You can take the gauchinha out of Brazil, but you can't take Brazil out of the gauchinha

In the beginning I thought it would be no big deal for Vivi to move to the US. She's adaptable, right? For the most part that has been true. But there are the little things that she is having to relearn. And, to an almost 3 year old, maybe the little things are, afterall, not so little. For example, the average complete stranger no longer speaks Portuguese (ok, just about no one speaks Portuguese) and they will not respond to Tio or Tia. You no longer have to say goodbye with a hug and kiss to the other little kids you meet at the park. Used toilet paper is now thrown away in the toilet, not in a wastecan beside the toilet. Rice and black beans are not served at lunch as often anymore.

Frankly, I haven't had time yet to miss Brazil. We've been too busy to think about it. The only times I have missed it are when Vivi mentions wanting to go home, as in our home in Horizontina. That's been difficult because I know we will not have that life again. The life she was born with and learned to know. But we will remember it and someday maybe we can go back for a visit.

Vivi dancing in the Ouro Verde