Finally an english movie

I cannot believe I will be 30 weeks pregnant this week, only 10 weeks to go (give or take). It takes so long to make a baby, I am looking forward to the day when I get to hold the baby in my arms. The baby is very active at the moment and over the past week I have been able to feel the baby hiccup. The baby's head has gone down ready for a natural birth and at the last check up with Dr. Holland on the 18th January the baby was 38 cm long and weighed 1.357 kg. I have entered my last trimester and all that is left to do now prepare the lungs for air and fatten up the baby before it comes out.

It is unreal the love that I feel for this little girl/boy already, and I have not even met it face to face. I have been on my own for so long now, only recently married thinking for 2 but that is not so hard as we are both adults and quite independent but now a little who will be completely dependent on Andre and I. It's hard to imagine what life will be like when the baby comes along. Many questions run through my head; will I be a good mother? will I ever get any sleep? I guess only time will tell.

I try to be good and do exercise most days, since Andre started working we have not been for a walk in a long time and I miss it. I do my squats in the swimming pool, there is nothing better than a swim in the pool to revive me and make me feel alive. I am at my most happiest in the water, must be because I am a pisces and I think better in the water too. I need water around me so if it is not a pool than I need the ocean near me always.

I have been here in Rondonopolis for almost 3 months, my time here has gone fast. Andre and I have brought a house on a closed estate, the house is nothing special but it is ours. I have been longing for a home for some time. The 2 bedroom house is the perfect size and it will be fun decorating the house with colour. I know my husband will hate it but bad luck, I cannot live without colour, colour is so exciting and has so much energy. One thing about the estate that has won me over is the common pool and playground, the baby and I will be using these everyday.

A big enough backyard for a couple of raised vegetable patch's, I cannot wait to grow my own tomatoes, basil, parsley, beetroots, strawberries, garlic, spring onions, chilies and maybe even a lemon tree. I look forward to my very own kitchen so I can cook up a storm, I have so many new recipes I want to try. Have a look at me, the house will not even be ready for another year let alone if we live in it at all and I'm going crazy over this house. I can dream, it's what keeps me going.

For now it's living with my inlaw's, well Andre and I have upgraded and moved into the main house as the bungalow was much to small for 3. I like my new room, it has the most beautiful view of Rondonopolis. Most days at about 5:30 pm I sit in my new sugar cane chair (a gift form Andre) and watch the world go by while I wait for my husband to come home form work. It is so peaceful and relaxing.

Andre has been painting the exterior of his mum's school and it looks fantastic, I am so proud of him. The baby and I have our fingers crossed for the job where he is going through the interview process, a graphic designer for a large company. It is exactly what he has studied in Australia and will give him a chance to use his talent and creativity. He has had 2 interviews already and one more to go.

I finally got to go to the cinema tonight, there have not been any english movies for a month and a half now. Gra, Andre and I watched "Couples Retreat", very humorous. We ate out before the movie and tonight I had the chicken fillet with bacon burger from the "Pantenal Grill" oh it was so good, I devoured it in no time at all. Avatar was the last movie Andre and I watched and it had to be the most thrilling and exciting movie I have ever seen. We watch Avatar in Cuiaba before Christmas when we visited Andrea, Paul and the kids, what an amazing cinema. All I can say is keep the english movies coming Rondon Plazs.

My dentist check up

Yesterday morning I had to wake up early, something both the baby and I do not enjoy doing. The baby makes it known by making me feel nauseous but I got up and ate some cereal and granola and Andre and I went to work with Messias. Messias is a Dentist and works at a local public dental surgary where I was going to be a patient today. A colleague of Messias was going to do my check up however I had to wait my turn, 2 patients ahead of me. I usually don't mind waiting for anything but when it comes to doctors and dentists I hate it. The longer I wait the more nervous I grow, the sounds of dental drills buzzing in the back ground uneasing me even more.

