portuguese update

Here's a letter that E. decided to write last night to some friends in Brazil (grown-up friends, actually, and their baby, neighbors in our condominium).
It says, in English: Dear Eduardo, Lorena, and Ruda, Everyone here is good. School too. And you? Now I am taking the bus to school. Ju is fine. E.
It's heartening to see that E. still remembers so much. (Especially since he usually refuses to speak Portuguese.) But then, his memory has always been amazing.


R., is even more adamant about not speaking Portuguese. I think he forgets a lot. But he'll still sing along with songs in Portuguese. And watch cartoons in Portuguese (although I have a feeling he would be happy to watch cartoons in Urdu if it meant more screen time).

Ju is picking up more and more words in English, and even--sadly--replacing some of his Portuguese. For example, pa pa (zapato) has become du (shoe). But he does still understand both. And he gets his hour with Estella, a wonderful Brazilian college student who babysits once a week. (Still haven't figured out a way to make it work for the older boys, especially now that E.'s started piano lessons, too.)

What's one to do?

Life goes on.


Everyone's so busy, with all their various interests to keep up with--soccer, music, bike riding, fashion, apples.