Beaches in Pipa

We visited a world famous beach in Pipa today. The drive was breath taking. Our host took beautiful winding roads that hugged the shoreline to a car ferry. After the quick ferry ride we drove ON the beach to our destination of relaxation. If the tide allows, vehicles can drive on the beach here. It was a great day of sun, scenery, hospitality and fabulous seafood!

Deep thoughts by Leslie

If selling pills in the States doesn't pan out I could always be a motorcycle taxi driver in Brazil.

A day on the beach near Mossoro

It was great to get away and enjoy some of the sun for an afternoon. Upon our arrival we had this Jeep and quads at our fingertips. The water was warmer than most showers in Brasil!

To call this a bike race would be a stretch...

This morning the Mossoro, Brasil Rotary Club provided us with bikes. The club sponsored a 3-mile bike "race". We had many laughs. The first chuckle began with TV interviews. Emily, Chip, Matt, and I chatted it up with the local TV reporters like it was our job. However, this time the interviewer was an english translator! Rumor has it youtube might reveal our moment of fame. Another chuckle took place at the starting line. All of the U.S. Rotarian's  were the focus of the morning. Once we "sprinted" out of the gates, an old-school VW van with rooftop music & intercom speakers lead the charge.... at 3 m.p.h. (that's a stretch). A fat lady eating cake on foot could have beet me on my Huffy. My hair didn't even blow back. As we were paraded thru the cobblestone streets of Mossoro every neighborhood was reminded of our names and why we were in spandex sweating our A#$%* off!! What a riot!  Another moment for the books.

Reflections from Brazil - Week 2

• Malaria medicine makes you feel like you're on the set of Alice & Wonderland.
• Some houses don't flush their TP. Opps, we didn't get the memo till now.
  
• Brazilians put more condiments than toppings on their pizza. Ketchup, mustard & mayonnaise on pizza is the norm.
• Nobody batts an eye at power outages. Our hotel lobby went black, nobody missed a beet.... except me. My crazy, claustrophobic skull was creating a skit of me stuck in a dark 3x3 elevator rocking back & forth in the fetal position.
• Brazil roads make Michigan roads look smooth as a babies butt.
• Don't believe a Brazilian if they tell you you're eating chicken.
• Don't reach for food unless you're positive it's an appetizer (right Emily?). That lady in Caico is probably still scowling at us. How did we know it was her dinner you were eating?
• Everybody here puts sugar & cream in their coffee (pronounced cafe' in Portuguese) except me. Em told our host family I drink my coffee negro. They just stared. It was a bit of an awkward silence. We are still trying to word smith that one.

Knee deep in Translation Books

The following is a common practice at our house. Pedro, Emily, and I have 4 dictionaries between the three of us. We are staying with Pedro and his family in Mossoro. The home is beautiful! Tonight I can lose the books we are going Foho dancing. No talking required to dance! Tomorrow our team is heading to Pedro's beach house for the day. We are all looking forward to some fun in the sun. This will be our first beach day of the trip!

On the road again

We hopped back into the kidnapipng van this morning (sporting our new bonnets). We just arrived to Mossoro. Our host house is beautiful! Emily & I are laying by the pool for an hour before we visit a Rotary school. Did I mention we have wireless internet?! Yay! AND did I mention a high rise construction crew is yelling & whistling at us? I would assume it's good we don't understand what they're saying!

Classic Caico Farewell

The Caico farewell wasn’t complete until we received embroidered sun bonnets. I hope the side view in this picture gives you some perspective on how large these babies are. We needed a wide load clearance flag. When we said our good byes (a kiss on each cheek is customary here) we were pecking our hosts in the head with our large bonnet beaks. Classic Ciaco moment! I had to leave the scene for a bit to gather myself.

A day in Caico

Today we visited an outdoor biology center, took a nap, talked to some nuns in a convent, checked out two museums, went to a local potters house, and visited a youth-based art center. Tonight we have a Rotary meeting. We`re back on the road to conquer the next town in the morning!

Learning about pills Brazil style

No we`re not on the set of Grey`s Anatomy. It`s a pharmacy in Caico. This is very different from the U.S. All the medications dispensed are made in the pharmacy. I was very impressed with the sanitation and government regulations the pharmacy had to follow.

