Can I hold your bag?

I couldn't sleep in so I got to CADEC extra early. I was instructed to dish out rice pudding/porridge onto 39 plates and then serve them to the students. Just as I was about to start carrying the plates into the classrooms, Aderlondia stops me and says that it needs more milk. She had just realized this after watching me the whole time? Does this make any sense? So I put all the pudding back into the pot and we added two things of milk. Then I dished it all back out again and had to clean several of the plates. It was about 9:30 by the time the kids got their breakfast and Nicole had to keep them from killing each other for this whole time.

I didn't have that great of a day at CADEC and I even tried to hide in the kitchen all day. I think its because I'm not getting that much sleep and it seems like the people at CADEC have lost their patience with my failure to communicate. I can't really blame them for this because I think I would lose patience after about a month as well. I am trying to do as much possible in both areas, but I can only absorb so much Portuguese everyday and I have been studying quite a bit lately and I try to get sleep but I have been very busy and its so hot in my room that I cannot sleep in.

After CADEC, I chatted with Laurel but my internet is so slow now that I can't even call or video call her. I go through times down here that I really don't think I can keep doing this, but then if I wait 30 minutes, I feel better. I really lose faith sometimes, but a small victory or change in circumstances can make me feel completely different. After talking to Laurel and getting a shower (always makes me feel better), I felt like a new man. I still don't know how long I can go on volunteering at CADEC, but I'll try to stick it out as long as possible and I'm sure it will get better if I do.

I am becoming much more adjusted to the heat now. I actually wear pants to my Portuguese class now (I still sweat like crazy in the sunlight), and I feel like I can breathe. The rapid change in climates was very tough at first but now I feel adjusted.

As always, the first lesson of Portuguese was very helpful, but the second one seemed to drag on. We keep getting new students every week so Glau feels that she must review and take it slow for these people. It is really holding us back from learning, but I still come away each week with more material than I can digest so it is still a very helpful class.

I thought I had finally figured out the bus system but tonight I took the wrong bus but with the correct destination. It still got us home but we rode it for an extra 30 minutes and got to see much of Vitoria (it went over the 2nd bridge not the 3rd bridge). I really like my time on the bus because it gives me time to think by myself, talk with Nicole, read my book, or just people watch. The bus is also good for sleeping as seen below. This night on the bus I had a man offer to hold my bag for me. This has happened once before and I thought that this was a ploy to rob me while I wasn't looking. However, after talking with Glau, I found out that it is common courtesy for someone who is sitting to ask someone who is standing to hold their bag for them. Even though I turned the offer down, it is still a really nice gesture.
Once I got home at 9:30, I went took old bottles to exchange them for beer at a local bar. Today is my mom's birthday and I decided to have a small get together for her. Amanda and I went to pick up Nicole from her house. We met my dad at a bar on the way home and we all went back to have dinner together. I hope to make her a cake on Friday or Saturday but I don't have enough money to throw her a real party. Nonetheless, she was very happy with the beer and Nicole bought her some chocolate.