By far, last weekend was the most fun I have had yet in Brazil. Thursday was the last of the 3 holidays we had almost back to back; the 7th was Brazils independence day, the 17th was Feriado Municipal (holiday for the town I live in), and the 20th was Feriado Estadual (the holiday for the state of Rio Grande do Sul). Almost everything was closed on those days, no one in my family had to go to work and there were outdoor bars and churrascarias (barbeque) set up all around the city park. My host mother works at a shelter and they were serving dinner for the homeless as well as the other workers. I got to meet a Brazilian who lived in Boston for a few years when he was 5, and I was absolutely shocked because he spoke with an accent like he lived in West Asheville. Everyone that I speak English with here is European, and while it's interesting to see how English is pronounced in Germany, Denmark, and Finland, it was so nice to hear an "American" again.
After we ate our typical churrasco dinner all the people that lived or ate at the shelter got together to give speeches. I didn't understand everything since many of them were either screaming or talking extremely fast but all of the general messages were thanking God for the food and the people helping them. Before everyone left we all got together to pray, the workers, families, and all the people helping cook. After dinner, my family went across the plaza to where many tables were set up and there was a band playing to have some drinks and talk to almost everyone that walked by. I'm convinced that between my host mom and my host dad the two of them know everyone in Alvorada!
Saturday we all slept in and then cleaned the house which always involves something being moved to a different spot before I even wake up. This time it was the fridge and I turned the corner in the kitchen while I was almost still asleep to run right into it hiding behind the wall. In the evening I went downtown to Gasometro which is the pier to watch the sunset which was one of the most incredible things I've seen since I got here. Mom says it's just the pollution but I don't think I've ever been so amazed by fossil fuels. There were so many people but we got a spot right by the water so if I didn't turn around, you couldn't tell that the whole population of Porto Alegre was at the park. We headed home just as it was getting dark and slept all night and day Sunday to get ready for the next week.
Nossa, Que Fim de Semana (Wow, What a Weekend!)
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