Friday, January 1, 2010

Day 6 December 31st

Today was our last day in Melo. We stopped and saw one of his family’s oldest friends before we left. They kept asking if I dyed my hair, they just could not believe it was natural. They were awesome.
On the drive back we stopped in Minas to get my favorite cookies. {Alfajores} They are amazing. I was going to bring a ton of them back but I knew that if we bought them now they would not make it back to America!
When we arrived at Natalia’s, she was getting everything ready for the fiesta that night. All of Martins familia was coming over to eat and celebrate the New Year. Martin had told me that almost his whole family speaks English and I was excited/scared to talk to them. They were AMAZING!! We had a blast. Martin cooked so much meat that was actually very delicious. It was a lot like the Brazilian restaurants at home. I was not sure I would like anything so I marinated chicken to eat just in case. I shared my chicken {Martin kept calling it kitchen} with everybody and they liked it!
I talked to Martins family all night. It was fun to watch them figure out words for things and get out the dictionaries for me to explain things. We talked about movies that we all liked and they all said they were fans of Lord of the Rings, I called them nerds thinking they would not know that meant but they did. They laughed and told me that people that liked Harry Potter were nerds! So damn funny!
I did not think I was going to last until Midnight but Diego had told me how spectacular the fireworks were so I fought to stay up. He had not explained it right. It was pandemonium!! Everybody does illegal fireworks all over the city. It sounded like bombs going off for about an hour. Everyone is out in the streets kissing each other and wishing them Happy New Year. {Feliz Ano Nuevo} Then they popped open a bunch of Champagne bottles and everybody toasted each other and ate more food. It was the greatest New Years ever!

All the meat for the party!


Drinking Mate while cooking.

Mate everywhere!
Everybody eatin.



Getting ready for midnight!

I love this girl!

Fireworks everywhere!

In the street.

Midnight.

6 comments:

The Jaynes Family said...

I am so glad you blogged! Sounds like you are having so much fun! I can't wait for you to get back so you can show me all the pics. I miss you and am glad you're surviving amongst all my kind of people. I am also glad you found some water that you like, I know you wouldn't be able to survive without some good agua.

Unknown said...

I have the giggles. I am so happy you are having such a great time! Can't believe you left your Sandy Bubble!

Unknown said...

I'm so glad you're having a good time! Stop trying to do your hair..believe me I know.
Say hi to everyone for me. I miss them a ton.

Tarahh77 said...

So fun to read all this! I just got all caught up. I love how much fun you are having and how much you are enjoying it and just going with the flow. You are so awesome!

Charlene Thompson said...

Hey Babe, Your Minnie is doing great! She poops 10 percent of the time on the potty pad, and the other 85 percent I find it on the floor. Your dad only found the one time and made Mo pick it up. OOps. BUT she peepees on the pad so in my book that is a GOOD dog. She comes in from outside by herself. She always wants to go out so I still stick her head out and then she goes thru. BUT she barks and barks at everything, no matter if it is 5:30 am or 10:30 pm. And She loves to be out there so calm down, and she will come in when she is ready, ON HER OWN. I am getting the batteries for the bark collar today. That will be the next lesson. But she says she is ready for it.
I did give her a bath, in the kitchen sink (I know nasty) because the tub is torn up for repairs. I CLEANED AND SCOURED OVER WELL! But I need to brush her really well. She has a matting problem. BUT SHE IS CLEAN.
She loves to dance with the sunbeams. Goofy dog. And they entertain her forever.
Glad you are having a mauvalous time. Wish I was there. Are you getting over your anxieties? Are you over IBS? Can we get out of Sandy now? Looking forward to getting you home. Which is what day?

LOVE,
Mom

Paola&Tyler said...

Sam!! So glad you blogged! The last time I checked, the latest entry was the one where you said you made it to Uruguay!! I just got caught up and man, I'm jealous!! It sounds like you're having a ton of fun!! Keep an eye out for my parents and little sis, they just made it to Uruguay(Montevideo) today..They'll be there until the 16th or 17th..Keep having fun!! And I'm glad you figured out that I wasn't exaggerating when I said it gets HOT and it sucks having to deal with the hair!! Have fuuuuuuun!
xoxo