Portanto, vamos começar pelo princípio.

ONDE ESTOU A DORMIR: na casa de Esther. Ela é cozinheira! E acredita em mim, as comidas que ela faz são simplesmente incríveis. Ela tem duas filhas: Naomi (ou Boi) e Jane (ou Soni). Soni é a mais nova com 3 aninhos de idade, enquanto Boi tem 7. Há uma terceira menina na casa e seu nome é Jane (ou Jane). Ela é uma sobrinha de Ester, e está aqui para a ajudar com as crianças e com a casa. Jane tem 12 anos (e meio) de idade.

As crianças vão para as aulas de manhã cedo e voltam por volta das 16h. Esther trabalha tanto num turno de dia, desde o início da manhã, às 19h, ou no turno da noite, durante toda a noite até o sol nascer. O marido trabalha sete dias por semana, durante todo o dia em por isso de ... Quase não o vejo.

Agora, aqui estão algumas fotos!

Por ordem: Soni, Boi e Isaac. A caminho da estação de autocarros!

Jane e Chelsea. Amigas novas! @ horta.

Like a local.

Life in Africa is hard. We cannot trust everyone, but also sometimes, you don't really have a choice.

The other day we went to Nairobi. We had several tasks that had to be done:

(-get to the city;)
-go to the Bank;
-pay the safari;
-buy the mobile internet router;
-register my mobile phone;
-buy some groceries;
-have lunch;
-do sightseeing;
(-go back home.)

The adventure began with the walk to Rongai where we would catch a bus to the city. This time we went through a shortcut that Jane taught us that morning. We came across many cows and goats. From past experiences, I was more frightened by the goats than by the bigger and much stronger cows.

Well, we got to Rongai safe (only two weird guys approached us on the way) and another chapter just got started: finding the bus no.125 to Nairobi. We got to the area where all of the buses are, when one guy came running toward us and said 'Nao?' pointing at his Matatu already full with passengers. At first we didn't understand, but after some other attempts, we got it… Nao=Nairobi. We decided to go with him. We entered the Matatu (which is much less roomy that an actual bus) and decided to take the back seats. It was a challenge  just to get there, since we were carrying backpacks and we are not the most tiny person around this area…

Two hundred shillings and 45min later we were at Nao, ready for this adventure on metropolitan streets. As incredible as it seems, we did the first things in almost 2 hours (I know, I know.. It's hard to believe, since relying on public services such as banks and mobile shops can be really an effort…).
We wanted to eat something truly Kenyan and actually, on our quest of 'Lets find where the nearest Barclays is' , we came across 'Swahilli Delicies', and yes, the choice was made. Both of us ordered a refreshing Coke and a challenging Chicken with sauce and Ugali (corn flour).

We finished our more than deserved meal and headed to the museums on the North part of the town. But first we came across a guy that was following us for the whole morning inviting us to visit his shop - on a really narrow and dark hallway on a secondary street near the ghetto of the city.

On our journey (2-3km) to the Museum we passed by the University of Nairobi more specifically the department of Environment and Geography. The Campus was beautiful! Tall trees, gorgeous gardens full of flowers, modern architecture and the stress were clean. We also passed by some shops of art crafts from local people. One women just came running to us saying 'Friend! Come! Come to Mama's Shop and see what's inside!', 'Oh, we are actually late to go to the museum! We will be back!', 'Oh… okay. Promise?', 'Yes, we have to come through here anyway so we'll stop at your store.', 'Oh! Okay okay! Mama will be expecting you. By the way I love your hair!'. Mama was fascinated with my curls, and while we passed by her store four more men appeared from the inside of their own shops and persuaded us to go inside, and even bragged my curly hair to see if I got their attention. It work though, cause after… We'll get there!

