Monday,10:07pm, March 16,2009. My phone rang with an unknown number flashing on my screen. I was tempted not to answer it but I figured it must be from abroad so I picked it up.
“Hello?” was all I could say then the other party spoke in very fast Portuguese! My heart was racing and all I could understand was “Olá Maggie, é o Charlles, do learn-portuguese-now….tudo bem?” My heartbeat was so fast I think I was going to have a heart attack!
It was a call that I never expected I could ever receive. As you all know, I teach conversational English online and the reason why I wanted to learn Portuguese was because of my very first brazilian student Marcelo. There were some words that he had trouble with so I decided I had to learn his language so that I can help him better (you can read the rest of the story here at the site of learn-portuguese-now.com) .
Charlles called me up two times that night to let me know how happy and encouraged he was that somebody from the other part of the world benefited from his passion. I was deeply honored to receive his call. Then it made me realize, I am happy because he appreciated me. He called me up to tell me how happy he was because I appreciated him. It was a cycle of appreciating each other.
“Thank you” are two words that can brighten up somebody’s day, it did mine and it brightened up Charlles’ day as well.
Then it made me ask myself, when was the last time I sincerely thanked somebody for being a part of my life? Would I have received Charlles’ call if I did not tell him my story? Obviously not. So to honor my very special brazilian family and friends, this blog post is for you! I want you all to know that I will cherish you forever because you made a mark in my life in one way or the other.
Marcelo, I would have missed enjoying Portuguese if it were not for you and your encouragement. You started my love affair with everything about Brazil, the credit belongs to you. Thank you for believing in me and for telling others about me. Agradeço-lhe muito meu querido amigo.
Charlles, muito obrigada because you selflessly shared what you know. The first words I knew, I got from you.
My first brazilian girl friend Vanessa; menina, you opened up the doors for me to get to know your Mom Senhora Dinalva (a senhora, muito obrigada por oferecer a sua casa pra mim quando eu for para o brasil) and of course Senhora Rosane. Vanny, você é um grande amiga! You just don’t know how much I appreciate your cultural lessons, for video taping the last carnival so that I can see it, for introducing me to different people… OBRIGADA. Of course I will always remember how we giggle when we have our girl talk… I feel young again. 🙂
How can I forget meu querido amigo Sérgio who keeps on challenging me “parar de ser uma criança” and be better and for teaching me to fall in love with football and fluminense. Now I wake up at 3am or 5am just to watch a football game…and thank you for being my personal post man the last time.
I wouldn’t have improved writing in Portuguese if not for your help meu caçula irmão Diego. Thanks for making me the table about the subjunctive, indicative and imperative moods of the verbs and for forcing me to speak in Portuguese. Senhora Fátima, muito obrigada pelas suas oraçôes.
Two very special ladies who allow me to write them novels and for this very special “comunhão” that I have with them are my dear Senhoras Rosane and Viviene. Minhas queridas, os nossos longo email exchanges e os conversas at skype sempre me fazer quero ser uma melhor mulher. Muito obrigada pelos inspirais-me para ser uma mulher de Deus, eu te amo ambos. Eu não posso acredita como as duas gerações podemos tem esse relacionamento especial.
Minha querida Thalita, obrigada pela confiança que você me dê quando nós falamos sobre de assuntos do coração. Menina, thanks for opening up your home for me and for introducing me to all the members of your family. Thanks for “inviting” me durante o aniversário do seu sobrinho.
Quando eu for para a Copacabana no Rio de Janeiro, eu tenho um sofá que espera para mim, a few nice meals, a bottle of wine and a Big Mac, todo porque do Eurico. Muito obrigada pelo o convite e pela amizade também.
Felipe and Camilla, your love story inspires me to keep on loving and continue loving the people that I love. 🙂 Your story is a breath of fresh air for me.
Meus outros amigos, que pacientemente me permitis e-mail e bate-papos com eles em Português – Neto, Mario, Edevaldo and minha linda alunas Cristiane and Aline, obrigada pelo me tolerando e o Cléberson, quem ama homer e o fluminense mais do que ele ama a vida dele .
To my brazilian family and friends, thank you very much for encouraging me to love your language and your culture. It is all because of you that the flame in my heart will always be burning for everything brazilian. Your presence in my life will never be forgotten.
With much love and kisses,
Maggie
Exciting Existence 