An Instagram Scavenger Hunt Birthday

Every year, when my husband's birthday rolls around, I rack my brain for the perfect activity to do.  He's not a kid (obviously) but I like fun.  And what better time to have fun than on birthdays?

I am kind of over the go-out-to-eat every single year thing (although sometimes that is what we do), and I want to make it something that is very affordable (so all can participate) and family friendly (since many of our friends have kids).

My two favorite so far have been glow-in-the-dark Ultimate Frisbee (30th) and now this year: an Instagram Scavenger Hunt!

(Yes, they are holding a frozen chicken right there. Frozen Chicken was not on the list.  

But bird was, and this totally counts.)

Throughout my life, I have done participated in different variations of photo-scavenger hunts: Polaroids in my younger years, digital pictures uploaded to a computer while in college and after, and then this summer in NYC I met up with a friend who created the perfect blend of modern technology with this kind of activity: Instagram-Scavenger Hunt!  (Nice one, Deanne!)

(Surf.  I was picturing waves, they found laundry detergent. HAHAHA!)

If you have never participated in a photo scavenger hunt of any kind, it is super easy and TONS of fun.  

1. Create a list of things to find.  They can be specific ("A Stop Sign") or open-ended ("Winter").  I put about 20 things on the list to give it good variety.  And for some reason, every single time I have a police officer on there.  I think it is an added challenge... unless you are like the little girl below ;)  (I also include things like "With a family you have never seen before" or "With a Trader Joe's employee". Any time you have strangers participate it makes it much more exciting.)
2. Get enough people together to have a few teams, but don't count yourself -- somebody needs to monitor the pictures.
3. Set the guidelines: Where do you meet?  What time do you need to come back together? (We did an hour and a half for this one -- and met up at In-n-Out.  WIN!)  Do you get bonus points if all of the people are in the picture and it is not a selfie (meaning someone else had to take the picture)?  
4. Get together, make sure the leader is following all of the Instagram accounts (and help create ones for groups that don't have anybody on Instagram), and then send them off!  One point for each item on the list found, bonus points for any of the whole group or whatever you decide, and ta-da!  Insta-party!

If you haven't had the chance to participate in one of these scavenger hunts, stop what you are doing and go organize one RIGHT NOW.  The cost is low, just any party favors you have for props -- such as these glasses and party hats, while the amount of fun is high.  From four year-olds to 44 year-olds, we had a fabulous time, filled with laughter and celebration.  So, GO, do it!!!

What are your fabulous ideas for birthday parties???

Will Smith and My World View (The Wednesday Files)

There are a lot of fun things about marrying somebody from a different country -- the travel (because having to spend a few weeks in Brazil isn't all that bad!), the sexy accent (as it can make even the most boring word sound exotic and fun), and the many festas and futebol games that brought into your life.  But by far, one of my favorites is being able to share important cultural gems with my man.

Things like why I said, "We were gettin' jiggy wit it out there!"

"Gettig' jiggy wit it?  They never taught me that in my language school..."

Nope, they did not.  And it is a shame.  Because you missed an important part of the American heritage.

This is where YouTube has come in really handy. I just share this and instantly he understands...

Imagine the days before YouTube.  I mean, obviously I remember them.  In fact, I remember them quite well.  The first time I ever saw something on YouTube must have been around 2006 when a friend wanted to show us all the Ikea commercials that were banned in the USA.  But not in Europe!  And so we had sat and we watched and we laughed, and then we watched some more and laughed some more until our sides hurt. What an incredible waste of time, right? But -- oh! -- it was so funny!  Today it is just a part of our lives, and one that I am grateful for.  I mean, how else could I have explained to my husband tonight why I started singing, "Well, this is the story // all about how // my life got flipped // turned upside down..." when he put his hat on sideways and started dancing around?

If a picture speaks a thousand words, a video clip must speak well over a million.

Noticing a theme?

Yeah. Will Smith and I apparently go way back, and he has shaped the way I see the world.

I am not so sure that is a good thing, but it sure isn't a bad thing.  And now, thanks to the technology we have today, he can help shape the world of a Brazilian boy trying to understand this American way of life, one catch phrase or quick jingle at a time.


** Yes, I recognize that these are actually Vimeo videos, not YouTube.  They just embed nicer into the post.  But YouTube is my standard, go-to for important things like this ;)

// other posts on dual-cultural life //

The Brazilian Invasion (Wednesday Files)

Beans are on the stove cooking right now.  The smell is good... very good.  And it always makes me feel a little more in touch with the Brazilian side of our life.  Because when beans come, so does the rice, the salada, the Portuguese.

I was just scrolling through some pictures from this summer... not the ones from my crazy 24 day whirlwind on the East Coast, but from the other whirlwind that came through: The Brazilian Invasion.

