Rio de Janeiro
It is 4:55 a.m. I am leaving for Rio de Janeiro right now, so I do not have time to type much more. I will return on Monday. Tuesday night I will board a plane in Sao Paulo and head back home to Ohio. My bags are all packed and waiting for me.
Foz do Iguacu
Last weekend I traveled with my friend from Mexico 15 hours by bus to the most famous waterfalls (cataratas) in South America. The city of Foz do Iguacu is located on the border of Paraguay, Agentina and Brazil. It was so much better than Niagara Falls. Absolutely mind blowing and beautiful. After being in the presence of something that beautiful, that majestic I felt like there was nothing more to see in the world. I joked with the group that we were site-seeing with that because of this "I felt ready for death".
Just Emotion
Within the past ten months there has been countless times (like at the waterfalls) when I have stopped, observed the situation I was in, and decided that I did not need anything else. I have had this returning thought that I have been overly fortunate, beyond what I deserve. At many points I found it hard to believe in reality, and thought many times that the fullness of my early life must be making up for an unbalance that I will have in the future. I am humbled at what has been given to me, the travel, the experience, the friendships, the challenges, the growth. What I feel is beyond my ability to express and sometimes I fear words because of there ability to simplify and dull. My soul is a mixture of emotions, so shaken up that it is almost impossible to separate one from the other. Am I happy? Yes of course but at the same time my heart feels like it is in my throat every time I look at the clock. There is one very clear and distinct feeling however, and that is of thankfulness. I am so thankful to my sister who in 2008 made me apply to be an exchange student as her Christmas gift. I am very thankful to all those back home who supported my decision to come such as my teachers and my Rotary club. I feel I am in great debt to my host families here in Brazil, who have taken care of me above and beyond what was expected of them. I am thankful to my real family back home, who after some fidgeting became my greatest supporters.
The past ten months of my life have been so exaggerated in terms of activities and emotions that to me it hardly seems like real life. There is a good chance that when looking back, the only way I'll be able to tell the difference between life fiction and nonfiction will be my poorly written blog or messy diary. It will be these archives that will remind me of all the things I have to "pay forward". These people, this experience, has given me great things. It will be my duty to give this greatness back to the world.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Começo do Fim
Tempo
I have three more weeks in Brazil. When the next few weeks comes to an end I will be able to say that Brazil was the fastest 10 months of my life. Thank God I kept a diary and blog because trying to look back on the things I have done without them is almost impossible. This time has gone and continues to go by in a blur.
Começo do Fim
The beginning of the end started last wednesday when my best friend for over the past nine months boarded a plane and flew back to Colombia. Andrea started the process of sadness and heart break and the process will repeat with two more of my good friends before it is my turn. As always, it sucks to say goodbye, but I have a feeling I'll be seeing these people again. We are all bound to be travelers.
Chegada
Though this month is going to be remembered as the epoc of returns, I will not allow myself to ignore the arrival of a new intercambista from Mexico. Two days before Andrea left, arrived a very nice Mexican. I went with my Rotarian friend to the airport to pick him up last Monday and already since that time he has become a friend.
Aborismo
Yesterday I went to Aguas de São Pedros with my intercambio freinds Justin (South Africa), Daniel (Mexico), Ana Thereasa and her father (Brazilians who have lived abroad). There we did a obstacle course in trees, about 60ft off the ground. As I glided through the course I realized I did not have a fear of heights and openly laughed at the boys I was with who did. The obstacle course was fantactic. The best part was the end, the final obstacle where I was the most nervous. One could choose to repel down the 60ft ish tree or jump with ones gear which would be a 30 ft free fall until the ropes tighten and stop you, fallowed by a lowering to the ground. I was first to decide the way to get down and chose the free fall. I made the man on the ground promise me I wouldn't die before I jumped. After me went the two boys. One jumped then upon landing walked directly to his pack of cigarettes and the other upon landing shook for a good ten minutes after.
