Life in Brazil and Perserverence!
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 22oC, cool and overcast. It is Sunday, a day that I normally reserve a part of to myself, if I were living alone, or more likely the whole day. I needed to change Rogerio’s shirt, a present I had taken to his birthday barbecue party the Sunday before. Surprisingly, it was too large for him, as […]
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 22oC, cool and overcast. It’s Saturday, and although it’s a bit chilly by Carioca standards, I’ve decided to give myself a challenging workout. I woke up at six in the morning and hit the streets by 6:30. I went straight to the park to begin. To avoid losing count, I chose to do a long-extended exercise […]
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 26oC, hottish, sunny, and slightly overcast. Yes, today is the day that Yasmin gets her ear pierced. Even though I am feeling sick, I am up early, out in the street by 5:30 a.m., and working out until quarter to seven. I am back home by seven, and I have classes straight through until half past […]
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 24oC, hottish, sunny, and slightly overcast. I was up at 4:30 pm and in the street by five. I was back home, showered and changed by 6:30, and was ready for the first class at 7 am. Now, Tuesdays and Thursdays are my heaviest days in terms of classes. However, I still had time to call […]
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 25oC, hottish, sunny, and slightly overcast. Rio is experiencing a relatively warm Autumn, with temperatures averaging 22 and 26 degrees Celsius. It feels warm in the sun but cool in the shade. I recently watched a video on YouTube from someone in England who was saying that they were experiencing scorching weather, with temperatures reaching 29 […]
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 25oC, hottish, sunny, and slightly overcast. It is Tuesday, and my first class back with an old pupil. Dona Vera, I think she is eighty-four years old; she had fallen down a month ago and broke her arm and shoulder. She was rushed to hospital by her next-door neighbour and her maid and went immediately into […]
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 26oC, hot and sunny. Just a note from yesterday: I do not think that my ex-wife and my daughter really appreciate living in the south zone of Rio and the sacrifices that go into and are needed to maintain them there. If you ask them, yes, they will act in a way of appreciation, but I […]
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 28oC, hot and sunny. OK, it is Sunday, and the flat is full of women. Sunday is usually a sacred day for me, on which I either like to do something for myself or stay quiet. As the flat is full of people, mainly women, I thought it better to accept a barbecue and birthday invitation […]
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 28oC, hot and sunny. It is Saturday, and today will be a full house. Yasmin’s aunts, Nalva’s sisters, and one of Yasmin’s cousins, Caio, will be coming to commemorate her birthday. I got up at 7 am and worked out for about an hour and a half at the park. On the way back, I had […]
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 25oC, hottish and sunny. It’s Friday and, technically, the start of a long weekend. If I were a civil servant in Brazil, I would be free to travel or do nothing at all. However, as a freelance teacher, I am always at the beck and call of my students. If it’s necessary to reschedule a missed […]