We discovered a few local foods that have quickly become family favorites, cochinhas (deep fried mashed potato balls shaped like a tear drop with shredded chicken inside) paozinhos (little french bread rolls) and pao de queijo (cheese bread). We went to the store 3 or 4 times today to get some. We found a little local grocery store so we bought all the ingredients to make our own rice and beans for dinner and it was good. Everyone ate it including the kids but only because they are starving. Some of us are already going through withdrawals from the crap we used to eat at home like cereal, candy, and coke zero. Derek asked if he could go home because their was no food to eat in Brazil.
We've met some really nice people just by walking around town and shopping. Everyone is very curious about the fair skinned Americans walking into the store every 2 hours for cheese bread. Once we break the ice by introducing ourselves they all want to talk to us and offer to help us while we're here.
Brad is encouraging everyone to practice their Portuguese so when the kids want something at the apartment building and need to ask for help from a worker Brad will make them do it themselves. He has each kid memorize two or three words and then they go together to ask. For example, Carson, Taryn and Derek wanted to sit in the hot tub but the water wasn't warm so Brad had Taryn memorize the word "agua" Carson memorize "hidromassagem" and Derek "mais quente" which directly translated means "water - hot tub - more hot." They run to the front desk and then come back and tell us what happened. It's hilarious to hear them practice. They have no fear and will speak Portuguese to anyone.
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Brad is encouraging everyone to practice their Portuguese so when the kids want something at the apartment building and need to ask for help from a worker Brad will make them do it themselves. He has each kid memorize two or three words and then they go together to ask. For example, Carson, Taryn and Derek wanted to sit in the hot tub but the water wasn't warm so Brad had Taryn memorize the word "agua" Carson memorize "hidromassagem" and Derek "mais quente" which directly translated means "water - hot tub - more hot." They run to the front desk and then come back and tell us what happened. It's hilarious to hear them practice. They have no fear and will speak Portuguese to anyone.
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| Brad and Maile at the local market. |
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| Our new friends at our stop for Pao de Queijo. Brad and owner doing the Brazilian soccer team squat. |
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| Carson and Brad getting some meat skewers at the churrasco near by. |
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| All the kids walking home from the grocery store. |
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| Most americans could survive in Brazil...they have Nutella! |
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| This is why Annette bought $250 of sunscreen at Walmart before we left. It is R$ 67 or about $35 US for this small bottle. |
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| Hannah doing her Geometry homework packet. |
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| Maile and Annette checking out the local scene. |
ok skip the bloody pedicures, I take that comment about daily pedi's back. Ickey! Enjoy your low cal fried cheese balls, I am thinking they are probably as healthy as some of our American junk food items, fair trade. :) Looks like a blast, love the blog comments keep them coming.
ReplyDeleteSo is everything much more expensive there?
ReplyDeleteRight in Rio it is more expensive, comparable to New York City. Out where we are it is about the same as the US. Bus fair is 2.75 Real or $1.40 US. Mangos are $1 each but they are the size of canteloupes. Surfboard rental is $25 US per day.
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