2010-05-31

An Arabic Dinner




Daily Summary - 31 May

Morning
Free
Noon
Terraco Italia
Paulista Avenue

Dinner
Arabic Restaurant

Pauline's 6th host family @ Santo Andre

There is a saying in Chinese "It is not necessary to be big if the room is elegant." Debora and Marcio's apartment is a very good example and a good home for me when I was staying at Santo Andre. The size of the apartment is almost the same as a typical apartment in Hong Kong, which made me felt home. Debora is a very cheeful young lady who is very thoughtful to prepare anything I needed during my stay. Her English is perfect that we can always communicate very freely. Marcio is a fans of Mid-Age knights. He has a real sword and shield at home. I has occupied his daughter, Giulia's room when I was there. I believe I would enjoy more if I can stay longer with this young couple. They were always nice to me.

My gift matched their home deco.



A warm and well-furnished living room.

Giulia's room Giulia is a talent in design.
Debora brought me to her grand father's birthday celebration.
Debora's father and sister.
We were attending the "pretty wivies gathering" of Rotary Club of Santo Andre.
Guess what Debora is showing to me........
Debora and Marcio, you are lovely.
Debora and Marcio, I wish you love each other forever. Next time, I hope I can visit your new home, or you can come to Hong Kong to have a trip.

Paulista Avenue

Walking along the Paulista Avenue, the heart of Sao Paulo. We started with a delicious afternoon break at Bella Paulista. It is the time of the beginning of peak hours, the road was congested by cars.

Afternoon break at Bella Paulista
Paulista Avenue
The rainbow prepared for the Guy Parade

A recycled sculpture
A big book store....we found learning photography is more expensive than learning chinese here.
Night at Paulista
Tourist inoformation Center

High rise in Sao Paulo - a concrete jungle


One of the highest building in downtown Sao Paulo, the observatory deck was open to public before 3pm free. It is worthwhile to have a panaromic view of the jungle of building of Sao Paulo. This showcase why Sao Paulo is named as the biggest city in South hemisphere.


2010-05-30

Pauline's 5th host family @ Sao Caetano

This house is well-furnished.

The entrance


The living room




The bathroom




The kitchen




But what bring me to this stylish home? It's the "dog". Since I found myself allergic to dogs, I have kept a request to stay away from a house with dogs. At Sao Caetano, there is no host family has no dog, even this one.....




Luckily, this is only a door stopper at the door of my bedroom. I was lucky to be arranged to live with this wonderful family here. Here you see my bedroom - a room which is belong to a 12 year old girl - Estela - a dream room for me too.






Now, I show you around for my host family. Welcome to my home here. It is stated on the wall that : This house is full of goodness, beautiful and justice. Yes, it is.





My host family at Sao Caetano is Sandra Costa, she is a single parent of two kids. They live in an apartment in a staired building. When you entered the gateway, you will find that you are surrounded by warm atomsphere. We arrived in a late evening with a starving stomach. When I found that the table has been filled up with assorted selection of food, I could see how considerate Sandra is. Sandra has one boy, Victor aged 16 and one girl, Estela aged 12. They are very friendly and polite.





Estela showing the chopstick sets and chinese painting at the doorway.





Sandra invited a Japanese friend to join us at the evening.





In the next morning, I enjoyed a full table of breakfast too.







Sandra is a very capable mother. She is a lawyer. Her office is just 2-minute walk from her house, so that she can take care both her career and family more easily. From the window, we can see her apartment in a distance.



Sandra's family is very friendly. Her mother was a rotarian. She owns a florist shop in Sao Caetano. We visited there once.


Sandra's father and brothers operate a food-export-import company. They have imported garlic from China too.
Dry Garlic from China.

Sandra's new house under renovation.

A family photo with Costa family.


I do not have much time to stay with Estela and Victor. They are very sweet always. Most of time they waited me to come back, usaually after midnight from the Rotary presentation. In some evenings, I handmade a Chinese lion dance head for Estela, she always sat there and watching me to do the work.



Victor is always my translator. He is very tall and relatively mature than for his age. He loves basketball and will go to Mexico fo a one-year exchange very soon.
Sandra's family is always warm and sweet. They will hug and kiss each other every evening before bed. I am glad to be a member of them in a week. Here is our family photo.

My last breakfast at Sandra's house. Sandra prepared a bilingual poem for me praising our friendship.

Our crazy video taken on the last night I stayed with them.
Counting 1-10 in Chinese by Estela and Victor



Estela's words to me



Victor's words to me

This house is full of my memories. I love you Sandra, Victor and Estela.