Serenade
Two weekends ago was my Rotary districts conference in Aguas de Sao Pedros. The weekend was especially fun in that the exchange students got to be with each other, most of them for the last time. The weekend was full of jokes, and perforamce and great food but the best part for me was the last night in the hotel lobby. After coming back from the rotary ball I stopped in my hotel lobby to greet a man named Carlos, an owner of a small specialty food and beverage shop, who I had befriended a few months earlier in a previous visit to the city of Aguas. Carlos remembered me and introduced me to the man who had been preforming in the lobby earlier. He and his band had just finsished, the crowd had gone and they were packing up their things. After talking with Carlos and the singer Roberto Rosendo, the man gave me an autographed CD and then began to play music for me. He was very very good. He sang light folk music and loves songs in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Iltalian and French. His English accent was really cute, for an old guy. Roberto's facial characteristics alone made me smile, but in concord with them was his round brimmed straw hat and his bow tie that reached an epic height of cheesey greatness that I could not get enough of. This man and his band played just for me, Carlos and Martha, Carlos' wife, for 20 minutes until my freinds came to the lobby looking for me. Then my freinds joined the group and Roberto sang on, with more songs in more languages and genres including comedy which made us all laugh and tragedy which made a few of us cry. The music went on and on and I just couldnt believe my luck. I had seen the man performing earlier and admired his talent from a far, and never imagined that I and a small group of my closest friends would be gifted a private show. He was major talent. The best live male voice I have heard in my 19 years. I will be attending another one of his shows here in Piracicaba on the 18th. We have plans to meet Carlos and Martha.
Brazil 101-
-Some Brazilians argue (argued with me) that prostituation houses are a part of their culture.
- The majority of electricity produced in Brazil is hydro-electric power.
-Some Brazilians enjoy making light fun of the Portuguese
Sergios Joke:
- There once was a Portuguese scientist doing some experiments on spiders. The scientist began and pulled out one leg from a spider and then demanded the spider to "anda!" or walk, and the spider walked. The scientst continued and pulled out a second leg from the spider then demanded it to "anda!" and the spider continued to walk. The man repeated this process until the spider had but 1 leg left. The Portuguese scientist continued and pulled out the spiders last leg then demanded the spider to "anda!" but the spider did not move.
-After repeating a series of theses experiments the Portuguese scientist concluded that leg-less spiders cannot hear.
I have three more weeks in Brazil. When the next few weeks comes to an end I will be able to say that Brazil was the fastest 10 months of my life. Thank God I kept a diary and blog because trying to look back on the things I have done without them is almost impossible. This time has gone and continues to go by in a blur.
Começo do Fim
The beginning of the end started last wednesday when my best friend for over the past nine months boarded a plane and flew back to Colombia. Andrea started the process of sadness and heart break and the process will repeat with two more of my good friends before it is my turn. As always, it sucks to say goodbye, but I have a feeling I'll be seeing these people again. We are all bound to be travelers.
Chegada
Though this month is going to be remembered as the epoc of returns, I will not allow myself to ignore the arrival of a new intercambista from Mexico. Two days before Andrea left, arrived a very nice Mexican. I went with my Rotarian friend to the airport to pick him up last Monday and already since that time he has become a friend.
Aborismo
Yesterday I went to Aguas de São Pedros with my intercambio freinds Justin (South Africa), Daniel (Mexico), Ana Thereasa and her father (Brazilians who have lived abroad). There we did a obstacle course in trees, about 60ft off the ground. As I glided through the course I realized I did not have a fear of heights and openly laughed at the boys I was with who did. The obstacle course was fantactic. The best part was the end, the final obstacle where I was the most nervous. One could choose to repel down the 60ft ish tree or jump with ones gear which would be a 30 ft free fall until the ropes tighten and stop you, fallowed by a lowering to the ground. I was first to decide the way to get down and chose the free fall. I made the man on the ground promise me I wouldn't die before I jumped. After me went the two boys. One jumped then upon landing walked directly to his pack of cigarettes and the other upon landing shook for a good ten minutes after.
Serenade
Two weekends ago was my Rotary districts conference in Aguas de Sao Pedros. The weekend was especially fun in that the exchange students got to be with each other, most of them for the last time. The weekend was full of jokes, and perforamce and great food but the best part for me was the last night in the hotel lobby. After coming back from the rotary ball I stopped in my hotel lobby to greet a man named Carlos, an owner of a small specialty food and beverage shop, who I had befriended a few months earlier in a previous visit to the city of Aguas. Carlos remembered me and introduced me to the man who had been preforming in the lobby earlier. He and his band had just finsished, the crowd had gone and they were packing up their things. After talking with Carlos and the singer Roberto Rosendo, the man gave me an autographed CD and then began to play music for me. He was very very good. He sang light folk music and loves songs in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Iltalian and French. His English accent was really cute, for an old guy. Roberto's facial characteristics alone made me smile, but in concord with them was his round brimmed straw hat and his bow tie that reached an epic height of cheesey greatness that I could not get enough of. This man and his band played just for me, Carlos and Martha, Carlos' wife, for 20 minutes until my freinds came to the lobby looking for me. Then my freinds joined the group and Roberto sang on, with more songs in more languages and genres including comedy which made us all laugh and tragedy which made a few of us cry. The music went on and on and I just couldnt believe my luck. I had seen the man performing earlier and admired his talent from a far, and never imagined that I and a small group of my closest friends would be gifted a private show. He was major talent. The best live male voice I have heard in my 19 years. I will be attending another one of his shows here in Piracicaba on the 18th. We have plans to meet Carlos and Martha.
