Since I arrived here, Bethany has taken me along to a free yoga class in the community center down the street on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. At first it was very hard because
A) I have never done yoga.
and
B) I didnt know a lick of Portuguese.
However I do have a bit of left over athletic ability, so I was able to make it through the class with mild success the first week. Combining that with running and biking and you have the perfect fitness stew for getting my toosh back in shape since I have been here. I apparently impressed the yoga teacher so much that she invited me along with Bethany to a class she holds in a studio at her house on Monday and Friday mornings for free (others pay). American privilege?? Thankfully since we have been doing it for awhile, I can listen to the words the teacher is saying vs. just looking around after she says something, though I also know the routine. Sometimes she will throw a new one at us though, it has definitely been helping with my Portuguese!
The yoga teacher (I am at a loss for her name at the moment) is such a sweet woman and even surprised me with some English words after she found out I spoke it. Apparently she is known as the "dragon" to some of the yoga-attenders at the free class because she can tend to yell when she has to repeat a position 5 times in a row. At some point in her life she suffered a stroke, which paralyzed her right side of her body so her arm is stiff and stuck at her side and her leg works but she cant bend it so her foot drags when she walks so she is not actually able to show the yoga postitions, she sits in front of the class and speaks. I find her utterly fascinating, I can guess her age to be in her 60's, shes a tiny woman with a round face, white hair, and kind eyes. In the studio she has in her home (luckily she lives right down the street from us so it is very easy to get to her house) I found that she is a retired ballerina. She has a case full of certifications and trophy's, and pictures on the wall of her when she was young and vibrant in ballerina poses. To me she is the picture of strength, despite having a stroke she still teaches yoga as well as other ballet classes. On Saturday her group will be dancing in a show that John and Bethany are going to, I on the other hand will be going to Florianopolis (yay!). Though I dearly wish I could see it. The point being, when she was slapped in the face with the hard ramifications of a stroke she didnt give up, she kept going and works so hard at it. I have barely said more than hello or goodbye to this woman but I have much respect for her (minus some weird voodoo-y spiritual-connect- with- the- earth- and- nature-go- towards-the-light things she has gotten into in class).
I will definitely miss this when I am home, though I know yoga classes are easily accessible, yoga was part of my experience here and it wont be the same. However heres to hand stands and shaky positions!
Nama-sh-te.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Everyone likes a little update, right?
So I fully realize I have not posted in quite some time... But heres that update.
In the weeks leading up to the classes beginning in April, we went around to 5 different schools to canvas
and hand out flyers for the English classes. We targeted ages 8-5 years and ended up with 4 students in the morning class and 6 students in the afternoon class all ranging in those ages. The interest was high, but the resulting numbers were at first a surprise. However since this is an attempt at community outreach the numbers arent as important as the churches name getting into the community. With the canvassing alone it doubled the hits on the church website!. The kids are doing quite well, since we are building a foundation for their English learning it can sometimes be slow and tedious. But they are catching on, and with the small numbers Bethany and I can try different games and strategys so it has been a lot of fun!
The Monday classes, the students who come from the public school across the street, have proved to be a challenge. Before I mentioned it was 4-5 year olds which was the age range we had planned on, but it actually turned out to be 5-6 year olds. We have two groups of 6 year olds and one group of 5 year olds in 55 minute intervals that vary between 11-15 students per class. These classes have been difficult to teach as we dont feel comfortable with the typical method of discipline in schools here which is characterized by empty threats and yelling. For obvious reasons, Bethany and I dont believe this is a method conducive to learning and have made efforts to be an example of Christian behavior for these kids. We have spoken with the Director of the public school and have been using different strategies to try and minimize the bad behaviors and covet your prayers in this process. Bethany and I have worked with and spent substancial amount of time with children and both know how a classroom should be run and the biggest problem
seems to be that of respect. When the children dont respect the teachers everything else falls apart and the teaching environment collapses. Though this has been a frustration, we are not ready to give up just yet. Our goal is to not only teach the kids English, but to be an example to them, the teachers and the parents. If absolutely no English is learned, we hope these are the things that stick with them for a long time.
