How I got here.. How I will leave.. and Everything in between….

Three years ago January, I got offered 2 ESL teaching jobs.  One in Poland and one in Brazil.  I came to Brazil {Canoa Quebrada, Ceará , one state  North of where I am now, to be exact} I had no idea what I was in for.  I didn’t speak a word of Portuguese, not even Obrigada, thank you. {on a side note:  I am proud to report I am fluent now}  I arrived at the end of January, settled into my new home with the owner of the school, started classes, and meeting my students.  I was already in love with Brazil, from the moment I arrived.  Soon after I started teaching, Carnaval started and my Birthday was nearing.  I decided to take advantage of the 2 weeks I had off and travel a bit.  I hopped on a bus to Praia da Pipa to spend my two week holiday there.  I then met my husband Max, upon arriving the first day.  I spent a blissful 2 weeks in Pipa and then returned to Ceará .  A month later Max came to visit me and it continued like this, back and forth,  until my teaching contract was up a few months later.  It was a very temporary job, due to the fact I wanted to travel as well as work.  Well let’s just say I didn’t get much traveling in.  In April I moved to Praia da Pipa with Max and the rest is history.  I will make a brief timeline below of major events that took place over the course of the next 3 years.

Up until now I have kept my blog quite light, avoiding exposure of my personal life.  In light of some recent changes that have taken place and me feeling the need to write about these events, I have changed my mind and decided to write away.  So… the recent changes that have played a part in this….. well, Max got his Visa {greencard} to the USA in December!  After a looong two year journey we thought we would never see the day.  But it has arrived and we were informed we must go to the USA within 6 months of the issuing of the visa, which was December.  What does this mean for our family… yes, we are moving to the USA!!  In April we will go to Rio to spend two weeks with Max’s family and then May 8th we are flying to NYC.  It is our hope to find jobs, settle in with my family and then see where we would like to live.  If we have troubles finding jobs, settling in, etc .. we have already said we will return to Brazil.  As my husband has a good job here, and is leaving on an open-ended agreement, shall we decide to return.  Where does this leave my blog and writing?  Well I have decided to back track a bit, since I just started this blog 6 months ago,after two and half years of already living here.  I have been through a lot of ups and downs and huge experiences here.  I am really feeling the need to write about some of them in hopes of helping another.  And others for the pure, selfish reason of getting them off my chest, kinda like closure in a way.  I also plan to still write about Brazil current events, and all things Brazil related.  I wish to continue Food Friday as well, although I haven’t posted about that in a while, I will continue.   

So what is to come?   Take a look at my brief timeline of events here ..take note, these are only the major events and I will cover various other things.  

• January 2007: Arrive in Brazil
• Feb. 2007:  Met Max
• April 2007: Move to Praia da Pipa with Max
• April 2007: Trip to Bahia 
• May 2007:  My first trip to Rio
• June 2007: A friend arrives from NYC 
• June 2007:  I get stabbed in my neck twice and stomach once, nearly die
• July 2007:  The judicial process starts for my case 
• July 2007:  Max and I get married
• August 2007:  I apply for my Brazilian Visa
• September 2007:  I go to NYC for 3 months
• October 2007:  We apply for Max’s Visa to the USA
• December 2007:  I arrive back in Pipa from the USA 
• March 2008:  My daughter, Malu is concieved
• September 2008:  My sister and best friend come for a visit
• September 2008:  Max and I go to Rio for a visit
• November 2008:  We drop the attempted murder case/s we have in the courts {civil and criminal}
• December 2008:  Malu is born 
• April 2009:  Malu and I go to the USA for 2 months 
• June 2009:  Malu and I return to Pipa
• July 2009:  The Federal Police make a visit to our house to see if our marriage is legit, for my Brazilian Visa
• September 2009:  Max and I go to Rio to baptize Malu 
• November 2009:  We go to Rio for Max’s visa interview at the US Consulate
• December 2009:  Malu turns 1 
• December 2009:  Max gets his visa in the mail
• Feb. 2010:  Max and I  3 year Anniversary
• Soon to come … April 2010:  To Rio for 2 weeks, May 2010:  To the USA 

So these are a just a few stories I will cover.  Please, I would love to hear your input and/or if you are really interested in hearing about something.. comment away.  I want to know what you would like to read about and/or find more interesting.