We finally got to the Museum. A sculpture was at the entrance of the building that gave it the proper dignity. As we entered we noticed the traditional band that was giving a concert (more a show for selling out CDs.. But okay). We bought the ticket and headed to the gallery. Traditional Massaai paitings and art crafts were at the first room of the museum. on the second one there were models of the wildlife we can find in Kenya (elephant, zebra, buffalo, okapi, leopard, gorilla, lion, aardvark, pangolin, impala, etc). After more than one hour at the gallery, we deserved a cold drink. So we followed the arrows to the restaurant and ordered 'A cold Coke with lemon and no ice, please'. That was one of the most relaxing moments I had since I'm here! Facing the garden, having a refreshing drink, fresh breeze and nice conversation (me and Chelsea).

After the relaxing moment, we headed to the Snake Park! This involved lots of snakes in terrariums… Including the most dangerous species in Africa! Crocs and turtle beloved to this part of the museum and some were really scary.

Well, after the museum episode, we headed back to the Bus stop to catch the Matatu back to Rongai. But obviously we passed by Mama's Shop. This was a first! We bargained. A lot! Almost 30min after, we both had gifts for friends and family. Heading to the Bus stop, we took some minutes to buy some water and desert for the whole family.

I can not really describe how chaotic the bus stop was. Actually, that wasn't a bus stop no more! It became a meeting point for EVERY means of transport imaginable! From big buses to monocles, from mattes to tuk-tuks. Finally we were inside the Matatu heading to Rongai after wandering around the place asking 'Rongai? Rongai?'.

The two most B-E-A-Uuuuutiful creatures in Kenya at the moment.

One of the Main buildings of University of Nairobi.

Inside the Matatu: Rongai-Nao-Rongai.

We got home, safe and sound. We had dinner and ate our desert.

The loudest ones at home.

1-After an entire day, full of classes with almost 50 students, we get home and face three beautiful girls that, no matter what, are always happy and cheerful. Tough ONE highlights from the other two.

2-After an entire day, full of classes with almost 50 students, we get home just to hear the 5pm announcement from Mr. Clock. He likes announcements. He does that every single hour. An he is very original (a song per hour…).

Mr Clock and Boi.

Oh! 9o'clock, there's the song of the hour...

Oh... The Irony.

How wonderful is it when you face it?


(…) 'Nothing like you and I'

This trip has been just like that movie 'Eat Pray and Love'. And the best thing is that I always wanted to have something like Julia Roberts on that 1year journey: find what she found, taste what she tasted, se what she saw (but of course, see other places, but see with the same eyes), etc. There is such a beautiful message behind that story. The optimism, the dreams, the desire and of course… Love to give and take!

Rongai at the background.

Hyenas? Where?!

We finally got to play with one of the footballs I brought!

Me and Chelsea went for a stroll. A photographic walk if you may say, on the neighborhood. By the time we reached our school, I noticed some children running in our direction, and not long after 'Teacher Chelsea!' It's always her! 'What about Teacher Ana?' I asked. Chelsea just laughs and the kid gets a little embarrassed, but well, now they know who I am I think. (let me say that this only happens because of the football team Chelsea FC) --'

Well, those kids started to touch us and grab our hands (and my hair! I find that people here just get fascinated with my curls and they just want to TOUCH!). They asked us if we could teach them how to run. We kinda looked at each other and said 'Well what about playing ball?', 'We don't have ball', 'Oh, then we'll get a ball from home and we'll be back in 5min!'. And so we did! 5min later there we were, being referees of a anarchic football game between 20 kids. The little ones just stayed next to us looking for protection from the rough kicks that the bigger one were doing. And also, Victoria was there. Again with that humble smile and calm that not other kid was able to transpire.

We could only stay there for about 20min, cause we were going to have 'supper' somewhere nice and relaxing. So after a while of footballing, Jane came running towards us to say that Esther and her husband were in the car waiting for us, so that we could go to Buffalo Restaurant to eat (and drink, but we'll get there).

