Finally Back

So I finally made it back to Brazil after another 60 day stint in the US and the never ending saga of visa and working in a foreign country continues. I was trying to get caught up on my friends blog because she is much better about updating her blog than I am mine, and she said it best that she hasn't updated her's in so long because things just get into your routine of life and as things happen they don't seem at the time to be 'blog worthy.' I thought that was pretty good so I decided to steal it.....thanks Aimee.

The time back at home was good, but also tough since I was living in a friends condo and had a 2x2 area for my clothes (boxers, socks, etc) and really missed the fact that I couldn't be organized, but also very thankful that I had a place to stay and a job where bosses are understanding given the length of time that I was in the US.

Of course while I was there my not being able to sit still tendencies kicked in and I did a lot of traveling while I was at home. I went to visit my grandparents in Atlanta, and spent a lot of time with them, napping while watching football with my Grandpa, eating chick-fil-a (of course!!!!), and we actually did a cousins night out which was a lot of fun. The 7 am (6 am Chicago time) flight from ATL to ORD was awful, but it was still a great weekend and very lucky to have miles and points from living in a hotel for a year.

I of course had to get my 2011 Vegas trip as well, and I went out to Vegas alone for about 12 hours to have drinks, gamble, and get my fix in. The bonus was that I won $1000 and it paid for my flight, hotel (which I pricelined the day of for $60) Imperial Palace, and taxi fare to/from the airport. I even took the taxi driver to breakfast and the cool thing was he insisted on ordering off the $1 menu, hey even better.

Christmas was awesome and I got a ton of good pictures of the kids, and being JRs first Christmas he was all stoked (like he'll remember) about opening gifts and all the loot he got. Bonus for him and Madeline that they have two single uncles that like to spoil. I of course did a lot of shopping for them and they both got tons of clothes, Madeline got way too much baby gap stuff but she just loves the jeans from there ;)

After Christmas I spent most of the week out with the family, hanging out with the kids, playing, babysitting, and hanging out with friends. I went to NOLA for New Years with some friends from work and my buddy Ed that lives down in Red Stick. We did the whole Bourbon street thing and we had an absolute blast there, ate TONS of seafood, oysters, and we even hit one of the places on Diners, Drive Ins, & Dives from the food network that Dad and I saw while watching TV one night.

All in all the trip home was great. Got to see a lot of family and friends, and we also had a great time at finally a guys weekend. Well the first two nights were guys weekend nights, the third weekend was guys, dogs, a couple girls, and toddler. It was an interesting but still a fun night.

Life here has pretty much resumed to normal. I've manged to lose about half of the weight I gained when I was in the US eating and drinking during the Holiday's, finally back in the gym (which I was without when I was home), and back into the swing of things (literally) on the golf course. I've been able to play and practice the past 3 weeks that I've been here and the weather has been amazing (80s and sunny) every time we've played. I decided after trying out for another tackle football team that I am not going to play tackle this year. When I was practicing with the team all I could think was dreading the 2 hour drive back home, and also about playing golf the next day. I am going to continue playing flag football this year, but just couldn't commit on tackle. On the drive home it just reassured me that I was making the right decision and not to take more of a pounding on my body and lose time at home with my friends and gives me more time to focus on other things. I really want to get back into going to church, and now that my portuguese has improved vastly from when I arrived, I am going to check out some Presbyterian churches in the area and see if there are any that I like.

I still don't have any cable or WiFi in my apartment so that is really starting to get old. I am about 1 week away from signing up two different companies (one for cable and one for WiFi) so that I can have some resemblance of connectivity to the outside world, and with not having anything during the upcoming Carnival will be very tough since I am going to stick around Campinas this year and play a LOT of golf during my days off. Without connectivity I've had more time to study and I finally passed my CIA exam before Thanksgiving and I am currently working on my CFE certification as well. My boss was just down in Brazil last week and he talked to me about APICS certifications and I think I may look at that which means I need to buckle down again and get my other certification done because APICS is 5 months (one weekend a month) and then studying and exams in between for all 5 parts.

This past weekend we had our annual Abacaxi Bowl (Pineapple bowl) and the Cougars took home the hardware again this year for a 3 peat!!!! It was a long but awesome day capped off by eating a whole cow at a local restaurant (not literally but we ate a ton!), and couple of beers with some friends. Yesterday we had the first annual Super Bowl scramble and my team came in 3rd at -3 under par, but -6 was the winning score. Again, another awesome day with great weather, great friends, and an awesome BBQ in the afternoon. Since I had 2 5:30 am wake-up calls I was not able to watch the Super Bowl last night, but from everything that I read, I didn't miss too much and heard the commercials weren't too great either.

That's all I've got time for today but once I get back to the internet world it will be easier to update on a more consistent basis.

Rough week

It's been a rough week. I've been studying a lot for an upcoming test for work and it's no easy feat when it's 80+ degrees outside, sunny and I'd rather be running or laying by the pool. I also got my first text message breakup this week. I've now been broken up with in person, email, phone, and now text. I am going to tell the next girl to please just change her relationship status on FB and I'll find out on her FB wall. After that I'll open a twitter account and be broken up with over twitter.

