4

Number: 4
Name: Kyle
Date: 1 July 2013

Yes, this is the same Kyle as date number 3.  This was our second date.

Kyle called me up (bonus points for actually calling!) and asked me if I had any lunch plans.  I told him I didn't and that I could really use a break from my thesis.  He told me he would pick me up in an hour and exactly one hour later he knocked on my door.

He gave me three options for lunch:

1. Sushi.  Gross!  I don't even like cooked fish and I am pretty sure I would like raw fish even less.  In all fairness, no, I haven't ever tried it.  But I really don't want to.  (P.S. This is NOT an invitation for anyone to try to convert me to liking fish/sushi.  It just isn't gonna happen, people.)
2. Vietnamese Food.  Never tried it.  I grew up in a family where "going out to eat" meant Happy Meals at McDonalds.  I never had much exposure to foreign foods growing up until I started dating.  I have tried Thai food and Chinese food and I like both, so I told Kyle that if he could vouch for it I would be happy to try it.
3. Brasilian Food.  WINNER!  Kyle said he knew that there were a couple Brasilian restaurants around but wasn't really sure which ones were good.  Which I interpreted as my cue to hijack the date.*

I told him to take me to Braza Express.  The truth is I had never actually been there, but I had wanted to go for a long time.  I had heard good things about it from friends and I knew it was cheaper than Tucanos or Rodizio Grill (which are very good, very authentic and very expensive).  Also, lunch was on me since he paid for our first date.

I know this blog is supposed to be about the date, but indulge me for just a paragraph and let me talk about the food.  SO GOOD!  Rice and your choice of beans (black or pinto), a side - I had bolinhas de arroz (rice balls) and Kyle had banana frita (fried banana) - a salad of your choice, and a meat of your choice.  The meat is cooked on a spit in a churrasco (brasilian style barbecue).  We both had Chicken - which was excellent - but I definitely need to go back and try some of the other kinds of meat.

We ate and talked and enjoyed the atmosphere.  I told him about the kinds of food I ate in Brasil and about my mission (Que saudades!).  Kyle is a convert to the church and never had an opportunity to serve a mission.  He told me how hard it is to date in this church because Latter-day Saint girls only want to date return missionaries, which he is not - through no fault of his own.  To any girls who are reading this: Kyle is awesome!  He has an amazing conversion story and as strong a testimony of the gospel as any return missionary I know.  I am so glad I have had a chance to get to know him!

Kyle, thanks for lunch and thanks for agreeing to Brasilian food over Vietnamese food.  I had a great time and am still enjoying my leftovers.

*I normally don't hijack dates.  I don't know what came over me.  I guess it was the prospect of Brasilian food.  But, I swear, I try not to do this very often.