Dear family and friends!
First thing I learned this week? I do have allergies! Surprise!! Not really allergies, but since I am not accustomed to the mosquitoes here and I am eaten alive nightly (sleeping doused in bug spray, in pants), I had my first allergic reaction. Party. Luckily I was in the best possible place for it to happen.. I was at a mission meeting at the center, with the Mission President and his wife (a nurse).. He was giving us a message and all of a sudden my face started getting red, and hot.. my heart started beating fast for no reason, I was having a hard time swallowing.. I had no idea what was happening.. It was so strange!! My companion just looked over at me and asked what was wrong.. trying to explain it in Portugues was also a bit of a party. But I got water, and sat by a window and the symptoms went away. After I was talking to the mission president's wife and she said that it was stress--but then she saw the huge mosquito bites on my leg and said- "Those are horrible! Allergic reaction!" She gave me a shot, got me medicine.. she also said its normal because we don't have those type of bugs in the states, but yeah.. that was a party!
Other than that, the week was pretty long.. a lot of appointments fell through, but we also have a baptism confirmed for this saturday!! AND she wants to do it in the ocean!! Good times (pro of being on the beach). Other than that I have rediscovered my affinity for small children--I can communicate with them in small gestures and sounds-- I even had a ten minute HomenAranha (Spider man) fight with a few of them.. it. was. AWESOME! Sister Colares keeps up the talking with the adults when I'm lost and I just stick to making faces, entertaining the kids, and smiling.. a LOT of smiling.
Something else that I found interesting is the 'cleaning' habits of Brazilians. All of the sinks have cold water only.. Soap? Maybe.. In my house we clean every p-day.. We use water with laundry detergent and a broom to wash the floors and a squeege (sp?) type thing as well. Also, washing things like cups and such only requires a run under the water... hot water, soap? Nope! I am impressed that more people don't get sick...
Another fun Brazilian thing are the buses.. There are crazy speed bumps on the road everywhere (huge) because everyone speeds like there is no tomorrow. The smaller roads are unevenly paved with big stones and therefore any trip by vehicle is a bumpy ride! (Extreme Mr Toad's Wild Ride). Without fail every time that I am standing on the bus I lose my balance and almost fall on someone to which my companion always laughs.. I guess I'm just not used to the crazy yet.. haha. Also, you want to cross the street at a cross walk? Good luck!! No cars slow down, and on many of the smaller streets there are no sidewalks so you and the cars become best friends! haha Its definitely a new world down here.
Now that I have the medication I am doing well, even though it does make me a little sleepy. I will be calling on Mom's day around 4 my time! Sounds perfect! Hope all is well!
Love you!
Sister Reising
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