Brazil 101-
-Some Brazilians argue (argued with me) that prostituation houses are a part of their culture.
- The majority of electricity produced in Brazil is hydro-electric power.
-Some Brazilians enjoy making light fun of the Portuguese
Sergios Joke:
- There once was a Portuguese scientist doing some experiments on spiders. The scientist began and pulled out one leg from a spider and then demanded the spider to "anda!" or walk, and the spider walked. The scientst continued and pulled out a second leg from the spider then demanded it to "anda!" and the spider continued to walk. The man repeated this process until the spider had but 1 leg left. The Portuguese scientist continued and pulled out the spiders last leg then demanded the spider to "anda!" but the spider did not move.
-After repeating a series of theses experiments the Portuguese scientist concluded that leg-less spiders cannot hear.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Amazon
Esconderijo
It is 9:37 and I am in the computer lab of Liceu my school starting my blog entry. Here with me are my friends Justin from South Africa and Andrea from Columbia. Its only us here. This lab serves as the exchange students periodic get away from the hallow drum of class.
Amazonias
The Amazon was incredible. I traveled with over forty exchange students from fourteen different countries through the hot and humid state. We flew into the capital, arriving there in the early morningof the 4th. From there we took a two floor bus to our hotel that was about two hours away in a different town called Presidente Fevereiro also known as ´´the land of waterfalls´´.
The first day we were take to see some waterfalls and then a certain part in the river where we were allowed to swim. The river was kind of rough. There was a bend in the river where many of the exchange students were crossing to get to the other side, which was a steep rock wall. I was nervous to cross rough river being that I am not such a strong swimmer, but I challenged myself and crossed successfully. The second part of the first day we walked through the very lush Amazon forest. The path we walked was wet and muddy and full of steep inclines and declines. I saw so much, but with that being said, the majority of the time my eyes were on this earth path; not only to keep myself from tripping, but to avoid the tarantulas and snakes that the guide said would often enough be found on the trail. We hiked about three hours into the forest to see the various waterfalls that were hidden within it. As we arrived at our last point, it began to rain. It was perfect. Of all of the forty kids, I was the only nerd wearing a poncho.
Day two we were taken to a very small animal reserve. This reserve exists as a sort of apology to the people of Presidente Fevereiro. In the sixties, if I remember correctly, a hydroelectric company was attempting to make a damn. Mistakes were made and they ended up flooding an area 10 times the amount of land that they had intended. This caused the death of many plant and life. So, this animal reserve that we went to was there attempt (weak) to balance the damage they had caused. After the reserve we went to the flooded area that is now a lake with lots of dead trees in the middle. They call it the Tree Cemetery. Later that same day we went to another waterfall to swim.
Day Three we packed up and left for Manaus, the Amazon capital, after breakfast. We were taken first to a zoo, where I helped feed a monkey. After we were taken to our ``six star´´ hotel. Our hotel was very large, and very nice. With in it were various restaurants, a theatre, a zoo, many stores, bars, game room and of course a pool. After dinner we went to the theatre to watch a singing and dancing performance of Boi Bumba. Boi Bumba is a story about a man who loved his bull. His bull was his best friend. Eventually this man got married and his wife became pregnant. One night his wife told him that she wanted cow tongue, but the man only had one bull and he did not want to kill him, but the wife insisted. So, one night the man went to his bull and cut off his tongue and the bull died. Then the man was sad.
The performance of this show was really neat. The dancers used elaborate costumes, decorated with colored feathers and sparkle, and body paint. The live music was done really well too. At the end of the show the dancers invited the exchange students on stage and we all mimicked the native style dance behind them, most of us ending up in a sweat. It was fun.
Day Four began with a very good breakfast provided by our hotel******. After we took our two floor bus to a fish market in downtown Manaus. At night in the hotel I ran into some college students from New York and spent a good part of my night talking with them.
