Guarujá

I spent this past weekend on a beach in thr city of Guarujâ. Lucy has a very wealthy older cousin who lives in Sâo Paulo city who owns an apartment (four bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, complete kitchen, dining and living space, with laundry area and balcony facing the Atlantic) there. I met the man, Lionz, the owner, one time at the wedding I went to with my first host family in the big city. The day after the wedding my host parents and I had Lunch with him and some other cool looking family members. After dinner I gave a little concert and after my performance of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" the man extended an invite for me to encounter his other homes. One in Guarujâ and the other in Florida..I think Orlando.
My weekend was perfect all except for me stepping on a crab...which isnt even all that bad because it makes for a good story. The beautiful apartment was only steps from the beach...where I spent most of the my time with my family. For the first time in my life I body surfed waves and watched actualy surfers do their work. I was served coconut water from a man with a corn and coconut stand. Everyday our chairs and umbrella would be set up next to his stand and I would watched him vigorusly hack open the coconuts with a two foot long machete knife...thinking..this would so not happen in the states. I averaged about two coconuts a day...after drinking teh water sometimes I would have the man with the large knife chop it open and carve out the coconut meat for me to eat. I had to pull my mind away from the situation to realize that it was happening. Although the apartment had four more beds than we needed, I chose to spend to of the nights on a couch. Why you may ask. The apartments living area had a huge glass door that we kept open at night, that faced out towards the oceas capturing a majestic panorama. When the ocean breaze and song wasnt rocking me to sleep, I could simply open my eyes and witness something more beautiful than dreams.
Sometimes all the new things are overwhelming and it takes a while for me to realize the situations I am in, the beauty in front of me. I feel like I've been on a vacation for the past three months. Its all gone by so fast. Its another seven months until I go home, but its already going by too fast. I feel like I do not have time to recongize all the things I am learing...they're just coming...like all these wrapped gifts are flying at me and I am grabbing them...but they wont stop coming so I have to wait to open them.

Things I've Noticed:
-I saw a group of people outside a Pizzaria eat pizza with gloves
-it's really late and I should sleep

Update

Hard to believe its been over a month since my last post. Time flies here.

Since I last wrote I have performed in the play "Palavra Crusadas" two times. My performance simply consists of singing a few verses of Bob Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind" while my friend Vini plays guitar. The performances are not yet over. The cast is expected to have another show in Sâo Paulo. A lady who attended one of the previous performances saw the play and liked it so much she wanted to bring in to the big city.

I have traveled to my host family's farm in the state of Moto Grosso...a short 18 hour drive from Piracicaba. On the farm I experienced many new things. I herded cattle, ate from the adundant fruit trees, kind of helped with cow stuff...I dont know..Swam in the river on the farm, swam in two different natural hot springs..it was great. I never like living out of a suit case though...so it was great to be home after a week.

My Portuguese is coming along. The 22nd of this month will be my 3rd month here and they say after three most people are fluent. I haven''t dreamed in Portuguese yet...but when I do I am going to write about the dream here.

Things I've Noticed:
-Milk comes in square cartons that are not refridgerated until opened.
-People to not drink from tap...everyone has the upside-down water jug things
-I havent been to a house that has carpet
-guitar is a very popular instrument..many young people play
-Music is huge here. That had a concert at school where a bunch of local bands and talents performed