As much as you want to hear what is going on down here in Brazil, I want to hear about how your life is.

It helps a lot to get updates from friends and family, and anyone else that cares to email me.

No more one-way blog posts.  I am switching to email correspondence, and hope you will send me an update on your life, your day, some story (good or bad), or anything else.

ahessert@gmail.com

I don't know what to say. I am working in a very cool building. My job is still in its budding stages so I haven't seen the impact that I want to make there.

My life is moving here, but I am still very much a foreigner. My portuguese is very good, but when I get into more intelligent in depth conversation, I falter. I am trying to keep the momentum and keep plugging away everyday at various aspects of my life down here (social, professional, and probably some other stuff). When I am trying to forge ahead and make the most of my time, it is difficult to stop in the middle and write for an audience. But this could be constructive in some way.

I went to a book opening today and learned very interesting stuff about a local favela, and the new safety and peace that the Pacification Police Force have brought, as they have forced out the Drug Traffickers, which previously were the law. "Rocinha em Off" gives a resident leader's first hand account of an order of violence that might now be in the past.

Now a question.. please comment with any advice or insignificant idea you may have.

What should I do to make the most of my time down in Brazil?

(I know Bill. "It sounds like I already have the answer.")

I started my job last week. So far it is just orientation, and they are integrating me slowly. I now have a desk with a computer, and the six people that are regularly at the office are cool. I am also going to my boss’s class on family based research in the social service department. It feels good to have a schedule.

I am battling with English on the internet, in books I want to read, non-portuguese speaking family members, and English speakers down here in Rio. I am slowly cutting it out, and my Portuguese reading volume has skyrocketed. I want to try a whole week without using any English, but not now. Writing will definitely be the final frontier for me.

The waves were barreling two days ago. . . No I didn’t get barreled. The weather broke, and it is rainy and chilly. Weather.com says it is 86 degrees right now, and that doesn’t seem right. A cool wind is forcing me to wear a sweater.