10 Aug 2005
It seems like I dropped the ball on this journal thing for a couple days. So far this week we boys have been working on building an addition to Lobinho and Joanna’s house. We built trusses, put them on, put the roof on, and today started pouring concrete. It’s pretty hard work, and I decided I don’t want to be a builder. The good thing is we’re not doing it alone. A guy from church named Aocir (sp?) seems to be a builder and is doing most of the work. When we understand what he wants, we help. Lobinho’s daughter, Moana, who is probably around 2 or 3, is one of the cutest little kids I’ve ever seen. She runs around laughing all day long.
The food here has been good. The milk products take some getting used to because they come straight from the cow. I should know…I milked one of them bad boys. We only eat lunch with the family, and I like that part. I sit next to Donei and Romualdo. We usually have rice, frejas (beans), and something else. Today it was eggs and some leafy vegetable. Tan bom!
We also took the kids out for pizza tonight. The servers walk around to each table with something – lazagna, pizza, spaghetti – and slap it down if you want it. They keep coming until you leave, and it only costs about US$3 per person. It was good, but now I’m fat.
My Portuguese is picking up. The older kids are actually impressed that I can understand as much as I do. I still have trouble speaking it, but I manage, and the challenge is fun.
I’m really tired right now, and we have a big day planned so I think I’m taking off. Aufwiedersehen!
I'm Jason, and I like to write.