Driving in Belo/ Day 1 Training/Random thoughts

We started cultural training today in learning what to expect from the Brazilian culture when greeting, socializing, etc. We had breakfast which consisted of some sweet bread with a deli meat and cheese, coffee that is incomparably better than American coffee, and fresh mangoes and bananas. For lunch we had a chicken stroganoff with rice and tomatoes. It was delicious. Apparently lunch is the big meal of the day in Brazil. Dinner is typically small. After lunch, we went out into the city of Belo and learned how to drive. We have been told that the driving is very aggressive and scary...to add to this, the random person I sat next to on the 8 hour flight to Sao Paulo, told me that there were only 2 places in the world that he is afraid to drive...New York City and Belo Horizonte...We found out exactly why today. Brazilians will do anything and take the car anywhere it can go. You constantly need to be checking your mirrors and watching everyone around you. Motorcyclists weave in and out of traffic in between lanes doing whatever they please. If your arm is outside of your car, you are likely to lose it. Despite all this, it was very exciting driving and did not seem too bad once you got behind the wheel. I actually think it is scarier to watch as a passenger. After driving, we now have free time until an hour from now when a lot of Brazilian students will be coming over for us to meet and begin relationships with. We've been told that our capacity for people will need to be greatly increased to be accepted within the culture. For example, we were told that it would not be weird for the students to stay for 6 or 7 hours tonight and consider this a "short time." We also had some language training and are starting to learn key phrases and words. I am very eager to learn the language to partially break down any type of barrier between the students and I.

Some random thoughts:

Our house is amazingly huge (estimating around 4000 sq ft). There is no air condition, no heat, the doors stay open all day and the windows stay open all night. Our room has a giant window that overlooks either Belo or a suburb of Belo, but it is a beautiful view at night, but especially in the morning. "Belo Horizonte" actually means Beautiful Horizon and proves true from the view we have from our home. It has an amazing vacation feeling because the city is literally nothing but mountains and hills with a city hidden within each bend and slope. The warm days and cool nights add flavor and relaxation while being in the house, experiencing the city, and soon the college campuses.

Every where we go, people stare at us. It is a weird feeling being the foreigner for the first time in my life, but at the same time we are told the students are very accepting and will do anything to make us feel loved. It is hard to believe that we are only on day 2 but we will be here for a long, but relatively short 2 months. I already miss some small things in everyday living, the advanced technological conditions of the U.S., and other random small things like hot shower water and the weight room. God will continue to work in my heart and make less of these worldly desires. On another note, I love the food, the relational touch of the Brazilians, and the relaxed mountain-side feeling of living.

Excited to learn more, write more, and grow in my walk with Christ while hopefully impacting others. God has given me this summer to exponentially grow in my view of him, my relational capacity, and my way of expressing my love to others, along with many other things.

For now i have to go, but i will try and write more and post pictures soon.

Wes