Capitulo 37 -- Fim do Outono

Ola!!

Ja faz tanto tempo que eu nao escrevo um post (e ja faz tanto tempo que esse post nao eh em Portugues). Hoje, no entanto, me deu vontade de sentar e escrever na minha lingua materna, mesmo nao tendo tanto o que dizer...

Essa eh a penultima semana de aulas e agora falta muito pouco ate o fim do fall term. O outono passou rapido! A ideia de que nao terei mais "fall terms" na Lawrence me alegra de certo modo. Como voces ja sabem estou contando os meses para a minha formatura, e embora a vida la fora seja mais complicada... eu acho que eu estou pronta para comecar a trabalhar, sim.

Eu ainda nao sei se poderei voltar ao Brasil para o Natal, mas por enquanto o plano principal eh estar em Madison, com Michael. Embora o periodo seja de descanso, temos alguns projetos por terminar durante as ferias de inverno. Se voce estiver por perto, venha nos visitar! Madison eh conhecida pelas guerras de bola de neve entre os dormitorios do campus. Ano passado, para quem lembrar, eu fui testemunha do campo de batalha! Caso nao nos vejamos nesse fim de ano... boas festas!

Abracos saudosos dessa cidadezinha gelada em Wisconsin!

Capitulo 36 -- ...and I am so busy this year!

Dear friends, how are you? I am sorry it's been a while since my last post, but it is my Senior year at Lawrence University and that literally means that my life is... crazy! I see lots of homework assignments piling up every day and on top of that I am juggling with both the writing of my last novel and my honors project on alternative journalism.

I had to find time, though, to say how I am doing and to hear from you. In general I think I am fine and I am positive I will survive this academic year. I can't wait to be done with school and the very nature of being stressfully busy means that time is flying! It is already October! Very soon Christmas will be here and then, when I least expect, it will be warm again and time to wear a graduation gown.

The sad part, though, is that I find myself being recently somewhat detached from society. When I am not working, I'm in my room writing as much as I can and trying to catch up with my reading. It's been somewhat lonely, but thanks to my boyfriend I've got a few precious opportunities to hang out and see that there's a world out there. I have to make sure I don't end up neglecting the friend I've made here -- I am not sure they need me, but I do need them!

That's all I have to say for now... and, Jeez, it is already late. I should probably start getting ready to go to bed. Tomorrow I've got lots to do! See you soon -- hopefully -- and don't let school take over your life, OK?. I'm looking forward to my Winter break and by then, who knows, I'll be a lot closer to making my dream of becoming a published author come true. Fingers crossed!

Capitulo 35 -- Senior Year!

My dear friends,

I am back and it is quite exciting to think that this is my Senior year at Lawrence University! To be honest I can't wait to be done. I really want to start right away my career as a journalist and a writer, but knowing myself I think I will miss these Lawrentian days. This year I'll pay extra attention to everyone and everything just to try to develop stronger memories for when I'm feeling blue during my life outside the bubble.

These days I've been busy working as a residence advisor and getting to know the freshmen. They are very nice kids and extremely talented. There's also the group of Japanese students from Waseda University and other exchange students -- I can tell one can expect great things from them.

Last weekend we were playing Kohler (Hall) Clue and all RAs spread around the building. I stayed in my room, so the new students would know where to find an RA. The game going on in my place was Harry Potter trivia and I even wore a hat... pretending to be a witch myself. I am quite impressed that one of my residents knows absolutely everything about Rowling's series. He knew the answers to so many questions right away!

That's it for now, but very soon, once I get my routine settled, I will be posting more stories, so stay tuned.

Gustavo's Graduation

At Lawrence University, when it is almost time to graduate, international students get emails asking them to help with the pronunciation of their names. My dear compatriot, Gustavo, graduated last week. He told me that he actually called the provost and explained that his last name was Portuguese, therefore a little bit complicated to pronounce.

See, Gustavo's full name is Gustavo Cavalcanti Guimaraes. I also am a Cavalcanti (de Carvalho), and I know how difficult it is for them to say "Cavalcanti".

"No, that wasn't the problem", told me Gustavo. "He pronounced 'Cavalcanti' well..." and then he smiled. He continued: "You don't know what I did... I had to do something... I was there waiting for my turn to be called and when he called me he said... 'Gustavo Cavalcanti GOSTOSO'".

Only a few people understood the joke. ("Gustavo, I didn't know your last name was pronounced like that..."). Ah, Gustavo is impossible! I don't know when I'll see him again, but I am sure he'll have a great life and I will hear a lot about his success.

Congratulations, Gustavo! We'll miss you!

P.S. "Gostoso" is common slang in Brazil meaning "hot"!

"Are You a Rebecca or a Becca?"

"Are you a Rebecca or a Becca?", asked me a lady who I was serving yesterday during the first dinner I was covering. To be honest I did not know exactly what to say; in the middle of a busy event somebody comes to me asking one of those philosophical questions that nobody could deeply respond: who are you? what am I? I just shrugged and said a bit uncertain "Um... Both, I guess!".

I had never stopped to think about the complexity of names and nicknames. In Brazil I usually introduce myself as Rebecca, but here in the U.S. I've found myself simply saying "I'm Becca". My mother always calls me Becca and a few friends in Brazil, but the great majority of people -- even the ones I know since I was a baby -- is more inclined to call me Rebecca. I was used to these formalities, but when I moved to Wisconsin and started studying at Lawrence it was really amusing to hear my professors simply calling me Becca.

Maybe when my life split into two and I left home this new part of me had to have a different name, and that's why today sounds weird to me to be called by my real name. When I visit Recife perhaps I'll find odd to be called Becca occasionally. I think I will have to deal with being a Rebecca and a Becca at the same time...

Where Is Rebecca?

Hey guys!

I am sorry it's been a while since my last post, but I wanted to let you know that I am alive and doing fine this summer. The 2009-10 academic year is over, but I am still at Lawrence University working a lot to save money. By the way, I have Senior standing now! Weird... and exciting!

Every day I get up at 5:00 AM and work until 2:30 PM cleaning the residence halls and a few other buildings. Next Monday I will be at the Music-Drama Center, if you want to show up and say hello to a tired worker who needs support and encouragement. Today I am working for the catering department, serving during a few events over Reunion week. The good news is that a few friends will be working with me during the same shift, and that is absolutely comforting.

On Sunday I am moving out! I will be living with my friend Mya Win at her friendship family's house not very far from campus. They went to Ecuador and needed someone to water their plants and feed a little blue parakeet, Sky. Isn't that wonderful? Free housing is the best thing ever!

I will let you know more details about my life and what's going on, soon. I am still editing my book, and hopefully I will get a literary agent interested in it. I can't wait to get my work published and become an official writer!

Well, I hope all is well with you guys. Let me know how's life been treating you and if you have fun plans for this summer / winter / depends on where you are.

Love,
-- Becca

Capitulo 34 - Spring... Where? (Part II)

...and today, ladies and gentlemen, snow-white Winter came visit us at Lawrence. Our grounds woke this morning covered in pure white snow! I wonder what happened to poor Spring weather.

I love this place..!