Day 151

No big trips to document; hopefully I'll have something for you next weekend, I'm supposed to do something with Jackie and Rafael. Big news this week is, I think we have a winner for the manufacturing controller position. This guy started last week, and as long as we can keep him (need prayers here, please!), we should be all set. He kicks my butt in Excel, and understands enough about product costing to pick up on the standard costing concept quickly. Not that it matters, but I also think he happens to be a very cool guy that will get along well with everyone. Very, very exciting. My plan is to be back home before the annual beach trip (mid-June).

So, between that happy news and booking my next visit home (and Cheryl's next trip to Brazil - she's flying back with me and staying for a week), spirits are high. My mental state has shifted to something more along the lines of "ok, what all do I need to see before I leave?!?" which is a lot more pleasant than being homesick.  After the next two weeks work should be a lot easier too - can assign more of the work to the new kid, and stop working on the weekends! Plus, Julia's Flat Stanley should be arriving soon, which will require some great location shots! Should make for a better blog ;)

Random pics I took while waiting for Stephen to pick me up one morning (bless him for letting me escape driving most days): the first is an example of why you can tell at first glance I'm not Brazilian, and the second is my apartment building.

Some fun stuff from the mall:

In case you can't see, this shirt says "I got swag every damn day & night." I genuinely hope whoever is buying this doesn't know English and has no clue what it means. And yet at the same time I feel myself a little tempted to buy it. 

I DID buy myself this little prize on clearance at Extra last weekend. Translation: "Beer & grilled meat & chicks & soccer with friends" LOL!!!

What do you do when your hamburgers suck too much to do well in the US? Open in places that don't know better!

I bought myself another pair of Havaianas... I may have a problem. Thank goodness they're pretty inexpensive because I anticipate having quite a collection by the time I come home. Newest pair is on the left. 

Last Sunday I went to get a foot massage and it was divine. For $R99 (less than $40 with current exchange rate), I got an hour foot massage that included amazing electric sanding (my feet have never been so soft!), steam treatment, and awesome pressure point massage. Did I mention it was divine?

This is the same trip as the foot massage. I thought I would get something lighter to eat so I got a "toasted" potato (it was a baked potato). Except light, it was not.

Forgot to share this one before too: when Patrick was here we went to a churrascaria close to the plant and I finally tried chicken hearts (because I'll try anything once). They were a little rubbery for my taste.

Last night I googled "best sushi in sao jose dos campos" in Portugues and Edo Sushi popped up. I'm all ready to go for a drive and turns out it's in walking distance of the apartment! It's the most I've spent here on sushi - almost twice as much as normal, actually, which is still only $40 with the current weak Real. I hestitate to say this because of the negative connotations that come along with it, but it was buffet - not like a Chinese buffet we have at home or anything. Next time (there will definitely be a next time) I'll take a picture of the "buffet" and you'll get it. I don't hesitate to say this is the best sushi I've had. It was awesome. And the walk back helped me digest ;)

This morning I walked to the padaria to get coffee & breakfast & some food for breakfast for the week (turns out the Herbal Life they have down here upsets my tummy). They were having a little classic car show at the park down the street - not a bad little detour!