We both (me and Chelsea) were really surprised with the conditions of the restaurant. The first thing we saw was the playground for the kids. With swings and 'astro-jump' (call Chelsea for further information… or just Google it), Boi and Soni just simply ran to it, while me and Chelsea were complaining how we, sometimes during our childhood, got kicked out from playgrounds for being too tall, and guards don't believing that we were just old enough to be inside…

Well, then we walked to the back of the playground, where an esplanade with sun umbrellas, chairs and tables were set. We got the only one that was free and, right after taking our seats we ordered for two beers and two cokes (cokes for me and Chelsea, beers for the Mama and Papa) - Not that we don't drink beer, just that we don't want to give the wrong idea about ourselves, so… Stick with the coke!
It was by this time that (with no kids around) we could have an adult conversation (well, kinda of).
We talked about Kibera, how the people live in there and Papa shared some experiences he had when he was visiting some friends there. We talked about the weather (not the boring talk though!) We compared Canada's (super-hyper-mega) cold weather with Esther's tolerance to humidity. We talked about trips that we had done.

And we talked about wildlife!

Let me tell you that two years ago, Mama and Papa had a big dog. A german shepherd. He was really brave and strong. Though, one day, he was found dead in their back/front yard. Any idea what killed him?! A LION! OMG there is wildlife running freely around this place! Nop, I'm definitely NOT going peeing during the night.. I'll just… HOLD IT 'till 7am.

After the experience of the lion it came the hyena stories. 'Oh yeah, at night you see then running by the road really often'. And right after Papa said that, Chelsea just looked back to a shadow in some bushes behind her back 'Wh- Wha- What is that?!', we all looked and I asked 'Hyena? Where?!', and tried to figure out where was Chelsea spotting something. A moment after Esther with a big laugh said 'That's a cat my dear!'

Papa and the Kids.

With lot of experiences to share and stories to tell, while having dinner Kenya style (no cutlery), Papa ordered two Tuskers. One for me, and the other for Chelsea.

On Sunday Morning.

I have obviously noticed the faith and believes that kenyans carry for JC and God. You can see a poster, a sentence, a picture, a symbol, anything that recalls to the Catholic Church everywhere. The other day, we went to Teacher Priscillah's House for a cup of tea after a full day of school, and of course the walls of her house were full of pictures and frames allusive to God and Faith.

Let me say that I don't really follow a conventional Christian principles… I don't go to church, and (I'm sorry to say this, and I don't want to offend ANYONE) sometimes I doubt of HIS existence. Or better, I believe in some kind of energy that keep us going. And by the first and second law of Thermodynamics "nothings is destroyed, only transformed" and "the entropy principle", I came to believe that is not a HE who rule us, but we ourselves have that power within us. I do not have someONE 'up there' dictating commandments so that I can become a better person. No. For me, I am a better person because I CHOSE TO BE.

But well, lets keep on topic.

Sunday morning, is the morning for going to church. I was nervous when I saw the building - a structure of metal, with chairs, benches and a table at the front for the speakers. I had the feeling for the moment I laid eyes on the chapel, though I didn't know Why nor How. (I have to admit that something/one let me know about that episode that I was about to have inside that humble chapel next to the school where Boi and Soni go to, right across the road where Esther's house is.) So, we all entered the church. There were probably 20 people then.

And they were singing.

I got goosebumps when I realized what was going on, and by the time I sat on my chair, I (kinda) felt tears on my eyes. Though I held them back, 'cause you know: I have a reputation to maintain!
Though the anxiety wasn't gone! I was still fully alert that something was about to happen. I really, really felt something.

It was then that I met Victoria. A cute little girl (that at this time I thought she was a boy - only because she was wearing pants and not a pretty little and fancy dress like all the other girls) that was playing with a friend's sunglasses, and randomly sat beside my chair. She smiled at me while the priest was giving a speech (about I don't know what, cause OH yeah, this was a Swahili session) with the sunglasses on the middle of her forehead. For sometime we just exchanged stares and smiles, until she finally asked really softly 'What's your name?'. Still with my heart beating like a train and with a immortal smile on my face, I answered and asked hers. Note that by this time, she was a boy to me. So she told me her name but I didn't get it cause of the really emotional speech that a spokes woman was giving. So after a while, I did not resisted and, again with only a smile, I gave her my sunglasses. She was really happy, and for some minutes she did not leave beside of me. Only when Boi came inside (from playing with other kids) and called her to play along, she left me. I was kinda worried that I would never lay eyes on my sunglasses again… But after a really short time she came back, 'happy as a king' (a common expression), with my sunglasses in her hand.

