Ulien & Hastings Fun...

Here in Brazil, we've had plenty of opportunities to meet some really great people.

Meet Hayley and Nat Ulien:

This is Nat and Hayley at Shopping Don Pedro, the biggest mall in latin america (with suprisingly big prices too!).

They are a particularly awesome couple that moved here from BYU-Hawaii. He's from Haiti, she's from the San Diego and they are starting there adventures back in Haiti this week as they invest more of their time in their non-profit organization, The Ulien Academy. Their academy will be a great resource for the people of Haiti....a place where the people can grow, learn to provide for themselves and their families and ultimately pay their good fortune forward as the country is trying to piece itself back together. The Academy's theme follows the old saying, "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for life."

You can visit their site here and see all of the good things they are up to!

During our friends' stay in Brazil, we got to do a few super fun things with them...

My favorite was going to Festa de Junina!

We got to hear some great live music, eat lots of food from our pick of TONS of food booths, ride an awesome "how fast did they put this up?" ride, watch two thousand Brazillians pretend to be cowboys (probably from Porto Alegre...haha, Dad!) and even got to dance a little bit! Thank-you J, I know how you don't like that... ;)

Heck yeah! We went on that!!!

This boy loves his churrascaria!

Of course we had to visit our favorite park, Parque Portugal, while they were here...

What with their sweet Bellagio fountain set-up...
...coconut milk....
...& swan rides, what more could you ask for?!!


I tried to teach Hayley the fine art of maxin' and relaxin' in the swan......but she chose to take pictures instead...which she is really great at, by the way!We got to try some different Brazillian fare this time too... Ginormous Brazillian Hot Dogs.
Now, these put our little dodger dogs to shame...and sadly, I even think they've got a little something on J-Dawgs in Provo...although I'm sure some of you (Jordan & Nic) might beg to differ...


...I just think there's something fantastic about getting the hot dawg partially up your nose when you bite down...

Come on America, where were you on that detail?

I thought you would enjoy a picture of the capivaras

getting a little offended when I got a smidge too close...

By far, the fastest I've ever seen them move.

Don't you think they kind of look like cute little pig/dog/deer/rat animals?

I do.

So, what have you done with your friends lately? We miss you and want to do something fun with you very soon.... ;)