Tidbits

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: Peanut butter isn't common here, though Brazilians know what it is and they know Americans love it. On a business trip back to the states, Geoff picked up Reese's Peanut Butter Cups for us to take to our classes at the university. Watching a dozen adults try this wonderful combination of chocolate and peanut butter for the first time was like watching a child take its first steps in their late 20s / early 30s.

Being Foreign But Not Stupid: People often mistake speaking with an accent for ignorance. One of my classmates emailed me to ask for my notes on my oral presentation. She signed the email with "your classmate in the international relations master's program," i.e., the girl who has sat three to my left for the past four months in this aforementioned class. Yes, I know who you are, I just can't pronounce your name correctly. Because Brazilians are so incredibly accepting and warm, this is not offensive, just funny.

Futebol vs. Football: Geoff recently started playing in a weekly soccer game with some of our friends from the university, and some of their friends. My classmate told me that when he told the guys an American was going to join the game, they asked if Geoff knew "futebol" is played with your feet and that no one would be wearing helmets. (See above.)

"A little fatty:" You'd never know Leo Steeves was born premature. At eight weeks old, he weighs in at 12 pounds. Numbers aside, he is often described as "gordinho," or what I loosely translate to "when your boobies rest on your belly, and you have no neck and two chins." (See below.)

A few pics:

Hungry.

At an Oktoberfest parade, Eri saw an open spot and went for it.

In about a month's time, we've been to four birthday parties,
which are large-scale affairs here
and always include a theme, costume for the birthday kid and elaborate
backdrops to cut the cake in front of.

Leo's first trip to the beach. Lots of bare bottoms in Brazil.

Geoff and Eri. October is spring in the southern hemisphere.

Smitten.