San Diego

I was so excited to be at the beach! I've never been to San Diego and I've never experienced a warm day at the beach before! 

I loved having my toes in the warm sand!

I spent hours relaxing on the beach with my eyes closed. I just let the wind and the sounds of the beach wash away my stress. 

Such a beautiful day! Can't wait to go back. 

Last Brazil Post, For Real: Traveling Again

So Wednesday night Rachel, Feliciano, Patrick, Augusta, (did I mention they're engaged?) and I all stuffed into Rachel's car with 3 large bags, a box, 2 backpacks, and my huge purse. We were squished to be sure and the mood was dismal. The weather matched our feelings. It was raining and very cold. Once we got to the airport we had to check in. There was a station there where you had to answer questions about your luggage. Is this yours? Did you pack them? When? Where? Do you have any lighters? Have you accepted anything from strangers?

After all that we had about 2 hours before Patrick and I needed to go through security to go to our gate. So we sat around for awhile and then we decided we were hungry. We got pizza and bread sticks at Pizza Hut. It was pretty tasty but the service was really slow. After that we didn't have much time left. Eventually it was time for our tearful goodbyes. Not fun. I really want to come back but who knows what will happen, right? Oh I forgot to mention my tearful goodbyes with Malcom, Ammon, and Eliane earlier that night. I am going to miss everyone so much!

So then Patrick and I walked away from our loved ones and went through security, which, compared to security in the states, was easy. We only had about half an hour of waiting at our gate before we boarded our plane. And can you believe our plane wasn't full again? So I got 2 seats to sleep in and I was exhausted so I pretty much went right to sleep. Again my sleep was full of tossing and turning but better then nothing. It was actually really freezing on the plane. Poor Patrick didn't have a jacket and he was almost shivering in the morning when he came to sit next to me. So together we made it through customs (worse than in Brazil. Actually the customs guy who talked to me was really rude and basically called me stupid. Whatever. I made it through just fine anyway.), getting our bags, rechecking our bags, and then through the much more stringent USA security. We finally had to part ways when we had to get on the train thing to go to our separate gates. Bye Patrick!

Well, out of a whole month of smooth traveling something had to go wrong, right? When I got to Salt Lake one of my bags was lost. Crap. Luckily it was the one full of my clothes instead of the ones with gifts. Yay! Ryan and Stacy picked me up at the airport with Avery and they had this for me.

So cute, right? I was thrilled. So we drove home complaining about TSA and lost baggage all the way. When we got back to my parent's house there was another sign from Genna and Becca. Yay!

I handed out gifts and then we ate lunch and lots of Brazilian candy. I was so glad to see everyone and I think they were glad to see me too. Genna and Avery loved the clothes I got for them. Genna especially loves her little Festa Junina dress. Also I started teaching her to say "oi" and "tchau." So now she says, "Oi, Hi!" "Tchau, Good bye!"

I didn't get Avery a Festa Junina outfit because it was just jeans and a plaid shirt. Plus I didn't even think he would wear the hat let alone a whole outfit. You can also see some Brazilian candy off to the left.

Genna in the Brazil shirt I got for her. I also got one for Avery and Kate.

After a quick nap with Genna it wasn't too long before my bag was delivered. Whew. I was finally completely home safe and sound. So far it's good to be back. When I have to move past people I still find myself wanting to say, "desculpe." And it was weird that I could understand everything at church today. :) What a wonderful adventure!

Once again, thanks for reading! Tchau tchau!

My Last Day in Brazil

I can't say this will be my last post about my adventure in Brazil (although it probably will be) because I'll probably have some adventures on my way home. Actually Patrick, as in Augusta's Patrick, is on the same flight as me, so that should be fun. We are giving him a ride to the airport so that means I won't have to be alone in a Brazilian airport. Yay!

So I was trying to think of things that I haven't mentioned about Vinhedo or Brazil yet and one thing that came to mind was speed bumps. Yes, speed bumps. They are obsessed with them here. They are on every street, frequently. It doesn't matter what speed the road is, everyone just has to slow down all the time. In fact there's this one road on the way to Valinhos and Campinas that has a speed bump and then literally like 50 feet later there's another one. What is the point of that I ask you?

Also, I don't think I ever showed you the real picture of those cars that drive around and blast really loud advertisements and American music. Actually it isn't all American. They like to play Fur Elise too. :)

So what I've been up to. On Saturday I recovered from the Friday night adventures by blogging all morning, doing laundry, watching some movies, and then Saturday night Feliciano took me and Rachel for a drive around Vinhedo. It was dark and raining so I couldn't see that well, but it was fun to discover the really rich condominiums and huge houses up on the hills. I loved it. Feliciano and I had a chance to chat and it was so relaxing driving around town in the rain.

Sunday was normal. The afternoon went way too quickly and then Eliane, Malcom, and I headed off to watch the sunset with the young adults from the ward. Well, you couldn't see the sunset because it was cloudy, but we were supposed to play games at Lais's house. So we went back there and then sat around and did nothing for awhile and then (I never know what's going on) we started singing a hymn and then someone prayed and then some one gave a spiritual thought and then we prayed again. So once I added everything up, I realized we were having a devotional of some sort. Ok.

Then we went back to doing nothing and finally we played a game. After that, we went home. Finally.

Monday and Tuesday I've just been getting last minute things done and trying to enjoy everyone here. Ammon and I have been working on his T-Rex art project. 

I made more cookies and we had those awesome potatoes for dinner last night again. Yum!

And now I need to shower so I can finish packing all my stuff! I really can't believe I am leaving. It's just about as weird as when I couldn't believe I was coming. In case you're wondering, I leave tonight at 11:55pm Brazil time, 8:55pm Utah time. I'll be home around noon on the 4th.

Rachel, Feliciano, Eliane, Malcom, and Ammon: Thank you so much for everything! This has been an amazing experience that I will never forget and I'm hoping to repeat. You have all been so kind and willing to get to know me. I love you all!

To everyone who has been reading about my adventures: Thanks for the comments and love! It was really fun to share my stories with you and now I have those memories preserved for me too.

And for good measure, here are some more views that I love. Brazil's the best!