Brasil-sil-sil!!!

After many long hours in airports and on airplanes...I arrived safely in Brazil. I am staying with two other students in a member's house and we're having fun already. We slept almost 12 hours last night...I think I needed it.

On another note...I finished reading Three Cups of Tea which is a great book about how humanity is all the same...notwithstanding its differences. He is an ex-mountaineer who is promoting education in Pakistan and Afghanistan..especailly for women. I really liked the book and even more loved the way one person can change the world for the better. Hopefully I can also be an influence for good, even if it is only in my little circle.

I will be posting a lot of pictures, etc, on the blog Brazilstudyabroad.blogspot.com, a collaboration between all of the students here in Brazil.

Pictures of Portugal

I know you are all dying to see some of the great sites in Portugal, so I thought I'd include these...complete with a royal damsel in no apparent distress.

So you want to know what I accomplished as far as research goes???

While I was enjoying the sun, the beach, the scenery, and the company in Portugal, I also was hard at work on my thesis...or on my pre-thesis research because I haven't written the prospectus yet...I interviewed Colonel Mariano Tamagnini Barbosa, the son of my poetess Maria Anna Acciaioli Tamagnini. I also spent some good hours in the Biblioteca National gathering newspaper articles written about Maria Anna when she published her book "Lin-tchi-fá" in 1925. In addition I found a piece that she had written about Chinese new year. I was really excited. I also got some great tips on new places to look for information and really had a successful time.

My Marvelous Birthday in Portugal

So, my birthday present to myself this year was this great trip to Portugal...it was also meant to help me with my thesis, but who says you have to be all work and no play... especially abroad. Anyway, the very yummy chocolate and coconut cake was made by Idolina and Elisabete made this great slideshow and there was all sorts of good food and great company and it was great! It was one of the best birthdays ever!!!!