Policies and Procedures

Sorry Oprah...I really wanted to follow your "No Phone Zone", but sometimes you just have to answer your cell in the car. At least David started the conversation with "you may want to pull over before I say what I have to say". I didn't pull over, thinking if he tells me we're not going to Brazil, I might just drive there myself.

After a weekend of list making, researching schools, cleaning closets, and anticipating the house sale, I was pretty on my way to Sao Paulo.

What did he possibly have to say to freak me out?

His company will not navigate our house sale when we leave for Brazil. They WILL do it when we return. So do WE sell the house? NO. The house will remain ours, sit empty, and be taken care of by a caretaker of sorts.

This is a complete shock and hard to digest at first. Yet, after a couple of days, it's a much less stressful option and more financially advantageous. No worrying about the housing market, getting the house ready, showings, storage, selling the cars, where we'll live when the house sells. We'll just pack our clothes, designate the furnishings for Brazil, lock the doors and go. Guess we should have read the policies a little more closely up front. We could have had more fun last weekend.

Crazy problem number two- the American school is full for next year. There are no spots for either child. Next best location is a British school which may have room, but it is very stuffy and we may only apply in person. They'll get one look at us and also have no room. Choice three is a Christian school at the South end of the city, which would be over an hour commute for the kids one way. Fourth option is a Catholic school. We're not Catholic which will place other Catholic applicants above us, not to mention the amount of time devoted to mass everyday. Bottom line is, we have no school for the kids to attend next year, so we're exploring options and crossing our fingers that there will be an large exodus from The Graded School next year.

In spite of all this, we're still extremely excited. All the details will be worked out at some point and until then, we're familiarizing ourselves with Portuguese, although the kids may end up speaking with a British accent.

Brazil or Bust

It's officially unofficial. David got his offer on Friday, but until a moving truck pulls up, I'm still not believing it's happening. WE'RE MOVING TO BRAZIL...in about six months. Time to let it sink in, prepare, sell a house in a stagnant market, learn how to say "I don't speak Portuguese" (or know how to spell it), stock up on supplies, learn to Samba, divide up a household, but not enough time to say goodbye to our great life in Auburn, Alabama.

Today I'm putting this blog out there for all to read, knowing this journey is in the planning stages and about to get very interesting. Having been through several corporate moves through the years, everyday is another question to answer, another form to fill out, another loose end to tie up. As anxious as I am to move on, I'm grateful for the extra time to absorb this first international move in all its complexity. Add to that, a very busy summer schedule, many places in the South I'd still like to visit, and lots of research about Sao Paulo, Brazil ahead of me, I can probably count on a few bottles of medicinal red wine in my future.

So to all our friends and family, apply for your passports, save your money (for expensive airline tickets), get your base tan, loosen up those hips (and attitudes), and come visit us in Brazil. Our doors will be open to everyone. Rio, Copacabana, Ipanema will be in our backyard- the Amazon within reach.

I'm planning on floating my candle off the coast of Rio De Janiero on New Years Eve to thank my God for all the blessings we've received this year.

Twelve years ago, I told my Husband I'd follow him anywhere, but I never knew we'd go so many places together. I subtitled this blog "walking to Brazil and back" because I want to go slowly, to savor this experience like an after dinner walk, and notice small details with every step.

Let the journey begin.