Moving In, Waterfalls, BBQs and More!

Another week gone by in Brazil, and this time we're out of our super fancy hotel! Last Monday evening after our 'first day' of school (Marshall for teacher orientation, me for registering for university classes), we called up Dulce and told her we'd like to rent a room at her house. So that evening was spent crazily rearranging furniture and suitcases, all while two guys worked in one of the bathrooms fixing the sink. Dust was flying all over, poor Tina (one of our awesome new housemates) had her stuff literally thrown everywhere by Dulce, who seems to have no concern for other people's possessions. . . Marshall helped take apart an extra twin bed to move, while one of the plumbers helped us measure tables to see if we could fit them through doors -- only to have to take the biggest one around the house and move it through the window! It was insane. At least we made a nice dinner all together, though a little late in the evening.

But now we're all settled in, even after Dulce decided to rearrange
the furniture in the rooms while we were out. Our room has plenty of space for putting items, and the bathroom is really cool. And let's not forget the pool!! The water is freezing cold right now, but it feels great after a long day of much too warm bus rides. Most of the Lake District houses have pools, fortunately, because we may be moving again. . .but to a place for free rent next month in the North Lake District (we are in the South).


In Brasilia it is also really common to leave windows and doors open, especially at night because it gets so cold, and most of the buildings are open corridor and plaza areas, with only certain rooms, like offices or classrooms, air-conditioned. Both EAB (Marshall's school) and UnB (my school) have buildings like this. It's something to get used to because they don't have screens.

Another adjustment we've had to make is the ridiculous bus system, that nobody, not even the bus drivers themselves, understand! Last week we had to just try hopping a few buses from Lago Sul, crossing our fingers that they'd go by where we needed them to. By Friday I think most of us figured them out from our new location, though it means waiting at the bus station at around 7am for Marshall and I with our 8am classes. This week we're hoping to get a student pass to help cut down costs, since it's almost impossible to get anywhere by walking-- though we did try last week a few times. Not so fun. The city was planned with the idea that every person would have a car. Duh JK!! (The president of Brazil that decided to move the capital was Juscelino Kubitschek, hence JK.) I also had a great day on Friday hanging out with the herpetology lab students. We went collecting for some lizards/skinks (not sure which just yet) at the Botanical Garden the the Ecological Reserve. It was a great time and I'm excited to go back again!

Then yesterday, after sleeping in for the first time in a week and having brunch, we all (Tina, Rafael--another housemate with a car!--, Marshall and I) decided to try to find a waterfall called Saia Velha, and then take a visit to the Congress buildings. While everything didn't quite go as planned, considering we didn't have a map or very good directions, it was still a great day of adventures. We drove all over the Cerrado (savanna biome in the center of Brazil) and its red dirt trying to find a waterfall, but all we encountered was this little one, that had a lovely 'decoration' . . .




Then Rafael said he'd never visited the Catetinho, the first actual Brasilia building.
While Brasilia was being constructed the president JK and his directors/engineers stayed at these little cabins. And apparently he liked the color pink!















Next we made it to the heart of government in Brazil, the Praca dos Tres Poderes (Plaza of the Three Powers). We went on a tour of the senate (left, rounded building), congress (bowl), and presidential cabinet rooms, which Marshall enjoyed very much, considering it was all in Portuguese! But between Rafael (who speaks great English) and I, most of us got the general idea.

















Brazilian government is very similar to our American system, with the two houses, though their senate is three per state since they only have 26 states. It was pretty interesting to see everything. We even got to take a seat in the chairs and check out how the elected officials vote.












































Afterward we tried to visit the bank museum, with different currencies and big gold bars on display, but ended up heading to the National Museum that hosts different art exhibits. It's the Star Wars looking building that Marshall, Tina, and Rafael are headed into in the picture. And then back home again for a big meal together and some chit-chatting!















Today we had lots planned because of our Brazilian BBQ! We went shopping this morning for lots of food, and were been busy cooking for most of the afternoon. Right now we are headed to see the new Batman movie at the theater-- subtitled for the Portuguese-challenged among us. . .