Tag Archives: Brazil

You know that recurring dream that everyone seems to have — the one where you are late for class or you can’t find your classroom or you didn’t study for the test or you don’t remember even signing up for the course? And you may just be stark naked, too?

Thankfully I was fully clothed, but my real life scenario was eerily reminiscent of that startling dream.

Yes, I was running through the halls of the high school in search of the elusive Room 203, my pocketbook slung  over my shoulder and bouncing against my hip in cadence with my stride. My first Portuguese class and I was lost in a corridor of confusion. Up the stairs, down the stairs, around the corner. Finally, Room 203 appeared and as I got closer I heard the booming voice of the teacher.

I paused to catch my breath before opening the classroom door. In unison, eight heads swiveled toward me.

Murmuring my apologies, I shimmied through the narrow aisles to an unoccupied desk next to a attractive dark-haired man in a business suit. Our eyes met and in several seconds we silently communicated the following:

“I thought I was on time (pant, pant). When did you get here?”

“Class just started. Don’t worry.”

“You’re kind of cute.”

“So are you.”

The teacher waited for me to get settled. I gestured toward the dark-haired man next to me.

“My husband,” I said, taking my seat.

“Ahh!” exclaimed Senhor. Delighted to be handed a teachable moment, he pivoted to the white board. “Meu marido,” he enunciated animatedly, writing the words in green marker and then turning to face us. “Repita.” He waited.

“Meu marido,” we students intoned.

“Muito bom,” he praised us. “Repita novamente.” Very good. Repeat again.

Meu marido. Meu marido. My husband.

My husband and I are taking class for a specific reason: our wonderful future daughter-in-law is Brazilian. Although she speaks English fluently, the rest of her family does not. We want to be able to communicate with our família brasileira at the wedding.

We will have our third class tonight, October 7. Our 30^th wedding anniversary.

But there will be no candlelit dinner to celebrate. At least not tonight. With just eight classes in the course, we’d miss too much by skipping even one.

We practice the phrases over and over, trying to make them flow.

Bom dia, we learn is the way to say good morning. In 30 years, how many sleepy good mornings have my husband and I exchanged as we grope for the coffee decanter? Bom dia comes with a hug and a yawn. He sits down to read before going out to run. I get online with my first cup of coffee.

Desculpe, or I’m sorry.  Every marriage has had times of disagreement, hurt feelings and miscommunication, and ours is no exception. In 30 years we’ve had many desculpes. As we’ve gotten older they happen less frequently, and almost always over stupid little nothings. Desculpe can clear the air and get things back to normal. He is more likely to say desculpe. I am more likely to sulk.

Não me lembro  or I don’t remember. Não me lembro if I was supposed to pick up milk. Não me lembro the name of that actress in that movie we saw at which theater? We both don’t remember, so there is some comfort in that. In the 30 years of our marriage there are so many memories that sometimes we forget. Remember when you bought me this shirt? he will ask me. Não me lembro, I shrug.

Temos três filhos or we have three children. In 30 years we have seen our babies grow into adults too fast. In our 30 years of marriage we have spent much time arranging play dates, drying tears, driving to baseball practice, helping with homework. Life sped up when they reached high school, with SATs and proms and driving lessons. Now empty nesters, we look back over these 30 years with tremendous love and are so proud of the adults our children have become. Temos três filhos who are our greatest accomplishment in 30 years of marriage.

Eu te amo I love you. Every day. Through thick and thin. You’ve given me the life I always dreamed of having, one of happiness, sharing and laughter. Happy Anniversary, honey.

Meu marido e eu estamos comemorando nosso trigésimo aniversário de casamento. My husband and I are celebrating our thirtieth wedding anniversary.

Learning how to speak Portuguese is like a marriage of 30 years. If you work hard at it, and listen intently, the beauty of it will grab your heart and never let go.

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