Our Happening

  • Home
  • About

Brazilian Thanksgiving

November 30, 2017 by Emily Dickson in Family, Brazil

This year, we ate a Chester on Saturday night.

Thanksgiving isn’t a holiday down south, so Greg spent the day at work and we ate sad leftovers for dinner. Our grand family dinner was slated for Saturday evening.

I considered buying a turkey, but settled on a Chester. The Chester is a uniquely Brazilian, genetically-modified chicken. How does that not sound like the perfect alternative for a food-centric, American holiday? “Let’s explore a bit more of our new culture while maintaining our American celebration.” It felt like the right thing to do.

The morning of, Greg woke to a terribly debilitating cold and spent most of the day in bed. We managed though, to whip together a quasi-nice dinner of our lovely Chester, sautéed chuchu, and mashed potatoes (because at least one traditional food should make the menu). We ate ridiculously late then scrambled into pajamas and bedtime stories, taking time for one obligatory family selfie.

No turkey. No dessert. No football. No extra family.

It felt not at all like Thanksgiving.

One week later, we are still working through our Chester leftovers. We’ve had Chester quesadillas, Chester stir fry, and Chester pasta so far. London has also had his fair share of Chester, in the form of pleasant purees.

The leftovers that will not end, that feels very much like Thanksgiving.

IMG_20171125_161205041.jpg
IMG_20171125_185403494.jpg
IMG_20171125_191809298.jpg
November 30, 2017 /Emily Dickson
Family, Brazil
Comment

grateful.

November 24, 2017 by Emily Dickson in Reflection, Brazil

mangoes

BSF and my discussion group

a church home

budding friendships

personal growth (oh the personal growth…)

a husband that makes me laugh

London’s laugh - and his sweet, sweet voice too

squishy, sticky fingers that love to pull out hair

big blue eyes that smile

Dr. Cora, Super Cora, Airplane Cora…

Cora’s “feel better” hugs

“Joshua fought the battle of Jericho…”

bedtime hugs / kisses from big sister to little brother

space in my week - and reason - to write

curiosity

minimalism, essentialism…

sunshine

conversations that involve more listening and less talking (on my part)

braving new

cozying up to familiar

the baby carrier

my Portuguese teacher

days I can use our (one and only) car

shady parks

long weekends

peace that is truly beyond understanding

increasing trust

Christmas time… Jesus, music, decorations… all of it.

the DuoLingo app

Paulista Ave people watching

friendly neighbors with daughters old enough to baby-sit

constant opportunity / obligation to learn

food trucks in parking lots

command strips (thus far, the only way we’re able to decorate our concrete walls)

recipes that don’t ask for things I can’t find here

understanding the value in staying home

the power of choice

slow days at home

pancakes on Saturday morning (topped with honey because, syrup?)

Greg’s co-workers… those in KC that restock our peanut butter via business trips and those in Sao Paulo who willingly serve as our personal assistants / translators.

my God… so great, so strong, so mighty… there is NOTHING He cannot do

jeans that fit and shirts without holes (oh the joys of baby-having… and shopping in a new country)

the one night every week that I don’t have to do the dishes

the potential of new habits

homemade popcorn

panettone

a baby that ignores the Christmas tree

more time between nursing sessions

a 3 yr old imagination that turns a closet into a doctor’s office

the humbling experience of not being a native speaker

grace that triumphs over all

November 24, 2017 /Emily Dickson
Reflection, Brazil
2 Comments
1017-14.jpg

the beach

November 12, 2017 by Emily Dickson in Family, Travel, Brazil

The highly anticipated first weekend exodus to the beach!

(insert deeply-satisfying exhale here)

The week before friends warned us about the massive mosquitos that live near the beaches. Their bites swell and bleed SO BRING SPRAY.

That night I had a nightmare about 4 foot tall mosquitos chasing us down streets (ei: running after us on flamingo-like legs).

Thankfully, they were not actually 4 feet tall and made only one appearance - which we experienced within the safety of windows / walls. Win.

But I digress.

We left Friday evening amidst rain and oh-so-many friends heading out of town with us...

1017-1.jpg

Three hours later we arrived in Boiçucanga and transferred sleepy kids into bed.

Seven hours after that, we woke to a no-shower-necessary, salty, sandy kind of day.

It was perfection.

Morning discoveries: Waves and oh-so-much-water... a bit too much perhaps. Cora had zero interest in any part of her body touching any part of those waves. But sand castles are totally her jam. London was far more willing to dabble in the unfamiliar, but sand proved sadly disappointing to his taste buds.

1017-2.jpg
1017-11.jpg
1017-10.jpg
1017-3.jpg
1017-5.jpg

A quick lunch and a long nap preceded the afternoon outing... which consisted mostly of more sleep for the littlest and more sand for his sister. Like a true mid-western American, Cora's pretend play involved "trains" (blocks) getting stuck in "snow" (sand) :)

1017-17.jpg
1017-16.jpg

Pizza paired with this view wrapped the day.

1017-18.jpg

By Sunday morning London had developed a terrible cough and his voice was increasingly hoarse. Ordinarily, this would (most likely) not cause an abrupt end to a delightful weekend. It just so happens though, that London had swallowed a small rubber band on Friday evening before we left (the kind we use for Cora's ponytails). We had figured it would "pass" and went on with the weekend. The cough though caused all sorts of what-ifs to spring forth:

Did it get stuck in his esophagus? wrapped around his vocal cords? Is that even possible? I'm sure it is. 

We packed our bags and headed home, uncomfortably... because this heart of mine could only handle about 20 minutes of listening to London's sweet cry before I squished myself into the 6-inch gap between carseats for the remainder of the ride... which was only 2 hours thanks to Sunday traffic and a highly motivated father.

X-rays and tests and waiting rooms, 4.5 hours of them, revealed only that our son was getting a cold.

Because, of course.

Next time, we stay for day 2 :)

November 12, 2017 /Emily Dickson
Family, Travel, Brazil
Comment
  • Newer
  • Older

Subscribe

Sign up to receive Our Happening updates and essays in your inbox!

Thank you!