THEY CAME, THEY CONQUERED, THEY RETURNED HOME!
Wow life is getting busy!!
It seems like I was just waiting and waiting for my family arrive, and now I am already back at work. I had a GREAT time with my parents and sister for 2 weeks - I turned into a tourist/translator and put my Portuguese skills to the test. We were able to get away for a few days and do some sightseeing which was wonderful. A lot has happened in the last 10 months I've been away!
It was so nice to be able to show them where I live, where I work, and the community projects that are part of the base.
The first week they were here, I took them on an all-afternoon excursion to visit all of the different projects - we ventured out to 3 different slums, saw the community centers that work in the them, the shelter for ex-street boys, children with HIV/AIDS shelter etc. I think it was really eye-opening but also a very rich experience for them!
my sister, Breanna, and a fellow soccer player
It is one thing to explain to people at home and show pictures of life here in Belo, but it is another thing to be able to physically take them and say, "this is the slum where we work with teenage girls and pregancy prevention," or "this is the community center that works with deaf children and their families." It also was a nice change for ME to be able to sit back and take-in the work we do again, as it isn't possible to be able to travel around the city and see all the projects on a daily basis.
They were also able to meet the newest addition in my world as well - surprise! :) Deison, a Brazilian from the state of Bahia, and I have been dating for almost 4 months, and it was really neat that my family was able to spend some time with him before going back home
(If you are curious for more details, you unfortunately know where my mother lives...)
TIME FOR CHANGE
The last couple of months have been busy - and also difficult, for me to be honest. When I first arrived in Brazil, speaking Portuguese was so overwhelming that I didn't want to be part of any specific group, or project where I would have to speak - just throw me in the office and let me do my work from the computer screen! It was sufficient for me (and also played a HUGE part in my Portuguese writing/reading skills now).
However, in the last couple of months, as the language is no longer a barrier, I have started to feel a bit "cooped-up" and kinda uninvolved in the office. I know that I play a behind-the-scenes role in each of the base projects from where I sit, however, I was itching to do something a bit more hands-on. So last week I joined the Reborn Project for the girls' group in the slum - which focuses on pregnancy prevention, as well as accompanying teenage mothers, and family visitations.
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community where our Reborn Hope Project works
It was great to get out of the office for awhile, meet the girls, and be a part of the work hands-on, which made me decide to figure out a system where I can spend less time in the office, and more time in the community or directly with the projects. I am really excited about this decision and have been talking with my leader how we can arrange my time so that I can accomplish all the work in the admissions office, but also be part of the community work during the week as well. Time for change indeed! :)
I look forward to seeing you all next month and sharing about my experiences here in Brazil!
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