Sábado is Portuguese for Saturday

Happy Sexta to all of you!! That means Happy Friday for my non-Portuguese speaking friends. Last night on the way home I learned all the days of the week. I also learned how to say "Crap" and what to say if someone cuts you off while driving. You know, the essentials.

Well I've almost made through an entire week of work. Today is going to be the hardest day though. Last night the guys took me out to a bar called Santo Antonio. There we met up with some IS people from work. Everyone was super friendly and I got to try lots of new things. They ordered fried Provalone cheese balls, this Brazilian thing called a Pastel which is like a fried pillow of dough with either cheese or meat in it, and this other thing called Carne Seca which is basically beef jerky that is shredded and put on a hot skillet with oil and onions. Everything was delicious! I also got to try a Caipirinha which is a drink made with a Brazilian liquor called Cachaça, limes, and sugar. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it...but I did!!

With all the eating, drinking and socializing that was going on, the time was flying by and at some point we decided to wrap things up there and by "wrap up", they meant order one more round. And then because they want you to come back and drink again, the bar gave us a round of smaller glasses of beer on the house. Once we left there, we decided to have our last drink at a bar down the street...and by bar, I mean gas station. But they apparently sell beer and they have tables outside. I even met the owner b/c the guys go there so often. Very random but really fun! Needless to say, that since I didn't get dropped off at the hotel until midnight, I didn't make it to the gym at 5:30 this morning. But I thought it was good that I still set my alarm to see if maybe I could do it. I give myself points for trying.

One thing that I loved about the bar is that they have mouthwash in the bathrooms! There's a bottle with a pump and then a bunch of little cups next to it so you just pump some for yourself and then throw your cup away when you're done! I was told it's there for 2 reasons. 1. In case you get stopped by the cops on your way home (which is silly b/c mouthwash has alcohol in it) and 2. For people going home to their spouses, they can just say "oh, i was working late at the office". I didn't really have to worry about either of these things but I used it anyway b/c it was there and I could.

As the days go by, I discover more and more things that I want to do while I'm here. Here is my list.
1. Go to a Brazilian steakhouse (which they call BBQ).
2. Go to the street fair that they have on Wednesdays.
3. Drink coconut water
4. Buy some Havaianas
5. Get a soccer jersey (for the Sao Paulo team of course which I was told is the best team in the state of Sao Paulo--and no, it's not the only one.) I should explain that I am in the city of Sao Paulo that sits in the state of Sao Paulo. There are 26 states in Brazil total.

I think there were more things on that list last night but I've forgotten some of them. Maybe a trip to the beach if there is time!

I miss and love you all!