I had not seen a dentist in almost 4 years so I was a little concerned at the state of my teeth but I do my best to look after my pearly whites. Finally my turn came so in I went with my personal translator (my husband) and I sat down in the chair. After a thorough inspection most of my teeth were fine, need a few fillings however they would have to wait until after the baby is born. I had one tooth in the top left side which was not fine. The outside of the tooth looked fine but looks can be deceiving I had a crater the size of Wolfe Creek. The entire inside had rotted down to the nerves. This was very serious and the horrored looks from Messias and Andre were not helping.

This tooth needed work immediantly but because I am pregnant they can only clean the tooth and fill it, once the baby is born I will require a root canal. I was given a special local anesthesia made for the pregnant and with blood pressure problems. Needles noooooooo, I closed my eyes and felt the needle enter my back gum. It felt like it went all the way up into my brain it was so long. The anesthesia was released from the needle and dispursed into my muscels, the dentist then slowly removed the needle. I could feel my mouth numbing as soon as the needle was out.

The dentist was preparing the drill for the clean and as he brought it into my eyes sight I could feel my body tense and started to perspire under my arms from nervousness. He mumbled a few words to my translator and Andre said "if you feel any pain slap the dentist in the face" this was no time for humor and followed by "no just raise your hand". The dentist went in and the drill started hissing and buzzing, my breathing irregular, the sound piercing my ears and sending chills down my spine. My body was fully erect and I would not dare move.

I felt some discomfort as he was drilling but I dare not say a word for I do not want any additional needles nor to prolong the drilling. What felt like an eternity of drilling before it finally came to an end and the drill was placed on the tray table. Only then did my body ease, relax, my ears rejoiced at the sound of nothing and my breathing returned to normal. The clean was over now the filling, I could handle this bit not a problem. I was surprised how much filling was required to fill in my Wolfe Creek crater, it just kept coming and coming.

The dentist said "bom" and I knew it was all over so I slowly got up and I was feeling a little dizzy. We went home and I snoozed off the anesthesia, my mouth was a little numb at lunch. To my surprise I could finally eat on the left side of my mouth. There was not sharp pains, nothing, this tooth was the problem all along. It was not the baby's fault as I thought from the start. It was a very rotton tooth. You don't know how happy I am to be able to eat on both sides of my mouth after chewing only on the right for 4 months.

Now I have the nightmare of my root canal to look forward to.

Christmas and New Years

This year is the first time I have spent Christmas and New Years with my husband so I was very excited. In Brazil Christmas is celebrated the night before on Christmas Eve. A late dinner starting at 10:30 pm with all the family and a table full of food. We gather around the table standing, holding hands as a prayer is said by Messias. He says a special prayer for my unborn baby then on to the usual Christmas prayer and everyone joins in. We all tuck in to some amazing food like turkey, farofa with figs and potatoes, salads, rice, palm white sauce, stroganoff and of course Gaurana. The food is delicious and full of flavour so I eat slowly and savor every bit I take. Dessert was pineapple and cocoanut pudding, so light and creamy I had to have seconds.

Fireworks are not illegal in Brazil and all night long you could hear the cracking going off near and far. After dinner I was on skype to my family till 3 am, I talked to Grandma, Daniel, Steven, Helen, Veronica and mum. They all had a lot to say except Veronica which was unusual, she always chewed my ear off in the past but now Helen was the one to do so. I think Veronica is camera shy, prefers to talk to people in the flesh. Christmas day was spent eating left over food and lazing around the house and we all did that with great style.

Between Christmas and New Years was Jerusa's surprise birthday party, she got the surprise of her life alright. Many of her friends come to help set up the backyard and her boyfriend Diego brought her home, she was so embarrassed as she has said all along that she did not want a party but Iracema could not help herself. I experienced my first proper Brazilian BBQ and it was delicious. Meat and sausages cooked over hot coals served with steamed mandioca and vinagerete salad (tomato, onion and green olives diced mixed with red wine vinegar and olive oil). Andre served up a dish for us to share and I ate it all on my own, it was to good to share. The birthday cake was very impressive, chocolate sponge topped with big swirls of chocolate and a sweet cocoanut filling. It taste like a bounty chocolate from back home, mmmmmmm bounty cake.

