Culture shock

A Brazilian play

Apple — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:37:22 GMT

Last night I went to see a play called "A Bofetada", which means "A slap in the face". It was a comedy and was playing at one of the English schools that also has a theatre in their building. I went with Pissica (one of my students), his girlfriend and 2 daughters. I went because I thought it would be cool to check out another play (culture=good) and to see if I would be able to understand more of the dialogue than I did at the first and only other play that I saw here in Salvador. That play was called "Josefina, cantora dos ratos" (translation: Josefina, singer of the rats) and I saw it back in October. I understood probably about 50-60% of the dialogue and thought that was pretty good given where I was with my language development at the time.... Read more about this at www.cherylsturgis.blogspot.com!!!

Testing

Apple — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:38:54 GMT

I am trying to figure out how to post pictures from the web onto my blog, so here is my first attempt. Lets see if it works! And please remember to check out my new blog where I am actually telling stories and posting pictures about my experiences in Brazil. The site is www.cherylsturgis.blogspot.com. Peace- Apple

Other blog

Apple — Sat, 10 May 2008 19:14:22 GMT

Hey, I don´t know why but I just can´t motivate to blog on Tribe and yet I am all about blogging on blogspot. So please feel free to check out my new blog about life in Brazil at www.cherylsturgis.blogspot.com to see some pics and read stories about life south of the equator. Peace, Apple (Cheryl) PS. Leave comments!

Happy New Year!

Apple — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:47:34 GMT

As I sit in the Houston, Texas airport, waiting for my plane to take off for Sao Paulo, and reading several introspective blogs about the events in people's lives during 2007, I pause to consider what sitting here in this airport, sick as a dog with a horrible cold, and waiting to get back to Salvador bodes for the upcoming year. This is the first NYE that I have not spent among friends and loved ones, generally at a party, whooping it up. I think that it is actually fitting because as this year has progressed, I find myself less and less into "party party" and more and more into "mellow mellow". In fact, I am in the midst of figuring out how to get the hell *out* of Salvador during Carnaval, instead of how to get there. I long to head to the country, hike around and chill out during the week of craziness in the heart of Bahia. Wish me luck! There are so many events that have shaped my life this year, and I sit here one year older and wiser, having learned a GREAT deal about life, love, culture, language, peace, chaos....the list goes on. I am thankful that I am here and am looking forward to what my past lessons will prepare me for in the upcoming year. I guess my only wish is that it is more peaceful and settled that last year. As far as resolutions go...well there are the old "lose weight" and "get organized" that always seem to be on the list. But I guess my real resolution is to listen to my inner voice and follow it's lead. Happy New Year everyone! Love, Apple

Song suggestions

Apple — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:12:11 GMT

So I am considering trying to teach English when I go down to Brazil and was thinking that one way to help folks learn english is to teach them some songs. I thought I could download some songs onto my Ipod, print out the lyrics and have a lesson right there! Anyone have any good song suggestions for this? I'm thinking easy to understand, fairly simple with a catchy tune. One song I thought might be fun is Lola by the Kinks. Although trying to explain what that song means will be another lesson in and of itself! Other ideas would be greatly appreciated... Thanks everyone- Apple

Today at 5

Apple — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 17:03:39 GMT

I'm going to the vet today at 5PM.

The magic number

Apple — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 05:56:40 GMT

Well, I went out tonight with some friends for my birthday dinner (my actual birthday is tomorrow) and my friend Kirsten pointed out to me that my age this year is a very magical number. 37. 3+7=10 and there are 10 fingers, 10 toes, lots of important relations to 10 in the world of math, time, etc etc. I never really thought about it in that way. I've been giving some thought to my birthday, age, getting older and all that jazz that usually comes up for many of us as we blow out those candles. I've come to the determination that age is really relative and it's all just about how you live your life. If you live an old life you will be old. If you live a young one, young. And it's never too late to learn new things, start new hobbies, go on adventures, dream, and experience. I want to learn to do some gymnastics in capoeira and dammit if I'm not going to do it, even though my knees are a bit creakier than they used to be. I will do that handstand into the bridge, if it takes me another year or more to learn it! So here's to the magical number of this year, to the adventures that I know are coming, and to all of the wonderful people in my life who help to make it what it is now.

Capoeira

Apple — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 06:35:25 GMT

It's interesting to me how much capoeira has taken over my life. I now spend at least 4 days per week and usually more doing some kind of capoeira activity. My capoeira friends are my family it feels like and I definitely spend more time with them than with anyone else except the people at my job. Doing this for the past 2+ years with the same people has really taught me how important community is and I love being a part of this group. I'm also really getting into the physical aspect of the sport and feel like I'm in the best shape that I have ever been in my life. It's hard for me to remember what it was like not to work out hard almost every day of the week. It's definitely had an impact on my mental health for the better....I haven't been depressed in a long time. Not sure where I am going with this other than I am just grateful that everything in my life fell into place in such a way as I was able to discover capoeira, this group, and this side of me that feels right.

Sausage

Apple — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 04:25:30 GMT

Mmmmm ate a sausage today and it was good. Especially good after a hard workout this afternoon in capoeira. I am curious to see how my capoeira class goes tomorrow after eating this protein. That and my digestive system. It's funny how many people have said "congratulations" to me since telling them that I am no longer vegetarian. In fact my friend James said "halle-fucking-lulah, it's about fucking time!" I'm not quite sure what there is to congratulate me about, other than that I seem to be at peace with this lifestyle change. Still can't eat the chicken though. Yuck.

Bacon

Apple — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 23:27:26 GMT

Well after 16 years of vegetarianism (OK I was off and on with fish for the whole time, but hey I considered myself veggie), I am no longer one. I had a don't ask-don't tell policy of meat consumption in Brazil (if it didn't look like it had meat in it, I would just eat it and not ask) and since I've been back I have been CRAVING sweets and protein. I was actually riding my bike last week and had the thought run through my head, "I want a BLT". So after some thought and consideration, I decided that my body was telling me to eat meat. And the only meat that I could bring myself to eat was pork. Bacon to be specific. Yesterday I went to Trader Joe's and bought some apple smoked bacon, cooked it up and ate it down. I really enjoyed it and it didn't make me sick surprisingly enough! So am I going to go out and eat a t-bone steak, well not yet. For now I am just going to stick to good old pork.

Planning vs. not

Apple — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 17:42:24 GMT

I'm trying to figure out a balance in my life between planning for the future and just living in the moment and letting things happen. When I was in Brazil I was really just living in the moment. I noticed this especially in Manaus. I just was and it was so amazing not to be thinking about the next day or even later in the day, just to focus on the here and now. Of course this is so much easier on vacation. Back in the "real world" I have certain things that I do that I have to plan around (work, capoeira). And I now have something that I'm considering next year that I want to plan for (quitting my job, moving to Brazil). So the question is: how do I continue to live in the present and still have this long term plan? Or do I scrap the long term plan and just be here now?

Decompression

Apple — Sat, 13 Aug 2005 16:50:34 GMT

It hardly seems real that one week ago today I was sitting on the Porto da Barra beach in Salvador, trying to figure out how to get some time alone with the incredibly hot Claudia and drinking agua de cocos like they were going out of style. Now I am sitting in my house in Portland, trying to sort everything out in my mind about the trip, what it all means and how I can incorporate it into my life now. I feel like a totally different person and guess that probably I am. I am definitely going to move down there next year. To be in that culture, city, climate, environment is something that I need in my life right now. It's been 8.5 years here in Portland and time now for change.