We also lost our flag championship game yesterday so it made the 6 hours in the car all that much more painful and a waste of a beautiful Saturday.

Busy week coming up starting tomorrow and then I've got Business on Rails in Sao Paulo on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then back home to pack and head back to the US on Thursday.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner so I am excited to spend it with the family and enjoy the time with Madeline and JR's first Christmas!

Hope everyone is safe and warm back home.

Cheers
Adam

First 'Official' Visa Coming to an End

So my first visa is coming to an end in about 3 weeks and I can't believe that I've already been here on this visa for a full year. This year has really flown by and it's tough to think about leaving for an extended period of time, but Brazil makes it really difficult for you to stay in the country and contribute to their economy. The US on the other hand has only rejected less than 5% of all visa's for Brazilian's so welcoming foreign spending has never been more popular and I can attest to that as the flights have all been full when traveling to/from Brazil to the US and vice versa. New shoes, iPads, clothes, and electronics are still the rage even given the recent increase in the dollar vs the real (or the real weakening vs the dollar). In September 2011 the real lost 25% against the dollar and marked one of the largest swings in currency volatility in a given month. Good for me (I am still paid in dollars) bad for Brazilians (unless you hedged). Little tangent there but oh well....

I finally got the vistoria for my new apartment so I'll be working on that this weekend if I have time. I've got to take pictures of several things that were of course noted as 'new' in the apartment. Sony Bravia 46 inch 'new' TV although it was manufactured and bought in 2009, a 'new' table and 6 chairs but the chairs mysteriously showed up with foot pads to prevent scratching on the floor (false) and also with scratch marks on the chairs (again false). Other than that I think most of the things are in order, but I'll be taking pictures non-the less so and showing to the company paint marks and other issues so I am not liable again when I move out.

Went to Cirque du Soliel this week with Kelly and we saw Varekai in Sao Paulo. The law firm that represents us in Brazil was having a client night so the tickets were free so we headed to Sao Paulo for the night and the show was really good, but glad I got the tickets free and didn't pay the going R$400 per ticket. I think some of the shows in Vegas are better.

Tonight we are going to see Seu Jorge at an event near Campinas, tomorrow a churrasco (Brazilian word for BBQ) and on Sunday it's our last regular season tackle football game. It's either win or go home so it's a must win situation for both teams. It's a home game so we have that going for us, but both teams are 2-2 and in the same division so I am sure we'll both come out fighting for a chance to get into the playoffs.

Pray for a good last few weeks of 2011 here in Brazil (I am going to REALLY miss the hot weather) and also that my temporary visa gets approved in January 2012 so I can return to Brazil while my work permit is being reviewed and processed by the Brazilian consulate.

Cheers

Frustrated as the battle rages on

I finally have access to internet so figured I'd take some time and update the blog for all of my 4 followers and family members. My company in Brazil changed the upcoming Holiday on Wednesday to today so I am off today while everyone else is working and of course the golf course is closed today so I am taking time to do some email cleanup, photo editing, blog updating, music and book downloading at Starbucks, invites on Facebook for the Expats and English speakers group, and then lunch with the lady friend. Afterwards I am heading to the gym and then I'll head home to relax for a bit and then I am determined to find a bar for the Bears MNF game tonight vs Detroit.

I finally moved into my new apartment in Campinas and the battle with the apartment rental company is continuing to rage on. I think I need another day to update everyone on what's going on but I'll do my best to give you all a clue as to how things work here in Brazil when renting an apartment. When you move into an apartment here you have what's called a vistoria (no direct translation into English) but it's basically a visit from a company and they note in an entire list and photos what's inside your apartment and document with photos. If you disagree with anything then you MUST note this in your move in vistoria (I equate this with a walkthru in the states).

When I moved out of my old apartment I wasn't aware that I would be screwed over as bad as I was on the vistoria and I am currently in the hole over R$1,500 for painting and three (3) cleanings on my old apartment. I'll backup a little and say that my new apartment contract was signed and we were told that it would be ready on August 1 (which it was not hence the multiple cleanings). As I thought I was moving out in the beginning of August I had the apt painted, and deep cleaned to prepare for the vistoria which was not signed off on due to multiple items.

After weeks (literally no exaggeration) of waiting and being delayed in moving to my new apartment it finally happened a few weeks ago. It's been slow going and I bought a lot of things from the states when I was there last week but it still has aways to go. Need to buy some curtains, black out shades for the bedroom and some things for the wall but I think most of that will wait until I get back in January from my trip to the US. Still waiting on the move in vistoria for this apartment but I've documented a lot already because the painting and things within this apartment was just poorly done. I am the first person to live there and the paint was done very poorly, they installed a mirror in the bathroom crooked, and lots of marks on the walls from things being installed by guys with dirty hands and leaving marks on the walls. One thing you need to understand is that if any of these things were done (or not done in my previous apartment) you don't get the sign off from this vistoria company and you have to continue to pay on the apartment until things are up to their standards. So you would think that things when moving into a brand new apartment would be the same, but they are not. I have been told that if I have any problems with the apartment (paint, mirrors, other things) they are my responsibility and I must note them on the vistoria (such a crock!!!).

