Rio De Janeiro- breathtaking better every time.

Knowing that I had the Saturday off work (thankyou “Brazilian Worker’s Day”) was reason enough to not think twice about going to Rio. I’m seriously surprised at the number of Brazilians who have never been to Rio because of their fear of violence or being assaulted etc etc because in my eyes Rio De Janeiro is this kind of amazing fantasy place where love is more passionate, the ocean is more inviting and the nights are longer and warmer. Here’s a few pics of our latest trip… what a paradise. I’m going to miss you with my heart and soul.

To Get Married or to Have a Child?

These were my only two options to be able to stay in Brazil. but as I’m coming home in a matter of weeks, everyone will be happy to know that we decided against both options. At the time I made the decision to come home, or rather, I was told that I had to go home (getting married/ pregnant were never really viable options) I didn’t feel any particular way. It just seemed as though the inevitable now had a date. I was getting my hair cut last night when I came to the thought of how horrible the feeling will be when I only have 2 weeks left here, only to realise that my days are actually already limited to 13. What happened and where did the time go I don’t know. I worry that I’ll arrive in Australia only to look around and ask myself how the hell I got back there so quickly and what on earth am I doing without Enrico? I would like to stay here, probably more than I would like to go back, but at the end of the day choice isn’t a factor in the situation. An early offer from the University of Queensland last week excited me sufficiently to know that I’ll be busy enough to get on with everything back in Aus, without thinking to much about what’s going on here, not to mention my entire family in Aus. Still, in saying that, each day that passes leaves my heart just that little bit tighter, pumping faster and loving harder, all in preparation for the heartbreaking end.

Being a Teacher

It’s easy for any English speaking foreigner to come to Brazil and work. So I guess in respect to that my experience can’t have been too different to anyone else’s. But I think the thing that has changed teaching English from a job to a passion has most certainly been the school that I work for and the excitement and enthusiasm that it brought out in me. CNA (Cultura Norte Americana) is a huge and well known franchise of English schools, spread throughout the country. And I have been lucky enough to work in one of the schools not to far from our house. I started with a small workload of a few conversation classes which as the weeks went by turned into a few other classes here and there and eventually evolved into the 6 day working week of over 30 students and a 8 levels of English, from first contact with the language (basic 1) to English fluency Exam preparation that I have and enjoy so much now. I think I have always liked teaching things to people, but it wasn’t until I started at CNA that I really had anything valuable to teach. It’s a pretty great feeling knowing that you have so much knowledge that you can pass onto someone else, and really teaching them something that they need and enjoy simply makes it more than a job- or I guess less of a job depending on which way you look at it. From grammar to patience, appreciation to learning styles I’ve been lucky enough to learn so many things at CNA and enjoy my work so much that I should pay to work there, or at least work for free! I always felt so happy to do really well in an exam, but when a whole class of your students do really well, the feeling of euphoria is multiplied by each good result. It’s going to be hard to go back to being a student again! I’ve discovered another passion, one that I think will certainly play a big part in my future, I’ve learnt so much about how to teach and how to be taught, I’ve laughed to the point of crying and cried to the point of laughing, and that’s not to mention all the friendships that I’ll take back to Australia with me. I think I’ve learnt equally as much as I’ve taught and I guess that has been the real reward.