Not only did we have seven people live with us this summer for a whole month (people as in family and friends), but we embarked on a ten-day road trip with them all.  Two cars, fifteen hundred miles, plenty of pit stops.  Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles... with a visit to Mickey in there, of course.  Too bad I forgot my camera that day.

Venice Beach is always interesting, and this time proved to be no different.

Hollywood?  The stars are still there in the sidewalk, right where I left them last time I visited.  But San Diego?  San Diego always impresses me.

Of course, our favorite moments were not caught on film.  Unexpected street fairs.  Finding ice cream in unlikely places, like the Los Angeles Union Station.  A good game of soccer in the middle of a parking lot while we wait for traffic to subside...

But some great things were captured.  Like this shot.  I guess this shows how kids really feel about Las Vegas ;)

Apparently, though, it wasn't all bad, as we can see below.  And the car ride?  Not so bad either.  Lots of singing, plenty of jokes, some napping... not a single DVD or iPad in sight.  For hours upon hours.  Because when the Brazilians invade, they make the most of it.  And I am grateful to have been along for the ride.

(A 'Wednesday Files' post)

Love.

I shared this little piece of my heart four years ago on YouTube... just saw it has 23,000+ pageviews.  Little Marshallese superstars, right here <3

Happy Wednesday!

A Little Glimpse...

... of why I have NOT been in my kitchen.

Hiking the part of the Appalachian Trail

Enjoying a night at the ball park

Exploring Providence, Rhode Island

"Movies on the Block"

Chillin' with the Pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation

Seeing one of my best friends get married -- in Denver

Walking through Times Square

Picnic in Central Park

Walking the Freedom Trail in Boston

So, I guess you get it now.  I will return at some point, I promise.  Until then, VIVA SUMMER!

What are YOU up to this summer???

The Wednesday Files

Some thoughts this Wednesday:

1) The Voice has proven to be the only talent show I can actually sit and watch the whole way through.  All the others I skim and just click the parts/people/acts that interest me.

2) I made some rockin' soup for dinner.  Can't wait to share it with you.

3) Seasonal allergies are evil.

4) Trader Joe's has brilliant tortilla options: totally handmade flour tortillas or whole wheat (with the same ingredients I use to make tortillas), brown rice tortillas for you gluten intolerant friends, and a wide assortment of many more.

5) This is the best season of Survivor EVER.  Or at least since I have been watching (like three years).

6) I am increasingly grateful for the ways technology keeps us connected, here to Afghanistan (in the past), here to Rwanda (present), here to Brazil and Micronesia (always)...

7) The ice machine on the fridge scares me whenever it randomly drops ice and I am home alone.  I'm a pansy, I know.

8) The Gravitron still rocks, even if you are the only adults riding in it.

9) April is almost over... meaning 1/3 of the year is almost over.  WHAT?!

10) I love hugs. Romantic hugs, hugs from kids, hugs from friends. I am grateful to live a life that is abundant in hugs.

I would love to hear what's on your mind this Wednesday... please share! :)

All in a day's drive... {The Wednesday Files}

 

Man, I love my state.

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

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City v. Country, and where I belong (The Wednesday Files)

Sometimes I think the big city is where it is at.  The lights, the people, the dining.  Oh, the food!  The desire to get dressed up every day, to go out and see and do.  There are times when I want to pack up and move to the city -- if only for a Summer.

But then I get into the country and I feel peace.  I hear the birds singing and I see the fields dotted with shades of purple, orange, blue... I want to take all of those wild flowers and bundle them up and place them all over my house.  Fresh air and sunshine, country music and windows rolled down.

But in my heart I know where I belong... in a medium-sized town.  It really has the best of both.  People and fresh air.  Places to visit and the sound of birds chirping.  A quick drive to the big city or to windy roads that lead to nowhere.  Really, it is the best of both worlds.

How about you... City, country, or town?

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

The Wednesday Files (Spring Break)

Brother and I, being the rebel children that we are...

"Ice cream for breakfast while still in jammies at 9:30. Because it's Spring Break and I can."

That's was my FB status this morning.  And it was the truth.  

Now, if you know me, you know this is an unexpected, big deal.  Heading into Spring Break I had co-workers asking, "Where are you off to this time?"  Because usually during these two weeks (yes, two weeks, I KNOW!) we jet off to Brazil or Mexico, or SOMEWHERE.  But this time I had a different answer: "My couch.  And it will be glorious."

So far, it has been.

Now, don't get me wrong. I have actually spent very little time on my couch.  That would be pretty difficult for me to do.  I get bored way too easily.  I am a doer.  In fact, except for 30 mins of DWTS and another 30 of The Voice, I have not watched a single movie or TV show.  But I will... it is on my to-do list.

