We have now lived in Brazil for 1 whole week. Here is an update on what we’ve been up to.

We arrived on Thursday morning last week and started out by moving into our temporary home; Gran Hotel Morada do Sol. It is situated in the middle of Araraquara surrounded by shops, restaurants, one-way streets, parks, palm trees and colorful vivo phonebooths.

Friday we took passport pictures and copies of passports in preparation for gov documents. In the evening we were invited to Pernilla and Vasse Chis who have a daughter who will be in Olivias class.

Saturday we looked at a house. Apparently there are problems with the house we chose so we are back to square one on the housesearch which unfortunately means Morada will be our home for the next 8 weeks at least. Morada is also referred to as “Mordor” by those who have been forced to stay for long periods of time. The record holder stayed for 92 days!

Sunday we joined two other families for a rainy day lunch at a nearby golf club. Peter is wishing he’d brought his clubs😄

Monday was back to business. We had scheduled time at the federal police to register for our RNE (National Registry of Foreigners) which we need in order to be recognised by the Brazilian government and enables us to perform basic tasks like opening a bank account. The kids both had to write their signature on the applications as well as register fingerprints.

After the Police Federal we had a scheduled visit with the children’s school Pueri Domus. We showed the kids their classes and they got a tour of the school. Afterwards we went and got the required uniforms and school supplies. At the beginning of the school year the kids get a list of supplies that will be used throughout the term such as pencils, pens, calendar etc. The kids then pull all the supplies back and forth to and from school in little trolley bags. I will tell you more about the school in a later post. In the afternoon Ingeborg (one of the Swedish housewives) helped me acquire a Brazilian SIM card for my phone.

Tuesday was a big day for the kids. Their first day of school! Livvie started Infantil II which is the last step before 1st grade. James started a class below Olivia; Infantil I. In Brazil the school year starts in February after summer break (dec-jan) so they will both change after christmas. Livvie to 1st grade which is a big deal here and James tô Infantil II. I stayed at school Tuesday and Wednesday until they felt comfortable. James still pleads with me to stay by saying “Jag vill bara va med dig mamma. 😥”. Livvie has two swedish girls in her class to help her feel secure. James is alone with Brazilian kids. I can imagine his loneliness. Heartbreaking to leave him every morning but necessary.

Peter left on a business trip to São Paulo on Wednesday for three days. Before he left he picked up our car so I can get around more easily. There is a lot of driving in a day here. Until now we have had to call a taxi every time we need to go anywhere which has been 3-4 times a day.

Thursday and today I dropped the kids off without staying. Picked them up at noon after they’d had lunch. After school we have typically met up with the other moms and kids and played. It’s a nice community and I couldn’t ask for a nicer welcome from the Swedish families.

We have also tried out one of the Crossfit gyms near the school. At 1800 on Tuesdays and Thursdays they have a WOD for grown ups and gymnastics for kids so the whole family has worked out together. Kids love it!

Peter got back Friday night and we went to Pernilla and Vasse for a Halloween dinner with another Swedish family and a “buddy family”. Each family has been introduced to a Brazilian family to help integrate. A lot of times these families hooked up in Sweden when the Brazilians lived in Linköping for the initial phase of the Gripen project. We have applied for a buddy family but have yet to be matched with one.

Dinner was a great with lots of kids and, of course, pumpkin carving.

Happy halloween!