Birthday. Barbeque. Beer. Brasil. Bliss.

 A Birthday... The only day in the year where you get to enjoy yourself however you want, as much as you want. It was that day for my '2nd Brasilian Mother' ( I dont really like saying that, rather stick with 'My Mother') The stage, or better, the grill was set. Barbeque it was.

The Host for the day. What a Jolly person!

After getting up lazily at Brunch time.. (Neither morning nor afternoon) I got ready for a kickass time with My parents and My Taiwanese Brother. After a quick Parabéns and a little Indian gift, we were on our way. I had just been told that it was a BBQ at a very close friends house. Did not quite expect the following... The Delgadinho's were the hosts for the Sunday. Big house. GREAT people.
    When we reached, there were already a few people there.. More joined in later. My Uncle ( Who is a crazy football fanatic, mind you) and My Aunt got there with their kids too and the place was rocking. My Portuguese has improved quite a lot, so it was easier to converse with people! The Caipirinhas were rolling out of the bar, The Beef rolling out of the grill, the Beer out of the fridge. It was kind of a re-union actually... Old friends, relatives getting together, having a good time. The Brasilian version of Diwali!! See, I did not exactly miss Diwali!

With My Cousin Manuella and Brother Georphoe

      I was happy to see two more guys there.. Always ready to make new friends! Surprise surprise, I met a Spanish guy, Pablo who was visting his aunt and his friend Rafa ( Brasilian). Cool guys. We went to Pablo's house later for some Football by the pool with Reggae in the background. Spent a good 90 minutes at Pablo's place. Went back and My Dad ( He had some work on a Sunday. Poor guy.) had returned by then. We talked for a while and then it was time to leave. A 20 minute car journey ended by dropping me to my house and them proceeding to my future house!
    I learnt one thing this Sunday... About people, about parents, about friends, about barbeques, about life in general. Everything this Sunday gave me, made me happy. Made me feel different. I am not 'Just Another Kid' I matter to people and people matter to me. I am something to people who read this blog, who have the time to read about my life in Brasil. And those people matter to me because however tired I am, I write this blog.

It may seem out of context, but it is not. This Sunday taught me this. Carolino, Zugliani or Ranade. The surname doesnt matter. They are my parents and I am their child.         Amen.

P.S. Special Mention to Manchester City for kicking the crap out of ManU. 6-1 at Old Trashford. Made this Sunday even more special.

Life's a Beach.

Feels good to be blogging back after quite a gap! To be honest, I had thought of many things to write about but the lazy bug had caught me and it was time I shook it off... What better subject to write about than a journey to a Brazilian Beach.

   Ubatuba, I was told was going to be the destination for the weekend. Decided not to check the place on the net. It was my challenge to Brazil. Surprise me! Brazil won. The departure for a three and a half hour journey was scheduled for 12:30 on a Friday. No school. After the obligatory procedure of forgetting things, going back to the house from the car, getting a bit annoyed with each other was done, we were off. I did not know what to expect. Never did here in Brasil. Slept in the car.
   Got up 4 hours later only to be overwhelmed by the state of Caraguatatuba (I still remember the name!) The beach was beside the footpath! Kids playing football, Cycles aplenty, Fresh air all around. What A Feeling. Death must feel this way, I think. A painless one. Reached Ubatuba around 5 went to the 'house' It was a 2BHK proper flat which we had rented for two days. Next thing, the Beach. Reached the beach... Boom! Disappointed. Hardly 20 people on the beach, nobody playing football, nothing to do. Just walked with my brother to the end of the beach.. Nothing but a bunch of old people around. Thats not what I dreamt about!! Went to have pizza. Reached the house at about 7. Slept at 12.
  Day 2: Woke up at 8. They told me to apply sunscreen.. Had a bath. In sunscreen. Wore my Santos jersey and I was ready for Neverland. Reached the beach and BOOM. Even bigger. So happy!! Many people around, people playing football, ladies in bikinis, banana boats and what not! Lesson: Never draw conclusions too soon. Walked around the beach for a bit... Bought a Beach ball ( A real one, not the plastic ball) Played A LOT with my brother! I dont know what exactly we were playing.. Volleyball or Football but it was fun! Went into the sea for about 2 hours... My favourite part of any trip. Makes me philosophical. So calm, so serene yet forceful. Continuously producing waves. So beautiful. So happy. I just wanted to be there for the rest of my life.. With the waves, with the wind.. Felt like I was with God himself, in his house...

  That would not happen because we had to go back... So after after 'just' 7 hours on the beach we returned to the house. After a short rest and homemade dinner (My mom is a WONDERFUL cook) we went to Caraguatatuba, Downtown. Reached home at 9. Could not stay awake for more than an hour. Was happily tucked in my bed by 10. I know this is becoming very big but I cant help it, so much to write about... The beach is my favourite terrain afterall!
  Day 3: Woke up late. Yesterdays weariness had carried forward to today as well... But the sight of the beach rejuvenated me, energy filled my limbs and I was off to the sea before I knew it. My brother would not come today.. So I was alone there, the waves crashing on me. Never felt better. Again the philosophical thoughts returned but I wont write them here..

Anyway, so we were back home by 5 in the evening... A peaceful yet enjoyable trip had come to an end. All good things do at some point! The love for my parents and my faith in God had multiplied by now and there are two things responsible for that. The Beach and The Sea. :) 

                                                                             GOD IS GREAT.