I met Andre's God Father Matias, a very tall, friendly man with a deep voice. Andre joked around with him saying that he came to Jerusa's birthday party and Andre did not even get a call from him on his birthday the week before. I also met his wife and very tall son to, Neia, Matias's wife use to be Miss Rondonopolis in her younger days, although a larger lady now she has so much life in her, she is lovely. Jerusa had a skirt on hold in a shop which she went to pick up earlier in the day, it was not there and she was very upset it was sold on her. As it turns out Diego had purchased it earlier to give to her as a surprise. Jerusa had to go back to the shop the following day to appologise to the shop assistant for being so rude. It turned out to be a good night.

New Years Eve was spent at the local country club with the Peixoto family, a great buffet and live music. Iracema curled my hair for the occassion and Jerusa did my make up. The entrence to the country club was impressive with fruit and flowers everywhere, I felt like I was in Eden. The funtion was held in a large room and white was the colour of the night, in Brazil most people wear white to bring in the new year. The band was pretty good but the speakers were much to load to enjoy the music properly. The food did not dissapoint, I could have easily gone for seconds but I wanted to enjoy the night and not nurse a sore belly.

Just before middnight Andre and I went out onto the belcony to watch the fire works, it was beautiful but I think the pirotechicians had some trouble with fire works going off on the ground, all the piros dipursed running for their lives at one point. It was quite amusing to watch. I shared new years with my husband and my unborn baby, our whole family was there, what more could I want, a shower of fireworks. Andre and I danced later in the evening, it was lovely as I have not danced with him in two years. As we left for the night we all grabbed handfulls of fruits including a whole watermelon. A good night was had by all.

How Andre and I met

Friday 21st December 2007, I was living in London about to finish work at ISS Eaton. I felt tired and I was not sure if I would have the energy for a night on the town with the girls. I spoke to Harp over the phone and she convinced me to go but I told her I would catch the last train home. I met up with Harp after work and went back to her house for dinner and for Harp to get ready. Our next destination was Covent Garden. Covent Garden Market is beautiful, it is in the heart of London and a popular local and tourist spot. There are market stalls, restaurants, pubs, and even a night club called "Road House" where most of my evening will take place. Harp and I met up with a Polish friend of hers who works at the market and went to line up to get into the "Road House".

We did not have to wait long before we got in, we walked down a flight of stairs as the bar was underground. It was a big club and packed with people drinking, socializing and dancing. It was an American style bar with vintage motorbikes and cars displayed above the many bars, there where booths where you could order food. The club was split level with one big main bar area raised in the center of the club and you step down a meter of stairs to get to the dance floor. We left our jackets in the cloak room and ventured out to explore the club. Wasn't long before Harp was at the bar buying a round, beer for me and we cheered to a girls night out.

The DJ was pumping out classic house tunes that made my body want to scream with joy so we danced, and danced and danced some more. There was an annoying young guy who kept pestering me telling me how beautiful I was, blah, blah, blah. Every time he walk past me he tried to get a dance and eventually my number so I gave it to him and said "we'll catch up some time" then he left me alone. I was having such a blast that I didn't care if I missed the last train home, I didn't want this night to end. I shouted a round of drinks with my remaining £20 and I was on the water after that. Later in the evening the girls lashed me for men, so much for a girls night out. I stood at the main bar watching everyone dancing, drinking my water till my glass was empty and went for a refill.

