Packing, pedicures, and appreciation.

First off, Happy Labor Day USA! Of course, in Sao Paulo, it's just another manic Monday with the added excitement of packing for our big beach vacation.. I just wish I could "get to it". Maybe the American side of my psyche is stuck on taking a holiday and wonders where the beer and burgers are. I'm a little surprised it took a FB reminder for me to even realize that it was Labor Day today, as every American holiday since living in Brazil has been an occasion for longing to be in the States, a sort of Holiday envy as life in Brazil just plugs away as normal.

Today really isn't my normal Monday. Today I'm supposed to be packing for our 7 day trip to Bahia, pretty much the Brazilian version of Michiganders going to Florida. Except strangely, I'm not motivated. I've figured out a few reasons why.

1. I have no idea what to expect, therefore no memory of how great it was last time. We may love it or we may wish we went to Disney World instead.

2. Unlike every trip I've ever taken, I have not bought anything new to wear, slather on, read, perch on my nose, play with, or lay on. No clothes, suntan lotion, magazines, sunglasses, games, or beach towels. Everything in Brazil is just way too expensive, including this trip. No shopping for that cute new bikini. The old ones will have to do.

3. No pedicures or primping. Again, with any salon service costing four times the US rate, I won't be sporting my fresh OPI pedicure in the latest new color. An at home foot massage will have to do.

4. We're leaving on a Wednesday, so there's no one home to be excited with. The kids are at school and David is working, so I'll have to create my own pre-vacation celebration. Maybe I'll make a home made umbrella drink with all the fruit we have to eat before we leave. It will be very lime'y since David and I both bought a bag of limes for our weekend Caiparinhas.

5. This vacation started out on bad vibe. After getting several options from our travel agent , we chose a resort chain we are familiar with that also was the lowest quote , a win/win situation we thought. Unfortunately, we(I) failed to read the fine print (really just didn't read at all) that had the US dollar symbol and not the Brazilian reais symbol. So what looked like the least expensive, actually ended up being twice the price of the other resorts. By the time we realized our (my) mistake, the tickets were booked and paid for. Change fees made it not worth changing. I'm just feeling the pressure to get our money's worth. You know, high expectations always leave you disappointed.

6. I'm just too darn spoiled. Traveling to exotic, tropical, interesting places has become the norm for us. We actually LIVE in an exotic, tropical, interesting place. It never stops amazing me and I'm sure this will be no different. Sometimes I just wonder how much better it can get.

So now that I've voiced my roadblocks, I think I can get around them more easily. I'm going to hope my tiny Brazilian bikinis still fit and if not, I might actually be forced to wear them like the Brazilians, riding up, wedgie style. I'm going to give myself a good home pedicure, soak the feet and all, and hope that my Avon order with the new brown nail polish comes in before tomorrow. I'm going to put on some good vacation music, mix up a yummy drink, and throw all my Summer clothes in a suitcase. No need to worry about outfits at a beach resort. I'm going to under promise and over deliver to myself, keep my expectations in check and be blown away with what we got for the money. I'M GOING TO PINCH MYSELF AND BE THANKFUL FOR EVERY MINUTE I'M ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THIS COUNTRY AND ALL IT TEACHES ME. I'M GOING TO TRY TO CAPTURE THE FEELING OF LANDING HERE THE FIRST TIME WITH EVERY NEW PLACE I VISIT. I'm going to create memories that will make me long for Bahia on every Labor Day.

And just a side note, this trip is already starting out like no other. It is two days before our departure and David is completely packed. This is a first and a big relief that we won't be shoving things in a suitcase ten minutes before we leave for the airport. Maybe this will the vacation of a lifetime after all.