Patos De Minas

This past weekend I took a trip to a city 6 hours from Belo Horizonte called Patos De Minas where my host mom's side of the family lives. We arrived Friday night and then left on Sunday. Saturday was a holiday in Brazil called "Dia Das Crianças" meaning "Children's Day". We should defs have that holiday in Canada..
There were fireworks going all day, every place was filled with activities made for the children and the children were also given gifts. We left on Friday after lunch and arrived in Patos at around 9pm. The drive was beautiful. Once you get outside of BH, it is all country side. As it became darker, we watched the sun go down with a perfect sunset. I couldn't keep my eyes away from the window. I talked a lot of the car ride (in only Portuguese of course) and learned lots about where we were.
When we arrived in Patos we stayed in the house of my host grandparents. Most of us went to bed shortly after our arrival because we had a long travel.
On Saturday many members of the family joined us for lunch. Now. My host mom has 8 siblings so you can imagine how many people I had met that weekend. There were about 30 people in a out and that wasn't even all of the family! Before lunch, Clarice and I went for a walk around the town and went shopping. I actually bought clothes for the first time since being in Brazil because it was actually decently priced in that store. We also went to the grocery store, which I have to say I love grocery shopping in Brazil. Every mall has a grocery store right in the middle of it.
After shopping, it was lunch time. Lunch time here is a huge deal, especially on a holiday. There was so much food I didn't even know where to start. Rice, beans, potatoes, chicken, beef, salad, other vegetables, unknown but yummy thing in a pot, more rice and beans. After a month of being in Brazil I learned to take really small portions of everything first and then ALWAYS go back for seconds because no matter how much food you take at the start, they will always try to feed you more and more. I reckon if you take a little and then go back for more, they will see you going back for more therefore, you enjoyed their food. It totally works.
During lunch I also met a couple of Clarice's cousins, Deborah and Nayanna, and also little Alise who is 2 years old and ADORABLE!
I spoke with Alise in Portuguese and then I was told that Dora the Explorer teaches her English. Later on she counted to 10 for me in English and said 'Come on Hailey, let's go!' oh my, my heart melted.
After lunch I went to Nayanna and Deborah's house to hang out and jam. Deborah plays guitar really well so we played and sang for a good 2 hours. Then they had to get ready for a birthday party of one of their cousins. The two of them and their mom began to dress themselves as if they were going to a party of the Queen! They all looked so good with their makeup, dresses, heels, hair, everything. I was thinking this must be some fancy party.
When they brought be back to 'Avos' house' (Grandparents), they asked if I wanted to go to the party with them so I said yes and quickly got dressed up to match them.
We arrived at the party and they told me that it was for their cousin who was turning 1. There were about 50 people there all dressed up, waiters bringing around food and drinks, a photographer, tables FILLED with little chocolates, an area outside for the kids to play in, and a corner filled with presents for this 1 year-old. The place was decked out in a jungle theme with little stuffed animals, and balloons. I couldn't believe it. I've never seen a birthday party like that, and it was for a 1 year-old.
After the birthday party we headed back home to have some Churrasco (BBQ) with more of the family. Oh man it was so good. Them Brazilians never stop feeding you!
Later that night, I went out dancing with my host cousin Nathalia and a couple of her friends. So once again, I got all dressed up and headed out. It was a ton of fun.

Sunday was the 85th birthday of my host Grandpa. Everyone came over for lunch again and we sang happy birthday. I gave him a magnet from Canada and a little jar of maple butter. Everyone was so thrilled that I had a present for him, and he had the biggest smile on his face.
We said our goodbyes after lunch and each person said they hope to see me around more often. I love Brazilians, they are so nice!

Throughout that whole weekend, I only spoke in Portuguese. No English. By the end of the weekend, I was starting to think in Portingles, half English and half Portuguese. It is a really good feeling. I have now passed the one month mark in Brazil, time flies way too fast!!