Ok I'm convinced it's not the Brazil Gods that are hearing me, it's the Blog Gods. I think I need to complain more in my blogs because 3 for 3 (or more?) now have instantly turned around after I pushed "post".

Once I wrote my last blog, I had a great day where evertlything went smooth from transportation and work to Ricardo and I made a new friend. Kim, she's from New York and is teaching at one of my schools. Then I had another good day, and another. I'm up to almost a great week :-).

Ricardo and I have played tennis like three times this past week and he's catching on fast (not surprising), so that's really fun. I hung out with a Brazilian friend (actually student, but only on Saturdays and the rest of the week shes my friend) and we had a sleepover with popcorn and a romantic movie. I dyed my hair (shockingly: BROWN haha but I covered my my blonde chunks I had and now it's fresh, I love it). I got two new classes (more money).

So besides a few complications (banks on strike, couldn't get paid and had to use Ricardos account to transfer. Also, Federal Police might be on strike so I dunno how I'll extend my visa), I had a great week. And we have a good group of couples with my Chilean friend, Fanny and her German boyfriend, Kim and her boyfriend (they came here together) and me and Ricardo. I started to think "Hmm, maybe that's what I needed, friends, in order to like it more here. Maybe I could stay..." Then I thought logically out of all these new friends I have, ONE is Brazilian (maybe two including Ricardo but I think he's American undercover). So maybe it's not Brazil afterall, it's people from HOME. But that's ok, friends are friends. Also, this past week I went out for pizza with Ricardo for his friend, Caio's birthday. Also, Caio's girlfriend and some other friends. It was fun to meet his friends, and it was all-you-can-eat pizza...literally. They just walk around with a pan of pizza and if it looks good you take a piece... All night. Chicken, beef, veggies, garlic, you name it they had it. That's not all... At the end of the night they whip out DESSERT pizza. Chocolate pizza with frosting and m&m's, some with ice cream and chocolate syrup on top. My favorite: banana, caramel, and cinnamon. Good night. Not just because the food but Caio was hilarious. He learned English with Ricardo years ago but later decided American English was "rubbish" and decided British fit him more. And he has it DOWN trust me. He even complains like a Brit, almost yelling and it's just hilarious. We laughed a lot.

Then today was great... after work I met my new friends (Fanny, her boyfriend, Kim and her boyfriend, a friend from work Gabriel, and Ricardo) at this huge open fair. It only happens once a month is pretty popular (it was mentioned in Lonely Planet). We had a great time, walking all around looking at all the antiques, arts and crafts, artesin work, jewelry... then we sat and had some drinks for a couple hours talking (Im sure we sound hilarious, one big tornado of Spanish, English and Portuguese. Everyone speaks one or two of those, so we´re all constatnly changing and translating). It was a great time, it felt good to have a good group of friends, all from differnet places. We´re planning to go out next weekend together.

Now, after all these great and BUSY days, Im pooped. It´s 7pm on Saturday and Im wiped out. I guess this is why I wouldnt think of leaving Brazil any sooner, I know there are still some good times waiting for me before I leave.