I'm living in Teresina, Piauí (the blue dot) which is in the Northeast of Brazil. The average daily temperature this week has been in the mid-to-high 30s (Celsius). That's like 95 to 100-plus degrees Fahrenheit for anybody reading this in the United States. I hear people in Champaign talking about the weather back home and possible snow, etc. and I'm just over here trying to remember what it feels like to "be cold."
My Portuguese is...coming along slowly. I successfully ordered for myself at McDonald's yesterday, which I consider a major milestone. It was the first time that a solo attempt to order food didn't result in me emphatically repeating various parts of my order over and over in response to the barrage of questions that they bombard you with after you tell them what you want.
An example:
Me: "Can I have a McChicken, please?" Unsuspecting employee (speaking in Portuguese): "Do you want to make that a meal?" Me: "McChicken." Employee: (speaking in Portuguese) "Ok, but do you want anything else with that?" B: "Yes, McChicken!" A: (speaking in Portuguese and at this point very confused): "Ok..." and so on until the painfully awkward interaction somehow finds its way to a merciful and successful end.
But hopefully nevermore. Because now this gal can order all by herself. Sigh. I'll speak Portuguese one day. Really.
And a note about the name of this blog. I named it after this song by The Head and the Heart because it reminds me that before I know it, a year will have passed and because of that I should make the most of my exchange and cherish the big and the small moments.
Next post: In the last two months I've traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Parnaíba. All were amazing and photos and details will follow soon.