I walked past a guy and he stopped me to say hello, we talked and he introduced me to his friends, they all seemed lovely then I proceeded to the bar. The guy came up beside me and asked what I was drinking and I told him "Water", he didn't believe me so I gave him a sip of my water. I walked over to the edge of the bar to watch the dance floor and the guy walked over with me and asked me "who are you here with"?. I embarrassingly pointed to Harp who was trying to be sexy leaning backwards over the balustrade. He asked me for a dance, how could I refuse. We danced for a couple up tempo songs, he knew how to move, he spun me around and we danced close to each other. It felt nice to be held by a man. He made his move and kissed me, I closed my eyes and I felt fire works exploding inside me.

It wasn't long before the girls were hounding me to go home so I exchanged numbers, kissed one last time before I began my long tedious journey home to Barnes. Three buses and three hours later I was home in my warm bed. I woke up with a smile on my face, thinking what a lovely night I had. That afternoon I got a call, "do you know who this is"? I had forgotten his name so I replied "yes of course the Brazilian guy I met last night" we arranged to meet on Thursday night at Baker Street station.

Thursday came and I was at Baker Street station waiting for my man to meet me, from around the corner came the young annoying guy from Road House and I said "Hi, what are you doing here" his face went white and I realized he was he was also Brazilian and I thought "oh no, your the wrong guy". Did I just say that out loud? He mumbled something and began to walk away. Oh my god, I did say that out loud. I ran after him and I apologised and said "I think we both need a drink" so we shared a drink and talked and it was an early night for me. As soon as I got home I rummaged through my phone to find the other Brazilian guys number and messaged him " What you doing"? a few short messages were sent back and forth and I was invited to a birthday party by the right guy this time.

The 5th of January came and I ventured over to Steatham to the birthday party, I was so nervous especially after what happened the pervious week and I still did not know this guys name. He was there when I arrived and I was introduced to everyone at the party and desperately waiting for someone to call this guys name out, I was to embarrassed to ask for his name now. I spoke to a another friendly guy and he asked how I know the Brazilians and I told him "I met them all at Road House a couple of weeks back" and then I hear an "Andre" and my man answers, yes I have his name. Andre came back with a beer for me, I was so happy to know his name. I ended up staying the night and when Andre and I were alone he asked me "will you be my girlfriend", I smiled and replied "yes".

22 Week check up

Andre and I went for my 22 week check up with my Brazilian obstetrician, Dr Holland on Tuesday this week. It's always nice to see my doctor, I feel safe with him. He does his own ultra sound consultations so everything displayed on the screen is explained thoroughly. Unlike the rude ultra sound technician we encountered in Williamstown hospital, he did not say a word to us and when we asked questions he answered "it's not my job to comment you have to speak to your doctor". Later when we returned to see my obstetrician at the time Dr How, said "I am not an ultra sound technician, I don't do his job".

Dr. Holland spent an hour and a half with us and checked all the baby's bones, brain, internal organs, sexual organs, umbilical cord, placenta and blood pressure for both baby and I. He measured everything and all that I could understand was perfect, it is so good to hear a professional reassure you that your baby is growing perfect and dispels any fears I have. He explained the natural birthing procedure to Andre and he then relayed onto me in English. So long as the baby dose not grow to big and there are no complications there will be no problems having a natural birth. I feel quite opposed to caesarian sections because it is a major operation however if is is necessary I would not argue with the doctor.

Andre and I try to imagine what our baby will look like, will it have my eyes? Andre's nose? my athlete body? Andre's brains?
I still don't know the sex of the baby, just happy to know that the baby is strong and healthy unlike the rest of the family. They hound me every time I have a doctors appointment "what sex is the baby" and I always reply "I don't know and I'll tell you when the baby is born" Graziela thinks it's a boy, Jerusa and Iracema want me to have a girl so they can dress her up and put bows in her hair.

My boobs have grown more, they are nice to look at however I don't know how women live with them. They get in the way and they jiggle all over the place when ever I do any form of exercise. Well I am stuck with them now so best I get use to them. 22 weeks in and no signs of stretch marks, I rub oil into my tummy, boobs, hips and thighs every night. Blood tests and needles are the only thing I have cringed at so far. There has to be a better way to remove blood, I cannot stand the pain or the sight of the needle penetrating my skin then vein. What's worse is when the nurse misses the vein altogether and has to try again on the opposite arm.

