I don’t have too much to report about the last few days. Thursday I studied in the morning (i.e. I reviewed the Portuguese novel that I’ve been reading aloud to Conchita and my MCAT study book) and went to Portuguese class in the afternoon. The bus I take to campus was late so I got there about a minute for class started. On my way to the Letras building, I ran into 3 other of the students in my class. On the one hand that was a good thing because with the majority of the class with me it didn't look so bad being late, but unfortunately, they stopped to talk to people coming out of the session before us, so we were a good 10 minutes late before we actually made it to the classroom. The door to the room was locked which I assumed meant that the room must have changed, but the others were feeling comfortable b/c the 4 of us were together and we were joined a minute later by another classmate. After another 5-10 minutes of waiting I went down to the office and asked if there was a room change, which there was. By the time I went back up to the three flights of stairs to tell the others and came back down, we were 20-25 minutes late to class. Opps!

I went to capoeira Thursday night, though I was still sore from Tuesday. It went okay until it was time for roda de capoeira where everyone forms a circle and takes turns fighting one-on-one while everyone else WATCHES. I didn’t realize that sitting next to the musicians meant that your turn was next and I sat down second in line. Bad idea… My first turn was very humbling (to say the least) but I think that I was a slightly more dignified the second time around. Little by little is what I keep telling myself.

Friday Bethany and I went to the beach in the morning. I packed a peanut butter and banana sandwich and an apple which we split and we passed the time talking about our usual themes of life, faith, and relationships. We tried sitting on the right hand side, which has fewer tourists and more natives, and settled down near a game of foot-volley.Unfortunately we were seated too close to the tide and had to move several times. By 12:45 it was drizzling steadily and we decided to retreat and buy some açaí at a shop across from the beach. Bethany was feeling crafty and needed to start on a birthday card for her boyfriend, Jere’s birthday, so she came over to my place and we spent the afternoon making cards and listening to music.

This morning I finished my Portuguese assignment for Tuesday, went for a run in Campo Grande, showered, went to the grocery store, and here I am! Things will be getting more routine with classes starting and Monday I am going to an AIDS clinic were I hope to begin volunteering. Beijos!