Haha just realised that I didn't even reach ten in my Top Ten....vintage me!!! But anyway...heres another little entry. Its actually a bit mental how I've only been in Fortaleza for 2 weeks...its seemed like an aaaaage. Not in a bad/boring way though...just in the way that I've got used to stuff and got to know people and the area so quickly. Its madness!! Bought a diary (taking my cue from the K-Man) the other day and was a bit horrified by how little time I seem to have left here - 3 months on the placement in Fortaleza, and then just under a month for the journey down the coast and my stay in Rio. On paper the days and weeks which are soon to fly by honestly scared me to death. I swear i'll be back from the states in august 07 before i know it!! I shouldnt really be complainin though...everythings fab. FINALLY taught my first class today and it went pretty well I think. It was beginners so things were kind of basic and the age range is pretty big (a kid of 15 to a woman in her 40s), but it went without a hitch anyway. The students are are reaaally safe and responded well to my (by no means great) teaching. Look forward to having the same class this Friday. Tomorrow its Pre-Intermediate English and I haven't got a clue what I'm gonna do. I reckon some first-rate blagging is on the cards... Meanwhile Sao Pivete is off the hook. Belle and I have sussed what games the kids enjoy and we basically keep to a routine. Theres the one where theres a winking assassin and a detective who has to guess who it is, duck duck goose (although the kids cant pronounce duck too good), bulldog (classsssic) and carrimbo, which i still dont understand and basically just go along with, running and throwing and shouting when the kids run and throw and shout. Its hard work, especially when the little girls are mobbing you and the boys are nagging to play football in the blazing heat every 5 minutes, but i love it!!! I already have a few faves out of the lads (Belle generally deals with the girls with me just giving the odd piggy back etc), but its important to be pally with everyone, especially the few shy ones. The only problem at the mo is Belles host family, who are really really nice but just massively over protective and patronising with her. For someone like Belle, whos pretty much as independent as a 19 year old can be back in the UK, being told that you've got to be in at 10 30 on Saturday nights just isnt on. And we both know about the culture clash and all that jazz, but like i was saying to her and Daniel just half an hour ago, we're here to a) help the community and b) have a fulfilling experience, and if Belles wasting away in her house every night then her opportunities are basically wasting away too. We're going to sort it though and I'm sure Belle will be out with me and Vera and the brothers at Armazem (one of the clubs just off Iracema beach) this Saturday. I guess it all makes me feel kind of blessed that ive landed in a family with two guys close to my age and a mum whos as liberal as Edileusa. Just makes things a hell of a lot easier if people can give and take in terms of the culture clash. I'm not here to make these people English and likewise theyre not around to turn me into a fully fledged Brazilian for 4 months. In terms of music, I've really been trying to get into some Brazilian stuff with these 3 coming out on top over the last week or so: Capital Inicial (pretty much the Brazilian Train. Have a shodworthy cover of Wonderwall but all their other stuff is ace) Marcelo D2 (group combing hip hop and samba...wicked) Another really great samba group which I just can't remember the name of. Andersons also been teaching me how to play the birembau, a single-string instrument used in capoeira. It sounds funky but is proper hard!! Will be an ace by the time im out of here though......!! But anyway im off...knackered!!! Let me know how its goin on the message board! J xxx