moments in light

This week began with a holiday - what can be wrong with that, right? Although technically Sunday was Australia Day, it was decided to celebrate it the following day with a rousing rendition of "Waltzing Matilda" and listening to other such patriotic classics. 

And what else does one do on a holiday but go to a mall? The RioMar in Recife is a classier version of what we have in North America, or perhaps I don't shop at the classy malls in Ontario (a very distinct possibility). Policemen make their presence known as they cruise about on their Segways. However, despite the upscale feel (parking is an adventure in and of itself, as it feels more like parking at an airport than a shopping mall), there are stores whose names are familiar. 

The rest of the week has been less remarkable as we returned to our regularly scheduled programming. My student has been doing good work, the temperatures have increased slightly, and Dorothy L. Sayers has written some wonderful books.

catching the raindrops

bathing in milk

According to the master of the house (who returned this past Friday [and has kept me busy since then. Absolutely no time for blogging ;) ]) the water I shower in is the same water that is bottled and sold in the city. Remarkable. And what luxury! It almost seems like a waste to see such special water go down the drain. But sometimes recycling can be taken a little too far.

Friday was marked with the grand ceremony (that had to take place practically immediately) of opening the suitcases and tupperware bin that contained carefully wrapped treasures from Canada. Products like coconut oil that are made locally are cheaper across several borders (depending on your flight patterns), chocolate, sippy cups for baby, chocolate, and a whole variety of other treats and daily necessities. Oh, and chocolate.

acerola, a fruit rich in vitamin c (aka bermuda cherry)

On this momentous day I was also allowed to participate in a highly secretive afternoon outing as a guest and "third-wheel" with the recently reunited couple. A local cafe, juice made of acerola, wonderful company, life and marriage advice… I'd tell you more but I may not be back in Canada for a while, doing penance for completely revealing what truly happens on Friday afternoons.




There are some differences between here and home, and yet not so many as one might expect. That whole thing about culture shock - forget it. A few weeks ago I spent a Saturday afternoon baking while watching the snow descend in a flurry. And probably still listening to Christmas music. Let's be honest. This Saturday there was no snow (I think there was a brief burst of rain) but there was baking, and much of it. At least I am learning where my gifts and talents lie.

Saturday did include a family trip to the chicken farm (perhaps not something that would happen at home).

the chicken coops

 I had no expectations for what this place would be like. It was huge. With many, many chickens of all shapes and sizes and breeds.

beauty is in the eye of the beholder?

 The family expert selected the chicks with great care and wisdom.

boxed and ready for the trip home

bigfoot -- bigfeet?

We had to dash through the rain to the car today, before both services. Lord's Supper was celebrated this morning, reinforcing the beauty and wonder of the catholic church. Last Sunday I was thrown into the Portuguese language with hardly any knowledge of the language (I wasn't even able to say "thank you" to the warm introductions) and heard the word "pecado" repeated throughout the sermon. This means "sin." At least I can recognize it? I could also pick out the various persons of the Trinity and understood the "amem"at the end of the sermon. This week, however, I was given a quick and rough translation of the sermon in English that I might follow along and also be edified by the preaching of the Word. I am learning a whole new skill that combines listening to a language I do not speak, reading a translation, and following the progression of the sermon.

The weather has changed from the warm but breezy temperatures I have enjoyed for the past week. With the rain has come humidity and more rain. Apparently rain means it's winter. But it may be summer again tomorrow or Tuesday when the sun returns.

In comparing things to home, I remember when Mom and I would sometimes have reading dinners, sitting in comfortable silence - although we probably had some nice music on in the background - each absorbed in her own book. This happened again tonight.

I am truly blessed to be so warmly welcomed here and that I have become a part of the family. I'm even included in the bedtime goodnights now!

culture "shock"

Well, the first week is almost over. I've begun teaching - writing and grammar (for some, this would be fun) - in the mornings, making myself at home with lots of dishes (so no using the excuse that I didn't do any dishes while I was away from home, my dear siblings!) and adjusting to the slower pace of life. This means an afternoon in a hammock with a book and a sleeping baby or doing a few laps in the pool.

The temperatures here are absolutely lovely - warm, but a delightful breeze coming through all the open windows. Apologies to those who are tolerating the winter chill of Southern Ontario.

