After nearly 8 months of no real fixed address, my family and I moved into our home in Calgary, Canada in November. Although I had many reservations about returning to Calgary, I love the home and community we've chosen and it's been wonderful to reconnect with old friends and family. Of course it's no Vancouver but I'm doing my best to bloom where I'm planted ;) We bought a 1930s home and I'm having a ball decorating it in vibrant colors after 3 years of white walls! We are also enjoying incorporating our treasures from Brazil into our new decor.
I am constantly asked if I miss Brazil, and yes, I do. I always will. The Canadoca spends time each week with a Brazilian "Baba" who speaks only Portuguese to her, and yes, she still watches Xuxa and we listen to her in the car. I wasn't sure how much Portuguese she was really retaining but the other day when the baba told her she could watch Xuxa after she finished her snack and she hightailed it into her chair the evidence was certainly there.
We make feijoada, listen to more Portuguese music now than we did while in Brazil, gaze at our Brazilian art, and cherish our memories of our three year adventure. I still haven't watched the Rio movie, though... However, it had to end sometime and the time was right for Mr. DRL. He is enjoying being a founding member of yet another startup here in Calgary and we are both enjoying having him work less hours and having a less-than-10-minute commute.
I don't think I ever allowed myself to fully process how difficult it was to be away from family with a young child, or perhaps I didn't realize it being that she was my first baby, but now I don't think I could leave that behind again anytime soon. My parents now live 4 hours away, which is still quite far by some standards, but feels like a treat to us. Last weekend my mom decided at 5:30 pm on Friday to spontaneously come visit for the weekend. It's great.
Now that the dust is starting to settle (and is it ever - especially without a Brazilian maid!) I'm starting to think about what's next for me, I need a new project.... I miss blogging about Brazil. Thank you for allowing me to share my experiences over the past few years, it has meant more to me than I could possibly express.
I am so glad to hear from you again, Ms. DRL. I kept wondering where you would land. It would be great if you had a Daily Life in Calgary blog...or something like that.
Good luck to you all with the start-up.
Posted by: JanS | January 21, 2012 at 05:05 AM
So glad to hear things are settling down for you guys. It's nice to see you blogging again. :)
Posted by: SB | January 21, 2012 at 09:33 AM
Hi there I don't know you but have been following your blog as we are moving to Rio in June. I have to say it is a wealth of information for me right now and I hope it does not dissappear. Many thanks for the honest info.
Posted by: Anita | January 22, 2012 at 04:34 AM
Como leitor brasileiro, carioca, digo com propriedade: Tenha certeza de que você ganhou inúmeros leitores, apreciadores de seus textos, de seus relatos.
Amigos anônimos que curtem seu blog e que torcem pelo seu sucesso, pessoal e familiar.
Grande Abraço, felicidades.
Alexandre Macedo - RJ.
Posted by: Alexandre Macedo - RJ | January 22, 2012 at 06:53 PM
I have being living in Rio for the past year and a half and I still enjoy reading your blog, specially for your traveling tips.
I have been many times to Calgary as I have family there,actually my family and I were just there for the holidays and really enjoyed skiing in Banff. We are now back in RJ as school is about to start, summer here has been mild so far, hope your winter is not too bad!
Cheers from RJ
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Posted by: Mary Morgan | February 23, 2012 at 03:59 AM
Hi,
I have really enjoyed reading your articles and posts. I discovered your blog by chance when I returned from a trip to Rio in 2010. It really kept the majic going for me and I miss reading your posts.
Good luck with your new life and all the best. Aleksandra, Auckland, New Zealand
Posted by: Aleksandra | February 27, 2012 at 12:05 AM
I highly recommend CWIIL AIR (www.cwiilair.com) for your traveling requirements. They provide Single Window Solutions so you not have to worry about anything from the time you leave till the time you come back home :)
Posted by: Caroline | March 15, 2012 at 03:41 PM
Hello!
I've been reading some (many) of your old posts here and there, and I found your blog just lovely. I am moving to Rio in a few months, to live there for good.
Thank you for your posts....
Greetings from Trieste - Italy
Max
Posted by: Max | April 01, 2012 at 05:41 PM
We made big pots of pasta and had spaghetti dinners; we had pre-party parties; we had TV watch parties; we had birthday parties; and we had Christmas parties. The photo is from one such Christmas party. It was 1995, and we certainly dressed the part. My closest friends and I baked cookies and breads and made dips and worked tirelessly on our little holiday party menu; we even had an annual ornament exchange. And aren't we cute?
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