Still with that strange felling inside, I got the sunglasses back while a Norwegian woman gave her speech about the Lord, Politics and Faith. When Martha (that's the woman's name) sat down, again the priest took over the microphone and said:
'I have noticed other two white lades there. Can you please come up here and present yourselves, where do you come form etc?'

While he was peaking Swahili to the rest of the people clarifying that we were supposed to go up there and talk, I stared at Chelsea an Esther to really figure out if I HAD TO go there. I was freaking out, and apparently, Chelsea did not get anything from' I have noticed that' so I relied on Esther's glare. And with a hand gesture from Esther I stood up and pulled Chelsea with me. We walk to the front of the chapel and without a microphone there we were: facing 50 people filled up with faith and love, anxiously waiting to know who we were.

Smiley Victoria and her cool bike.

After a minute or two, we were both back at our seat. With our hands shaking like crazy from the adrenaline that it was standing in front of that tiny crowd and expose ourselves. After that, the feeling I had was gone, and Victoria was there with the same smile looking to me with admiration and curiosity.

These two hours at church were really intense and full with shapes and feelings that I will never forget.
Faith.

So, lets start from the beginning!

WHERE AM I STAYING: in Esther's house. She is a cook! And believe me, her cookings are simply amazing. She has two children: Naomi (aka Boi) and Jane (aka Soni). Soni is the youngest with 3 years old, while Boi is 7. There is a third girl in the house and her name is Jane (aka Jane). She is Esther's niece, and is here to help her with the kids and the house. Jane is 12 (and a half) years old.

The kids go to class early in the morning and come back by 16h. Esther works either a day shift, from early in the morning to 19h, or the night shift, during all night till the sun comes up. The husband works 7days a week all day around... I have barely seen him.

Now, here are some pictures!

in order: Soni, Boi and Isaac. Walking to the bus stop!

Jane and Chelsea - New friends! @ garden

Fully charged!

Nothing like a spontaneous experience to awake the soul and desires within me (and you).
Nothing like sharing all of those desires with people I love (and love me).
Nothing like feeling alive each morning I open my eyes to see (and feel) the sun on my skin.
(...)

For memories and desires.

1:42 am of Day -1.

VISIT MY WEB SITE! --- CLICK HERE ---


Today was the day that I left my family in Luanda and flew to Johannesburg to spend the night before going to Nairobi to actually start the Kenya Experience! Yeah, that's it. Let's call it from now on the KE :)

So. Yesterday, me, my sister and both my parents, drove from Benguela to Luanda to attend to my Grandfather's B-day
(83 years old and still like a kid inside! Keep it up Vovô!!!)
We ate A LOT! Food was marvelous and OHHH! The deserts were amazing!

Well, today, after saying goodbye to my grandfather, his partner, my uncle, aunt, little cousins and mom and dad, me and my sister finally went inside the aircraft with final destination: O.R. Tambo International Airport, South Africa.

I'm staying the night in a hotel right next to the airport (and not in my sister's house due to the simple fact that I have an early morning flight tomorrow).

So my plan was:
1- Check in the hotel and drop my luggage in the room
2- Change from shorts to jeans (the night in Jo-burg is not that warm!)
3- Have dinner with my sister and her housemate
4- Come back to the hotel
5- Have a cup of coffee
6- Organize the links on kenyaexperience.net
7- Write and share this post
8- Sleep

Hence, you guys can see that right now I'm at number 7!

Though, with so many expectations and ideas for this month ahead of me, I do not think that I will be able to sleep well tonight
(or maybe I will. Let me just turn off the lights and we will see ahah)

Kenya will be a Dream Come True. For a long long loooooong time I have been thinking about being a volunteer. And I couldn't be more grateful for that sudden feeling that took control of me and from one moment to another I had everything on the way to go to Kenya.
(ohhh how I love being so spontaneous)



With my two bags filled up with (not that much) clothes and (lots of) schools stationaries and toys, I am ready for departure!

