One Week

I can't believe we have been here ONE WEEK! In some ways it seems like we have been here forever and in other ways it still feels like we just got here.
At dinner tonight we were talking about it and this is what everyone reported it feels like.
Eliza -3 days
Gretta- forever
Eric- A long time

I drove Eric to work today so I could practice. I missed the first right turn back home. I was suppose to turn before the gas station not after. I was in front of the gas station and realized that the next road was a one way the wrong way. I made an executive decision to turn into the gas station and turn around. Luckily all the pumps weren't full, but I am sure the station attendants couldn't figure out what I was doing. Luckily I made it safely home:) Eric rode a bike home from work last night. I guess there are these free bikes you pick up at a station. There is one out front of his office building and then one around the corner from our house. If you don't have the bike for more than 30 mins it's free. The traffic coming home at night is so bad that riding the bike home is much faster. Now he just needs a helmet and vest, so he doesn't get killed by the crazy drivers.

Carli is being a little crazy. We went on a walk and to get some groceries and she has decided she doesn't like being in the stroller much. She was standing up in the stroller still strapped in by the time we got to the store. I am sure people on the road thought I was crazy. Then when we went to the playroom after we got home anytime one of the kids would start playing with something new she decided she needed to play with it. Usually the nannies are pretty nice to her about it, but today there was another mom there and she was not amused. Then Carli hit one of the girls, so we left. I need to find some activities for her. We are thinking of putting in her Eliza's school two days a week, just to give her something to do and to give me a bit of a break. I am pretty tired. If she could play nicely with the other little kids in the condo complex it wouldn't be that bad, but she is really aggressive. This was a problem at home too and I am not quite sure what to do about it.

Eliza loves school and seems really happy. Today they had swimming class. They rode a bus somewhere that has an indoor pool. She said they had a lesson and then had free swim time. She thought it was funny the boys wear different kind of swim suits here than at home (speedos). She also had art at school which she really enjoyed!! She continues to say she likes the food at snack and lunch which makes me thrilled since she is such a picky eater at home. I am pretty sure she gets well feed at school because all she has wanted the last week for dinner is toast with butter on it.

Gretta reported having a good day when I picked her up from the bus, but the whole day wasn't as good for her. She had an ear infection when we first arrived from a cold she had, and has been having ear drainage and getting ear drops, so she hasn't been wearing her hearing aids. This morning she asked to wear them because she thought it might help her understand everyone better. Well around 1:30 I got a call from school. The secretary doesn't speak any English, so she put Gretta on the phone. Gretta was crying and told me she wanted to come home and she didn't want to talk about it. I was debating what to do. Carli was already down for her nap and I drove Eric to work today, so I could drive and pick her up, but I have only driven with Eric to the school once and he had to break some major traffic laws to get there, because we couldn't figure out how to do it the right way, so I wasn't sure driving was a good idea. Then I thought maybe Eric should take a taxi and go get her since Carli was sleeping, or I was going to leave Carli asleep and walk to the school. I know how to walk there and I decided that would be the fastest especially if I left Carli sleeping. I figured Carli has been sleeping well past 4pm, and she would be safe here. (I will do a whole other post on the Fort Knox Security of this place later.) But then i thought twice about that plan and called Eric. First on the cell phone, but for some reason it didn't work. Then at his desk. Luckily he was there because it was lunch time. He said he would call the school back and figure out what was going on. I guess some kids were just asking about her hearing aids, but because she couldn't understand them she thought they were picking on her. She ended up staying which was good because in the afternoon they had Pajama day and got popcorn and chocolate for a snack. She has been super brave about this whole experience. I am really proud of her. She also come home with an invitation to a birthday party for a girl in her class next week. They are going to take all the kids by bus to the party place after school and then I need to pick her up at 6:30. I have heard birthday parties are big deals down here. The place is called something like " ultimate mega party". So she is super excited. 

Eric says that work is going well. We still have a few things left to do to get settled like get our CPF number so we can set up a bank account, get the internet on Eric's cell phone working, so I have a phone when I leave the house with google maps, and we are hiring a 2 day a week maid. There is a lady from church who has been looking for more work. She currently works for another family at church 2 days a week. I am just to tired to mop the floors, and wipe down the bathrooms everyday. That's just about what has to happen everyday just to keep the black dust on the floors under control and the mold out of the bathrooms. Work won't pay for a maid, but luckily it's not super expensive and I am glad we can help someone for church who needs work and I it helps me too. I am already so tired and just doing little things like walking to the store are pretty exhausting. I am sure it's only going to get worse and I last think I want to do is end up on bed rest in Brazil!
The other good news is I joined the newcomers club so hopefully I can make some new friends:)