The wildlife that I have seen so far has been limited to the geckos - thankfully this one was outside my window. A hummingbird did fly through the house yesterday, rather alarmed by the glass doors that restricted his exit. 

And the lighting here is spectacular in the evenings! 

Anyone know what kind of tree these flowers belong to?

At the moment, I am not completely missing home. 

sabbath rest

Today marked my first Sunday spent in Brazil. With a worship service conducted in Portuguese, it was rather difficult to follow along or to be challenged and edified by the preaching of the gospel. And yet, so far from home, the service is so familiar - the same liturgy, the same psalms (sung in a different language of course), and the same sense of community among the members. It is really amazing to see the catholicity of the church.

On an entirely unrelated note: today's photo of the day comes from the corner of my room. I'm not in Kansas anymore!

seasonally premature spring cleaning

Today I was made to feel right at home with a rag and water in order to clean out what is now my room. The suitcase is neat stowed away over the shelves and my clothes are tidily hung up.

And the kitchen is now a familiar domain as well. With the first batch of cookies under my belt, things are really starting to feel familiar around here.

touchdown!

Miami airport

What trip is complete without Starbucks? Well, I'm sure a great many are, but in Miami it felt right to have a cold drink from Starbucks with all these business people and holiday-ers getting off the plane with me. And after an early morning with a 3.5 hour flight, I was ready to stretch my legs.

Miami is beautiful. Those clear blue skies, the waving palm trees…  Definitely worth a return. And a nice airport too! That may or may not have had anything to do with the enticing outdoors that were a security check away.

Miami airport

A 2.5 hour layover brought me to the next flight: a 3 hour trip to Panama. With that came the a gorgeous sunset over the fields and waves of clouds.

sunset somewhere over the Caribbean Sea

The airport in Panama is HUGE, slightly stuffy, and just a little confusing. Instead of adventuring as I did in Miami, I stayed near my gate and waited for the flight that was scheduled to leave 2 hours later.  A restless overnight flight of just short of 7 hours (time change included) dropped me off in Recife, leaving me at the mercy of the passport officers. Thankfully, they gave me no more trouble than to simply ask for my passport, stamped it, and handed it back.

dawn over South America 

A friendly couple was there to greet me - Ryan and Rachel - and brought me to this beautiful compound. First impressions of this country include: Recife is not Toronto (to state the obvious). No lines on the road mean that it is every motorist for himself, whether it is bus, car, or motorcycle (oh those handy machines that dart in and out of the traffic!). The compound is a very bumpy dirt road off of a nicely paved one. 

I have met all the children here and think I have their names down-pat, and I'm getting to know the pets as well. A word to the wise: bringing dropjes to a Dutch family brings you many friends. However, a long nap and a quick shower were much needed in order to be able to feel halfway human again. 

view from the front porch.

No sweaters are needed here! My desktop picture is still a photo of the apple orchard covered in snow -- it feels a little out of place at the moment. Good thing the landscape is so photogenic: I'll have plenty of pictures to choose from!

sunset

perching on the precipice

Ah the joys of flight check-ins! Extra early mornings (it's not often I begin my day with a coffee [oh I'm going to miss my parents' espresso machine! {and them too, of course}]), mixed communication of where to go and how things work, an appropriate amount of running around from check-in point to another, worrying about whether or not my bags will go straight through or if that over-sized tupperware container would worth its weight in trouble…

And yet a surprisingly easy trip through the customs. It's all in the anticipation, really. Why worry about one thing when you can worry about seven?

So here I sit, looking at all these people about to go on a nice holiday in the sunny south of the States while I am simply passing through. Apparently there is a direct flight to Brazil this evening -- thank you Google flights for not providing that information. But where is the thrill of the adventure in a single flight? No, it is much more fun to hop, skip, and jump my way down South.

My opa read Psalm 121 with me when I visited him this past Tuesday. (There are so many people I don't see for longer amounts of time while I am in Canada, but as soon as I am about to leave it is imperative to visit as many as I can.) And this is my prayer, for myself and for all others who are travelling, whether it is merely a short trip down the road or halfway around the world:

The Lord will keep you from all harm -- He will watch over your life;  the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. 

something old, something new

It's the time of new resolutions, the ones made with the best of intentions with every hope that we won't break them this year.

With my upcoming trip to Brazil, it is time to dust off the cover of this old blog and time for my fingers to meet the keys in order to share my new experiences and adventures with you.