There’s no excuse. I caught the procrastination bug.

It’s October. Where is the time going?

I’ve been negligent with my blog. So before I begin to try and catch you up on everything that has happened to me the last few weeks, I want to send each and every one of you a virtual “I’m so sorry for keeping you in the dark” hug. You’re going to need to use your imaginations, but you get the idea–I’m sorry.

You see, I get in these moods where I convince myself writing is tedious (which it is,) and will take a long time to produce a reputable product (which it does,) and will only overwhelm me (which is always the case when I choose to procrastinate); but then I pinch myself and remember why I love writing in the first place… I write because it’s the only way I know how to express my thoughts, feelings and emotions in the most optimal and communicable way. And that can’t be done in five minutes, which might explain the proud feeling I get after spending a long time writing–I always feel satisfied.

So in part, I’m disappointed in myself for putting this blog entry off for so long. So many worth-while experiences have occurred during the past few weeks that I ought to have shared sooner. Now, I rely on my memory and risk relaying a second-rate experience to you guys. And not to mention, for many of you, my blog is the only way you check up on me and make sure I’m doing okay south of the equator.

All this to say, (long winded, I know) I’m going to stay true to my original word and produce more frequent blog entries.

So where do I begin?

I’m still teaching English to 11 and 12-year-olds on Wednesdays (às quartas-feiras). Each week, more and more students (alunos) come. And honestly, I don’t think it’s only 11 and 12-year-olds anymore; some of them look much younger. I started with four kids per class and now my classes range from 8-20 kids per class. I’ve started making worksheets for the kids so we don’t have to rely on only words in order to have a successful class. I’m not as timid as I was on the first day, but I’m still not confident in giving directions either. It’s a continual work in progress.

Here are some pictures of my classes from the past two weeks:

I’m having a lot of fun doing this. I can tell the kids are becoming more comfortable with me as I continue to build relationships with them collectively and individually. The other teachers said I could come more often if I wanted to, and that’s something I’m considering.

When my Aunt Stephanie came to visit, (more on that in my next entry,) she brought with her some candy I had requested to use as participation incentives in class. Last week I brought Dum-Dum lollipops. Let’s just say I had kids jumping out of their seats begging to answer my questions, raising their eagerly waving hands to be chosen.

Fact: candy crushes language barriers. You better believe I’m using the power of sugar to my advantage!

Before I left last Wednesday, the teachers invited me to go with them on their field trip to the zoo (zoológico) the following Friday. Of course I said yes!

A group of maybe 30 kids, six teachers/volunteers and I went to the zoo. We took a rented ônibus there–my first official bus experience. (I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the first experience for many of the kids also.) While on the bus, many giggles, elated screams, and chatter were shared. A brother and sister who sat behind me on the ride over, kept pretending we were racing every car we were beside at stop lights. “Mais rápido! Mais rápido,” they would shout!

When we traveled over the highway on a bridge, I had memories of Six Flags over Texas, because the excitement in their voices and shouts of joy radiating throughout that bus reminded me of the sounds on a roller-coaster ride.

A wide smile spread across my face–this is what pure happiness sounds like.

We arrived at the zoológico and seemed to be the only group there. The zoo, or “large, well-groomed garden with a few cages of animals and a huge playground for kids ages 5 to 10” as I like to more accurately call it, was tranquil and vacant. We really were the only ones there.

Gabriel, quite possibly my favorite 8-year-old of the group, told me as we walked inside that it was his first time to the zoo. I told him it was my first time too. (Well, Brasilian zoo anyway.) And just like that, we were instant friends.

The kids split into two groups, formed the best single-file lines they could, and off we went to see the animals. Turtles, foxes, parrots, toucans, snakes, sloths, emus, and monkeys were all doted on, perplexing the minds of 30 brown-eyed beauties.

But like all children ages 7 to 11, attention spans can only be kept focused on one thing for so long before energy must be burned off. We went to the playground next and spent the remainder/majority of the time there. We all took a snack break with hotdogs and sodas we brought with us. Then it was back to the bus, where sing-alongs took place as tiny hands hung out the windows, catching the ocean breeze between their fingers.

Here are some pictures from the field trip:

Watch this video:

Words and pictures alone can’t describe how incredibly precious these kids are, but I hope they help give you an idea of how incredibly blessed I am to get to spend time with these kiddos every week.

I want to share so much more with you, but for now I will leave you with this. I can’t wait to write about when Aunt Stephanie came to visit me, but I will save those stories for another day. You can count on seeing that entry before the end of the week. Hold me to it! Besides, I owe it to you.

I keep having dreams about going back home just to give hugs to some of you, and then I get back on a plane to come back to Brasil for the remaining four months. (I can’t believe I only have four months left here!) Needless to say, I’m missing many of you and desire to give you big bear hugs! I hope for now, the virtual hug will do.

This song describes my current attitude. It’s by one of my favorite bands who I had the pleasure of seeing in concert last March with two of my favorite girls, Kelcy Parrish and Mary-Kate Woodruff soon to be Solomon. (Miss you girls and I am sad to have missed out on seeing the Dog with you again this past week! I hope you enjoyed the concert for me too!)

Enjoy this jam: “Livin’ a Dream” by Dr. Dog

Candice