Flight no: SA184
Departure: 09h40
Destination: NAIROBI!

My loyal Passport and his cheerful friends - Mr. Bag and Mrs. Bag.

It is suppose to be someone at the airport with a tag with my name on it. I just have to find that person and head to VICDA's headquarters in Nairobi. Then I'll meet my KE's colleagues and supervisors. For two days, we will have Orientation to elucidate us about our mission and other specific aspects that we should be aware of. This will also be the time where I will discuss HOW and ON WHAT I ish to spen the funds (we) raised, but more or that when the time comes.

For now, not much more can be told.
I already miss my mom and dad (without their LOVE, this wouldn't be possible)

Let me sleep so that I get to Nairobi FASTER!

Keep in Touch!
CHEERS PEOPLE,
be happy!

And the temperature goes up, up and up!

News FALSH!

I finally got the confirmation of acceptance on the Teaching Volunteer Program in Kenya! I am so glad I took this decision. It makes me feel more alive than ever!

For one month, right after the holiday season, exactly staring on 15th of January, I'll be flying from Angola to Kenya, carrying my backpack and an aura brighter than ever! I already feel it becoming warmer with love ready to be shared.

For a long time I've been waiting for the right argument to do this volunteer thing. I tried to talk some friends on board of this idea, tried to overcome the monetary issue, and also tried to figure out if I was ready, or better, if I could carry on with the task of being a Volunteer.

Enough is enough. I got tired of waiting for the right moment, and decided to create that moment myself, without divine intervention that would come as I pleased... Three days ago, I came across the GVN web site. I loved it! Everything about it, and the simple fact of being reviewed by trusted sources (Bill Gates and CNN), gave me the spark that I was looking for!

In a pure spontaneous act of deliberation I clicked the 'Apply Now' button on the bottom of the page. And now, roughly 72h later, I got the answer that brings the temperature up, up and up! I feel alive and happier than ever! Tomorrow I'll go surfing for celebration, both of going to Kenya and the end of the semester (officially - no assignments until March!)

... I just hope the World doesn't come to an end in December... That would be very inconvenient.

Day 53.

The only real failure is the failure to try. And the measure of success, is how we cope with disappointment, as we always must.
We came here and we tried, all of us in our different ways.
Can we be blamed for feeling that we are too old for change? Too scared of disappointment to start it all again?
We get up in the morning, we do our best. Nothing else matters.

But it is also true, that the person who risks nothing, does nothing. Has nothing.
All we know about the future is that it will be different.

Perhaps what we fear is that it will be the same. So we must celebrate the changes.
Because, as someone once said:

Everything will be alright in the end.
And if it's not alright, then trust me... It is not yet the end.

Keep dreaming.
by: StinaPersson @ http://www.stinapersson.com/portfolio/watercolour/

Oops, I did it again!

After promising to myself that I wouldn't 'forget' about writing in this blog... Well, 'Oops I did it again'.

Although now I promise once again that I will not neglect the existence of this blog ever again!

So, here are the news:

Went to New Zealand;

and

Committed to a surfer life.

Here are some pictures to prove it!

Me. Happy. Taking a stroll on Fox Glacier.

@ Lake Tekapo.

Posing for the camera @ Russell.

My board buddies and the instructor @ Manly beach.

The surfer life.

Uma verdade.

A cada dia que passa vejo e aprendo mais e mais, e a cada dia que passa fico com mais perguntas por responder...

Vejo-me confrontada com a realidade em que vivo e não gosto do que sinto! Deixem-me contar-vos uma pequena história; Estávamos em Dezembro de 2005 e pela primeira vez eu e a minha família fomos passar a quadra natalícia em Angola, terra natal do meu pai. Eu estava super entusiasmada, visto que desde criança que sonhava com esse momento de visitar as raízes da família! Já me tinham avisado para estar preparada para ver Pobreza em primeira mão e eu, na minha inocência de 16 anos, julgava que o que as revistas e os livros da escola mostravam sobre o assunto era mais que suficiente para me preparar. Nada disso. Confrontei-me com tantos episódios de pobreza total que alguns casos levaram-me as lágrimas ao olhos, desde crianças a banharem-se em águas de esgoto na rua até um sorriso de uma menina quando lhe demos uma boneca para as mãos; boneca essa que devo confessar com alguma vergonha, nunca foi das minhas preferidas. Daí ter optado por pôr dentro do saco de brinquedos Para Dar.

