Summer Plans

Oi gente,

My parents recently bought a condo in Fortaleza for the family to enjoy, relax, and cheer on the Brazilian soccer team during the World Cup. This for sure is a dream come true for the whole family. Needless to say, I have officially started the countdown to summer vacation. With only 5 weeks left, I now daydream of coconut water, tapioca ice-cream, a whole lot of sun (odd since I don't like to sunbath), and men in speedos!

Oddly enough, my excitement parallels my anxiety. I grew up in the US and consider it my home, so the idea of spending two whole months in Brazil is odd, fascinating, and amazing. I find myself wondering about the culture and people, but most of all, I wonder if I will fit in and like it.

To make my trip a sure success, I started a Must Do list. While in Fortaleza, I want to take Forro lessons. Forro is a Brazilian dance with its origin in the Nordeste (North East) of the country and I hope that hubby and I can one day become the Forro version of Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth.


Once we master the dance (or at least learn not to step on each other's feet), I want to attend all (yes, all) the quadrilha parties in the area. In June, the north of Brazil celebrates Sao Joao (Saint John) with private and public quadrilhas (Brazilian Hoedown). In some ways, it's the carnaval celebration of the north but without the bikinis.

Without a doubt, my summer vacation will be a lasting and enjoyable experience.

Allergic to Vacation

I am feeling lazy, sleepy, and unmotivated. Clearly, I'm allergic to vacation.

When I'm working and have little time, I am motivated and productive. I complete lists, with an S, of things I want and need to do. In fact, the busier I am, the longer the lists. This is how I ease my frustration and disappointment for not having time to get things done. I go as far as scheduling time for specific tasks; and bam! a task is done. But vacation throws me off. I get lazy.

To combat my lethargy, I decided to create a list of things to do:

• Nap time in the early afternoon. This is a must since I need energy for the other tasks.

• Read my novel in bed. By staying in bed, I am merging two tasks into one. In case I am exhausted from my nap, I am able to complete my reading task by napping with the book next to me.

• Commute to the sofa. I personally think that commuting is one of the biggest injustices anyone can do to oneself. However, I am willing to make this sacrifice in the name of productivity. Once in the new location and after a pit stop at the bathroom and kitchen, I will proceed to the final destination, the sofa. Since all my favorite shows are hibernating for the winter, I will expand my cultural knowledge by watching the Kardashians.

My behavior is contagious!

The above are the three must do tasks of the day. Of course there will be variations and adjustments made, but I'm hoping to successfully complete the tasks during the allocated time. Wish me luck!