Catching up and Slowing Down

Flamboyant is straight ahead! 

Just a funny sign I saw in my neighborhood to get this post going.  Notice that it is nice and sunny out and there is a palm like tree on my right... it is SUMMER here in Brazil in case you forgot I am in the Southern Hemisphere.

So my last post was a bit sad, I know that.  For anyone who has lived abroad for a long time you probably can relate to a lot of what I was/am feeling regarding loosing myself and my personality.  Each day is different, some days are awesome and some days aren't.  In 8 months when I am packing up to head on to the next adventure - I'm sure Brazil will have a very special place in my heart.  Until then I suppose!!

So first funny story to share with everyone is the awesome story of how my electricity got cut.  My first experience living in my own apartment, on my own, with my real job in Chicago started out a bit dark.  For the first 2 weeks Mark and I lived in our cute little apartment in Wrigglyville, we had no electricity.  We created a web of extension cords that ran through the apartment to numerous lamps to give us some light.  The best part was when we had to carry a floor lamp into the tiny bathroom with us so we could see what we were doing.  Ahh good times.

In my naivete I thought that must be the only time I will ever live without electricity (excluding power outages and voluntary trips to 3rd world nations and camping).  I was wrong.  I came home from work last week to a dark apartment.  No electricity.  What?!?  I am confused.  There were lights in the hallway and the reception, why is there no light in my apartment?  I scurry downstairs where I give a puppy dog sad face to the front desk person who knows exactly why I am there.  He holds up a piece of paper and says "corta de energia"  Cut the energy.  Umm - yes, I can see that but why?  

You haven't paid your electricity bill in 3 months.

My electricity bill??  You mean the stack of 3 months of bills you gave me 3 days ago, on a Saturday?  Those bills?  The ones I had 1 day to pay (Received on Saturday afternoon, cannot pay anything on Sunday, Monday is the only day, Tuesday electricity is cut)

I get upset but know it isn't this nice young man's fault so I ask to talk to someone who can help me. He calls the manager of the hotel.  Our conversation goes something like this (he speaks English):

A: "Hi Douglas, it's Allison.  I don't have electricity."

D: "Yes Allison, I told you you must pay the bills or else they will cut your electricity."
A: "Yes, well I need to receive those bills to pay them and my company has them now and will pay them ASAP.  What can we do today to get me energy"

D: "You must pay your bills.  After 5 hours you will have energy.  There are no other options."

A: "I cannot pay these bills today Douglas.  So that is not an option.  What is another solution?"

D: "I told you, the only solution is for you to pay.  I cannot help you.  I cannot manage your apartment Allison."

A: "Isn't your job building manager? Don't you get paid to manage my apartment?  Can't you just give me keys to another room for the night?"  (I live in a long term hotel-esq set up)

D: "I cannot help you.  You must pay the bill.  Call the owner of the apartment.  I cannot help you."

(I am livid at this point)

A: "Fine.  What is his number?  I will call him."

D: "Pass the phone to the receptionist person.  You must pay.  I cannot help you.  I don't understand my job title or responsibilities.  I will continue to yell at you and be unhelpful - GRRRR"

A:  "FINE!"

I am now crying because I hate confrontation. I am on my phone calling my secretary, my manager, and my plant manager to figure out what to do.  Thankfully Unilever is an organization filled with highly talented, and problem solving people who care about other people.  They sorted it out.  Of course this was not until I grab the information from the receptionist and scream.

"FUCK.  I HATE THIS GOD DAMN COUNTRY!"

True awesome American right here... Sorry fellow Americans for being such a poor example of who we really are... They just pushed me over the edge. 

Here was the great - other apartment I ended up sleeping in

Yes, that is an orange couch.  You cannot see them, but it was pretty stained.

The bar stools match the sofa!

Ok - enough grumpy stuff - on to THANKSGIVING! 

I wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving despite not having the opportunity to be with my amazing family back in the US.  Fortunately for me I have a small yet very awesome group of friends here in Brazil who were willing to celebrate with me.  We made turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a pumpkin pie.  Everything turned out SO good!!  I was very proud of my first attempt at a Thanksgiving feast!

Sandra and I went grocery shopping for all the ingredients where I found this.  Spray-able liquid salt.  Lacy Morris, this is for you to compliment your spray butter popcorn!

The Feast!!  It was such good turkey.  And the salad has palm hearts in it which are really good!

Camila, Carolina, me, and Sandra after enjoying our meal!

Carol, Kaka, Camila, and Sandra all digging into the pumpkin pie!  Notice how they all have saved the point?  Yes, the Smith family tradition migrates to Brazil!

Doesn't it look amazing?  Oh and it was!!

After dinner we all jammed out to Guitar Hero for a while until the food coma set in (or maybe wine coma) and we finally called it a night!

This year I am thankful for sooo soo many things namely:

• A family that supports me in all my endeavors no matter where I am or what I am doing.
• My amazing friends from NYC, Chicago, India, Ecuador, CO, and Purdue who keep me laughing, keep me grounded, and keep me dreaming dreams that are too big for just one person
• The opportunity to work internationally fulfiling a dream I've had for a long time including the chance to become bilingual
• My health and my body who hasn't let me down in anything I've wanted to do. 
• My new small family of friends here in Brazil who have to put up with the Allison that breaks down all the time and gets frustrated and irritated

Life really is pretty amazing, even down here on the other side of the world.  Life is good.