Josirema on Xanga

the shadowbox	don't be deceived... it's not really a journal

Josirema

Name: Julie
Country: Brazil
Metro: Belem
Birthday: 9/30/1981
Gender: Female

Interests: C.S. Lewis, postmodernism, LOST, piano, Sol (and playing there), Portuguese, Travis
Expertise: the Brazilian consulate, skype, killing bats, public transportation, banana bread, procrastination, tying knots that hold up hammocks
Occupation: Education/training

Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website

Member Since: 3/5/2005

SubscriptionsSites I Read

Subscribe to Josirema
Get trial subscription

curlybecs
Abednego_KH
blogbodia
dramagirlforjesus
daddylonglegs111
InHimComplete271
debatexposesdoubt
Remolque_Basura
Afroboy5000
Godzgirl4ever89
braziliantreefrog
danajpoolboy
amydawn718
Jbongo
girlofgod194
davidartrip
kak80808080
Jay77710
javatrish
jojorazor
proudaustralian
bbblllaaahhh
FyreFly_639
aeh172
ineedchocolate
redgeese
marykaymom
withtherain
kel_belle_85
slbollman

Posting Calendar

\|<< oldest \| newest >>\|
view all weblog archives

Thursday, September 06, 2007

My New Job

To all my former AVA students, if you'd like to know what my new job is like now that I've deserted you all.

I recently started working as a piano accompanist for the choirs at Pound Middle School, which has 6th, 7th, and 8th graders-- a total of 850 students. So a little bit bigger than AVA.

This means I've officially made the transition from being "Miss Hoerr" to being "Mrs Gustafson." It's pretty weird. I've had trouble pronouncing my own name more than once, which looks a little suspicious. Anyway, the choir teacher is Mrs Cook and basically I come in for all of her classes and play whatever she puts on my piano. (A Yamaha... I like it!)

Great things about my job:

-the challenge of having to learn new piano music on the spot

-being around students again! although until now I've mostly been behind the piano without a whole lot of chance to interact with them... I'm sure that will come eventually

-the traffic circle I drive through on my way there... I don't know why I get such a thrill out of this but I just love it!

Not so great things about my job:

-well I just have one so far-- trying to learn 240 names at once (that's 6 periods that I play for with about 40 students in each class). AND I'll have all different students when the next quarter comes in November. So-- 240 new names to learn.

Things that are different from AVA (there are too many to list, but here are a few):

-Lockers that lock

-obviously, the size of classes and the whole school in general

-driving 13 minutes to get there and not just walking down the sidewalk

-the school doesn't have air conditioning!!!! and it DOES get really hot here

-having to wear a security badge... if I ran into the building without one they would probably tackle me and call the police!

Things that are the same:

-they play 4-square!

-they come into first period looking like zombies

-NO FLIP FLOPS ALLOWED

All for now... I miss you guys and I hope things are going well! Be good!

1:11 PM - 48 views - add eprops - 1 comment - email it

Thursday, July 19, 2007

	Those Three Little Words... Facebook. I caved.
	1:38 AM - 43 views - 2 eprops - 1 comment - email it

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Transition, Part 3 of 3

The graduating seniors this year each wrote a will leaving random items to people staying behind. Most of the items willed were not actually things that could be left behind (like Andrew's tan and Michael's basketball skills). Here's mine, but these are all real items being left to real people as I leave Brazil.

to Isac: my SPFC glass that he always uses and 5 contact lens cases in case he keeps losing them (and some tchai mixes)

to David: my Bop-It, a Barbie game, and the gum he keeps taking anyway

to Darlene: my hair dryer and my aloe (in case that tan from Andrew doesn't work out)

to Lillian: my fake snow and my "Pinheiro: o bom vizinho" keychain

to Trevor and Janelle: all previously blogged bats, rats, frogs, and cockroaches, as well as my very cool Lancaster County wall calendar

to Junior: the lint roller that everyone seems to think he would like

to Andrew: the weight chart from when he was in 10th grade (uh... long story)

to Maria: the Walk the Line DVD (oh yeah... it's hers anyway)

to Mr Cooley: my wireless router so he maybe doesn't have to sit on his Internet Rock all summer to get the wireless signal from the library

to Isac again: a brick for his foot when we're at the airport (ha ha)

and to everyone who has been a part of my life over the past four years here

I leave a very big hug

and a very big piece of my heart.

(but you all have to share it.)

I'll be back someday... I just can't seem to stay away! (that's me on the left, from when we lived in Recife)

2:55 AM - 41 views - 6 eprops - 3 comments - email it

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Transition, Part 2 of 3

Things I will not miss about Brazil, in no particular order:

-walking to the grocery store and carrying my groceries home in the hot hot sun

-being in a long-distance relationship

-standing out in a crowd

-being viewed as a rich American

(and thus being a target for anyone who wants to ask for money or sell me something)

-governmental red tape and visa hassle

-being afraid to go out of AVA after dark by myself

-mosquito bites

-the general lack of Mexican food in this country

-losing electricity and running water about once every other week

-bats, rats, and cockroaches that show up in my apartment

-suffocatingly hot afternoons that totally drain your energy

-getting stuck in the rain

-cupuaçu and açai (sorry, it's the truth)

-how difficult it is to cook everything from scratch
-having to say goodbye all the time :(

2:02 PM - 45 views - 4 eprops - 2 comments - email it

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Transition, Part 1 of 3

Things I will miss about Brazil, in no particular order, and certainly not comprehensive:

-too many people to list

-my hammock

-the sound of palm trees in the wind

-cheap mangos, guavas, pineapples, and really really good bananas (the ones that are almost triangular)

-riding the bus (honestly! I love riding the bus)

-Coca-cola parties

-leaving at 5 p.m. for an event that "starts" at 4 p.m. and getting there on time

-adorable Brazilian babies

-impressing people with my Portuguese ;)

-chuva da tarde

-being an honorary Triplehorn

-the "tall" big puffy white clouds (I swear they're different here)

-being warmly greeted by everyone at church with a hug and a kiss

-suco de maracuja

-patifaria with Cris

-not ever having to dry my hair

-Vitor's singing

-coxinhas

-Monopoly and poker games

-making fun of David with Isac

-Sol: good music, coffee, cheesecake, AC, and a great place to read

-Maria making the frozen fish heads at the grocery store talk to me

-the Docas: watching the river go by

-wearing flip-flops year round: eternal summer

-the face profile in the jambo tree that I see every morning when I wake up

(do you see it? a side profile right on the top of the tree... tilt your head to the right)

8:49 AM - 56 views - 6 eprops - 3 comments - email it

Next 5 >>

My New Job

Those Three Little Words...

Transition, Part 3 of 3

Transition, Part 2 of 3

Transition, Part 1 of 3