Posted by: betharoonie1 | August 20, 2008

what am i doing?

Kinda freaking out today and I can’t talk to either of the two people that I want to, it’s frustrating. I hate waking up feeling this anxious and not knowing if I am making the right decisions. It’s not that I don’t want to be here and want to return to the States. I like being away, I think it is good for me. And I am not stupid, I knew that this would be hard. That I would miss my friends and family and that learning the language would be difficult.

But I kinda feel today like I am going to break apart. I don’t know if coming here was the best decision. I really wanted to make sure when I made the decision to be here it wouldn’t be just because of Marcelo. But I think he is one of the only reasons, definitely the main, that I like being here in any way. I mean, I like learning a new language too and learning different cultural things as well. But there are a lot things I don’t like here and I don’t know if it is because it is just different or that I just need more time to get accustom to things or that I just don’t like SP.

Aaaaahh, I don’t even know if this is coming out right at all, my thoughts are way faster then my fingers. I just hate this feeling of consistently having to figure things out. I need to find where I can buy eyeliner and not spend a fortune. I need to figure out my bank accounts because so how they are all messed up. Spend 6 hours watching classes today (kinda boring, but okay). Work on Portuguese, gain courage in speaking to everyone.

When I look back at my list of things I have to figure out, it doesn’t seem like that much. It is bigger then I have written but maybe I still I am being a baby. I guess one thing that is bugging me is that here to make enough money, I have to work crazy hours and the money isn’t even that great (and I thinking Brazilian standards). And it’s not that I am lazy, I have worked 60 hours a week before, it’s just that I was making money to show for it and the other stuff in my life was going okay. I mean, here, I have to work crazy to make enough money and still have the energy to make new friends, run errands, learn Portuguese. I also am working and still not getting health insurance. I kinda thought that if I went into something else besides servering that hours would be better and I could kinda be a grown-up and actually be able to go to the doctor.

Okay, just trying to breathe. Thursday night Marcelo and I are headed up to Ouro Preto. 4 days together. I am excited. Excited to see a beautiful city with lots of history. And I am going to keep working on things, not going to give up at this job. Continue to try and gain courage with speaking Portuguese and not getting frustrated with it. I will continue to try and find some friends and not have my whole world revolve around Marcelo. Just keep breathing….

PS Here is some more photos. Marcelo and I at Ibirapuera Park:

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Responses

  1. Hang in sweetie.

  2. Hey there,
    Thanks for the comment on my blog…It was really nice to realize others are out there in similar shoes to mine.
    I think it must happen to everybody who moves away…and that’s why so many come back after their “year or so abroad.”
    The challenge for us might be that we have to find out who we are inside these other parameters, where people don’t speak the same language or have the same sense of humor or tastes, etc.
    Anyway, I don’t wanna blather on in your comments page, but email me if you’d like to chat!
    xoxo
    Nanika


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