This past weekend was quite a whirlwind.

Saturday morning the Lemes and I woke up in Piracicaba after a fun family evening on Friday - (dinner in and watching The Da Vinci Code). We lounged a bit and then went down to the river for lunch. We went to "the" fish place in Piracicaba. It was just my style. Plastic chairs and tables with cotton table clothes under white umbrellas next to a flowing blue river. I sat sipping Guarana (the soft drink of Brazil) and enjoying the breeze and the company of my cousins.

The best part of the big party was getting ready in Ana's apartment with six other women. There was make-up, jewelry, shoes and dresses everywhere! It was a fun bonding time. The tradition in Brazil for formal parties is for the band to go through the decades of American music. And I thought I had come to Brazil to go to parties and NOT have to dance the YMCA. ;) After we reached the 90's, there was a big presentation and waltz of the graduates followed by dinner. The Brazilian music and dancing didn't start until about 3 am. We headed back to Ana's apartment about 4:30 am. I was one beat gringa.

On Sunday afternoon we went to the part of Sao Paulo that is considered China Town. There are many street vendors with trinkets and food. On Tio Sergio's side of the family there is an Aunt and Uncle with triplets that the Lemes spend a lot of time with. That afternoon it was the five of them, the five Lemes, Dodo, Roberto and I that were trying to navigate the streets. When lunch was taking a long time to find, we paused for a melon popsicle. Once we got to lunch, I ate quickly and then ended up totally sacked out next to our low seated Chinese table. One of the triplets caught it on camera.

The past few days I have been doing Pilates by using a Portuguese DVD to help me remember the mat sequence. It's great language practice! Lia loves to dance. She currently has classes in Irish dancing (like Riverdance) and Spanish dancing. On Friday she did Pilates with me and I attempted to do the warm up for an Irish dance class. Let's just say we got a great laugh workout.

I understand less everyday because people have started to talk to me in larger sentences and bigger words; however, this is the best motivation for studying and giving my dictionary attention. It is still a fun learning experience. Every time we watch TV I get practice by reading the Portuguese subtitles - that I am getting better at! ALSO, I have successfully answered the telephone and relayed the appropriate message three times!

Tonight Ivy and Lia have English class. Tia Helena is at the grocery store. We are having hamburgers and I'm going to make sweet patato fries!!!!! Life is good. Tell me about yours...