Samba de gafieira

~You can also to listen to this entry here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiAS7poDUE0

(My accent is awful though...)

As I wrote down here before, I'm taking ballroom dance lessons for around 8 months. At the school we learn how to dance bolero, "soltinho" and samba. I love the three rhythms, but I can't deny that samba has a special magic. Oh no, it's not that samba that we use to watch on Carnival, when almost naked brown skinned girls dance wearing extravagant clothes. The rhythm that I dance is called "samba de gafieira" and you can't dance alone, but with a partner.

I had realised that guys really like this rhythm - they seem to get really cheerful when the teacher says: "Now, a bit of samba!" So I noticed that dancing it also makes me feel glad! Maybe it's because the rhythm is in our blood, is part of our roots, oh I don't know. But you can't feel sad while dancing samba - it fills your heart, your mind, your feelings. The "samba de gafieira" is both light and vigorous, both innocent and sensual. And if you really want to enjoy the dance, you can't be far from your partner - oh okay, it also is needed if you want to dance bolero, but samba...is different: you must allow that your partner body touch yours, you must be free from prejudice, proud or shyness. And if you do it, you'll feel that the rhythm beats as the same way as your own heart does, and if you get a good partner, it will be like being in paradise. You'll never forget. And you'll never wish to stop dancing. It's a unique experience. Everybody should try, I'm sure :)

...and I'm also sure that I'm a Brazilian girl, but if I had never danced "samba de gafieira", I would most probably not be a complete Brazilian girl ;)

Priscila's fantastic world

Me wearing Mom's sunglasses

Me (at the age of 3, looking at this picture): Oh! It's Mom!

Mom: No, sweetheart, it's you...

Me: No! No! It's Mom!

Mom: No, my darling, it's you...

Me: It's Mom! It's Mom!

Mom: No, look at your little clothes and your little sandals...it's you, sweetheart...

Me: (surprised, finally agreed...)

Priscila's fantastic world is a tribute to that cartoon called "The fantastic world of Bob". As you can see, kids always think that know everything...

Little memories

~You can also to listen to this entry here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrPvZA4QDi8

"Nobody knows everything, nobody will never know everything, but there are moments when we believe we do, maybe because, at this moment, nothing more than this belief is filling our souls, our consciences, our minds - those things that make us more or less humans."

"Nunca se sabe tudo, nunca se saberá tudo, mas há horas em que somos capazes de acreditar que sim, talvez porque nesse momento nada mais nos podia caber na alma, na consciência, na mente, naquilo que se queira chamar ao que nos vai fazendo mais ou menos humanos."

I tried to translate a beautiful piece of "Little memories", by José Saramago, the 84-years-old Portuguese writter that won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998. This is the first Saramago book that I dare to read - and I 'm loving it. It's wonderful to read the work of somebody that is Portuguese (and a Nobel winner!) and therefore knows Portuguese language as much as me or, even better, much more than me :)

So simple

Oh, I know that it's an old song. But it's also so simple and sincere...


"And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world"

(Elton's piano ends the song...)

Windows

View from my bedroom at parents flat. It's Penha Convent, one of the symbols of Espírito Santo state. The image of the Convent that I like most happens when its windows are reflecting the sun light, what makes them look like a piece of gold.

View from office at parents flat. At right there's a Catholic church, called Santuário de Vila Velha. Near to the Santuário there's the conservatory where I studied piano for 8 years. The chimney (also at right) is from the chocolate company - called Garoto (Boy). I love this view. I took it at around six o'clock, so the image is a bit melancholic. I like seeing the windows of the Santuário full of sun light - it seems a image that comes from the past to the future, from Middle Ages to our days, maybe.

The same view hours later. Not too good picture, but you still can see the Santuário - and that yellow brightly thing at left is the huge "M" of a McDonalds'...

And...how are you, dear friends? I hope you're fine.

Marcin, I would like to hear from you; Jay, hope you'll arrive safe in US :)

Take care.

16 things...

...that you always wanted to know about me, but never thought I'd say before you asking...

1.I don't drink caffe

2. I hate Coke

3. I can't eat cheese or drink milk - unless you want to meet a very angry or very depressed girl next day, yeah, you can blame both lactose and Mom's genes.

