Departing the SP

Jackson, Java and I are getting ready to end our chapter as Sao Paulo residents. Tomorrow, all five of us are headed to Detroit to start our new truly goofy life as a split family. Ro is going to stay in Detroit until the end of June and then come back at the end of July. Hannah is going to hang in Detroit until the first week of August and then I'm going to bring her back to Sao Paulo to start school (so Ro can go salmon fishing!). I will be back at work full-time and Jackson starts CCS in the Fall. Our schedules are going to be whacked!

We are so looking forward to being back in our house again.

I can't thank all of my new found friends in SP enough for the hospitality you've shown all of us. We've had a blast. Keep an eye on Ro and Hannah, eh?

Tchau! Ate logo.

He's A Graduate!

Thought I would post a few quick photos for the Grandmas, Aunts, Uncles and friends. Believe it or not, Jackson is now a GRADUATE!!! More details and photos to come later. We're off to a big party tonight.

Go Tigers!

I sent this photo (finally) today to the Free Press. They have a feature where they run travel photos of Detroiters wearing the Old English D in the Sunday travel section. How could they resist Hannah and Taylor at Versailles? Because you're my blog friend, you get to see it first!

Post Prom

Jackson and Hannah went to the post prom gathering on Saturday night. They sure clean up well.

Winding it Up

Brazilians don't do proms. The whole idea is quite funny to them. I spent 20 minutes explaining to the building receptionist what the concept entailed and why my son was wearing a tux. Jackson had to walk a florist through what a corsage was and how to make it.

Jackson and his girlfriend, Rachel, looked amazing last night. She's such a pretty girl. One of his classmates invited all the senior parents and kids over to a pre-prom party at their house so everybody could see all the kids dressed up. (Not sure if the kids liked having their parents around...but too bad!) Cameras were everywhere. The kids looked great but I was just in awe of this house and their hospitality. So beautiful! Dan had to keep reminding me to not be so nosey. The prom theme was a masquerade so that is why some of the kids have masks on in the photos. We had to leave when the kids left for the prom but I could have stayed there all night. Ro and I went out for dinner just the two of us. (Hannah spent the night with six of her girlfriends.) It was almost like it was our prom night again....only 30 years later.

Hannah and Jackson are going to a post-prom party tonight. From what I understand, tonight is the real party for all the high schoolers. It doesn't start until 11. We hired the kids a driver!

Some of you may have seen this on Facebook, but Jackson was recognized Thursday night as the David Tully award winner at his athletics banquet. The award recognizes the epitome of teamwork, fitness, leadership and sportsmanship. So cool. I have since learned that David Tully was the Graded principal about five years back. He was a fitness fanatic and a big supporter of athletics at the school. He got cancer but somehow found the strength to make it to the Big 8 sports tournament to cheer the Graded teams on the week before he passed away. Sounds like an amazing man. We were teasing Jackson that when he comes back to Brazil next year, he can't pack on the "Freshman 15" pounds at college. The award is all about his commitment to fitness after all.

Hannah was at the athletics awards too with her volleyball and basketball teams but the night was mostly about seniors. They are really looking for her to step up once all these kids move on. She's ready!

I am leaving tomorrow for a quick trip to Los Angeles for work. I was supposed to go, then it got canceled and now it is back on again. Oi vey. I land back in Brazil Friday morning in time for the Senior Awards ceremony that night and graduation on Saturday. Cross your fingers all the flights work because I'm cutting it tight!

Tres Bien!

I know we're supposed to be all about Brazil and South America but when Patrice and Taylor mentioned they wanted to celebrate 16th birthdays in Paris, Hannah and I were all about it! We left Sao Paulo for Paris last Saturday and spent six great days in the City of Lights.

Patrice found a hotel near the Opera House and it was a perfect headquarters for all the fun. Man, there is a lot to see and do in Paris. I feel like we hardly put a dent in it. I have been there three times for work but I never really have had a chance to play tourist. We tried to see as much as possible, with gusto...Notre Dame, Louvre, Pompidou Center for Modern Art, bike excursion, boat tour, hands on bakery visit, Montmarte, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Couer,Versailles and the Champs Elysees. The Metro sure is an easy way to get around. In between each stop, we put quite a dent into the credit cards of our two families. The stores are amazing.

We were definitely tourists....a snobby French waiter said my choice of chardonnay was "ordinary," we trekked up to this recommended restaurant from our bike tour guide only to find it closed and we tried to go to a Third Eye Blind concert and the show was canceled. Oh well. C'est la vie!

I think my favorite thing was the bike tour we did the first day. We spent about five hours on the bikes and rode through a lot of side streets. It was a group of about 10 people so we really learned a lot. (I took my sling off that day and used a bike with pedal brakes and the dislocated shoulder survived just fine!)

Fun fact: Did you know there are five kilos of butter in every batch of croissants?

As a sleepy Patrice said on the last morning when Hannah and I left the hotel to catch our plane, "We'll always have Paris."

Journeys, Art and the ER

I dislocated my shoulder while running on the trail this week so it hurts like the dickens to type and is very slow because I only use one hand. My right arm is in a sling for three weeks. So here's a quick miscellaneous update from our world and a bunch of photos.

*Ro is out right now on an overnight fishing outing with the guys from work. They fish all night in the dark. We'll see what the catch is in the morning. I bet he catches a hangover.

*Jackson chose College for Creative Studies in Detroit for school. When it came down to decision time, he decided he liked drawing cars. If cars are your passion, you belong at CCS. He's hoping to get into the new Taubman Center dorms. Graduation day here is May 29.

*Jackson had his senior art show at school. There are some photos here of his display. Hannah had some pictures showcased too. They both did a great job.

*Hannah sprained the ligaments around her ankle at the Big Four volleyball tournament. She has her foot in an air cast. I love that the doctors here in Sao Paulo send you a CD with your x-rays on it. That is Hannah's foot below.

*Jackson had a blast playing softball at Big Four. He was the MVP for his team and has a big medal to prove it. Graded boy's softball also took first place.

*Hannah and I are joining up with Taylor and Patrice tomorrow in Paris. Woo hoo! We are treating the girls to the trip (OK, us too!) as a 16th birthday present. Can't wait to chill. We are going to look like refugees getting off the plane. Hannah is going to be limping and I have a wounded wing. Bet we still have a great time!

*We depart Brazil on June 10. Hello Detroit! I am going to be sad I think. Sao Paulo has been a blast. Ro and Hannah will still be here for two more years so I have quite a few more trips to look forward to in my future...but this will be the end of the residency for Jackson and I.






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