Today's Language Route

As part of our language/culture hours we have several "language routes" that we take. Stopping at some of the same places every few days, getting to know the shop owners and workers and practicing our language. Today's route took us to places where we didn't speak any English and understood almost all that was spoken back to us! We did stop in our neighborhood on the way home to our little mini-market where some of the girls speak English but know that we are practicing and let us use Portuguese but  will help us by way of English - explaining to us why something is said or not said a certain way and laughing with us over our (mostly Don's ; ) mistakes.

We walked down to a little cafe near our metro stop and ordered coffee, water, a scone, and a piece of cake and worked some in our grammar books. We rode the metro and didn't walk too far as it was such a very hot day but shopped for awhile in an air-conditioned store. It is 97 degrees right now with a very strong sun and most places, including our apartments, are not air conditioned. Oh, and typically the metro is a fairly cool place to be on a hot day, too.

Don and I split up as we were looking for different things and found workers to help us with what we were looking for. I was so happy to be able to ask for what I needed and not get a confused look and have to repeat what I said, but instead I got a direct answer that I understood! Granted it was not long sentences or big words but still a big encouragement. 

Just a few pictures from today and I forgot to take one of our mini-market. I'm going to get some pictures of our friends in there sometime.