Watch Natasha growing up

Natasha is growing up. she is now nine months old. She has a big friendly smile. She now has two front teeth. Like her big sister Annabella, she likes to get dressed up in costumes and pretend she is a princess. Annabella, Natasha's big sister, is eight years old. This winter the whole family moved from Brazil to Bogota, Columbia. During Annabella's break from school, Annabella, Natasha and their mother Kybran, visited friends in California. Annabella got to swim in the Pacific ocean and take surfing lessons. Annabella speaks English and Portuguese and now they will both be learning Spanish.

meet a new Brazilian

Meet Natasha, she is now 3 months old. She is the youngest daughter of Kurt and Kybran. She is the sister of Annabella, and she is Camillo's newest granddaughter.
Already she can identify her mother and father. She knows when she wants to eat. She likes to stand and bounce on her feet and she smiles at everyone. Natasha is Brazilian but her mother is from the USA. Her father was born in Egypt. He has an Italian passport but he thinks of himself as Brazilian.

Will Natasha grow up to be a ballerina, or a scientist or will she be a school teacher like her mother? Her world is all new and shiny and all her possibilities are in front of her.

Meet Lucia

Lucia is our maid. She has cleaned Camillo's home since it was built 21 years ago. She comes every Monday morning, arriving at 6:30 am, but talks with the gardener and waters the plants before starting on the house. I have never met anyone as efficient or as through as she is. She begins cleaning up in the loft where Camillo's keeps his office and we have the TV and extra beds for the Grandchildren's visits.
She works her way down through the living room, dining, kitchen and out the utility. She cleans windows, dust pictures always leaving them crooked. She cleans inside of cupboards and the refrigerator. If we have had guest over the weekend or a barbecue, she also cleans the guest house and the patio. She is finished by 1:00 pm.

Sometimes she comes and helps me on Saturdays when we have big parties. She has a key to the house and when we travel she comes extra times and keeps track of things for us. One time we did not have electricity for four days while we were traveling and she cleaned the thawed food from the freezer for us. I have great liking and admiration for Lucia.

Isn't she fantastic?

GingerV

More about Ewerton

My name is Ewerton. I am sixteen years old. I go to school and have classes in mathematics, portugues, history, philosophy, science and biology. I live in Nilópolis. I have a mother, a step- father, and a brother. I do not have a sister. My mother's name is Luzia.My step-father is Cesa. My brother is Wellington and my father is Emilson.

Meet a Brazilian Party

Centro Cultural Carioca http://www.centroculturalcarioca.com.br/












Traditional Brazilian Music, Brazilian Country Music, Some Samba. Excellent musicians. Everyone will dance the night away.













Every Night - but we especially like Saturdays.

Meet The Ipanema Open Market

Don't miss
the open market
in Ipanema on
Praça General Osorio.






Parsley to lettuce










and more seafood

















to a colorful palate of fresh herbs.
We'll see you every Friday!

Meet Marilia

The short woman in the front is my friend Marilia. Marilia was born in Rio but lived 8 years in Boston in the United States. She loves the US and loves to meet Americans. In this photo she is seen with 4 Americans whom she escorted around Rio. She encouraged them to relax and enjoy the city. She took them to the Northeast fair that is open 24 hours per day and to local bars where few tourists go. She took them to the favela known as Rio das Pedras. The Americans had a good time dancing all night in the little community.

Marilia says hello from Rio.

Meet Domingos

Hello, my name is Domingos.

Today I'm having an English lesson. I came to know some web sites. http://www.rong-chang.com/sites/voa.htm This site has simple English articles about American history, culture and politics. I was able to hear and read the stories. The speakers spoke clearly and slowly.

http://http://www.freemason.org/resources_lodgelist.php When I go to study English in Santa Cruz I will go to the Masonic meetings and meet Mason brothers. I will take my masonic passport to California.

I am grateful to God that I have met Mr Blake, Mr Abel and his wife.

I ask God to bless them every day and all their lives.

Goodbye from

Domingos

Meet the Sunrise

We dedicate this photo series to the people who are still sleeping.

While you sleep this morning we are drinking coffee and reading our neighbor's newspaper.

Meet the Boys

These twin boys were born on December 19, 2006. Gabriele has bright blue eyes and golden blonde hair. Raffele has deep brown eyes and dark brown hair. They have Italian names and were named after the archangels.










They both listen very carefully to the sound of the waves. They are curious about the different languages spoken in their home. They blink their eyes and turn their attention to my face when I speak English. I believe they notice the different sounds coming from me.

kisses from Brazil

Meet more of Raquel!

Raquel likes to act funny!

Raquel Again!

This is another photo of Raquel. It shows her spirit.

Meet Raquel

Raquel is 28 years old. She was born in Brazil and has dual nationality. Because her father, Abel, is a dual Brazilian-Portuguese national Raquel also is Brazilian-Portuguese. She studied history and communications at PUC here in Rio. She is now living and studying film making in Barcelona, Spain.

In this photo we are about to eat Balcalhau that was prepared by Abel. He learned this delicious recipe from his mother. Raquel loves her father's cooking.

Balcalhau Maria

1/2 kilo of prepared dried balcalhau (soaked for 24 hours) separate the fish from the bones or place large pieces with bones in a heavy bottomed pan with the following:

2 green bell peppers cut into large pieces

2 large onions cut into large pieces

3 large tomatoes cut into large pieces

4 large potatoes cut into large pieces

1/2 cup of olive oil

Bake in a 350degree oven until everything is tender.

Meet Ewerton

This is a photo of one of my students. His name is Ewerton and he is 16 years old. He is the son of Luzia, our housekeeper. He has summer vacation now because Brazil is located in the southern hemisphere and the seasons are opposite to the United States. Ewerton is a good English student. He studys hard and he has good pronunciation.

Ewerton says hello from Brazil.

meet the teacher2

Meet the teacher

Carnaval starts Early in Rio de Janeiro

Brazilians just can't wait. Every year the parties and street gatherings begin earlier and earlier. We were just down near the beach and I took these photos. The bloco "Me Esquece" had just finished their parade.

The beer sellers follow the people who are dancing to the music.

It was 5:30pm and the Brazilians are still lying on the beach

and buying beer.

Kisses and hugs from Rio
RoseMary

Abel at the Helm

Abel is my husband. He is a Harbor Pilot for Guanabara Bay. He went to merchant marine school when he was 17 years old. He worked very hard and traveled as a first deck officer all over the world. At age 25 he took the pilot's exam in Rio de Janeiro and passed to become the youngest pilot Rio had ever seen.

He was born in Porto, Portugal and came to Brazil when he was 6 years old. His family settled in the neighborhood of Tijuca. Televison was not available in his home so he read books and played soccer for entertainment. Books are one of his greatest pleasures.

Abel loves his friends and has many friends from his childhood. I will post pictures of his friends later.

kisses from Brazil
RoseMary