This entire process of starting these English classes has been quite the learning process for me. It has not been easy, but it has been a blessing to learn. I am confident in Gods hand in these classes. His purpose is clear, even if it isnt to us right away. It took me awhile to get homesick but when it hit, it hit hard. Sometimes being around a room filled with different people speaking a language youre unfamiliar with can be hard and very lonely. I have been catching onto the language faster than I had hoped and am getting more brave in my speech and can make simple exchanges, but the frustration is still there. Its not only missing friends and family, but missing familiar things. Even something as simple as understanding and being understood. My prayers have been to stay comfortable and confident in the job that is set before me and to see it out. I would really covet your prayers in these things and that I might be a blessing to John and Bethany in word and deed and I stay adamant in my representation of not only Harvest but the church here as well. Also that I am intentional with my Spiritual health and prayer life and that I am able to be Spiritually fed here. I thank you so much for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers!
Heather
Since I wrote this update to the church, we have been able to try these different strategies with the Monday classes with great success! First, the school has been sending teachers to stay in the church during the classes which helps as a reinforcement for us when we have to correct a child. Another thing we have been trying is splitting the kids up into different groups, especially separating the kids who egg each other on, which has also worked wonders. Our problem now is with the lack of organization at the Public school and we keep getting random kids who havent been coming so they are not up to the understanding the other kids who have been attending the class since the first day. So we slow down a little to help the newer kids, and the other kids get bored and disruptive. Ooph! We will have to see what next week brings, hopefully we can even things out with the kids.
As for the weekly kids, we have been teaching them body parts since last week and they have been doing quite well. We are trying to focus on other subjects other than the ones that get repeatedly integrated in their English classes in school. As the years go up and they move on to different grades, apparently the English classes do not improve in content or in substance. So its the same old same old ABC's and numbers and colors, the basic stuff. So we are trying to focus, though not ignoring the basics, on body parts, family, clothing, and introducing some grammar in as well. Its been a challenge not having a curriculum, but I suppose we will have experience with it for another time if we are caught without one!
Thank you again for your support!
In the weeks leading up to the classes beginning in April, we went around to 5 different schools to canvas
and hand out flyers for the English classes. We targeted ages 8-5 years and ended up with 4 students in the morning class and 6 students in the afternoon class all ranging in those ages. The interest was high, but the resulting numbers were at first a surprise. However since this is an attempt at community outreach the numbers arent as important as the churches name getting into the community. With the canvassing alone it doubled the hits on the church website!. The kids are doing quite well, since we are building a foundation for their English learning it can sometimes be slow and tedious. But they are catching on, and with the small numbers Bethany and I can try different games and strategys so it has been a lot of fun!
The Monday classes, the students who come from the public school across the street, have proved to be a challenge. Before I mentioned it was 4-5 year olds which was the age range we had planned on, but it actually turned out to be 5-6 year olds. We have two groups of 6 year olds and one group of 5 year olds in 55 minute intervals that vary between 11-15 students per class. These classes have been difficult to teach as we dont feel comfortable with the typical method of discipline in schools here which is characterized by empty threats and yelling. For obvious reasons, Bethany and I dont believe this is a method conducive to learning and have made efforts to be an example of Christian behavior for these kids. We have spoken with the Director of the public school and have been using different strategies to try and minimize the bad behaviors and covet your prayers in this process. Bethany and I have worked with and spent substancial amount of time with children and both know how a classroom should be run and the biggest problem
seems to be that of respect. When the children dont respect the teachers everything else falls apart and the teaching environment collapses. Though this has been a frustration, we are not ready to give up just yet. Our goal is to not only teach the kids English, but to be an example to them, the teachers and the parents. If absolutely no English is learned, we hope these are the things that stick with them for a long time.
This entire process of starting these English classes has been quite the learning process for me. It has not been easy, but it has been a blessing to learn. I am confident in Gods hand in these classes. His purpose is clear, even if it isnt to us right away. It took me awhile to get homesick but when it hit, it hit hard. Sometimes being around a room filled with different people speaking a language youre unfamiliar with can be hard and very lonely. I have been catching onto the language faster than I had hoped and am getting more brave in my speech and can make simple exchanges, but the frustration is still there. Its not only missing friends and family, but missing familiar things. Even something as simple as understanding and being understood. My prayers have been to stay comfortable and confident in the job that is set before me and to see it out. I would really covet your prayers in these things and that I might be a blessing to John and Bethany in word and deed and I stay adamant in my representation of not only Harvest but the church here as well. Also that I am intentional with my Spiritual health and prayer life and that I am able to be Spiritually fed here. I thank you so much for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers!