Being pregnant has had an effect on my dreams, strange and vivid. Every morning I have a new crazy dream to tell Andre. My cravings are changing, in the beginning all I craved was salty/savory foods. Now halfway into my pregnancy and I am starting to crave sweets, cakes in particular. I still off chocolate and candy. I had a craving a week ago for pancakes so Andre took me to "Krepes" a local pancake restaurant. There I came across main meal savory pancakes, you choose the filling and sauce topping. Sweet filled craps on a stick is new for me, I gave it a go and I loved it. I will be back for more.

Andre love my new baby body, he is always complementing how beautiful I grow everyday. If Andre got his way I would be pregnant for the rest of my child bearing life. Bless him, he is so sweet but that's why I married him.

Christmas is coming.....

The countdown is on...15 days till Christmas Day. I have not been caught up in the Christmas fever this year so far, I have no work Christmas party to go to because I don’t work anymore. No money to buy christmas presents so I cannot go crazy shopping for gifts. At least Andre’s mother has made an effort, she is spreading her christmas cheer. She has decorated the house from top to bottom and inside out. It looks beautiful, there are santa’s hanging from light fixtures and the balcony. Christmas lights decorate the front of the house and looks magical at night. Christmas ornaments, fake plants, ribbons, you name it, it’s all here.

I am starting to miss home a little, most Christmas’s are spent with my family but not this year. It will be spent with my new family, my husband’s family. Brazilians are big Catholic followers, especially Andre’s family so I think Christmas day will be celebrated in grand style. I feel awful that I cannot buy presents due to lack of funds so instead I will contribute by making a Christmas cheese cake for all to indulge.

Iracema is very busy this time of the year at her school, winding the year to an end. This means late nights at work, Graziela and Diego have been burning the candle at both ends as well with no extra pay. Jerusa could not care less about staying behind, she is home most nights on time. I am looking forward to get back into work, even if it is casual. I may be working at the local English school next year. I am starting to get a bit nutty, I spend nearly every waking hour in the house. I need to see new surroundings to stimulate my brain.

I miss blueberries but I have found a replacement....açaí berries, a Brazilian super fruit. Most commonly eaten frozen then blended with granola sprinkled on top. I love a half bend of açaí and half frozen peaches topped with granola. Açaí is packed with Vitamins B1, C, E, fiber, proteins, potassium, calcium and antioxidants. Brazilian Athletes always eat açaí and hour before their events and it gives them the energy to perform their best. I am no athlete however I am pregnant and tire very easily and açaí gives me a boost.

“Oranges” are not actually orange in Brazil, when an orange is ripe the skin is green and the flesh is yellow. How can you call this orange an orange in Brasil? “Lemons” have green skins and green flesh, they look like over grown limes. In the supermarkets they sell tiny “quail eggs”, they are so cute and are used boiled in salads. They are the perfect size to fit in your mouth. Brazilians also love “farofa”, it’s bread crumbs fried with oil, onion, dried meat and eaten as a side dish or sprinkled on top of salads/beans.

People in Rondonopolis love to wear jeans, I honestly don’t get it. It is so hot and humid and everywhere I look everyone is wearing jeans. They wear jeans to work and out on the town. The shops have walls and walls of jeans in all shapes and sizes. The women prefer to wear skinny jeans no matter what size they may be and men wear relaxed fit jeans. My brother Daniel always wears jeans so he would fit in just fine here.

Messias is finally home, he arrived at 6 am this morning by taxi from Cuiba. He’s crazy, he spent R$400.00 to get home from the airport. He woke Andre and I up at 7 am this morning and I was not happy Jan. I had not got a lot of sleep as Andre and I spent all night talking again. I stayed up for a bit, it was so good to see him. It’s been a month since I saw him last and now the whole family is home, a full house.

