3 months on

 24^th May (Thursday) 2012

Well, let’s see what’s happened so far since the last blog entry, being Leap Year.

I had managed to go walk about, being a vagabond moving from town to town. I was staying in Tucuruvi for 3 months, until due to overcrowding had to move. Then went to Santo Amaro, for three weeks, and now I’m in Artur Alvim.

Now these places couldn’t be conveniently located towards the centre; instead the first was last stop going north, the second far south-east (running a long and beyond a smelly river) and now in what they call Zona Lost. I realise why now, it feels like eternity getting here.

stadium so far

Where the new stadium is being built

Map of SP metro

During all this colossal my hair started falling out. More than the usual 100 strands that women lose on a daily basis. I started getting a bald patch, so first thought was WTF am I gonna do? To which after numerous cancelled and rescheduled appointments later, the Dermatologist diagnosed me as to having ‘alopecia areata’, which basically means balding in women.

I thought that it was a result of me colouring my hair like a bitch throughout all this time, but this was not the case. This was brought on by stress. So now I have to rest as much as possible, otherwise I’m gonna end up looking like Cousin IT from the Adams family. Crikey!

Pacaembu Timao vs Palmeiras

Ok, looking to good karma things that have happened since...

I went to see a classíco game at the Pacaembu between Corinthians and Palmeiras. What a game! Never been to a game whereas the atmosphere was like that. Stadium wasn’t even full, imagine if it was. Well that was the game whereas a Palmeiras fan died and a few were put in hospital. Kids...

My team here... Corinthiana!

I decided to look at meeting new people here in this city, and hence responded to another Brit who was looking at improving her Portuguese and making friends. After a few e-mails exchanged, it was decided that we would meet down Paulista, in front of Shopping 3. Now, this girl waited 15mins then buggered off home. When I had arrived, I thought ‘where is she?’ That’s the English for ya! You would think that for someone whose in Brazil, she would get accustomed to people being late all the time. But noooooooo, she just legged it without notifying me. I tell you, it really grinded my gears! Stupid cow.

Japanese/Korean/Chinese= Lemmings

So I decided to join the Couch surfing meet-up group. They hold them every Tuesday’s down Augusta. It’s just a social group, whereas people who are in the city just meet and converse. These are people who work, study and are travelling in the city. A good way to meet new people. So last week was the first one that I attended. I thought, what have I got to lose? So I just went there and introduced myself to people, sticking out my hand and saying ‘hi, how are you my name’s Vanessa’ and so on. Everyone thought that I was Brazilian, cos I spoke in Portuguese. And each bloody one said ‘You are Japanese, right?’ or Korean. I mean, give me a break! And I swear, anyone that says ‘you are look the same, no difference to me’ is gonna get a bitch slap. No we’re not ‘all the same’, we’re not all Lemmings.

Swiftly moving on...

Work wise; I’m still teaching friends English. Not yet started working in companies, mainly because of my hair situation. No stress for the time being. Gotta get on the road to recovering. But I tell you, not working makes me feel useless. I feel like an invalid. But maybe next month, things will start having a routine and I’ll finally be able to enjoy myself.

Waiting on my working visa for my law job, so might as well teach Business assholes English in the mean whie. Then meet new people at these meet-ups and also spend more time with the few friends I have already.  

Notice how I said ‘few’ friends, there were more but I had to narrow it down a lot due to the encounters I’d had with them.

To be continued...