Heather
Since I wrote this update to the church, we have been able to try these different strategies with the Monday classes with great success! First, the school has been sending teachers to stay in the church during the classes which helps as a reinforcement for us when we have to correct a child. Another thing we have been trying is splitting the kids up into different groups, especially separating the kids who egg each other on, which has also worked wonders. Our problem now is with the lack of organization at the Public school and we keep getting random kids who havent been coming so they are not up to the understanding the other kids who have been attending the class since the first day. So we slow down a little to help the newer kids, and the other kids get bored and disruptive. Ooph! We will have to see what next week brings, hopefully we can even things out with the kids.
As for the weekly kids, we have been teaching them body parts since last week and they have been doing quite well. We are trying to focus on other subjects other than the ones that get repeatedly integrated in their English classes in school. As the years go up and they move on to different grades, apparently the English classes do not improve in content or in substance. So its the same old same old ABC's and numbers and colors, the basic stuff. So we are trying to focus, though not ignoring the basics, on body parts, family, clothing, and introducing some grammar in as well. Its been a challenge not having a curriculum, but I suppose we will have experience with it for another time if we are caught without one!
Thank you again for your support!
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
So what about the classes?
I have written and posted about a few things, but what about the classes?
About a week or so ago we met with the Principal of the public school located right across the street from the church. We set up a time every Monday where we will host English classes at the church for 5-6 year olds, with 2 classes of 6 year olds and 1 of 5 year olds each an hour long. However yesterday we just had the one class of 6 year olds and a class of 5 year olds with 15 kids in each group. Since these kids go to a free public school they come from various amounts of unstructured and sometimes abusive home lives. Essentially the inner city without the obvious inner city.
Listening was an obvious problem, but Bethany got through the classes and have been brainstorming ideas of ways to get around the struggles we faced with each of the classes. It is difficult enough teaching in the inner city, but can you imagine not being able to talk to them and have them understand? Oy avey. Nightmare city. And with these ages English is new new new. The 5 year olds have never heard the language before except maybe in cartoons, and the 6 year olds know a few songs, and maybe some colors and numbers but everything is an introduction. We definitely have our work cut out for us for these classes in the school
This is the school and the school's playground, it doesnt look like much, and dare I say it looks a little concentration campy? Its almost directly across the street from the church which makes it miles easier for them to simply walk across the street with a teacher and come to the class.
This little nook is our English learning corner we hope to add more to the walls, possibly a picture of the kids in each class with their names and have people of the congregation pick a child to pray for. This will also create ownership of the class and hopefully help them be more willing to learn. In a way there is hope to plant a seed in these children, we are not allowed to pray or do anything religious with them because they are affiliated with the school. But if they have never been to church and this is their first experience we want it to be a good experience for them.
While I am at it, this is the church! I will no doubt add more pictures of it full on a Sunday, it is modest in size and congregation but their singing fills this place. There is space on the side of the building where they hope to build some classrooms at some point, and there will be a ceiling installed in the coming months.
We would appreciate prayers on these things as well as the classes. For the patience of the cultural and lingual differences and difficulties and that we can not only bless God through this but also the church.
Thank you for your diligent prayers!
About a week or so ago we met with the Principal of the public school located right across the street from the church. We set up a time every Monday where we will host English classes at the church for 5-6 year olds, with 2 classes of 6 year olds and 1 of 5 year olds each an hour long. However yesterday we just had the one class of 6 year olds and a class of 5 year olds with 15 kids in each group. Since these kids go to a free public school they come from various amounts of unstructured and sometimes abusive home lives. Essentially the inner city without the obvious inner city.
Listening was an obvious problem, but Bethany got through the classes and have been brainstorming ideas of ways to get around the struggles we faced with each of the classes. It is difficult enough teaching in the inner city, but can you imagine not being able to talk to them and have them understand? Oy avey. Nightmare city. And with these ages English is new new new. The 5 year olds have never heard the language before except maybe in cartoons, and the 6 year olds know a few songs, and maybe some colors and numbers but everything is an introduction. We definitely have our work cut out for us for these classes in the school
We would appreciate prayers on these things as well as the classes. For the patience of the cultural and lingual differences and difficulties and that we can not only bless God through this but also the church.
Thank you for your diligent prayers!
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
-10 degrees? What? I cant hear you over the beach waves and sunshine!
