Isto Se Chama "Cutie Pie" or "__________"

Fill in the blank to name our new car. It's a 2004 Ford Fiesta. It is a tiny little car, so it will fit in with all the other cars on the road here in Curitiba. We're hoping to safely drive it for 6 months and then sell it to someone else who wants to buy it. Our host keeps telling Wayne, "Wayne, be careful, cuidado, be careful." She knows how everyone drives down here. So far, Wayne is the driver. He says the name should be "Gutless Wonder".

We Arrived Safely

We have arrived in Brazil safely. We passed through three airports and had to go through security in each one. Our host met us at the airport in her new car, which held all of our luggage. We went to the University, had lunch, took a brief tour of the city, and tried to open a bank account. On the latter, we only succeeded in applying for a number similar to a SS# which we need in order to open the account. We are living downtown in a hotel until Dec. 23 when we will move into a furnished apartment near the University. Our apartment will be on the 21st floor so we should have a nice view. Curitiba is a large city with many people, buses, cars, and etc. We did not leave the traffic jams behind in DC! The day we arrived we received an email saying that Grandpa Gibbons had fallen and broken his leg again. He has had surgery and the reports are favorable. We hope he does well.

On Thursday we will be leaving for Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná, Brazil. Some of the superlatives from the guide book are: Brazil's highest standards of living, most productive economies, best educated populations, and a pleasant, prosperous place to live. The natural attractions include large swatches of unspoiled rain forest, a pristine coastline whose beaches are the least developed and most idyllic in all of southern Brazil, and Iguaçu Falls. We'll be there for 6 months conducting research in conjunction with the Federal Universidade do Paraná.

Finally, The Hairstyle I Have Wanted

 

This is my new travel hairstyle. Great for Brazil and maybe great for forever. It is so easy. No hair dryer, no curlers, just wash and wear with a little magic potion--control paste.

We haven't packed yet

We haven't packed yet, but we can't delay much longer. The good news is that we are allowed 2 check-in bags each and they can weigh 70 pounds each. Wayne will love that!

Riding Mom's horse with Melmo

We'll miss her.

And, we'll miss him too.