Life is empty without relationships. I think everyone knows what I mean; there are those friends or family members that can change a situation with their sense of humor or kind words. Friends can make all the difference, especially GIRLFRIENDS (you learn this quick when you suddenly don't have anyone to ask for fashion advice or cry when you feel fat). I've described my crazy bosses with detail but I've only mentioned my friends (they are few but plenty). And after our weekly girls night drink after work and my period coming tomorrow, I'm feeling extra sentimental and wanting to boast about my beautiful friends.

• Fanny and Kim- top of the list (Ricardos a different category and I've already explained him a lot).

*Everyone knows Fanny as my friend from Chile. Besides that, she is a beautiful and free woman who lived in Mexico City before (and loves Mexico as much as me), then Brazil and is soon off to China. She's unstoppable. She loves to dance as much as me but isn't a crazy partier. She's very open and helps me laugh off Brazils challenges because she lives them all too.
*Kim, my cute little Asian friend (I feel like I always have one of those, but she's Filipina) from New York. Kim cracks me up because she's so strong and independent but here in Brazil, she's usually a mess. From her very broken Portuguese to missing the news about the time change, her stories compete with mine for sure. Unlike Fanny, Kim has family at home that she misses (like me) and we share those days when we question: "Is this worth it?" or "Maybe I shouldn't stay so long."
Even from 3 different parts and 3 different cultures, at the end of the day we're all girls and appreciate our girl time. We share Portuguese lessons, pass helpful contact numbers, and we also just gossip and giggle together. And sometimes, that's exactly what we need (and a little wine doesn't hurt of course, buy we're picky. No Brazilian wine, only Chilean).

• Robin and Mike- these are the girls´ boyfriends but we're all 6 a good group. We're not too couply and we all can always have conversations with each other, which I love. We never stay attached at the hip, we mingle with each other. We´re always sharing funny stories, travel advice, and thinking of ideas of fun things to do together.
  
  *Robin is a typical German in the sense that he travels everywhere and learns the languages like a native. He´s amazing, he can conversate (comfortably) in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Im pretty sure he speaks German too but I´ve never heard it haha. But him and Fanny only speak Spanish to each other and his Spanish is fantastic. He´s NOT like a typical German in the sense that he actually goes and lives in these other countries (he´s off to China with Fanny after Brazil). He works in architecture (a real grown-up job!) and uses it to take him around the world and learn from other cultures.
  *Mike is from New York but has no New York accent, isnt loud and obnoxious nor full of himself. Mike is difficult not to like because he´s so chill and friendly. He´s always interested in what cool things he can do here in Brazil, he´s picking up Portuguese quick and truly seems to be enjoying himself. He´s just good company and always down for anything.

*Together, me, Ricardo, Fanny, Robin, Kim and Mike, we have a great group always with great conversation and a lot of different cultures/langauges/perspectives. We´re all open to new things and excited to share information and experiences with each other. I really hope that when I leave, we can stay in touch (who knows when or where or how we´ll see each other again but I´d love to keep up with them and see where the world takes us all).

• Gabriel and Rogeria- These are people from CNA, my favorite school that I teach at. There are also the secretaries who I love but these two stick out.
  * Gabriel is a young Brazilian guy who speaks great English, even though he´s never left the country. He is a typical Brazilian because while he always has the best intentions by inviting us to parties and trying to show us a good time, he almost always flakes. He´s either too late that we miss the whole thing or he just bails with some excuse. Typical. BUT we all love Gabriel because he´s so funny. Supposedly the "marketing manager" for CNA, he typically hangs out at the school, chats with the secretaries, plays on facebook and cuts paper (we think they´re fliers but we have no idea). He´s also always available for advice and help with things. Gabriel is kind of like our life-in-Brazil secretary, always checking soccer game dates or where we can go dancing.
  * Rogeria is the janitor/cleaning lady/maid person of the school but basically she´s like the mom of CNA. She is adorable. First of all, she has already cooked us two great meals from home and brought them to us (typical Brazilian dish, feijoada and a good pea soup). She heats up my rice and beans while Im in class so I can eat on my break. And she gives me the funniest look when I eat everything with hot sauce (she thinks Im crazy). Even though she works in an English school, she doesnt know one word and it´s always fun trying to conversate in Portuguese.

According to my dad, I have negative blogs (I told him he´s never been to a 3rd world Latin country) so this is just a little taste of the GOOD things I have here in Brazil. Besides Ricardo, I´ve met some great people and I appreciate their company. Being so far from home and missing firends and family, it´s nice to not feel alone.