We arrived in Foz an hour and a half early, which we cant complain about, better than sitting on the coach any longer! The coach journey wasnt as bad as we�d imagined, but we imagined it to be hell on earth! It stopped every 3 hours throughout the night, at dodgy looking truck stops, but as neither of us slept at all at least we could get junk food and go to the toilet! The weather in Foz was grey and miserable, which adding to the grey and miserable scene made the city look even more dull and uninspiring. We were picked up by our volunteer host and taken to the volunteer house we�ll be staying at for the next 2 weeks. I have to say i really wanted to cry by now, but i guess fatigue didnt help! The house had a large living room and tv for everyone to use, a large kitchen, and 3 rooms inside the house. Our room was at the back of the house, like a cattle shed or something, and it wasnt much better inside! The walls are brick, no plaster, a bed in the middle, and a wall of fitted cupboards. The bathroom did it for me though, it was a small cubicle with a sink and a toilet, and the shower hangs in the middle, so almost over the toilet....... MY BIGGEST FEAR, YUCK....... We really were in low spirits by now. So i composed myself and decided the room needed a womens touch, drapping my silver shawl over the bed head, hanging the mosi net from the ceiling (home did that, i couldnt reach!) and putting out toiletries etc along the shelves and cupboards.. .ahh a little more homely at least. The other 4 house mates were in Curitiba for the weekend, so we were all alone, in a dull town. We slept most of that day, and opted for the safety of Macdonalds again that night. Sunday the weather wasnt much better, in fact it was teaming down with rain, so another day inside, watching old movies and resting. That night we went to our hosts house for dinner, chicken lasagne, wine and watched video�s of famous brazilian singers, and Shakira!!!!!

Our house mates came back that night and it was a relief to be with english people again, and have proper conversations! They were all nice people and great fun, all different characters which is nice. We started to relax now

Monday we went to the schools for a briefing in the afternoon, to learn that we were actually teaching english classes with 4 to 5 year olds, and 6 year olds. A little shocked we went about planning our lessons, working together on the best ways to teach them colours, numbers, body parts, animals etc. Our first class on tuesday was a little nerve wracking to start with, but we settled in and although the kids dont understand much they are eager and learn the things we teach well, and of course enjoyed our games and colouring pictures etc. Its a great experience, the kids really adour you.

We joined the local gym (for 7 quid for 2 weeks) and found all the shops, supermarket, the hostel (with internet!) and by now we were settling in and Foz didnt seem so bad! There are actually some really posh areas, they just dont look it from a distance. Opposite us is the most expensive restaurant in Foz, and people come from Paraquay to eat there, parking there posh cars outside! There is a huge millitary base not far from us, and lots of police of horse back and walking around the town, so it feels very safe. Our portugese is expanding a little, we can work our way around a supermarket and a menu now. There are some good restuarants in the area, but best to stay away from the buffets, you never know whats in them!

Thursday night we had a big night out, all 6 of us before one of our house mates went home (its like big brother, lol!). We had a buffet meal (thats the one to stay away from!) at a local beer garden, then headed to a brazilian show at Uba Uba. Most of the show was tacky dancing, big bold traditional dresses and costumes, and lots of portugese narrating, which clearly we didnt understand a word of! But they had about 8 topless guys doing capoeira (martial arts combined with dance) and they were amazing. Rippling bodies flipping in the air, impressive stunts showing their strength and flexibility, of course i didnt enjoy it!!!!!! NOT!!!! after we headed to a uni night club, where one of our house mates purcussion instructors was playing samba. Only we didnt know we�d have to listen to 2 1/2 hours of brazilian music before hand, in a dodgy looking club that looked like a school darked out with a bar in the corner! In Brazil, if you ask for a vodka and orange, you get a glass of vodka, full to the top, and no orange! there drinks are so strong and they drink them neat!!!! The music didnt inspire us to drink much, and we headed home around 2,30am, conscious we had to be up at 7:30am for a class at 9am the next morning! Unfortunately, due to the buffet the night before, we didnt make it to class, just the toilet!!!!!!!

last weekend we went to Iguazzu falls, both side, argentina and Brazil, and we�ve added this in a seperate blog entry as they were so amazing. Tomorrow we are heading to paraquay for some very cheap shopping before we fly to Buenos Aires on Friday morning.

