reentry

So we’re back. What has struck me is how seamless the transition has been so far, even though we’re living with my in-laws until we get our own house back on July 1. The boys have been happy to spend their days playing board games and soccer, drawing, hanging out in the tree house my dad built for them, and torturing their uncles.

And Dan and I have been reveling in how easy things are here. Grocery shopping is no longer a brutal one-man operation that can only occur at 6 am on Saturday. The layout of the kitchen makes it possible to cook dinner and watch the baby at the same time.

We’ve been to the park and the library multiple times already.

And we bought a minivan.

If we’re going to live in the suburbs, might as well embrace it, right?

I hope this blog will continue to serve the same purpose it did while we were in Brazil (in addition to alienating previously friendly neighbors and making my students flammable, as one claimed I had done).

The purpose I’m referring to is making me see things as worthy of writing down. Noticing amusing incongruencies and small moments of grace. Looking at my surroundings with the easily surprised, delighted, and indignant eyes of a stranger in a strange land.

It’s almost as if we never left. Which makes me that much more grateful that we did.

in response

We finally arrived back in PA, after 27 hours of travel, one canceled flight, and numerous acrobatic diaper changes in the airplane. I'll post later about the tearful goodbyes, and how they made me reflect back on all the wonderful experiences of this past year.

First, though, I need to address an issue that has suddenly arisen. Apparently, some students from the school where we were working found my blog, one previous post in particular.

I was flooded with responses, some thoughtful, others so vile and ad hominem that I had to delete them.

At the time that I wrote the post, in August, I didn't really know the students at all yet. I was simply recording my generalized impressions about Brazil for my vast readership (composed mostly of my mom and a few friends in the States).

In the intervening time, I've come to know that this senior class includes some of the most generous, intelligent, and socially conscious people I've ever met.

I attended their graduation last week, and was touched by the tributes they paid to their all teachers. I feel lucky to have worked with them and, though as a counselor I spent less time with them than their teachers did, I have forged strong bonds with several of them, too.

As to what I wrote about Brazilian society being less meritocratic than the U.S., is it true? I'm still not sure. I posed it as a question originally, and I still think a case could be made either way.

But to my many detractors who have gotten upset because they thought I was disparaging Brazil, I ask you, how long do you think one must live in a place before she earns the right to criticize it? As an American, I am very interested in foreigners' perspectives of my country (and believe me, would agree with virtually all the negative things they may have to say about it).

To those who somehow took away that I thought the Brazilian medical system was inferior to that of the U.S....uh, no. The fear occasioned by having a deathly ill child in intensified by being in a foreign country, no doubt. But I was impressed with the hospital and many of the doctors that we saw.

And as to the allegation that certain students treat their teachers with a sense of entitlement, I would like to qualify that, while this is by no means the defining characteristic of the relationship between students and teachers at the school, and while the affection between students and teachers is genuine and impressive, it does happen. (As I'm sure it does at wealthy schools in other parts of the world, too.)

I feel privileged to have lived and worked in such a loving and wonderful place, and am grateful for the friendships I've made with neighbors, students, and other teachers.

I welcome you all to visit my blog whenever you want. I appreciate all comments, assenting or contrary (though not negative or obscene ones).

Stay tuned as our family readjusts to life in the good old U.S. of A., where technology is valued over relationships, overconsumption is mind boggling, and apparently it's now illegal to speak any language other than English in Arizona.

To my students, please know that I feel only the deepest affection for all of you.

To those who felt the need to spout off anonymously, not only is this cowardly and immature, but it reflects poorly on your character and mental stability.

To those who wrote me well-considered, signed letters, thank you. I have taken your words to heart.

são joão

Today was the last day of school for the kids. The elementary school does a big party for São João--the children dress up like caipiras (country folk), and do traditional songs and dances and eat traditional São João food (lots of corn dishes).

R. has been practicing his São João song for weeks for anyone who'll listen, and was right up in front doing all the hand motions.

graduation

This morning was E.'s kindergarten graduation.

That's E. in the front, with the long-sleeved shirt on under his robe, looking like he'd rather be having a few teeth pulled. (The ceremony was outside in 85-degree heat, so at least I can say that he's adjusted to the Bahian climate.)

As a proud parent in the audience, I have to say that I would have rather been having teeth pulled, too.

The ceremony started with the kids singing a couple songs. That part was cute. Then the school director gave a speech in English and Portuguese. Then the principal.

Then there was about twenty minutes of a video presentation with bad sound of the kids singing songs.

Then the handing out of certificates, which took another twenty minutes, because they had to pause after each one for the professional photographer to take a picture.

Then the presentation of gifts to the teachers and administrators, which took another twenty minutes.

After a year here (and after attending two other graduations this week, for the 8th and 12th grades), perhaps I should be used to it. The full makeup at 8 am, the thousand-dollar sunglasses, the whole show staged for the sake of the photographers. (None of it actually for the kids themselves, who sat patiently sweltering in their caps and gowns the whole time.)

Maybe I'm feeling particularly uncharitable since I got home at midnight last night from the senior graduation.

But I have to say, I haven't gotten used to it, and I'm relieved to be taking my kids out of this school.

Of course, I haven't been to a kindergarten graduation in the States. Do they even have them? If so, please tell me they're not like this.

busy weekend

This is where Dan spent most of the weekend--in the portaria, or little guard shack of the condominium, watching soccer games.

(Note the sleeping guard behind E.)

Also note here that Dan is sitting beneath a sign that says that it is absolutely forbidden for residents to hang out at the portaria or fraternize with the guards, as it keeps them from doing their job.

On Sunday afternoon, everyone took a break from the World Cup for a few hours to put on us a goodbye party. Friends from school and from the condominium threw one final churrasco for us.


And, happy as we are to be going home, it was still bittersweet.

Of everyone in the family, R. probably had the hardest time adjusting to Brazil. Maybe he doesn't do so well with change. He's definitely a sensitive soul.

We're gearing up for another big transition, though.

This morning he said to me, "We started Brazil. Why can't we stay?"

packing up

As the day of our departure draws nigh, it seems the older boys are picking up some of our stray energy. (They always do, don't they?) Excitement, anxiety, anticipation...

It's interesting to see how they manifest it.

R. retreats to irrational behavior (more irrational than usual, I should say). He does this really annoying thing where he shrieks when something happens that he doesn't like, which is approximately every 29 seconds.

E., on the other hand, sat down yesterday with his kindergarten math workbook (which was empty, since I never encouraged him to do homework. It seems excessive for a 6-year old, especially after an 8-hour school day, no?).


Anyway, he sat at the table for three hours straight, and finished the entire year's worth of math.

I guess in the face of transition, some shriek and flail, some do math homework.


And some just climb into the suitcase and get on with it.

walking

Ju has been wanting to walk everywhere.

He still needs a hand, but as R. exclaimed, above, "He's just like a person now!"