Nunca me faltou nada. Comida, brinquedos, família, alegria, jogos, consolas, TUDO! Eu tive tudo! E tenho de agradecer aos meus pais por me terem proporcionado uma infância onde ser feliz era a única coisa que me preocupava.

Agora que cresci, olho para tudo aquilo que me rodeia e sinto... Raiva! E vontade de fazer alguma coisa!

Acabei de ver um documentário sobro a produção de cacau na Costa de Marfim. Estou chocada como as grandes companhias não abrem os olhos (ou melhor fecham os olhos) a estas realidades... Exploração infantil não é um caso sem remédio! Por amor da Santa, façam alguma coisa, não olhem somente para os lucros e deixem de lado o capitalismo medíocre e o materialismo absoluto.

E agora... O que posso eu fazer? Eu quero realmente deixar um mundo melhor para quem vier a seguir a mim. É uma questão de ter orgulho no que é meu! Chamemos-lhe um patriotismo elevado ao nível máximo.

Ah, como era bom que com um estalar de dedos, fosse possível alterar a maneira como as pessoas pensam. Aqueles políticos corruptos, os ignorantes, os estúpidos, os conflituosos, os invejosos e os gananciosos! Todos, de um momento para o outro, mudam de idealismos e filosofias.

Ah, como o mundo seria um lugar melhor.

Às vezes até prefiro não ver televisão, ler jornais ou ouvir rádio... A Media infecciosa e contagiante que  alastra a ideia do supérfluo e do materialismo que reina o nosso mundo, poderia também com um estalar de dedos mudar radicalmente. E em vez de haver intervalos para comerciais de fast food, ou grandes negócios de compra de carros, mini documentários sobre a situação actual do mundo ocupavam os excessivos 15min entre partes de programas...

Ahh, como seria possível mudar tanta coisa, se toda a gente do planeta estivesse a remar para o mesmo lado...

The Feeling.

Some time ago I asked some of my friends which movie they would watch knowing that would be the last they'd ever watch.

It's not a random question! Movie pictures are part of our life, now- Everybody enjoys going to the cinema with a bunch of friends or with the especial one alone, and most of the times it's not about going to the cinema, but about watching the movie.

Recently I read something quite interesting, that the Avatar movie cost roughly the same as Curiosity Mission... This is rather revolting than interesting. I feel some influence from this book that I am reading, Mega-slumming by Adam W. Parsons which reports the life in Kibera, Kenya. Poverty is really something much more deserving to attentions than "What movie would you watch", but for some reason I feel like writing about one of the seven Arts.

This is not my first post about movies. I already wrote one about the marvelous work from Walt Disney and Alan Menken.
But this time it's different.

Coming back to the first question, "Which movie would you watch knowing it would be your last?"
Give yourself some time to think about it. It can be rather fun to review and know what kind of movies do you like, or the ones that changed your life.

Do you want to know which one I'de pick?

Sound of Music (Música no Coração).
Yup. That one.

So, if I die tomorrow, or the film industry dies tomorrow, let me watch this movie once again.
There. I said it!
Done.

I can sound strange, knowing that it wasn't a Blockbuster back in my childhood...

I remember the first time I watched the movie.
My dad, the guy that loves technology and fixing up things, bought a DVD player. It was a big thing back then. We are talking in the early 2000's, maybe 2002. The DVD player was metallic blue, and it was great! I loved to join my dad in this kind of things so we putted together the hole machine to enjoy a movie that my mom chose. I didn't know the movie, but it sounded boring just by reading the title and looking to the cover... A women in a hill dancing, happy face and mountains in the back... Pf, not for me. I wanted to watch something more fun like the new Toy Story or other Walt Disney hit.

