Hey Family and Friends! JESSI HERE...
What a joy it is to get to fill you in on all that is going on. I find myself having to look back at all our photos in order to remember everything we have done.
With each passing day I am noticing more and more the differences in the way of life I am so accoustumed to in the U.S. and the way of life I find myself in the middle of right now. Some difference include: Brazilians don't have the "American Bubble" (obviously, its American..haha) but what I mean when I say that is they are much more upclose and personal. Rather than a just a simple handshake when meeting someone new its a kiss on each cheek. Its also that way when someone is leaving, it seems to be of way of saying goodbye. It was a little uncomfortable at 1st, but Kelli and I have both adapted and think its pretty cute. It's going to be comical when we get back to the U.S. and invade someones personal bubble with a kiss on the cheek.
Another culture difference we have both noticed is how the Brazilian people are very open and in touch with their feelings. When they think your beautiful they tell you, even if they just met you. If a boy likes a girl, the don't keep it some hidden mystery in hopes the other will figure it out, they just come and tell each other. They are senstive here, and its not a bad thing. I think the reason its so different in America is because we are taught to value independence, self-reliance, and survival of the fittest in dog-eat-dog world. Here they rely on each other, the family is highly valued and they stick together to survive. It's not what the individual can do or become but what the family-unit can accomplish by working together. Children don't move out of the house when there 18 years old. Rather they stay at home and either work or go to school, and contribute all that they can to the family. It is not uncommon for a single household to have a mother, father, children, cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles all living under the same roof. Its actually very uncommon for just a mother and father and their children to live by themselves. They don't push indiviualism what so ever, its a collectivist culture and I think that makes for a much happier culture in many ways. Whether their happier or not, I can tell you they sure aren't lonely here. It's been fascinating observing the culture differences.
We've also noticed its a much slower-paced culture. People are always sitting on plastic chairs outside their houses or store fronts and nobody every seems to be in a hurry. I think the technology and advancements in America are partially a result of our face-paced way of life. Being in Brazil has really opened my eyes to how ahead of the world we really are!! The simple things like level roads, to intelligently designed highways and tranisit systems, to toliets that you can actually flush your toliet paper in. America is clean almost everywhere. Its very dirty here, trash everywhere, and things are broken and need repair everywhere you look. But in the mist of this are a people who know how to love well and are masters in the hospitality category. Everywhere we have been, whether houses in the country-side or houses here in the big city of Natal, we have always had food prepared for us upon our arrival. I'm not talking cheese and crackers, I'm talking a feast!!! It's amazing how they appreciate company and treat you like you were the president coming to visit them. If you don't have time to stay and eat then you are always sent with some kind food. We have been given fruit, bread, corn on the cob, meat, ect. Simply spending time together and talking is highly valued in this culture. So a visit to someones house means a lot.
Saturday we packed up and Marconi and Catiana (our Brazilan parents), Kener (one of the sons), and of course Kelli and I went to a town about 40 minutes away to spend the night at a family friends house, just to be with them. We drove in a small car that was lent to us and packed our blow up matresses, hamocks, and clothes in the trunk. We arrived at dusk and went to the city-mayor's house. Here we greeted with open arms (and of course some kisses) and smiling faces. We were there two minutes before we were handed a plate and silver ware and were told to dish-up. We ate and visited for a little while and them we hopped in the car and went to the local community building. They were having some kind dance/music rehersal for an uncoming performance. We got to enjoy a free show, with great rythimic Brazilian style music and dance. Lots of dance! There had to be 70 dancers jumping around to the face-paced rythum of the music. It was a quite the cultural experience! Later that night we traveled a few minutes out of town to the little farm house we were staying at. When we got here they immediately began cooking corn on the cob and fried cheese for us. Marconi (the guy were staying with) told us that this family were not believers so it was very important for us to go and spend time with them so we sat out-side in plastic chairs all night and visited. We blew up our air matresses and crawled under our little sheet and slept outside, under the Brazilian night sky.
Sunday after breakfast we hopped back in our little car and headed back home to Natal. (Sidenote: Church takes place in the evening here, and I am assuming the reasoning is because it is way to hot to congregate a bunch of people in one place during the day). So later that evening the entire family and few others who work with Challenge Ministries got on the bus and headed to a nearby church. Challenge Ministries was doing a presentation that explains who they are and what they are doing in the country-side in a effort to raise support. I got up and spoke briefly about what the Lord did in my heart last summer and how I felt called to Brazil once again. It was pretty neat speaking in front of the church (of course it had to be through Marconi, my translator since I am not fluent in Portuguese), nontheless it was a neat experience. After Church we walked quite a distance to a Acai restaurant (this is a family tradition, every Sunday after church they go there). Acai is this AWESOME Brazilian fruit, its consistancy reminds me a lot of sherbert ice cream. It is dark purple and tastes kind of grape-ish and is served in a ice cream bowl. You can top it with all different kinds of fruits, granola, candy, and syrup. It's stinking delicious and its supposed to be a naturally engery giver! I think it works too, Kelli was bouncing off the walls after her bowl set in!
I better get going, need to shower because we are off the Orphange today. Love you ALL!
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