Hey guys and gals!! Well it feels like aaaages since I last wrote something here!! Loooads has happened so instead of doing some sort of epic novel, I'll try and break stuff up into a Top Ten (ish) of things I've encountered. In no particular order.... 1. FOOTBALL ...is even more popular here than you could imagine. Everywhere you go there are groups of fellas playing on beaches and little run-down 5-a-side pitches - young and old, wearing Brazil and club shirts, with shoes and without shoes - its like the worlds biggest Nike ad around here. I played a game with Arlison and his mates the other day and it was an experience!! Was in a proper Fifa Street style venue - a sort of warehouse complete with mesh fence, graffiti and dim lighting - with a sort of Wembley style tournament going on. No questions asked those Brazilians were incredible and, despite scoring a couple of goals (aaalll about the pace, Simon), it was reaaaally hard for me to get into the game. Still, it was another amazing experience and I'll definitely keep it going on Friday nights, if only to keep in shape whilst im out here. Joga bonito!! 2. FOOD ...is incredible and filling as hell!! For lunch every day I have a plate of rice and beans (feijoada), with bits of chicken, noodles, fresh veg and other meats, with amazing fresh juices to wash it all down. My gran told me she doesn't think I like the food, but I've explained to her that us little UK fellas don't usually do the whole piling food as high as Everest thing, and now just saying "Eu nao estou com fome" usually works a treat when shes said "mais, mais" for the millionth time. Ive also got addicted to the coffee, which in most houses sits on the kitchen table in a big thermos flask. Its black, hot and reaaaallly sweet - love it!!! Another cool thing has been the coconut milk (agua de coco) which Belle and I had whilst trekking around the madness that is the Fortaleza city centre. Its just like in the movies - you drink it from the (massive) coconut with a little straw, and its unbelievably refreshing. Its not even a tourist thing...everyones got one!! 3. RELIGION ...hits you here like a steam train. Like I've said, I'm not gonna turn Christian or ultra-religious whilst I'm out here, but the faith here is definitely overwhelming, and something that I've had to get used to. During the first service that Belle and I went to, we were called up in front of the whole congregation and a prayer was said for us, which was kind of cool (I made an embarassingly s***e thank you speech in Portuguese afterwards, but we'll forget about that :) ). Meanwhile everywhere you go there are signs praising God and Jesus and everyone. Was in a car yesterday and the dashboard was actually pre-made with the words "I Love Jesus" moulded in. Craziness. Just before that Belle and I were chatting to a friend of my host family, and all of a sudden he tells us to get up, right there on his porch, and he says a little prayer for us. Ha! Just remembered - he seemed to think that we were Chrisitian missionaries, and I couldn't be bothered to go into the whole Jewish thing (which is totally fine here to be honest...Brazilians love the Jews), so I started BS-ing about the state of the Church of England, and when he asked what church I go to for when he visits the UK soon, I said the "Igreja de Watford" (Church of Watford)!! Also just remembered that they showed bits of The Passion of the Christ (the gory bits) during our first service, and this was with a congregation full of kiddies!! I joked to Belle that it will probably be The Terminator next week, but you can never be sure...... 4. THE SAO PIVETE PLACEMENT Belle and I have a pretty packed schedule. Apart from days off on Wednesday and Sunday (beachhhhhh), we have English classes every evening from 19:00 to 21:00 (earlier on Saturday), special English conversation classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and activities with the Sao Pivete kids on Monday and Friday mornings and Saturday afternoons. Having overseen the enrollment for our English classes over the last week, we've had plenty of time to meet the Sao Pivete kids and its been fab!! The ages range from about 6 to 15 and theyre all incredibly hyperactive and eager to please. On the first day there they taught me and Belle how to dance the "forro", what seemed like looooads of songs, and asked instantly for our email adds. Meanwhile today we played Consequences and some other games I learnt on the TSC, before the standard game of Bulldog in the little garden around the back of the building. I'm actually chatting to one of them on MSN now and its haaaaard with all the slang and abbreviations. I feel like an old man!! Still, its an incredible place and surely the best of the placements here. Exhausting but sooooo jokes!! MORE COMING SOON.... P.S. Ash my brozinho...I've sent you a postcard and will call you on the 13th, but if for whatever reason I mess that up, happy 17th (still cant believe you're that old) and live it up!!! I've been looking into the places we can go to on our trek down the coast and all I can say is that it looks lushhhhh. Look up Arraial d'Ajuda!! Miss and love you man.