But well, suck it up!
After everything was ready, we got together and pressed play.

I remember asking my mother why did she picked this movie, and she told me that it was the movie from her childhood. Okay, then - I thought to myself - now you really have to enjoy it! It's important to mom.

Some shortages from a city somewhere in Europe, landscapes and then... THE WOMAN SMILING AND DANCING. Nothing special... Until my mother starts singing with her. Okay, the music is cute, and my mom can sing! Wow... This movie sure is special.

We watched the hole movie, with my mother singing with the woman.
And believe it or not, I loved the movie!  Though I remember that the ending was not satisfying.

And so, after the watching this movie for the first time, I memorized every single song. I sang over and over again (with my mom).

I recently watched this movie once more, and I GOT GOOSEBUMPS! Like, every time the woman (let's call her Julie Andrews, for we have maturity enough to recognize a prodigy when we see them) sang one of those epic songs, my eyes started to shake and I felt like crying! This movie sure is special. The music, the set, the actors (Hurray JULIE ANDREWS!), the story and the message of the movie are just... I don't really know the word, I'm not that good with words, but I am good with feelings. And this movie gave me The Feeling.

Let's make it a habit!

Pois é.

Espero que desta vez não falhe à minha palavra! "Basta de desculpas!" já dizia a outra.


Pode parecer que a história volta sempre ao mesmo, mas NÃO! Hoje (dia de rotina de surfada em Manly) foi especial! Eu bem que acordei com palpitações, e logo depois de ter telefonado aos meus pais (em vão, diga-se de passagem - Pais... E depois sou eu que não atendo e vocês ficam a pensar desgraças!) tomei um breakfast e... "Rodas para que te quero", Manly cá vou eu!

Não é que para meu espanto, assim que cheguei à praia, estavam GOLFINHOS a uns 20metros da areia?! TIPO, ALI! Claro que o que eu fiz foi vestir o fato com rapidez (e sexyness, ando a trabalhar para mudar a minha descoordenação corporal) e ir para dentro de água! Mas claro... Os golfinhos nadaram ao estilo Bolt para o outro lado da praia. Oh bem! Que se dane os golfinhos eu quero é ondas!

Depois de 2h de "Rema, levanta, cai" consecutivas, demos a surfada como terminada (estou como que a omitir o facto de ter uma ferida ENORME na mão devido a uma causa desconhecida... Simplesmente tenho 1cm2 de carne ao léu! E sim gente, É ENORME!). Quando já estávamos a fazer alongamentos olhámos de novo para as ondas. E o que é que "agente" vê? O quê, o quê? Os GOLFINHOS... C'um Caneco, eu queria era surfar com eles! Mas não... Eles devem ter achado a minha pseudo-syxyness pouco atraente, então só se juntaram a humanos quando saímos dentro de água. Aquelas duas surfistas que estavam ao nosso lado é que estavam bem pertinho deles quando nós já estávamos a meio caminho dos balneários... Pff...

Mas bem... As duas horas foram espectaculares! E agora que estou deitadinha na minha cama a beber um belo dum cházinho com a mão direita (porque a esquerda está inválida - só consigo usar as pontas do dedos para escrever no pc), penso que as palpitações eram por causa do trabalho que tenho para fazer.

Portaaaaaaanto, deixai-me dormir meu súbditos que amanhã é dia de trabalho!

Entretanto fique com THE BEST JOKE EVER! Acreditem que chorei a rir quando percebi!

Basta de desculpas!

Já lá cai algum tempo que escrevo alguma coisa aqui... Até parece mal para todos os meus Seguidores que ansiosamente esperam por mais um post.

Aqui vai meus belos súbditos!



BASTA DE DESCULPAS! Finalmente tomei iniciativas dignas de serem partilhadas!