4. Do you want to make me happy? Gimme any food with shrimps and without banana, argh.

5. I think that a man that uses white pants (if you're American) /trousers (if you're British) is sexy.

6. A man that knows how to cook is sexier though.

7. Dad taught me how to swim - and I swim very badly.

8. I love running - but I feel pain on my knees next day.

9. I wonder if I still know how to ride a bicycle - oh okay, give me a treadmill for Christmas and I'll be grateful forever.

10. I'm living alone for around one year - and, believe me, it's not the best thing that can happen to you...

11. I take ballroom dance lessons for 8 months.

12. I like dancing when I'm alone, so if I live alone...er...forget it.

13. I don't believe in love at first sigh - unless you're Ralph Fiennes...

14. It's easy to understand men, you just have think like them - and find the Owner's Manual, of course...

15. I don't think I'm very intelligent - most of times I think I lost my brain and I won't find it until my IQ is 150...

16. I like making people laugh - at least my family does...

Too much glad

I'm too much glad, too much glad, too much glad! No, you can't even imagine how much glad I am today! Do you know the feeling that you're about to discover your own identity? Do you know the feeling that you're leaving behind all the past, all that rubbish that you don't need any more - and you'll never need again? Do you know the feeling that you have all the time needed to live everything you want to? Do you know the feeling that you're about to set yourself free? Oh no, I only know! Oh God, that's one of the reasons why I'm so blessed by this therapy! I only know the way I feel today - and this is just the beginning :)

Back to the past

I was searching for some music here (oh okay, it's a Brazilian website, but you can always do miracles with a dictionary). I found Boyz II Men (okay, it's not one of my favourites), and I suddenly saw news about Take That. What? Does Take That still exist?! In 1996 I was 16, and they recorded a song called "Back for Good", that became a hit here - it was part of the soundtrack of a soap opera, so you can imagine that we used to listen to it on radio all the time.

Of course, it's just a simple pop song, but it gives me a magical sensation because makes me to go back to the past. At that time I got interested in German language (that I started to study many years after) just because of a Mario de Andrade novel - that I had to read for the Literature exam to join the University - called "Amar, verbo intransitivo" (something like "Loving, an intransitive verb") whose main character is a German housekeeper that came to Brazil running away from the Second War. I think it's still one of my favourite books.

Oh! And the best part is that I found "Back for Good" video with Take That and that...er...awesome Gary Barlow. Oh gosh. He's perfect. And I love his voice, and I think that was the first time I realised the existence of the British accent! :P (Oh, I just discovered that the guy is from Manchester! ;)

The address is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=763tqdRdAZ8

Enjoy! ;)

On the road

Praia da Costa Mall in Vila Velha.

Taking pictures when you're in a car in movement is so easy...

Chaotic traffic in Guarapari

Do you want to make an appointment to cut the hair there? Just 5 reals...

A Catholic church in Marataízes



Our destiny: Restaurante Cia. do Peixe ( "Restaurant Fish Co.") in Iriri

Back to home: the legend about an impossible love story beetwen two members of Catholic Church - in the road BR 101

It's Sunday

Mom says that I'm narcissist. I say that I won't be 27 forever. Unfortunately...

Sense

"The victory belongs to those who believe in it".

(Lt. Col. James Doolittle, character played by Alec Baldwin in "Pearl Harbour")

-------

"You can reach me by caravan/ Cross the desert like an Arab man

I don't care how you get here/ Just get here if you can".

~ "Get Here", by Oleta Adams - one of my favourite songs, that became the unofficial anthem for the Gulf War (Desert Storm) in 1991.

Here on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPE66tN89AE

Enjoying

Domingos Martins. The hero gave his name to a lovely city in the mountains, settled by German and Italian immigrants. One of the great features of Espírito Santo state is that you can go from beach to the mountains in just one hour by car. We had lunch in a nice restaurante called "Caminho do Imigrante" (Immigrant Path), that serves mineira (from Minas Gerais state) food.

