We lived in Florianopolis for 2 1/2 years, the primary purpose of which was for Geoff, an Air Force officer and pilot, to represent the United States here, while simultaneously earning his Phd in economics and developing expertise on this region through cultural immersion and language fluency. This meant he studied at the local university UFSC (as did I) and we lived in the community (not on a military base) amongst the Brazilians (we had NO American friends!). It was so wonderful and very interesting. It was also frequently frustrating and sometimes completely exasperating. And, more often than not, it was really funny. We learned so much about other cultures, and about ourselves. We are better people because of this incredible opportunity.
When I think back on our time in Brazil, I will most fondly remember:
1. the addition of our son, Leo, to our family
2. hearing our little daughter, Eri, speak perfect Portuguese
3. my brother-in-law's wedding in Cusco, Peru
4. hanging gliding in Rio de Janeiro
5. our new, lifelong friends (in particular, Marcel and Marina, and Amabile)
6. swimming with sea turtles in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
7. playing polo in the countryside of Argentina
8. earning our advanced degrees
9. going to the World Cup
10. embarking on this adventure as a four-some … We did it and we did it together!
I started this blog to chronicle our memories and to have something for us to look back on. Thank you for following us and please keep reading! The blog will continue in 2015, as does the adventure: Seoul, South Korea, here we come!
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| Eri's goodbye party at preschool. We brought her favorite chocolate cake ... |
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| … and her really cute little brother. |
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| Group hug with Eri in the middle. |
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| I'm really going to miss Christmases in Brazil and the weather pretty much every day. |
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| Soaking up the sun before we trade it in for snow. :( |
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| We spent our last week in Brazil in one of our all-time favorite cities, Rio de Janeiro, with fellow Olmsteders, the Hickie family. |
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| Geoff made friends with a Brazilian pilot and was able to fly with him in his private plane. |
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| Without a doubt, Geoff will most miss the kayaking, which he was able to do at least once a week about 40 minutes from where we lived. |
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| Leo and his godfather / our favorite Brasileiro, Marcel. |
