Welcome to Brasil!

Wow!
I've been here all of 5 or 6 hours and I'm already taken by Brasil (no 'z' here, that's the Anglicized version). My flights all went smoothly, other than there was a 45min delay out of Miami, but that was no big deal (it let me finish watching King James dominate the Magic in game 5). Customs was a breeze and I was picked up by 2 members of the lab, Ramon and Pricilla. We went straight to UFMG and into the lab, because Santuza (my professora) was teaching a class. First culture 'adjustment' crazy drivers! I had heard that they were, ahem, aggressive. Yeah I'd say so! But we got there no problem. Both Ramon and Pricilla speak nearly fluent English, which was very nice since I was pretty tired after my flights.

When we got to the lab I caught up with Dr. Teixeira and she outlined the project I'm going to be working on primarily (with Ramon). Then she showed me around the Biology Institute.

What a great situation I'm in, she's already bought me lunch (first Brasillian steakhouse, check), offered me a bike, and a cell phone. Not to mention she set up my housing, which starts Monday, and she is putting me up in her bonita casa. Their place (I've already met her 13 year old daughter who went to lunch with us, they only have half days of school; and will soon meet her husband, Greg, who is from Lubbock, TX) is really nice (pics will be up eventually).

Her and her husband are also taking me to a party this evening and taking me around town tomorrow (I think) and there has been talk of going further out Sunday into the country side. Also there was mention of a trip to Rio. Wow, I am so lucky!!!

I won't get into the science details here, but the project sounds pretty interesting, and will be all new techniques (at least in practice, I know the theory behind most).

Ok I should probably get a nap in. My head is swimming with all of the language and science. I may be too excited to sleep, but I'll try...

'Til later...