Burtney, Brightney, Britnay, and Barbie. . .

 hey hey,

*if you are wondering what the title is about I will now indulge your curiosity! My name is a lot of consonants smushed together and this is pretty hard for most Brizilians so those are the names which they have resorted to calling me. However, one particular Brazilian finds it wonderful to call me Barbie. I do not understand this other than that I am white (but he doesn't call the other 3 white girls barbie). He then insists on a high-five but normally I just pretend I don't see it. 

   ANDI IS MARRIED! It's craziness! As I thought about the wedding (and cried a ton because I'm not there) I thought about how close we were when we were younger. It's weird growing up. To be able to remember all these years of friendship (11 years) and being able to see the growth and to say "I remember dreaming of this day with you"! It was beautiful!  She was beautiful! I am incredibly happy for her!!! But, I do think she was the first to ever have someone skype into her wedding! It was pretty awesome! I spent time getting ready (even straightened my hair and I assure you that will be the only time while I am here) and got all dressy (well kinda) and then cried my sappy eyes out! 

   After a week off and seeing everyone at the wedding (but in reality missing it) I have been rather homesick. But, we are back at school and I am starting to feel much better! God is working over-time on me and some deep rooted issues and homesickness just was not helpful on top of my drama. He'll get me through and has already comforted my with a million precious hugs!

  As you can see from the pic about Andi's wedding, I am becoming more girlie (mildly afraid of these implications) but alas after 7 years of only using black and closely related colors on my toes I have purchased and used pastel-ish colors! Change is in the air!

   I have recently been on quite the chocolate kick. I didn't notice until I looked at my cart at the grocery store and saw chocolate cookies, chocolate pudding, chocolate milk, etc and last night I really topped it off by eating chocolate cake for dinner!  I think I may need to get a handle on this but I'm not really willing to...yet!

  Yesterday was my domestic day. Normally, I don't mind this day but yesterday I stood at the bottom of the 3 flights of stairs and dreaded even the thought. But I did it! It's really a different world up there. It's like a completely different building up there. When you reach the third flight of stairs it is no longer nice linoleum but deteriorating cement blocks. The whole roof is covered in junk and sand. But, it does have a beautiful view of the city!
  

    My lightbulb went out yesterday, or so I thought. Turns out sometimes the whole thing just doesn't work. You have to wiggle and tweak with it until it works or just wait it out. So, after wiggling and tweaking, I am using a lamp. Silly electricity, there are no windows therefore you are necessary.

   Everyday, we play legoes with either 2nd or 3rd grade. They either don't sell legos here or they are incredibly expensive so this is a big deal.  I've never been one for legos. When Daniel had them when we were kids I just made cakes and patterns. Well, not much has changed. I choose colors and make patterns. But today I broke out of the norm! I made something! I'm not sure what  but it was something!
   
   I am so glad to be back at school! I'm glad it fills my mind. I'm glad it consumes me with love so that I can't be consumed with homesickness. 


Pedro
This cutie pie is wonderful! He is so incredibly smart. It is his first semester as a level two ESL but he keeps up with the other kids no problem. He is so smart that sometimes it is really hard to engage him but once you've got him you've got all of his attention and he is all for it! He is not quite as strong willed as the other students but he definitely can be. He loves to talk and is ready to tell me about anything. If we are talking about ocean animals he has information for me. I love it! He's incredibly sweet and is always the first out of his seat to help me if I drop something. He's my smart, caring, high-fiving buddy!


Carol

Oh Carol. Sometimes I watch her and giggle. It's like watching myself. She is very strong willed and does not like not getting her way but she's also incredibly sweet and incredibly intelligent. She comes off like a know-it-all but I can see that she is just desperate for approval from her teachers. I have to take her erasers from her because if a word isn't perfect she erases it and writes it again (sometimes 3 or 4 times). Everything is always in perfect place. She loves reading and is always volunteering. She loves her brother a ton and is incredibly sweet to him. She is such a smart, strong, organized, sweet, adorable littler girl. No wonder I love her!


I love you and miss you all a little more than normal this week!


Love your not married, not in a band, not a model girl,










Brittney