When the boys were younger and it seemed as though the feedings, diaper changes, teething, and tantrums would never end, I tried to remember the motto by which I have come to live: this, too, shall pass. I tried to keep in mind that along with the not-so-fun parts of having babies and toddlers, the good things would also be gone in a flash. The same rings true with our experience as expats. Before coming to Brazil, while still in the planning stages of our move, I began looking at our time here in phases. Just as a school year is divided into terms or semesters, I felt it would be easier to cope with being away from our home by mentally dividing our 2 ½ years into 6-month blocks, with visits to the U.S. in between. And, just as our friends in the U.S. are celebrating the end of the school year and the start of summer, we are celebrating the end of “Phase One” of our time in Brazil – the boys are finishing their year as second- and fourth-graders, and we are looking forward to our first visit “home” since our move. I am surprised, however, at how fast these first months have passed; it serves as a lesson that our time here is very short – before we know it, we’ll be planning our move back to the States.
With the arrival of June, winter here, also comes the scattering of families back to their respective homes. The common farewell that is heard during these days is, “Until August!” Already, we are saying goodbye to new friends who will be returning to live in the States or other countries. Our good friends, the Deeps, will leave all-too-soon, as their time in Brazil was cut short by about 2 years; it has been so great to have them just a short elevator ride away – we will miss them. As for us, we are excited to go on a five-day adventure to the Amazon next week, and then will head home to family and friends. We are counting the days until we arrive in WV, and look forward to our time in SC for my brother’s wedding; we also plan to spend several days at our camp on the Greenbrier River, as well as a week in Pittsburgh, before heading back to WV for six days. Then it will be time to say goodbye again, as we will return to Sao Paulo with only one week to recover from our travels before the boys start school again.
The arrival of winter has also brought with it the dry season in Sao Paulo. A friend recently told me we would come to appreciate the rains that wash away the pollution and grime in the city. She was not kidding! The daily build-up of pollution is very palpable – you can see it in the dust that collects on every surface, as well as in the haze that hangs over the skyline – sometimes so thick that the buildings aren’t even visible; you can smell it in the air; you can feel it in your lungs and throat. After a few days of this, you find yourself wishing for rain. The other evening we had a big storm move over the city; for several evenings we hadn’t been able to see a bit of light from the night skyline that is normally our view. After the rain, our skyline was back – the city sparkled anew. The other change that we are facing is the arrival of colder weather. Of course, coming from Pittsburgh, “cold” is relative. Here, winter temperatures are quite pleasant – highs in the sixties and lows in the fifties – but you would think it was freezing by looking at the Brazilians, wearing hats, gloves, and heavy coats. They probably think I’m a horrible mother, as the boys continue to run around in shorts and t-shirts – though I do make them take a jacket when they go out.
As the end of “Phase One” quickly approaches, I find myself taking note of some things I am learning to appreciate. Yesterday, Ian’s class performed “Alice in Wonderland” and hosted an after-party. Of course, I had my camera on hand to capture my “Frog Footman”, both on stage and off. This morning, as I downloaded the pictures onto the computer, my son’s green face smiled back at me, exuding joy and happiness, surrounded by his friends. As heartbroken as he was to leave his friends, school, and home in the States, he has found a new happiness in his new world. Something else that amuses me is the fact that I have learned enough about this crazy city that I am now helping other newly-arrived families adapt to their surroundings. Just a few short months ago, I was on the receiving end of the kindness of others who were willing to lend a hand, or anything else we may have needed. I was told at the time, as I expressed my appreciation, that my day would come to be on the other side, helping someone in my shoes. I remember feeling like that day would be forever-away; I never imagined that after only four months of being here I would be ready to give someone advice about where to shop for certain items, or how to get a maid registered. It’s funny how time has a way of surprising us.
My goal for the next phase of our time here in Brazil is to find a purpose for myself. During “Phase One”, I kept myself busy with volunteering at the school, Portuguese class, and various activities with friends and visitors. Now that I am more settled and at ease with the city streets and the language, I am ready to tackle more challenging activities. I would like to be able to volunteer in an orphanage or a hospital – it would be great if I could somehow put my nursing skills to good use. I would also like to see the boys get more involved in their school community, perhaps participating in after-school activities, or some organized sports. Matt will surely continue to be busy with his work, but I’m hoping that he will feel more settled in his new role and not feel as stressed as he has been. Whatever the next phase brings, I know it will pass quickly, the good with the bad, and take us one step closer to the end of our time here – in the meantime, I plan to enjoy the good stuff and grin and bear the rest!
