My winter vacation (January 2025) in Londrina

 

My winter vacation

My winter vacation (January 2025) in Londrina (Brazil).

Just ten days before I landed in Londrina for my winter vacation (yep, winter in China!),I had no idea I'd even be going on this trip. But wow, am I glad I did! It turned out to be an amazing adventure—despite a few unexpected hiccups along the way. Some people might have let those little surprises ruin their vacation, but not me! I embraced the chaos and had an unforgettable time.

Before I left home, I had a little pepper plant, and in a desperate attempt to keep it alive, I soaked it in water—hoping it wouldn’t wither away from thirst. Well…spoiler alert: it totally died. BUT, in one final act of bravery, it managed to grow a single pepper! And tomorrow, that tiny hero will live on—in my salad. Not bad at all! 🌶️😆

A few days after arriving in Londrina, I was all excited to test out my brand-new digital camera with zoom—straight from China! My mission? Capture some cool shots of downtown Londrina to show my students back in China. So, I snapped photos during the day, experimented with night shots, and was feeling like a pro…

Then, on my way home, bam!—I took an unexpected detour straight to the ground. I fell hard and seriously messed up my foot. It hurt so much that my vacation almost turned into a disaster (like I mentioned before). It was so bad that I even had to see a doctor to make sure I hadn’t broken it. Talk about a rough start! 😅

Guess what? I ended up rocking a casquet (yes, really) and hobbling around on crutches for a while—super stylish, I know. Even now, I’m still doing the world’s slowest limp-walk like some dramatic movie character. Looks like it'll be a few months before I'm back to full speed... but hey, at least I have a great story to tell! 😆

Enough with the sad vacation saga—let’s talk about the good stuff! Sure, I ended up staying home way more than planned and didn’t go out as much, but honestly? It wasn’t bad at all! I got to spend a ton of quality time with my mom and brothers, which was awesome.

The highlight? Meeting my brand-new nephew for the first time! He was born right after I left for China last time, so I hadn’t met the little guy yet. Oh, and as a bonus, I also got to witness the arrival of a very energetic new dog at home. This furry tornado immediately started an excavation project in the backyard, which did not make my brother very happy. But hey, every vacation needs a little chaos, right? 😆

One key mission on this trip? A sit-down with my financial advisor—because let’s be real, living abroad means I need a solid plan for my hard-earned cash. Gotta make sure I’m not just working for the thrill of it, right? After all, no one dreams of retiring broke—unless you’re into that kind of adventure, which I am definitely not! 😆💰

Spending time with family? In my case, it’s super easy—almost too easy! The moment I step into one house, boom! I’m automatically visiting everyone. Why? Because my mom and brothers are basically next-door neighbors, forming a little family village. No complicated planning, no long drives—just one visit, and I’ve seen them all! It’s like an all-inclusive family reunion, every single day! 😆

The sunsets and moonlit nights in my city? Absolute masterpieces! Nature puts on a breathtaking show almost every single day. And let me tell you, there was nothing better than kicking back on my mom’s porch, soaking it all in while chatting with family. Honestly, that peaceful vibe was exactly what I needed to help heal my poor hurt foot. Forget medicine (well not so much — I did use a lot of pain killers) good company and beautiful skies were the real cure! 🌅🌙✨

And let’s not forget the food—oh, the food I’d been craving! Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Chinese food and never once complained while in China. But let’s be real—who doesn’t miss their mom’s cooking? There’s just something magical about those homemade meals. Oh, and of course, we kept up our family tradition with a classic pizza night—because no trip home is complete without stuffing yourself with way too much cheese and carbs! 🍕😋

My aunt is turning 101 this year—yes, you read that right, one hundred and one! Even she didn’t expect to make it this far! 😂 I’ll probably miss yet another big family event (her birthday in April),but hey, that’s just part of the deal when you live abroad. What can you do, right?

But let me tell you, as you can see in the picture, she’s still got a killer sense of humor. At this point, I think she might just outlive all of us! 🎉😂

I’m a bit of a game addict (Uno, anyone?)—especially after lunch at the canteen with the students in China. But where did this love for games come from, you ask? Well, I’ve got a brother who's obsessed with them! So, naturally, during this vacation, we played games like it was our full-time job. He even took me to a game store, and guess what? I walked out with two new games to bring back to China. Now I’ve got a solid collection—three games total, not just the trusty Uno I used to play on repeat! 🎲😎

Last Sunday, I had the honor of giving a speech at church. And, as usual, all my church friends were dying to know what life is really like in China. I swear, it’s like they’ve all got a personal curiosity club about my China adventures! Every time I visit, they beg to hear my stories, and if there’s a free spot on the agenda, they always ask me to share a message. So, guess what? I always find a way to sneak in my China experiences—because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a good story from halfway across the world? 😄🌏

Speech (Portuguese)

Well, well, well—all good things must come to an end, right? And so, my vacation was wrapping up. On my last day, my brother, the BBQ master, treated me to a farewell feast that was so good it should’ve been illegal. Seriously, the guy’s a genius when it comes to grilling! 😋

Now, I didn’t cry on my last day (I’m not that dramatic, I promise!),but yeah, I was pretty bummed to say goodbye. But hey, it wasn’t all that bad because I absolutely love my job and life in China. I’ve made some amazing friends here, and that’s why I keep renewing my visa year after year. After all, I’ve been here for seven years now, and trust me, if I didn’t like it here, I could’ve bailed after the first year! But nope, I’m still living the dream! 🌟

On my way back to China, I had a layover in São Paulo, where I took the flight to China. While there, I had the pleasure of visiting my nephew, who got married last December. I was so happy to meet his wife, a smart, charming, and incredibly focused young woman. It was clear that both of them have their priorities straight.

