila Madelena district is the place to be at night. With a distinctly bohemian atmosphere, this neighborhood is packed with enough restaurants, clubs and bars to keep you entertained for at least a week. For more sophisticated but equally eclectic nightlife, you could head to the Jardins district behind Avenida Paulista. Or there is Bela Vista, in the Italian quarter where Continental style cafe and bars with live music are the rage. The main area for restaurants is the Jardins district, however good quality establishments are scattered throughout the city. There are a wide choices of cuisine, as you would expect in such a multi-cultural city including German, Lebanese, Japanese, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

 Sao Paulo has it all. And, if by chance, you hear someone telling that old fashioned joke about no beaches in this town, you don’t need to worry. All you have to do is go to Santos , at the Atlantic coast, just one hour drive from Sao Paulo. There you find a wonderful white sand beach to spend the weekend, as so many of the Paulistas (those who are born here) do, and will be able to tell you friends that you had it all on your trip to Sao Paulo. Even a beach!

I found a site on postcards from the city which I find interesting visiting in order to catch a better overal idea of Sao Paulo. This is a bit of where I live.

Ps.: My banner is also a picture of Sao Paulo downtown

PsII.: Pessoal do IEBB, eu ainda não revelei as fotos. Devo colocá-las ainda essa semana! Beijo pra vocês…

I found myself on a patch of grass in the park on sunday afternoon. next to me a vintage copy of national geographic I got my hands on recently, but it was just sitting there, didn’t feel like reading.
two kids were throwing a soccer ball back and forth; one was clearly better than the other one. their dad’s later started playing with them, one dad was clearly better than the other one. after a few glances around I rested my chin on my knee and stared ahead into the lush green. slowly my mind went blank. not consciously but it just happened that way. at one point it almost felt like I didn’t hear anything else that went on around me, it was just me and the trees, swaying to the wind. not sure how long passed before I noticed a flake land on my foot, then another on my arm, two more on the blanket. I was so out of it that for a fraction of a second I thought of snowflakes, but in mid fall? in São Paulo??! I looked up and saw tens of pink flakes floating lazily downward. I haven’t noticed but I was sitting close to a tree with small dense pink blossoms. as the wind picked up the numbers increased. I dropped back on the blanket with my arms open and my eyes closed, zeroed in on the weight of every flake landing on my skin. one on my right eye, one on left arm, then another, 2 more on my face and on and on. after a few minutes it didn’t matter where they were falling anymore, as if I was an open hand collecting alms.

It’s a brand new day!!!

stop and stare
straight ahead
hold your breath
dont blink
swallow
feel the rush of blood
look within
believe what u see
u have to
wrap your mind around this
this is not where!
there is not how!
when is not to be!
why?
cuz its there
in front of u

Dia dos Namorados, Brazilian version of Valentine´s Day

The origin of the date  In Brazil, the ” Dia dos Namorados” is celebrated on 12 of June. But, that is only in Brazil. In other parts of the  occidental world person, mainly in the North Hemisphere , the day consecrated to the valentines is February 14, the “Day of St. Valentine” or “Valentine’s Day”.

As many other commemorative catholics dates , its origin is in Old Rome, the heathen parties of Lupercália, that happened in the middle of February.

The festival was dedicated the Lupercus (protective of the flocks and shepherds) and Juno (goddess of the love). In these festivals, the young women wrote their names in pieces of paper or cloth, placing them in a jar later.

The young boys removed a name and the drafted person would be the partner of dances and tricks during the festivals. The relation between the pairs is quite unknown. Some historians say that it was only established in the friendship and others, that the new couples spent the night together.

This change of the date in Brazil happens  here for two reasons: to heat sales in  June  and to use to advantage the proximity of day 13, Saint Anthony´s day(Saint Anthony) the patron saint of weddings)

The success was not immediate. Only after many years did this date  became synonymous of romanticism. Currently, the Day of the Namorados is the third better commemorative date for the commerce, losing only for the Christmas and  the Mothers day.

As for me? Well… We have a long weekend here. I´m traveling to Atibaia, a city just 1 hour away from São Paulo. It is located in the hills, so it will be probably colder there. I´m going with a group of friends from church, we´re have some Brazilian celebrations there an some extra Bible studies as well. The theme will be on what it is to have a mate and live according to what the Bible says about it and how to apply that nowadays.  That will be very useful to me as I´m in love, and we( yes, you read we  ) want to have a sound relationship. I will mention more on that soon, I hope. Meanwhile…..

Have a great “Brazilian lovers Day”

I just want to say…
… I’m tired today. And no matter what else I want to say, that’s all that’s coming out. I’m tired and the clock ticks with dull thunks towards clunking hours that somehow move at all the wrong speeds. And the people here are sharp-edged and sharp-tongued, rasping against my ears and my skin across all the space two cubicles can fill.

And I feel as if the complaints are foremost when that’s not what I wanted to say at all. I’m mangled and peaceful and happy and waiting for the flood and never-quite-sure and absolutely-certain. And all that’s here are the things I never want to say when I’m not alone. When I’m falling-down laughing over the silly moments of a round of disc golf. When my head is resting anywhere (but most often against his arm).

Somedays I just have to break down and say I don’t really know what I’m doing.

Memories….

I´m the one with snoopy, with Simba, with the nice guys, drinking wine with my ex-room mate first time we went to Rio and hanging out with close friends…. pics are not clear, but are precious to me…

click on pic to see larger

Something I found…Post it or not post it?

…so tell me

so tell me
what is your name?
where are you from?

so tell me

by Shy

You know my name. At least, I think you do. I’m from the heat. Saying that makes me laugh because I have a friend who tells me heat people are passionate. She is  not from Brazil… I’m happy here. My family is here friends are too and I need to be near them so yes, I’m happy here. I will admit I never thought I would want to be where I’m at, but I’ve discovered getting what you want does not always equate happiness.

Outside of my family, and close friends, not many have loved me. I’m stubborn and unbalanced. I change my mind the minute I ask. Denied? Once. I’m not sure if he did the denying, or I. Belief and studies on God´s words have been making me stronger and a bit wiser… That´s a blessing.

Your turn.

Ps.: Wrong, I´m damn wrong…I have been loved. A lot. Can´t deny that. And now?

About Life…

I have decided to let yourself go. I´m tired of being a perfectly controlled person.Something in the air is different, and I can express my needs freely.I don’t let other people’s arguments of the facts get in the way of my own truth. I have been trying hard not to doubt myself and stop worrying. Prayers help. God  sure has been listening. I don’t get disgruntled if I´m not fitting in with whatever is going on around myself. This is an indication that I may need to take another route. If I don’t like the music being played, then I sheould start my own band. I know now I have everything in my power to make it happen. And God is for me.