Last week I wrote a novel to the company outlining this entire process to the company and I am still waiting to hear back from them on what if anything they are going to do. Calls, emails, and txt messages are now going unattended so I am left wondering when I might receive the vistoria for my new apartment.

Anyway, I digress on this subject and on to some things more pleasant.

I got to spend a weekend in the states with the kids and my family so that was nice. I spent a few hours doing some shopping for some new sports/workout gear, then hung out with Madeline and JR on Thursday and I took care of JR during the day on Friday and we went to IKEA and then to Starbucks to hang out and have a coffee (me not him). I got back to Brazil this past Tuesday and will be here through October and I'll be leaving on November 10 to return to the states for an extended stay until I get my new visa in early 2012.

Checked my calendar this week and I'll be in the office a grand total of three full weeks as I will be at home for Thanksgiving, going to Atlanta for a long weekend to see my family there, and then be off for Christmas. Kelly and I are working on a visa for her to come to the US and visit and meet the family, go shopping, hang out in Chicago, and possibly do a quick trip for New Years somewhere.

Okay, I'm off to get some other things done, get some lunch with Kelly, and then off to the gym at some point this afternoon.

Hope all is well back in the states.

Cheers

Adam

Almost 2 months...

So there weren't any more posts since my last game but below are some links to two articles and a link for some pictures from our last game. I scored our first TD(#88) and there are a few pictures of me in the 100+ or so on the link. My team lost the game on a 40 yard field goal and I think we were all amazed that the guy actually made it.

Fantasy football draft from Brazil is tonight so we'll see how things shape up with that.

Lot's more to update on (new apartment situation, new lady friend I am seeing) but time to get dinner and then get ready for the draft.

Pictures - https://picasaweb.google.com/103257822180957512851/CorupaBuffalos17X14PalmeirasLocomotives#
Article - http://www.avanteesportes.com/futebol-americano-corupa-buffalos-descarrila-palmeiras-locomotives.html
Article - http://www.touchdown.net/site/noticias.php?id=249

Hope everyone is doing well back home.

Adam

Palmeiras Locomotive's Game 1

Our first tackle game was this past weekend and we won 18-0. I scored a touchdown in the 3rd quarter and hauled in 5-6 catches during the game and was credited with two tackles on special teams.

If you want to see some photos you can go to www.sorocabaesportes.com and check out the link for Futebol Americano. I am #88. There is also a short video of the TD catch on YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um-69QA16c

Next game is August 27th in Sorocaba but more posts to come before then.

Cheers

Finalmente um noite com nada para fazer...

So I finally have one night with nothing to do other than just relax and get some dinner and actually watch a little TV. Can't believe it's been since April since I've updated my blog but it seems like every time I start typing something it seems like I can't find anything to say but you'd think after 3 months it would be a lot easier. So since the last time I posted I became an uncle again and JR was born at the beginning of May and just like Madeline I am watching him grow up in the photos and videos that my sister and George send my way. Madeline is getting so big and so active it's been hilarious to watch her movies about riding her motorcycle, and playing in the water this summer.

The past few months in Brazil have been pretty crazy and working quite a bit during the week and on the weekends. When I returned to Brazil in May I was offered a job within the Brazilian company and I accepted the offer to stay down here for another 2-3 years. I was originally going to be working within the finance group of the company here but since then things have changed again and I've taken a job in the materials group managing imported products and assisting with inventories and demand planning. Right now I'm still doing my other job as well hence all of the work but I seem to be finding a nice balance until my replacement arrives later in August and then I train her for what I do on a weekly and monthly basis.

Outside of work I've still been working out but I started to play more golf on the weekends and I was also picked up by an American football team here in Brazil and we start out season this Saturday. I am also playing on the flag football team and we won our 4th game last weekend 24-18 and are now 4-0 and in 1st place in our division. This weekend is our first all pad tackle game and I am starting at TE and slot receiver and possibly playing some DE as well. Probably right now would be a good time to start praying that I don't kill anyone, or anyone kills me in the game this weekend. Brazilians are small but man they love when they get a chance to hit an American at their game.

I guess the last update is that I just closed on a new apartment today and I am set to move in when I come back from my trip in the US later this month. It's Madeline's 2nd birthday already and JR is being baptized on the same day so it's going to be a full day with lots of parties and gifts for the little ones. Anyway, the new apartment is great! It's a lot bigger than the one I am in now and it's in a brand new building but in the same area that I live in now. The owner is going to have me buy a few things for the place but 90% of the things the owner is going to buy and furnish with what I want so that has been some great news this week. He's going to put in AC as well and I'll buy things in exchange for the living room (sofa, table, chair, area rug, lamp etc). Got lots of shopping to do and quite a things to pick out before I move in a few weeks.

I'll do my best to keep on top of the blog over the next couple of months and defintley won't let it be 3 months again. Pray for safe travels in a couple of weeks for me and also pray for a safe game this coming weekend.

Cheers