-Surfar no Pacífico
-Comprei o bilhete do Conception Day (festival da Uni)
-Vou até à Nova Zelândia

Isto realmente é digno de ser partilhado! Ando contentíssima da vida agora que finalmente tenho tempo para respirar entre assignments da Uni... No último semestre era IMPOSSÍVEL! Pá, já que estou neste lado do Globo, acho muito bem que gaste algum tempo a pisar terra desconhecida! Para a semana que vem será as Blue Mountains (visita de estudo, mas há-de ser com um nível de diversão fora do normal para tais eventos escolares, estou certa!).
Todas as 3ªFeiras são dia de surf! Levanto-me por volta das 7h para estar em Manly Beach às 9h! (demoro pouco mais de 1h a lá chegar com o trânsito, MAS VALE A PENA). Na realidade, amanhã será dia de surf também! Aind anão sabemos bem onde as ondas nos vão esperar, Manly, Dee Why, Cornulla, Kurnell ou sei lá... Uma dessas praias.

As próximas três semanas vão ser de doidos. Tenho entregas, apresentações, visitas de estudo, o festival, surf... E tenho de arranjar tempo para dormir e comer. Vamos lá ver como vai ser.

Mas bem... Nova Zelândia me espera! Mal posso esperar para apanhar aquele avião.

Mas antes... Tenho trabalho a fazer... Quatro trabalhos para ser mais precisa. Cinco, se contar com aquele que quero despachar antes de mudar de ilha... Yup... CINCO! Não me estou a queixar, meus súbditos, nada disso! Estou a ganhar energias para agarrar este touro pelos cornos e não largar! Não é fácil, mas isso eu já sabia, e não esperava outra coisa!

By me ^^ 

Agora, vou dedicar-me a acabar um desses cinco, depois janto e "xixi cama", que amanhã é dia de queimar calorias no pacífico.

Fiquem com panquecas de banana ;)

Wonderland.

Which way to go? You decide. Learn about your priorities and let them guide through this world.
Be wise, and don't get lost.

-Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?-

-That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.-

-I don't much care where.-

-Then it doesn't matter which way you go.-

@Alice in Wonderland

by Henry David Thoreau.

O Cavalo de Ferro que tantas vezes Thoreau menciona. Foi ele que trouxe esta precariedade à sociedade actual. Tudo começou com o rasgar das montanhas e o transporte incessável de cegos e mercadorias para os mais capitalistas.
Thoreau mostra uma visão romântica e adaptada aos problemas do século XXI em que as linhas que guiam o pensamento das sociedades conduzem para a sobre-exploração dos recursos sem nunca olhar para consequências a longo prazo que afectarão as gerações futuras e o equilíbrio natural do nosso lar, a que chamamos Terra.

"White Pond and Walden are great crystals on the surface of the earth, Lakes of Light. If they were permanently congealed, and small enough to be clutched, they would, perchance, be carried off by slaves, like precious stones, to adorn the heads of emperors; but being liquid, and ample, and secured to us and our successors forever, we disregard them, and run after the diamond of Kohinoor. 

They are too pure to have a market value; they contain no muck. 

How much more beautiful than our lives, how much more transparent than our characters, are they!

We never learned meanness of them. 

How much fairer than the pool before the farmers door, in which his ducks swim!

Hither the clean wild ducks come.

Nature has no human inhabitant who appreciates her. 

The birds with their plumage and their notes are in harmony with the flowers, but what youth or maiden conspires with the wild luxuriant beauty of Nature? 

She flourishes most alone, far from the towns where they reside. 

Talk of heaven! ye disgrace earth."

by Albert Einstein.

The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything except our way of thinking... We need an essentially new way of thinking if mankind is to survive.

O Sabonete.

Tenho saudades... Do Sabão!

Claro que do resto da malta também! Mariaana, Debbie, Kiara e Júnior estão aqui bem junto do meu coração...

Mas bem. Acho que há pessoas que já sabem que eu tenho um filho. E este chama-se Sabão!
Pois é... Com a excepção da temporada em que estive 3 meses fora de casa quando estava na Alemanha a estudar, nunca tive um único dia longe do meu filhote.

Ele esteve comigo em Évora, ia comigo aos fim de semana para o Algarve (bem, no porão do bus -- coitadinho).


Sabão, se tiveres tempo, vê este vídeo.

I miss you ^^

See you soon, son!