Now, here's the kicker: they both speak English, which in Brazil (where English is as rare as in China) is pretty impressive. Because of that, my nephew landed a fantastic job earning in dollars (1 dollar = 6 reais!),and that really makes a difference in life. That’s why I always stress to my students how crucial it is to learn English—it opens doors to opportunities.

And here’s another thought: while you’re at it, why not find a great person to marry in college too? I’ve written about how marrying the right person can elevate your life and bring happiness. A solid degree and strong English skills can also help land a great job, support your family, and lead to the good life every hardworking person deserves! 🌟

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 15 Feb 2025

 

WeChat Cleaning

WeChat Spring Cleaning: A Heartfelt Apology and a Speed Boost

Dear students, friends, and the 7,000+ digital souls who once shared a place in my WeChat universe,

I have a confession to make. Remember when I solemnly swore I would never delete a contact from my WeChat? Yeah… about that. Turns out, I didn’t account for one tiny little detail—having nearly 7,000 contacts is like stuffing a suitcase with way too many souvenirs. At some point, the zipper just refuses to close.

My WeChat was struggling. Lagging. Freezing. Crying for help. Every time I tried to open the app, it felt like it was running a marathon through quicksand. Conversations took forever to load, and I swear my phone started sweating from the effort.

So, after much soul-searching (and a whole lot of frustration),I made the tough decision to declutter—a digital Marie Kondo moment, if you will. I deleted 2,500 contacts in hopes of giving WeChat some breathing room. And guess what? It actually helped! My app is moving a little faster now, though it's still dragging its feet like a student on a Monday morning.

But here’s the thing—I didn’t go on a wild deleting spree. I used a fair system: If we haven’t chatted in over a year, I figured we’ve lost touch. If we were still chatting, you’re safe! I promise, no ghosting here.

So, if you suddenly find me missing from your WeChat, don’t take it personally! Just send me a message, and we’ll reconnect. I truly appreciate all the friendships I’ve made since moving to China in 2018. This was purely a necessary cleanup, not a friendship audit.

Now, back to deleting… I mean, optimizing my WeChat experience. 🚀

#WeChatSpringCleaning #7000Contacts #TooMuchLoveForOneApp

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 26 Feb 2025

 

Christmas2024

Today, December 25, marks the celebration of Christmas Witch in my country, a wonderful tradition I hold dear. As I was thinking about what I could share with my students in China, an idea struck me while scrolling through my family WhatsApp group. In this group, we often share photos of our immediate family, and I thought it would be great to share a few of those with you. Here they are!

 

Dreaming of finishing school ?

 

Dream

Dreaming of finishing school ? A MESSAGE FOR THE END OF THE YEAR…

Make the Most of Your University Years: A Wake-Up Call

One day, you’ll look back on your university days with nostalgia. You might even wish you could relive those moments—maybe to fix mistakes, study harder, or listen more carefully to wise teachers whose advice you now understand better. But time doesn’t rewind, and the past stays where it belongs—behind you.

Puff! You wake up. The past you were reminiscing about? It’s not history yet. You’re still here—in the middle of your university journey, with opportunities waiting.

This realization is a gift. There’s still time to change your approach—study more diligently, engage with your professors, and aim for better grades. But university life is more than just exams and certificates. It’s about growth—becoming a better, wiser version of yourself.

University shapes not only your mind but also your character. It’s where you form lasting friendships, gather unforgettable memories, and build the foundation of your future. Success isn’t only measured in academic achievements but also in how much you’ve learned about life, relationships, and yourself.

So, wake up and seize the moment. Work toward your dreams, value your experiences, and embrace every challenge. When the time comes to look back, let your memories be ones of growth, adventure, and meaningful connections. You’re living the story you’ll one day be proud to tell.

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 10 Dec 2024

 

Dumplings 2024

It looks like it was last year, coincidentally I am wearing the same clothing, but last year my pants was light brown, and this year was black. Last year I did crash into the students activity for making dumplings, this year it was better because I got invited, and it was so nice and fun again…

to see last year (2023) post click here

Since I have written last year already of this kind activity, I came here today only to share the pictures and recording I did from yesterday activity:

 

Click  here to watch in YouKu

I also would like to say thank you very much to Cherry, she was the student who invite me for the activity, as many students already know, I don't have family in China, I am here alone and when someone remembers me and invites me to participate together in activities like this, it brightens my day. 

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 21 Dec 2024

 

True or False

True or False?

If this was intended as a trick, it didn’t work. I came across this issue in a final exam test paper today. For question 4, if the student meant to write “True” (T),they crossed the T in the middle, making it look more like an “F.” As a result, I marked question 4 as “False” (F). On the other hand, for question 5, I interpreted it as “True” because the crossing was faint, resembling a small comma (,) rather than a distinct line through the middle, as in question 4.

Unfortunately, this confusion led to both questions being marked as incorrect, which is why you’ll notice my red marks (“X”) beside questions 4 and 5.

As a teacher, the last thing I want is to be unclear about what students have written on their test papers. This is why I provided detailed instructions before the exam began, as shown in the image below.

However, some students might claim this was an “honest” mistake. They can point to what they wrote and argue whether it was meant to be an “F” or a “T,” given how ambiguous it looks. In a True or False question format, where there’s already a 50% chance of guessing correctly, it’s crucial to ensure your answers are clearly written.

For future tests, think carefully before submitting ambiguous answers — they won’t be interpreted in your favor. If this wasn’t intentional, I sympathize, but you need to work on improving your handwriting. Luckily, I might just have the right book to help you with that!

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 24 Dec 2024

Attention Please… There is ALWAYS someone who is not paying attention

 

Attention

Attention Please…

There is ALWAYS someone who is not paying attention…

After the instruction above I got this…

At least the student also use the numbers….

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 24 Dec 2024