Wrong side of the road

Do you know that Brazilians drive on the wrong side of the road.
It was a little scary for me when I first arrived to Brazil as Andre says it is the right side of the road (literally) but for me it's wrong. As soon a I get into a car, I buckle my seatbelt and hold on for dear life. There are so many motorbikes and scooters here and they swerve in and out of cars, on average there are more motorbikes and scooters per person here in Rondonopolis than anywhere else in Brazil. There are 2 kinds of cars on the roads here, you either drive a big pick up truck or a tiny small car. There is no in between cars and as I learnt the other night motorist do not respect pedestrians, I almost got run over at a pedestrian crossing.

I have tried lots of amazing new drinks and foods, my two favourite drinks are fresh "pineapple with mint" juice and "Guarana Antarctica" soft drink made from the Amazonian berry Guarana and is the second most popular soft drink after coca cola in Brazil. An unusual one I have tried is "cashew juice" from the fruit of South American cashew trees. Some new foods I have tried, "mandioca" a potato like root vegetable eaten steamed or in soups. "Tapioca bread", a white, soft, bread like pancake filled with meats and melted cheeses, I like this one a lot. "Corn ice cream" surprisingly very delicious, "sweet corn cake", "corn pudding" and "creamed corn". There is lots of corn here in Brazil and they have come up with some creative ways to eat it.

From time to time I get sick from new bugs and germs introduced to my body from trying new foods or eating out and it is not fun. When this happens I am usually up all night fighting world war 3 inside me but feel better within 24 hours. This does not stop me from trying new food or eating out. Everyday at midday everyone comes home for lunch and the maid Maria has a feast ready on the table of rice, beans, salad and a different type of meat each day. I look forward to lunch everyday and it is the main meal of the day here in Brazil. Dinner is usually left overs from lunch, if there is any left or toasted sandwiches.

Eating at the local plaza is quite an experience, you take a seat at the table in the food court and waiters from all the food shops come to you with a menu and take your order and deliver the food to your table. Once you have finished they bring you the bill and you pay the waiters. You don't have to queue for your food, you just sit down and enjoy your meal. Here in Rondonopolis you eat or use then you pay later, if you want to hire DVD's, you take them home and watch them once you return them you pay for them. Oh how this privilege could be abused in the wrong hands.

I am a little disappointed with the cinema's here in Brazil. All the blockbuster movies are dubbed in Portuguese and if I'm lucky enough to find a movie in English the sound quality is poor and I struggle to hear anything. They also have purple sweet popcorn and it is not very nice and never go to the movies on a Wednesday here because all the school kids go to the movies to socialise and hang out with friends, very loud and rude. Thankfully the DVD store is my salvation for because all the DVD's are originals (English) so this is a better option than the movies for me and anyway I make the worlds best popcorn. I find myself with a lot of time on my hands so I have been reading, my latest book is "eat, pray, love" I highly recommend it to all the ladies, it's beautiful.

My portuguese is coming along very slowly, the portuguese/english dictionary and phrase book are my best friends. Andre helps me but I find myself just talking in english because it's easy, but a different story with the rest of the family I have to try. My gorgeous sister in law Jerusa always is up for a chat with me and I really enjoy this time with her because she is patience as I flick through the dictionary to find my words. Graziela is moving to England early next year so I try to speak english with her, has a pet name for me already, "bunitinha" and every time she say it to me she squashes my cheeks between her hands which means cutie.

The weather has been crazy but always hot, one minute the sun is shining, the next there are wild wind storms, lightening, thunder and rain. The storms can be very violent with howling winds like out of a horror movie and make a real mess. Thunder so load that it shakes the whole house, I feel so small and powerless compared to the great forces of the almighty mother nature. My favourite time of the day here is at night when all the street lights are on, Rondonopolis looks like a sky full of stars. I sit out on the balcony in a rocking chair and just watch the world go by so calming and relaxing.
Life doesn't get better than this.