Actually, the second half of last week cooled down to VERY comfortable temperatures and stormed for a full day which was much needed! Still, though... Its been wonderful even when cloudy, I barely remember the snow ;).
I have been meaning to post, and I have been storing things in my head for this very time. I have attempted to write down some thoughts so I dont forget them, but I have been so exhausted by the end of each day that I didnt even have energy for that! I remember this exhaustion well, in Costa Rica it was often that I would find myself not so gracefully flopping into my bed at the end of each day. This is all due to learning a new language while being surrounded by it along with learning a new culture. You are so much more observant and self conscious, even worse than when you were in High school but that may just be me. But you are watching hand gestures, expressions, tones, body language- which you detect in conversations in your own language in culture without realizing but you also know the words theyre saying. When youre learning a new language its completely amplified because those things help you decipher what that person is saying and help draw conclusions to words and meanings. This is something that exhausts you mentally and physically in ways that have surprised me. At least in Costa Rica I had a background to the language having taken Spanish in school and such things. Here I can recognize words but most things seem to blend into each other because of vowel placement. Since this past week I can now pick more words out but itll be difficult for me until I can get a good foundation.
I have found the people here to be very genuine and very warm. I instantly felt at home with the Dos Santos family, they are loud, hilarious and big story tellers. I have enjoyed every time we have gotten together with them. In June there is a marathon relay and there are 4 of us that are going to do it, 8 kilometers per person which comes to about 6.5 miles each? Cake. Maybe I should start running more often?
Since last week was Carnival, a holiday for all of Brazil, yesterday and today were holidays because it marks the end of Carnival. So most businesses were closed and the church, Primeira Igreja Presbiteriana had a picnic that combined the church in Itajai and Picarass and I believe other churches from the surrounding cities. We had a short message delivered by John and then lots of singing. And of course Brazilian barbecue which was sooo delicious and a very typical meal. There is always lots of meat choices, beef, chicken and sausage. And potato salad, which isnt your normal American potato salad but still very good and tasty! There was also a manioc root which is served either fried or plain and is almost a staple in most Brazilian households. Its almost powdery in texture but will stick and tastes very good.
I also had it in a solid form at a fair we visited which reminded me of polenta in shape and texture. The picture above is what the root looks like, and the most typical form it takes in Brazilian cuisines. With the solid form I had it with sea food, clams and fish and whatever else they had put in it with a tomatoey sauce. That dish I guess was something the fisherman used to eat quite often as a meal on a typical day, it was very delicious and I even finished Bethanys for her since she turned a little green at the sight of it ;). The history behind this root alone is incredibly interesting being a drought resistant root that feeds millions of South American families and is most common along side rice and maize (corn). One of my big interested in culture (and every day life) is the food. I love trying new things and I will eat anything (almost) at least once. Especially something with such great and extensive history among the continent! So dont be surprised if I gush more about the new things I have tried here.
Its been a long day of Portuguese with many more to come, better rest before that happens.
Bom Noite!
Heather
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Brazil Day 1: Hello Heat!
In the weeks that I have been preparing to come to Brazil, I would try to imagine what it would feel and look and taste like... And if it would be anything like what I experienced in Costa Rica. I would joke with people that since we had been having such a blasted cold winter in Grand Rapids that I would burst into flames as soon as I would walk out of the airport. Well, that didnt happen. But I did sweat quite a bit especially, but not exclusively having to deal with 3 rather large bags all over 60lbs and one being 70lbs once I landed in Sao Paulo. There was one nice gentleman that helped me stack them but after that I was all on my own... and then they wouldnt let me check the bags right away because it was "too early." So I awkwardly carted this train of bags around with me at the airport not really knowing what to do or where to go since it was a little difficult for me to find someone who spoke English.
However the process for my first flight was probably the easiest security check in I have ever experienced even in domestic flights. The one hiccup I had was that the carry on that I thought was a carry on... was not. I had room in my other bags but they were already sent back never to return so I had some room in my third luggage and put most of the heavy books in there and carried the rest through security. They were so nice to me about it and I was very thankful (I am sure that explaining the reason for all the books and boxes also helped). Once on the other side I went into a couple stores hoping to find a cheap carry on and I found one much to my relief. I made it to my gate in plenty of time, the flight went well though sleeping on the plane didnt really work out for me but I did have an empty seat next to me as well as movies to watch that I hadnt seen. Thank you Delta. For a 10 hour flight it went by incredibly quickly and I was very happy about that because in general I am usually a pretty anxious traveler..Who am I kidding, I am an anxious PERSON. I just want to get to where I need to be as quickly as possible, and this trip I was so relaxed and stress free. Even when those minor hiccups happened. I didnt cram myself up in line with everyone trying to get on the plane, I just sat back and waited for the line to recede and then I would go. All the anxiety and stress that had built up the week leading up to my departure seemed to melt away hour by hour and I was once again confident in Gods call for me to com here. I am so thankful for that peace and that I am actually HERE!
