Friday, August 17, 2012

If I am still in the Americas, why can't I buy cheddar cheese?!

Well, I knew that moving to a foreign country would be an adjustment, but I had no idea...

My husband is a professor of Special Education at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. It's a small town, very sheltered, very American. When the opportunity arose to take a year sabbatical in Brazil (one year away from Tom's normal duties as professor), we thought, "Why not?" I mean, we have 4 young children ages 14, 10, 8, and almost 6; this is the perfect time to move, to see a little more of the world, to teach our children to appreciate all the abundance they have...right?! Even now, reading the words that I type, I'm thinking, "yeah, another opportunity like this will never come around again--go for it!"

Reality is setting in fast. Now don't get me wrong...I still know somewhere deep, deep, DEEP down inside that this is a fantastic opportunity. I'm just thinking, "Why does it have to be so haaaard?!!!" (Is the whine coming through in this font?) Everything is so different here--it's almost as if we moved to a foreign country! Wait...oh yeah...I'm not in Kansas anymore.

I think the difficulty started when we began trying to pack up our lives in 12 suitcases. I mean, what do you bring when you are moving away for a year? What can you not possibly live without? Simplifying is one thing, but going without the basic essentials is just crazy. The problem is, I am just now (after one week) realizing what is "essential" for our family, i.e. peanut butter, syrup, a garbage disposal (can you pack that?) This spoiled American is learning a few lessons already about doing without. And like any true- blue- blooded  spoiled American, I'm doing it with a lot of kicking and screaming!

We arrived to our destination-Sao Carlos, Brazil (it has a little squiggly above the a in Sao, but I can't figure out how to insert it...sorry) tired, but in pretty good shape. Some of the post doc students were here at the house to welcome us with a beautiful housewarming fruit basket:
 

 

You can't get most of that in the states! I mean, what the heck are those salmon colored things on the top?! It looks like something out of a movie. Apparently it grows on trees here...Actually, it's cashew fruit, and it's pretty good made into juice. The little cashew nut is on the top. And I always thought cashews came from the store. Weird.

Our house is very big and very nice. With the exception of the dirt floors and seat-less toilets. Let me explain...Apparently it is not uncommon for everything that is not bolted down to be removed from the house upon leaving. I was prepared for no appliances in the kitchen (I do watch House Hunters International) it just never really crossed my mind that someone would take the toilet seats. No problem. We can remedy that. As for the dirt floors...there is beautiful tile and wood under the dirt, your feet just don't come into contact with it. The house had just been cleaned by a professional-- that we payed for(!), so we began to complain (whiny Americans!) about our feet being black after a few hours of walking around indoors. We were then kindly informed that the floors are impossible to keep clean because the windows and doors are left open all day (air conditioning) and it is very dusty. It's a reddish/brown dust if you want to know. Everyone in Brazil wears shoes in the house; usually a special pair of house slippers to keep their feet clean. I smile when I think of all my neighbors back home who want everyone to remove their shoes upon entering the house to keep the FLOOR clean. ----hehe----we've had it backwards all these years!

The grocery store is a whole new adventure (this is how I have ALWAYS chosen to look at it...I NEVER complained about the selection!) For someone who is used to buying flour in 25 pound bags, the tiny 1 kilo bags were a bit of a shock. (Can I get one batch of pancakes out of this bag, or should I buy 2? oh, wait...there's no such thing as syrup here. Never mind.) I did actually find peanut butter in a tiny 3 serving size container for about $2.00 (US), but it tastes, of all things, like mashed up peanuts! Where is the sugar, the high fructose corn syrup, the wholesome additives and preservatives?! My kids won't eat it-and peanut butter is a staple at our house! That's it! Tom--I'm going home!!! (that was the first of my many melt-downs). In fact, I had a melt down in the store just today as I struggled to think of ONE meal that I know how to make that I can find all the ingredients for. This occurred while I waited for the hamburger to be ground. That's right, you pick a slab of meat hanging on a hook and they grind it up for you right there. Now, that's fresh! Actually, it made very good hamburgers which EVERYONE ate with high compliments! (even if there is no cheddar cheese)

16 comments:

  1. This is going to be great! Your a great writer and you have great material! I can't wait for more. Send me an address and I'll send you mapleine to make your own syrup and maybe peanut butter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha! we actually brought a bottle of mapleline--1 bottle?! What were we thinking?! The problem is, there is no karo syrup to make it thick like we are used to...I know- we're discusting! They actually loved it! We will have pancakes everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner...at least until that 1 bottle runs out...

      Delete
  2. Love this update Kathy. I think you are allowed a couple of melt downs. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks Kathryn! I can't believe how therapeutic it is to write it all down. It really is the experience of a lifetime...intermingled with a few good nervous break downs!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I so needed a good laugh!!! You are a great writer, I can totally picture you standing in front of me. I thought going grocery shopping here was bad but we do have peanut butter. It will get easier, probably by the time your ready to come home:). I was just in UT, it was sad to see your house and know I couldn't come visit. Send me your address. Be nice to Tom, he loves you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh Kathy!!! I can so relate and I have to say now being back in Logan I want to pick that fresh slab of meat and have it ground even if it is hard to communicate it and I want the fresh fruit and veggies even if I don't know what it is!!! I even want the dirty floor right now!!! I am SO envious of you right now. It is hard and will get harder before it gets better but you and your family will have SUCH amazing memories. You can do it xoxoxox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Deb! I'm counting on it getting better! If it doesn't, I'm coming for you!!! haha

      Delete
    2. My bags will be packed and waiting for you to come get me!!! :-) But, it will get better....

      Delete
  6. Kathy!! I love reading about your experiences.You need to print them all and keep a journal for after you come home. It will give you lots to laugh about ~ later:) Hang in there and we miss you!

    ReplyDelete
  7. love it! we were just chatting last sunday with our friends who did post doc in Israel, we just seethed with envy and now again reading this I am am jealous as possible. I spent a summer in Korea and remember the "house slippers". Wish we could come visit, can't wait for your updates! hang in there! you can do hard things! you are amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love that you house came with no toilet seats. You can bring those back to Utah as your souviner from Brazil. It sounds like things are slowly coming together for you all.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's true! :) I miss it so much even though you do have to wear shoes at all hours except in bed. Please remember to wear flip flops in the shower too! Sounds weird but you don't want to know what can happen if you don't. :) If you're lucky you might find a dominoes nearby. If you do ask for extra sauce on your pizza. It's expensive, but worth every penny if you want a good pizza. Maybe I need to write you a letter. There are adjustments, but there is so much I miss. And you can always count on mcdonalds to taste the same. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True about the McDonald's. I just can't swallow the fact that 4 chicken nuggets cost $8 (U.S.)! I'm greedy AND stingy! A true American! haha!

      Delete
  10. Hello! I stumbled across your blog via the help of a family member (Look Kristen, another american in Brazil!) haha
    I moved to Sao Carlos from Oklahoma 4 months ago with my husband! And I'm also struggling with life without cheddar cheese! Small world right? Hope you are enjoying yourself here!
    -Kristen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, Kristen! It is a small world! I thought I was the only American in the entire country!! haha
      What are you doing in Sao Carlos? How has your experience been so far? Are you learning the language? I would love to hear more from you. My email address is: kathyhigbee@msn.com
      Good luck to you!
      -Kathy

      Delete