I didn't think it had been two weeks since I last updated but who am I to argue with the internet. Not really sure what all has happened in the past couple of weeks but figured I was due for an update. I've been traveling to our foundry, sorry let me back up. My job has become more defined down here and I am filling into more of a Controller role and assisting the Director of Finance and working with the finance teams in Hortolandia (Car Build plant) and Cruzeiro (wheel foundry and casting facility). Now back to where I started, I have been traveling to the foundry each week since I returned to work more closely with the finance team here. There are about 40+ people in the finance dept at the foundry and 6 in Hortolandia so makes more sense to spend my time here during the week and when I have projects to do.
The foundry is about a 3 hour drive and it's not too bad but driving here you always have to be aware of your speed, and of course other drivers. It is not the complete opposite of driving in the states but if anyone comes up on you here all you have to do is look behind you and you'll see their blinker on which means they want to pass you. No middle fingers, no flashing lights or horns, just a blinker and you respect it and get over. There are no police on the road here to pull you you over for speeding so that's why i made the comment about watching your speed. Brazil seems to have beaten the US to this one and they installed radars along the highway's here to catch speeders. I've started to learn where they are so I can slow down, but 1 KMH over and you'll get nice fine in the mail.
On my nights when I am in Campinas (where my apartment is) work day starts between 7:30 and 8 and goes until 5:15. I didn't know this until last week but Friday's the office closes at 4 pm to start the weekend, but I haven't been at that office on a Friday so that was news to me, but makes sense with the earlier start time the other four days during the week. After work I usually head straight to Portuguese class for 2-3 hours, get a workout in if the weather is nice, and then grab some dinner, email, Facebook, etc. I think it was a week or so ago on a Friday about 9 pm that I went running and as I was running, just listening to my ipod I look ahead and I am thinking, man it's pretty early for this girl to be all dressed up on a Friday night. Well as I get closer I realize that this girl, is well, not a girl which explains why he/she is all dressed up and ready to work for the night. After I got back to my apartment I talked to the guy at the front desk and he mentioned that he knew the area and to be careful around there especially on a Friday. That advice has been heeded and I haven't been back to that area unless it's during the day.
I've started to take stock in things that I am missing back home besides friends and family, so mom/dad when you read this I need a box to check on the airplane for when I come back down and I've added a few things to the list since we talked last week. There is NO peanut butter here, granola bars, I need some spray starch, Honey Nut Cheerios, Power Bars, and I will keep adding to the list. I just need to keep the box under 70lbs which I should be able to do!
Guess the last update for today is that I found and attended an English speaking church this past Sunday. There were a whopping 21 or 22 people there and I was the youngest by about 20 years with the exception of one couple who had a 4 year old daughter. They are having an Easter sunrise service and breakfast at a woman's house and I was invited to attend so that will be good to celebrate and get to know other people in the area. The pastor this past week was from Albany Georgia so that was pretty cool to talk to him after the service and find out where he is from and how long he has been in Brazil. I told him I grew up for the first 5 years in Georgia and he knew all of the places where my family lives.
Hope all is well back home, I promise to post some pictures when I return home in a couple of weeks and look forward to seeing anyone I can while I am back home.
Tchau
Adam
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