Last year Spring Break found me roaming the beaches in Ubatuba, walking down the famous squiggly-lined sidewalk of Copacabana, eating pastel and drinking suco de cana.  This year it finds me with my loved ones on an empty dock over looking an equally empty lake, feet in the water.  Browsing the aisles of Hobby Lobby for my next project.  Cooking up things I have never tried before.

As my cousin commented on the status above, "Well played."  Thank you, kind Sir.  I totally agree.

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How are you spending (or would you spend if you don't have it) Spring Break this year?

The Wednesday Files

I cannot believe it is Wednesday already.  By the amount of posts (1) and the type of food (easy) that I shared, you can guess how things have been going...

A few thoughts/tidbits for your Wednesday:

1. Spring is here!  Not that I, living in California, have any right to complain, I know... but still!  SPRING IS HERE!

2. Speaking of being Californian, I would like to prove to you that we have snow.  We do!  Sure, we drive to it and then leave it behind, but snow can be found in many places in this great state.  Proof:

(Have I ever mentioned how difficult it is to take a normal picture with my husband? He is the king of goofing off, especially when the camera comes out.)

3. Yosemite.  It's my favorite place to see said snow.

4. In totally un-snow-related news, I tricked all of my students into eating a large, healthy salad.  How?  I taught them how to make salad dressing for a Science experiment.  Then they needed the greens to enjoy it.  Sneaky sneaky teacher ;)  (And guess what?  Most kids like it.  Who says kids won't eat their veggies?)

5. Girl Scout Cookies.  I don't think they will ever go out of style.

Help add to the list by sharing a random tidbit that is floating through YOUR mind this Wednesday :)

The OTHER Expats

Guest posting today at Rachel in Rio's blog!  Talking expats and the many flavors they come in.  FYI -- my husband is the 'balanced' kind, which means he is practically perfect in every way ;)

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

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Eleven.

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Living in a Dual-Cultural World: Belonging

Belonging.  It's a feeling we all strive for.  And in a 'normal' situation (if ever a thing existed) it is hard enough.  But you add a different culture to the mix and it makes it a little more tricky.

A fellow North-American-wife-of-a-Brazilian mentioned this in the comments when I put up the original post.  "Sometimes it can be bittersweet as you don't feel you fully fit in on either side."  Yes, this is a true aspect of it that I didn't talk about/think about last time.  The truth is it is easier for me.  I live in my country, around my family, speak my language, and eat my food.  I dabble my toes in the Brazilian life for a couple minutes here or a couple of months there.  And yes, there are times when I realize I do not belong.

Like when I try to communicate with someone at the store and it comes out "cute", when really I want to be able to fully express myself and taken seriously.  Or even here in the States at a Brazilian get-together and they laugh at jokes that make no sense to me yet do not understand my reference to Gilligan... (hey, Dude was wearing a red polo and a sailor hat, what was I supposed to say?).  Mostly simple things, but things that remind you that the people you are surrounded by do not have the same understanding as you.

It can be something as basic as mentioning  how much I love brownies or chocolate chip cookies -- and I am met with blank stares.

Yet I have the easy side of it.  I just pull out some ingredients and show what these 'cookie-things' are all about.  And then I step back into my world one month later/ten minutes later, and chalk it up to a fun cultural experience.

Making cookies with the family.  And yes, I visited Costco before we traveled ;)

My husband, on the other hand, lives in this constantly.  Sure, he speaks English and likes the food here, and yes, I do make him beans and rice every once in awhile. But there is more to it than that.  When you have spent the first 27 years of your life in one world and then change it in for another there is bound to be complications along the way.

I asked him about this the other day.  "It's hard," he said, "because my friends today cannot understand my past, or what makes me me.  And yet my family and friends that I have had my entire life cannot understand my life today and what I am living.  So I don't fully fit in in either place anymore."  As far as I can tell, this is the truth for any ex-pat.  It was true for me while living in Palau and Ebeye, it is true for Americans living in Brazil, it is true for a Brit living in Hong Kong. And it can be a hard truth.

Brazilian man and American grandpa enjoying checkers at the Cracker Barrel

However, it doesn't mean it is a bad truth.  He is happy where he is today.  And he works to build the bridge between the two worlds he inhabits, while I work hard along beside him to help make that happen.  Skype is well used in this house.  Plane tickets are purchased for us to go there or for them (those who can) to come here. Friendships are made based off of common interests today instead of what happened yesterday. Some of his closest friends today are American; some of my best girlfriends are Brazilian.  Trips are made the market in town that sells Guarana Antartica and then we head out for In n' Out.  We keep our mind open to new things. And in the end we remember this: we don't need to always belong out there, as long as we belong in here.   Because here, in our little family of two, we both fully belong.

Really, isn't that what marriage is all about anway?

(Original post for Living in a Dual Cultural World)

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