This is my introduction post.

I want to introduce you to some names I imagine I’ll use on a pretty regular basis. First off is…
Araguaina. Between 200-250,000 people, Araguaina is the economic capital of Tocantins.
Tocantins- stands for Toucan’s beak. Taken from an indigenous language, it’s what the state looks like when turned to the side. Tocantins is only 22 or 23 years old. It broke off from another state.

UFT. Stands for Universidade Federal de Tocantins (Federal University of Tocantins). There are two campuses. One here and one in Palmas (the state’s capital). For quick background. Here public education is free. Yep. Going to a private university for some is seen as “you couldn’t get into a public university” for others its “I have the money to send my kid to private school” In any case, the publics are state schools and federal ones. UFT is 8 years old.

Michol. She’s my roommate. 25 next month, she hails from Oklahoma and loves cats. She’s adopted one named Luciana rescued by our program director. She also loves watching cat videos on Youtube (maru). Michol likes to cook, which is good because I like to eat. She’s a laid back, horseback riding, yoga doing, nature lover. She used to work at a health food/vitamin store and is very knowledgeable. I’m probably now going to always read the labels on the food I buy.

Luciana. Fulbright cat. Named after the girl who works in the English lab that found her, Luciana is twice her initial weight and quickly becoming a master climber. Luciana’s crossed eyes initially weirded me out, but I don’t even notice anymore and will probably think other cats look strange when I get home. The vet says she experienced a trauma to the head (probably a kick). She’s very needy, but she’s a baby so I imagine soon she’ll start to act like other cats. I hope.

Valeria. Program director from Rio. Speaks English with a British accent and also loves cats. Extremely well-read and written, she has a Ph.D. and does Post-Docs for fun. Loves the 18th century and mystery shows/novels. She’s very nice, talkative, always concerned. Kinda like my mom. When they spoke they seemed to hit it off well. Anyway, she’s a type A personality and has a daughter studying out-of-state (which generally occurs a lot less frequently in South America than the states)


Esmeralda. The super sweet grandma that lives downstairs. I love where I live largely in part of this outgoing welcoming woman. She comes to check on us, gives us food, takes us places with her and invited us to watch her tv until we got one. All of her kids/grandkids are lawyers/doctors. Im glad to have someone like her watching our house and our backs.