i speak portuspanish

I haven't written in awhile, so I decided to update y'all. I don't even know if anyone reads this.

So, new things with me:

1. I started teaching English. At first I didn't know if I was going to like it, but I really do. My students are fabulous. One is an absolute genius. She is going to be finishing her master's in biochemistry and she is only 21!!!!



2. We all moved to a bigger apartment. It is a new building and it is green. There are a lot of green things here. Our building sits on top of a hill. I always think of the emerald city from wizard of oz because to get up there, we have to climb this huge ass hill and I'm always relieved to see it! Gustavo and I have a balcony in our room. It is so kick ass.



3. My new nickname is Courtney W. Bush. (thanks to Gustavo's dad)



4. I'm starting to speak a variation of Portuguese I like to call portuspanish!

As most of you know, if you know me, is that I have a crazy stomach. I have been to doctor after doctor about my "lil' Silva" (the name I give my stomach ache when it comes. Silva is a Ultimate Fighting champion from Brazil). Since I have been in Brazil, it has gotten considerably worse. So I went to a Gastroenterologist to see what is up. He has put me on a strict diet and I will have to have an endoscopic examination next week (he's going to put a camera down my throat to look at my insides). The strict diet (or the "no fair" diet as I like to call it) consists of eating 6 small meals a day, no or very little fat, lots of water, and..... NO COFFEE!!! ..... This is day 2 of the 'no fair' diet. So yesterday I was going through some wicked caffeine withdrawal. Gustavo's mom made a cake yesterday to, but I couldn't eat it. Wait, she made two cakes....a carrot one and a coconut one. No FAIR!! Gustavo has been good about hiding the coffee from me when he drinks it, how sweet....I can still smell it on his breath.

I got some really great news from the US last week. My big sister is getting married! I am so excited for her! I am going to be the maid-of-honor, so I will be back in the States sooner than I had anticipated.

I am starting to meet lots of people. Going to the gym is one of my favorite things to do. Everyone is the same age and they are all into sports so its easy to start a conversation. I met someone that is studying Food Science and they are going to help me get a researching position at the University. He said it would be with food microbiology. That is soooo freaking awesome! I love food and I love micro.

Last weekend we celebrated Gustavo's grandma's birthday. He has a huge family, just like me. On his mom's side there are 11 brothers and sisters. So, the whole family got together for a barbecue at his aunt's house in the country. These aren't like American barbecues, they are Brazilian style. They buy a ton of different meat and salt it up and put it in this huge oven, fire thing and roast it for a long time. While everyone is drinking beers, someone cuts the meat into little pieces and passes it all around. The parties go from about 2 in the afternoon til late at night. You drink beer and eat all day long. There is other food and dessert too. Gustavo's aunt is a fabulous cook/baker and she made some dessert. Something with Dulce De leche (doce de leite) and also made a passion fruit mousse (which was to die for!). When I come back to the States, I'm definitely going to have a Brazilian churrasco (barbecue) for all to enjoy!

Gustavo took me to a Bossa Nova concert. It was so wonderful! The female singer had the most beautiful voice and sounded perfect live. He knows most of the people that played because he took classical guitar lessons for so long. I beg him everyday to play "beautiful Brazilian" music to me. He is awesome! This picture is of us enjoying a couple caiparinhas and other cocktails. Those things catch up to you fast. The picture underneath is after a couple caiparinhas. I thought I was looking extra cute in that picture too....hahahaha.

That's all for now!