And...in an adorable store with lots of beautiful things and furniture, I bought a steel litte table to the new office of Mom (Dad's about to buy a room to her) and a wooden phone table to my bedroom. Both lovely - and Mom loved her X-mas present...oh! a bit late, I know, but it's still worth.

Thinking and playing

Today we went to a restaurante to eat moqueca capixaba. You should taste it. It's a traditional food from Espírito Santo state. It contains fish (badejo one), shrimps and spices, spices, spices...hmm. And you also can eat rice, pirão and farofa...hmm. Altogether tasty. Wonderful. And the restaurant is so nice! Its walls are covered with many kinds of paintings, all for sale; and the building is in front of Costa Beach. So you can enjoy yourself eating a marvelous food in a quite special place. If you, my dear readers, come to Brazil, I'll have to take you to eat moqueca capixaba in a 40-years-old traditional place: Restaurante Atlântica, in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo ;)

14th February

"The kiss" (1907-08 - Oil and gold on canvas)

Gustav Klimt.

One of my favourite paintings.

Amplitude

"I want to be the place where your soul can rest,
and you can cry and laugh,
and find out quietness to dream without sleeping.

Come to light up the lamps that illuminate my heart,
come to have with me your part of amplitude:
from my part, I'm here.
Here."

Translation from a piece of "Amplidão", by Elba Ramalho, that has a sweet and poetic voice. This song has been playing in my mind during the day. It's a foolish romantic song, of course. But is there any romantic song that isn't foolish?

You can listen to it here:
http://app.radio.musica.uol.com.br/radiouol/cdcapa.php?codcd=009345-2 Just click at the fourth one: "Elba Ramalho - Amplidão".

----

I'm so silly. I keep complaining, thinking that everything's wrong. Priscila, you're really very stupid. Why can't you see that if the things are going this way, it's just because they have to be this way? Even if nothing is like you'd like....I mean...I'd have to have much faith to believe that everything's right. I don't want to have faith. I don't believe it. I prefer to keep suffering so much, saying every day that I'm damned. I prefer to keep suffering. It's my decision. I don't even know why. God, if you don't help me, who will? But I don't need Your help. Not the kind of help that You wanna give to me.

Okay, maybe something's wrong. But it's inside myself. I don't know what to do.

Listening to: Daniel Bedingfield - "If you are not the one"

Fragile

Listening to: Sting - "The hounds of winter"

Playing

Details of home

Do you want to explore my house with me? I took some pictures of my home...these tiny details are here. The pictures aren't good 'cause they were taken with the mobile :)

Take care, babies.

Listening to: Maroon 5 - "The sun"

Don't complain

I can't complain. I can feel how much He loves me. I mean...I live in a great house, my neighbours are nice and my landlady, too. My boss treats me like a daughter (he - that just has one son - once said to me: "I'd like to have a daughter like you: intelligent, joyful, polite..." oh okay, he forgot to say "pretty" and "funny", but as he's always calling me "pretty girl", I know that he thinks I'm thus...). Still I work with fab people - Mary is a good fellow, and the new trainee girl will be a great company, I suppose. Our judge isn't as nice as we'd like ( not that judge whom I speak about on my last entry, that guy isn't my judge...), but the things could be much much worse if he was arrogant or rough. There still are fun colleagues, cheerful and interesting people with whom I love to work. My family is funny and happy, and it's always a pleasure being with them.

I mean....I really believe He's leading my life. But if He's so perfect at doing some things, why can't He do the things that I'm longing for? It's so weird.

I almost got an international call today on mobile (I lost it 'cause I didn't hear the ring...), but I don't know who was trying to call me. Just two foreign friends have my number: Jayan and Wolfgang. I wonder which one of both tried to speak to me.

Take care, babies. Tomorrow I'm going to have Law classes. Argh.

Listening to: Jamie Cullum - "I'm glad there is you"

Two short office stories

First:


Me, having a break at office and eating some cookies. The judge comes in and...

Judge: (looking at watch and teasing me) Oh no! I don't believe you're eating at this time! It's just 02:15 p.m!

Me: (laughing) I had lunch at 11 a.m., I'm hungry now!

Judge: (teasing me) That's the reason why people use to say that Christian persons love money and food! (leaves the room)

Me :(speaking to trainee girl and laughing) That's irritating man!

