Time change - While you think 2 hours is not that much, it is a lot when you change seasons. We went from the sun setting at 8pm to the sun setting between 5-6. Plus, because of the seasons being opposite, come spring when Brasil will spring forward one hour, the US will fall back an hour putting us at a 4 hour difference! Then, Brasil falls back before the US springs forward meaning for some time, we will be 3 hours! I cannot imagine how confusing and hard this is going to be!
Alden likes to get up when the sun rises. That happens between 6-7am. Makes for a long day! Also, it is darker here. One thing I learned from people is that the closer you are to the equator, the darker the sky. So, Craig from Canada was explaining how the sky in Canada at night is dark blue, because you are closer to the pole and there is always some 'light' coming through. At the equator, the sky is blacker, resulting in more stars (if you are away from city lights). But this is something that I have mentioned to Greg. When it gets dark, it is DARK here!
Eating times - I have never had to buy so many 'snacks' in my life! Having a longer day means more time awake, and more time awake with growing boys means more eating. It is a vicious cycle right now! Breakfast around 7am, snack around 10am, lunch around noon, snack around 2pm, snack around 4-5pm, Dinner around 7pm (when we are home) and bedtime between 8-9 (right now). But, they do not sell snacks like we are used to. No prepackaged, easy to grab snacks for kids. For now, we are over buying on the fruits and veggies!
Breakfast - This is the hardest! For those that know Alden, his best meal is breakfast. He will eat, and eat, and eat, and eat. Then that staggers off throughout the day. Pancakes, oatmeal, waffles, bacon and eggs, toast, muffins, cereal, etc. You name it, he would eat it. However, in that list I just made, we have found plain oatmeal, eggs, toast, and very little cereal. At the store last night we found bacon! So, eating less in the morning makes for a cranky Alden. We are still trying to find a balance here. What is a normal Brazillian breakfast? No idea...yet. I am on a mission to find out some things!
Bed Times - Greg gets home around 7pm. HUGE difference from his 430 back in Kansas. So, it is really hard to eat dinner and rush everyone off to bed when they haven't seen each other all day. Typically, boys are in bed by 9. But then we want time to talk, decompress, blog, etc., and so all of a sudden it is midnight! Very weird when your clock says 00:00. Hopefully we all start adjusting!
No yard for Chewie - This one makes me giggle. This dog, for all he has been through, has transitioned so well and has an 'I don't care' attitude. He went from having a decent yard to run and play and do his business to having a 5ft square patch of grass. Along the edge of the back yard is a raised bed approximately 1 foot wide. He will find a way to get up there to do his business, but he also has no problem leaving us gifts right on the tile. Like I said, he doesn't care as long as he is with us!
Windows/insulation - The houses are made of concrete/tile/bricks/marble/etc. They are full of windows/glass doors/sky lights and allow so much light inside. Our bedroom windows are a bit different, as most houses I have seen are as well. We have a 4-5 foot window opening. The outer edges are 'fake' shutters. That is it - no wall to separate the living space to the outside. Just the fake shutters that often have holes. Then there are 3 slides that can go across and meet in the middle. Glass, Screen, Shutters. None of them seal and none of them block out sound. When you have 2 light sleepers (Alden and myself), this is a huge adjustment. PLUS, right outside our room is a speed bump (these are used a lot around here and help with the flow of traffic - it is so efficient). However, everyone has squeaky brakes!!! For the first 2 nights, I thought the boys were having a screaming nightmare!
No Stuff - This has been hard, but we have gotten creative. Having the indoor and outdoor kitchen allows for us to utilize the small grill as a toaster. We make up our own games. Tablets and Netflix have become our best friends. We walk, run, workout, etc. We practice our Portuguese. But, it is still hard. I want my kitchen items. The boys want their toys and books. And Greg, well he wants his box of electronics! He is ready to get this house hooked up the 'Greg way'. We have bought a few things for the boys to play with, but find it hard to spend money when all their things are heading this way!
Driving - I can't even begin to type a description. This is going to be the hardest thing for me and I am seriously getting anxious just thinking about it! It is so different here, but so efficient. You have to respect it, but still scares the bageezus out of me! This will probably end up a post of it's own!!!
Products - You know when you move and you go to the grocery store closest to your new house and they don't carry the same products you are used to buying? That is where we are right now, except they are ALL new brands and we do not know which ones are better, healthier, etc. We have a lot of friends that are willing to go shopping with us and help us with this. For now, we are winging it! There have only been a couple things that we were disappointed in quality so far. Every day is learning
Doing Laundry - This did not start out well. Greg always had issues with the machine. He even called the owner, who sent his son, who couldn't figure it out, who called his mom! It was just really picky. It is older. It worked for one day and then stopped. I started looking and noticed that the outlet was on the cabinet. So every time we opened and closed the top drawer, it was hitting the wires inside, until it did it one too many times and it no longer worked. After a few days, and one awful hand washing attempt, Greg stopped by the store and picked up an extension cord to run to the nearest 220 outlet because we had no idea how long it would be for this to be fixed! Luckily, the electricians were out yesterday and rewired everything. Hopefully we are good to go!
The machines are smaller. No more extra-large loads! The machine takes about 2-3 hours to wash. Most people line dry clothes which is much more efficient that the dryer. So, we have 2 drying racks. I only use the dryer to help de-wrinkle and de-fluff/remove lint (like towels and sheets). I did put a wet load in to see how long it would take - it ran for 3 hours and they were still damp. It doesn't get 'hot' like dryers back home do.
Hand washing was NOT fun!
What?? Doesn't your dog guard your laundry???
The House - The house itself is unlike anything we have ever inhabited. The floors are tile, marble or hardwood. It is beyond beautiful, but not as easy to clean! Plus a fall here, especially with all the marble stairs, is dangerous. So, my wonderful, creative, always thinking hubby came up with this wonderful idea. It has been an amazing addition!
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