Limbo

Well, it's been about four weeks here and the adjustment period is still very much...ongoing? The excitement and anticipation of moving to a new country melded into the reality that we are here, that things are completely different than what we are used to, and that this WILL be our home for the next two years. It's a scary feeling. I guess you could say we are in the "over-whelmed" phase of our adventure. Maybe just I am.
   The kids are loving their new school. There is a lot of Portuguese spoken there, but they are taught in English so that has really helped them feel comfortable. They get a six week break here in a two weeks. Ellie hangs out with me everyday. We are trying to get her into kindergarten next fall, but she'd have to be at a different school than her brothers because she has a September birthday and they won't let her in. For now, she's in heaven watching her favourite Netflix shows, and setting up daily tea parties for the two of us. I really love having time with her. If I didn't feel so strongly that she should be in school, I'd just keep her home another year! Dan's job is...constant. Much less flexibility than his previous job. He's out the door every morning before seven and back around six or so. He metros in to work morning, which consists of a daily hike up a steep hill to the metro station. He's enjoying the exercise, but for now it's winter here (perfect weather!!) and summer may make that trip a little more miserable. I guess it's good he's out so early...before it gets hot! I think he's liking the work though. He's still "training" so he'll get more comfortable as the year goes on. He works with some really great people!
      I am in a kind of limbo. I knew this would happen, in fact I think I wrote about it last post. I haven't really let go of the life I had before. I miss it every day and that makes it hard to be happy here in a place where everything is sooo different. The hard thing is that I know it. The kids wanted to watch "High School Musical" the other day and I couldn't do it. It reminded me too much of Utah. Then, Dan put on a mix of our favorite songs and "Sweet Home Alabama" came on and I lost it again. Never mind that I go around humming "Girl From Impanema" all day, I still miss home. Facebook is painful. Too many friends doing too many things I miss. I guess I just need to grab the bull by the horns and dig into this life and love it...and I really think I will, there is a lot to love about this place. It has an energy and rhythm that is very catching.  Every day gets a little easier. I am so glad I am here with Dan. He makes everything worth it. He lets me whine a little when I'm feeling overwhelmed and he doesn't judge or get frustrated about it. He's very patient with me.
       I am working hard to learn the language. I don't want to spend two years here and walk away without it. It seems like a wasted opportunity. I've picked up lot so far...even a few swear words accidentally (Brazillian T.V. thank you very much...ahem...I know them, I'm not using them, let's be clear!) :) My head feels like a big jambalaya of words constantly swimming around and popping up to the surface and then back down again. I don't even know what half of them mean, but I'm hoping that the constant stream of words is my brains way of processing them and eventually, if I keep practising they will start to line up and make sense. I swear people are speaking a different portuguese than the language I'm practising because I feel so great while I'm studying, like it's starting to fall together and then I go out and hop in a cab or to church and I have no clue what is coming out of anyone's mouth! I ended up all the way in Copacabana last week when I needed to be about two beaches over! Thanks goodness for my i phone and google maps...oh and the translator app is a life saver too. The driver wasn't very happy with me.
   Okay, well, enough rambling for today. Every time I post I think that I will have to post again in a few days, but it's been busy. I will try! Just know that the Kanigan family is alive and well. We love the sounds of the city, the breeze from our balcony, the music and the prospect of a trip home for Christmas! Love and miss you all.

Here are all pictures from our recent exploring. There are a lot. :)  Have a great day!

Lincoln and Ellie at Linc's school. He started the day before his grades big music program and since he didn't know any of the songs, Ellie and I came and sat with him to watch the show. These two are absolutely related!

A favela behind their school. Dan told me this is one of the largest in Rio and close to 250,000 people live there. (Check my number hon!)

Kids favorite tree!

A Few from our first trip to Ipanema beach.

Owen protecting Ellie from crazy rip tides. One scooped her up just a minute before this and scared everyone too death! He was not going to let that happen again.

He get's his protective nature from his Daddy. :)

Having a blast!

My kids have begged to drink from coconut since we got here!

They are ice cold on the beach.

Love this one!!

 Santa Teresa

 The trees have these long strings that hang from them. They looked like anemones to me.

An old ruined house. This neighborhood used to be "the place" in the 1800's but fell into ruins in the 20th century when the favela's went up close by and the residents moved close to the beach. A lot of it is being restored, but this old house was turned into a sort of museum. It is pretty bare bones and you can climb up to the top for an amazing view!

Back of the house.

View from behind house.

Favela's behind.

The view from the top...Sugar loaf is behind us, but it was really bright and hard to look at the camera!

Nails.

House plants.

Color Splash

Light and Dark

Roots

So elegant once...

Bumped. This beauty was for sale!

This is another street in Santa Teresa where the trolley line used to run. People are sitting here waiting for hours to get into a fantastic restaurant that served amazing beans and rice. We ate at a place next to this one that was fantastic. If this other restraints food was better, it must have been amazing!

A day off to walk with Dan...

Making a living.

Ellie picked pink

 Tea Party with Ellie. Decorated with Brazilian coins, hair bows and packing tape. We're still waiting for our luggage over here. :)

Ellie put on her nice jacket for the event. 

A few favorites from around the house...

Logan's hair raising device.

Self portrait.

Dan shot this of me while waiting for the boys bus. I love the sidewalks here!