On Monday 3rd we went to the school in the morning for two, hours then off to the hostel to catch up on our blog, which took 4 hours out of our day. We then went back to our house, cooked a meal watched some TV and went to bed.

Tusday 4th we had early lessons for two hours with the kids. We then came back and met Nikki who had just arrived. She was here to do 3 months work with the same kids we were teaching. Within an our she had decided that teaching wasnt for her and decided to come traveling with me and Lisa. We are just so likeable!!! Me, Lisa, Nikki and Sarah headed into Paraguay for a trip out and hated every minute. The bus was long and bumpy, Paraguay was OVERCROWDED and DIRTY and not that nice so we all decided to head home to eat. We ended up in McDonalds. Were I spilt all my milkshake over the steps and had to get another one. In the evening all housemates went to the hostel for a drink and play some cards except Lisa who stayed behind as she had a migraine. I didn`t get in till 5am as me and Sarah stayed behind to chat. NO i wasnt trying to pull her we were just chatting :o) No seriously! She has a boyfriend!!!! We didnt even drink anymore drinks from 1am!!! Lisa got up at 4am not knowing where we all were (my guess is in bed as it was late) and ended up watching Evita till I returned.

Wednesday 5th we had a lay in and went to school with Nikki for her first time at 2am for two hours. I then went to the gym, dossed around in the house for a few hours before heading out for a big meal with all of the housemates, Ana Marie and Carlos her hubby courtesy of travellers worldwide . We had a great meal (with lots and lots of meat) then headed to Puerto Iguassa to go to a club called Cuba Libra. As the club was in Argentina we had to go through border control (where we got our passport stamped again). On the way to the club (about 12.00) we saw a group of young girls (about 7) rolling down the hill. So random. The club turned out to be really good as it was a salsa club. When we first arrived it was empty but within a short space of time it filled out. There was a young guy dancing salsa on the dance floor with some women, they were really good dancers. Later in the evening me (lisa), hayley, nikki and alex jumped up to start dancing to some R&B music. The salsa guy came over and started dancing with us, obviously impressed with alex's dance skills!!!! Later he dragged me up on the dance floor for a bit of salsa dancing, which nikki kindly videod.. grrrrrr.... Ana marie had arranged for the 2 taxis who took us to the club to wait around for us to return, but one of them left, so the other driver had to do two journeys. So at 3am half of us (lisa, Nikki and Hayley) headed back to the house and i waited for Tom to come back who was in the second taxi. So i waited, and waited, and waited...... till i fell asleep as he didnt come home all night!!!!!!!!! Its Tom again..... I actually got home about 4.30am We stayed in the club for about another hour while Alex worked his magic on some poor Argentinian girl. We then headed out to the taxi that wasnt there. We waited a while until it finally arrived. When we got back me (Tom), ALex and Sarah made a lethal cocktail to celebrate the night out. Before I went back to our room I helped Sarah pack her bag as she was leaving early the next day. We ended up chatting all night and I fell asleep in the bunk bed (she has two in the room). I woke up to a very grumpy Lisa who wouldn`t speak to me for ages. Still not sure why!!!
Thursday 6th Alex, Sarah and Hayley all left to go to Rio for the weekend in the afternoon. Me, Lisa and Nikki went to the hostel and sunbathed by the paddling pool for a little bit, paid for our flights to Buenos Aires, aupdated our blogs a bit then headed off to a classy eatery for some food. We ended up in Pizza Hut!! Then we went home to bed!