The Sao Paulo airport was interesting. Like I stated above there were many confusions and language barriers but I was still relaxed! I have to hold onto this luggage for an hour? No problem. No one in the food court understands English? No problem, I will point to things I am starving. My gate changed again once I just got to the "right gate?' No problem, I have plenty of time to walk. Everything was just dandy. The one thing I did wish I packed in my carry on was a small toothpaste. If I am going to look wrinkled and homeless I mine as well have fresh breath, right? It was still nice to change and splash some cold water on my face, though. The last leg of the trip was just as easy, we taxied out to the plane and walked on. It was a smaller plane and we did go through a couple dark clouds that created some turbulence. Note to self: you can hold it, turbulence in the bathroom has consequences. It was a short flight and before I knew it we landed, I got my luggage and got to John and Bethany, hooray!
Bethany let me sleep in this morning and we went about the day, went to the beach and got my first layer of red burn. Bethany got more burnt that I (haha!) You can take the girl out of Michigan, but you cant take the Michigan out of the girl. I am excited for the things I will learn while I am here rather it be day to day, or cultural norms. I have already learned so much I cant wait to learn more. Especially the language so I wont be such a useless mute when meeting and talking to people.
This is a novel, but there was lots to say! Until next time, boa noite! Bethany is getting me up early to run (if I wake up) oof!
However the process for my first flight was probably the easiest security check in I have ever experienced even in domestic flights. The one hiccup I had was that the carry on that I thought was a carry on... was not. I had room in my other bags but they were already sent back never to return so I had some room in my third luggage and put most of the heavy books in there and carried the rest through security. They were so nice to me about it and I was very thankful (I am sure that explaining the reason for all the books and boxes also helped). Once on the other side I went into a couple stores hoping to find a cheap carry on and I found one much to my relief. I made it to my gate in plenty of time, the flight went well though sleeping on the plane didnt really work out for me but I did have an empty seat next to me as well as movies to watch that I hadnt seen. Thank you Delta. For a 10 hour flight it went by incredibly quickly and I was very happy about that because in general I am usually a pretty anxious traveler..Who am I kidding, I am an anxious PERSON. I just want to get to where I need to be as quickly as possible, and this trip I was so relaxed and stress free. Even when those minor hiccups happened. I didnt cram myself up in line with everyone trying to get on the plane, I just sat back and waited for the line to recede and then I would go. All the anxiety and stress that had built up the week leading up to my departure seemed to melt away hour by hour and I was once again confident in Gods call for me to com here. I am so thankful for that peace and that I am actually HERE!
The Sao Paulo airport was interesting. Like I stated above there were many confusions and language barriers but I was still relaxed! I have to hold onto this luggage for an hour? No problem. No one in the food court understands English? No problem, I will point to things I am starving. My gate changed again once I just got to the "right gate?' No problem, I have plenty of time to walk. Everything was just dandy. The one thing I did wish I packed in my carry on was a small toothpaste. If I am going to look wrinkled and homeless I mine as well have fresh breath, right? It was still nice to change and splash some cold water on my face, though. The last leg of the trip was just as easy, we taxied out to the plane and walked on. It was a smaller plane and we did go through a couple dark clouds that created some turbulence. Note to self: you can hold it, turbulence in the bathroom has consequences. It was a short flight and before I knew it we landed, I got my luggage and got to John and Bethany, hooray!
Bethany let me sleep in this morning and we went about the day, went to the beach and got my first layer of red burn. Bethany got more burnt that I (haha!) You can take the girl out of Michigan, but you cant take the Michigan out of the girl. I am excited for the things I will learn while I am here rather it be day to day, or cultural norms. I have already learned so much I cant wait to learn more. Especially the language so I wont be such a useless mute when meeting and talking to people.
This is a novel, but there was lots to say! Until next time, boa noite! Bethany is getting me up early to run (if I wake up) oof!
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