Email 1 July '09

Trenton has been at the Sao Paulo CTM for a month now!

We emailed Trent some questions for FHE and today he emailed the answers-

Questions from the fam this week:

From Elise:
-Do you like the foods in the CTM?

Yep. It's really not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.
-What are Brazil nuts called in Brazil?
Don't know--I'll find out.
-Do most of the Brazilians know some English?
Nope. Some do, most don't.
-Is Sao Paulo desert-like or really green and full of vegetation?
Really green and tree-y. Or, as you said, full of vegetation. Don't grow up too fast, ok kiddo?
-Are there lots of street people who sing and stuff for money?
Not where we are. I'm sure in the more busy parts there are, no doubt.

From Katie:
-"I love you?" is that a satisfactory question?

I guess so? Lazy bum. Stop playing Sims 3 on that fantastic new computer I wish we'd gotten before I left and not after. ;)
-Do you love me? (sung to Fiddler on the Roof music)...
For seventeen years I've lived with you
smacked you (lightly), laughed at you.
Made fun of you for being a book-whiz--
If that's not love, what is?
-What food do you miss the most?
Eh, nothing really. Another thing I've learned is I don't really eat food because it's tasty. I eat it to get full. And the food here gets me just as full as any other.
-Are there any scriptures that have come to mean more to you?
A few. But I don't have my scriptures with me. I'll let you know next week for sure.
-What music do you hear on the street - American? Brazilian? etc.
American. There's not a whole lot of straight Brazilian music, apparently.

[Okay, I'm laughing because we just don't seem to be giving up on the vacuum thing]:

From Dad:
- Do you know where the vacuum attachment is - not the one you used, but the other?

No idea. Am I thy vacuum's keeper? ;)

- How will your monthly money be managed? Are they giving you a bank account or what's the deal?

Dunno. The white bible says this: The funds you recieve from the mission are sacred. They represent sacrifices by you, your family and others. Budget your money. Be thrifty and wise in how you spend it.
-What kind of language study do you do? Memorization? Do you have a study plan? What do you study?
We mostly study grammar. And then during MDST and PS and CS (Missionary Directed Study Time, Personal Study, Companion Study) I try to learn new vocab and stuff.
-Have you had any ice cream and is it good?
The ice cream from the MTC is called Sorvete (Sor-VEY-cheh), and it's terrible. It tastes like frozen cake frosting, but the kind you get on really gross cakes.
-Are your teachers native or American?
All 2 of my teachers are brazilians. We make fun of them for saying, "Now you choo go do thees," and things like that. It's hilarious.
-Do you dream in Portuguese?... yet?
Not yet. I've been thinking about this--I don't really hear words in my dreams. They're more like feelings. So no português feelings yet.
-Have you had plátanos? (bananas) - smashed and fried?
Not yet. I've had some straight fried bananas though. Those are tasty.
-If and when we ever send a package what would you want us to send?
Shampoo. A decent sized bottle would be nice. Like the one I had. Preferably something manly. Manly is always good. And anything else you think would be funny. Maybe a bunch of three musketeers. And skittles. And MeM's ("e" is "and" in Português, ha).

From da Mama:
-I think Dad asked enough for both of us ; )

Love you all!

Elder McGregor