Trainee girl: (laughing) You're always working, but when you have a break, the judge comes in the room!

Me: (thinking) And I can't imagine the reason why he came here now!

Traine girl: (still laughing) To catch you having a break!

Second:

A teenager was arrested because of drugs traffic and his lawyer was at office with a petition to set him free.

Lawyer: (serious, explaining us) In Vitória, the capital of the state, people use to treat us bad at Registry Offices...but in smallest cities like this the workers treat us very well!

Me: (serious) So is it much better to commit crimes in smallest cities like this, right?

Lawyer: (serious) Oh, yes! It's true, you're right indeed!

Didn't he realise I was being sarcastic? Oh.

-----

Babies, babies...I'm on vacation since from today! You can't imagine how much glad I am :D Plans? Buying a nice bikini and go to the beach every day, go to the cinema (not wearing the bikini, of course...), mall, shopping and...Law classes, of course. Yesterday my boss pretended to cry because "he was already missing me". He's altogether crazy (and the judge, too). But we're Brazilian, we're dramatic, we're from South America - a mixture of European, African and native roots. This is what I am :)

Kiss you, babies!

Listening to: Maroon 5 - "Sweetest Goodbye"

Right or wrong?

We're always after something that can supply our needs, that can make us happy. It can be fame. A good career. Money. Freedom. Or whatever. And we never remind that the most important things are the simple ones. And we just have one life. When I think of it, I'm afraid. 'Cause it seems that I spent these 27 years without realising that the time was going away. And I can't do anything to recover the time that I lost. I mean...what I'm doing now? The way I'm living is the right one? The things I believe in are the right ones? Where's my faith ? Or my future? Where's my hope? I thought that I knew the anwers. I was sure about what's the most important. Or who's the most important. And now I don't know any more.

Maybe the answers aren't about "the right thing", or about "being sensible". I'm trying to do the right thing. But if I had to do the wrong one? I mean..do I have to be sensible? Can't I do the wrong thing just one time? I spent all my life trying to do the right thing. And I think it didn't work. I always thought that I was courageous enough to do the "wrong one" if I wanted to. Now I realise that I'm just a stupid person that is after all the things that most of people are after too. And I thought I was different!

Maybe it doesn't make sense. I already don't know. I just can't accept the situation. But I don't know how to change it.

Listening to: The beach boys - "God only knows"

A little bit

I'll be on vacation from the 7th. I don't know if I get happy or sad. I'm quite pleased 'cause I really need a break. But I also have to study, and with a Mom like mine that will love going out with me for shopping or whatever, and will demand my company, the things aren't going to be so easy. Mal sehen.

We have a new trainee girl at office. She's pretty, quite nice and is really interested in learning the work. I think she'll be a good fellow of us.

I know that the movie is old, and the songs are old too, but "Love actually" soundtrack is really fab. I bought it through Internet, (it was a little bit expensive because it's imported...) but I'm loving it.

I'm going back to home some hours from now...to be back on Thursday.

Take care, dear friends.

Inside that box

I'd like that happiness was a thing that I could use when I felt sad. Like scent. Or earrings. I'd like that it was a thing that I could take from a special box where it was held, to cure every kind of pain. It also could be a little chocolate cake, or a thing to wear on hair. I don't know. But if you feel blue, wouldn't it be wonderful that you could take happiness from your special box, use (or wear) it and suddenly feel happy like a sunny day?

Okay. It's cockeyedness.

Take care, dear friends.

Listening to: Maroon 5 - "Sunday Morning"

Both sides of story

Hi, my darling friends! How are you all, deariiiies? Oh, I am...I can't explain! I'm too much happy, and too much sad! I'm so happy with myself, with "who I am" and, at the same time, too much sad with things that I found out inside me. It's so hard to explain! I'm falling in love with myself, I think. But when I realise that, I also realise that I have to leave behind some things or...well...one certain thing. And it hurts me. And I don't know what to do. Well....somedoby knows?


I wrote one poem and it's a pity that it's in Portuguese. Maybe it could show you how I feel. Or perhaps...I shouldn't publish it.

Take care, my darling friends. Kiss you ;)