Brazilians welcome!

I have only been here a short time and I already am aware that there are many different nationalities that live up here in the east coast.  I've heard languages spoken that I couldn't even figure what it was.  One group of people that seem to have settled and have the biggest presence here are the Brazilians.  My husband pointed it out to me as soon as we moved here and I gradually saw it for myself.  There are all different types of stores that announce that they are Brazilian or welcome them with it being part of their name or they hang the flag or have Portuguese writing on their window.  Churches also accomodate Brazilians with Portuguese services or when they have celebrations they make Brazilian barbeques.  Hmm, I wonder what that food tastes like.  Anyway, I guess this is the way people feel like in Texas who are not Mexican!  The thing is, at least I understand Mexicans in Texas since they border each other, but Brazil and the east coast...  Isn't that a long way?  I'm not complaining, I'm just envious that they have things here that help them feel like home which is what I miss sometimes.

Starting over

When you move to a completely new area you have to build your life and community again.  You need to make new friends, find new doctors, shop at new stores and more importantly find a new hairstylist!  Finding this person is a daunting task.  It is so hard to find good people that you trust, enjoy and that do their job well.  There is a lot of trial and error involved.  I finally started the search one day to replace my beloved hairstylist from Houston that I sorely miss.  I had not had my hair highlighted in quite a while, but my husband was going to treat me to something he knew I had been wanting for some time. I found a place that had good reviews on how this woman did a good job at coloring hair. So I went. She was big on letting me know that she knew what she was doing and how everyone leaves happy with their color.  She went on and on.  Well, when the highlights were finally done I wasn't happy.  I looked like a skunk!  As I was looking at my hair she asked how I liked it so I pointed out the complete saturation of color right down the middle of my head.  My hair had already been dried, but she said she'd fix it and put I don't know what on it, washed it again and dried it.  She even could tell it still looked bad so she said she'd put some lowlights on it.  After that was done, she washed my hair and dried it--again.  I still wasn't thrilled about it, but was tired of her trying and trying and she seemed done with it so I paid and left.  Ugh.  Like I said, trial and error.