We may be lost in translation but we´re polite

Language barrier 1 - when in doubt say obrigada (thank you). We´re back to speaking the 10 words we know in Portuguese. During our stay in Caruaru we had several translators. We´re a bit spoiled. For the next 3 days were back to hand gestures, yahoo translator, and our pocket dictionaries! I feel like I´m in a never-ending game of win lose or draw! Emily & I are staying at the same house. From what we gathered on yahoo translator we are having an English speaking friend for dinner.

Radio Interview gone wrong in Caico

We have been treated like celebrities on this trip but this morning took the cake. We embarked on a 3 hour ride in what we refer to as the ¨kidnapping van¨. When we pulled into Caico we were greeted by the local radio station. Did I mention we don´t speak much of the language?! I missed out on an interview because I was in the bathroom, that was no accident on my behalf. Upon gathering myself and realizing they didn't stock the bathrooms with TP, I headed back to the ¨live remote¨. I would love to get my paws on a copy of that radio air time! The two who were subjected to an interviewed looked like a deer in headlights. I stood back and hyperventilated. We had a good laugh about it over lunch.

A visit with the plant whisperer/Root Dr

After touring Hepron we visited with a local Brazilian man who has been growing plants and treating locals with the harvest of his crops. The drink Matt is holding is a derivative of his plants. It was very interesting to hear his story. He has a true love for the earth.

Hebron Pharmaceutical - Caruaru

Matt and I toured Hebron today. Antonio came along for translation and transportation. He has been a life saver the last 4 days! Today we also visited a Rotary school for children with special needs, presented at the Rotary Caruaru club AND earlier in the morning I did a tour of the pharmaceutical and biomedical department at Asces University. I was sent to the principal´s office. Except this time it was for a photo shoot!

Happy Easter from Brazil

Easter on a boat! A bit nontraditional however, I did go to 6pm Mass this evening. My Easter meals consisted of pig intestine, rice, beans, a chocolate egg, pizza & Skol! Our hosts today were a riot! We took an hour drive out of Caruaru to a resort. It felt like a typical Summer Sunday on Gun lake with my family. Our drive to the resort was held up by a heard of cows. Apparently, they filled up on Easter lillies and took a nap in the road.

Reflections from Brazil - Week 1

• Don't ask to use the bathroon in a sangria bottling sweat shop/factory. It makes a gas station bathroom in Gary, IN look inviting!
  
• Pig intestine is salty.
• If you look Brazilan people assume you know the language.
• Giving the o.k. symbol can be highly offensive if you happen to tilt your hand in the wrong direction. I'm sticking with the thumbs up these days.
• You shouldn't eat with your fingers. However, it's excessive to cut your grilled cheese breakfast sandwich into 105 pieces. After 3 days of slicing & dicing my host Mom did a grilled cheese consumption demonstration. Wudda been good to know on day 1!
• Brazilian cows eat cactus. And I thought I suffered from heart burn?!
• Capacity recommendations in a vehicle means nothing. 8 people in a S-10 truck with no A/C is how we roll.
• Internet connection in Brazil is about as speedy as me in the morning.
• If you're on the cusp of laughing don't make eye contact with Emily.
• When you're in the shower repeat to your self the following phrases: don't drink the water & don't open your mouth. I learned from Charlot's role in Sex & the City.

Me and 13,000 others checking out JC

We were invited to see Passion of Christ. The entire production was built into the mountains of New Jerusalem, Brazil. We walked through each scene with the actors as it was being played out. The moon was amazing. The mountains were breath taking! However, there was a lesson learned. Christians will trample you for a front row view of Jesus. After I was pummeled by this "Christian" and all her sisters in Christ I asked her would would Jesus do. She had no idea what I said but, it gave me a good laugh!

Your typical Friday

A donkey ride on the top of a mountain. And yes.... the shirt was issued from the Bezerros Rotary team.

Serra Negra Moutains - Highway to Heaven

I felt like I was in the clouds here, it was amazing! We took a safari-like ride in the back of a truck to this lookout. We cracked a cold Skol and took in the scene.

Biking in Bezerros

Our host family in Bezerros treated Emily & I to a motorcycle ride after dinner. In this town we laughed so hard our faces hurt. The language barrier was at an all time high in this town!