Day Five we boarded our barco, where we would be staying until the end of our trip, showering with river water, battling with bugs, sleeping in hammocks... We made our way up the Rio Negra. The main event of this day was when arrived at the spot on the amazon river where Rio Negra and Rio Solimões meet. The two rivers are drastically different colors. Rio Negra is black and Solimões a light brown. The two rivers meet, but do not mix for over 18 kilometros, or just over 11 miles, creating a very strange line of difference in the two waters. The reason they do not mix, you may ask, is because of the diversity in pH levels.
Day Six we left our boat and took canoes into a very swampy part of the amazon and then into the forest. Our large group was split into two and each half was taken through a fresh trail of the jungle by a military man. These military men live in the jungle with the purpose of protecting it. My group´s guide was amazing. He was a native to the Amazons and therefore knew all the tricks of the trade. He gave us short demonstrations of how to "sobrevive" or survive in the jungle by building fire, shelter and traps. The two groups met at a clearing where we reapplied seriously needed mosquito repellent and ate lunch. The military men prepared fish in a fire under a type of rough shelter, the kind that our guide showed us how to construct. In the middle of the clearing was a rough table made from leaves and branches. It resembled the shelter, only smaller. On this table laid a watermelon, about a dozen enormous cooked fish and a pile of what looked like fat green sticks. My guide handed me a huge green leaf and told me to use it as a plate. I grabbed an entire fish, carefully so not to burn myself, and put it on my leaf plate and then found my Canadian friend. Together we devoured the fish with our hands. Then for dessert came the green sticks which I came to learn were fruit. One had to break open the shell, and then suck or chew on the green, squishy, mentos-sized seeds until the flavor was gone, and then spit out the seed. The tart flavor was reminiscent of a type of candy I have eaten before. They were very good. Later at night we took our canoes for a ride on the river. Our guide caught a baby alligator. We then passed the alligator around the three canoes. Everyone had a chance to hold him and take a picture with him.
Day Seven we were taken to a swampy part of the river and went fishing for piranhas. Later that day our guide steered his boat into a tree that was half-way swamped under water, as most of the trees there were. He then climbed the tree, very avidly, grabbed a sloth that no one but him had noticed, and returned to his canoe. All of us then had a chance to hold the sloth and take a picture with him. For lunch we returned to our main boat. Shortly after our main guide came and told us that she had haggled with some locals and was able to get all of us a chance to swim with fresh water dolphins for 15 reis each. So with in the hour we all were in the Amazon river swimming with pink dolphins.
Day Eight our group visited some native villages along the river. The exchange students were told to bring gifts for the native children. The place I went to in the village first was the small school which was a pavillion with desks and a flat screen T.V. I brought an ornament of Dorothy and Toto that sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and gave it to the classes teacher. There at the school we actually ran into a church group of about a dozen from Tennesee who made a short stop in the village to do an art project at the school and make a few medical check ups. That night after leaving the village, we watched the sunset on the river. After dark we went to a small beach where we had a luau. The luau involved a cook out and dancing. Our guide that night said her goodbye and spoke about the fun year she had traveling with this group of students (Rotary students travel with this company starting in November and ending in May, so she had known some of the students since November.) Eventually, I returned to the boat, leaving the luau a bit earlier than the rest. I went to the top deck of the boat and laid down on a bench facing the sky. It was a perfect night to star gaze, the right time, and the right silence to let the experience of my trip to sink in. Eventually the others made their ways back to the boat and one by one joined me in star gazing. Together, with the people I became closest with during the trip, we witnessed various shooting stars. Before the night ended I was asked to sing and so I chose "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", a song who's melody assumed would be familiar to everyone. Eventually we returned to our hammocks, but the night went on for those in hammocks near to my own. Our guide told us horror stories and after her many others, including myself, took their turns giving goose bumps to those who listened.
Day Nine our boat returned to dock in Manaus. From there we took a bus to a small beach and I spent about an hour telling people's futures with my deck of Cracker Jack cards, a feat I had become known for among the group. From the the beach we went to the large shopping mall and remained at the mall for five hours. There I ate and watched Iron Man II with my new friends. Shortly after the movie ended it was time for us to leave for the airport. There we made our check-ins, said a few goodbyes and then took a five and a half our flight to São Paulo.
Day 10 at five in the morning we arrived in the shockingly diverse cold in the city of São Paulo. There I made my tired goodbyes and left with Rosalie and Rui, two Rotarians from Piracicaba, for home.
It's in the Details
The entire trip was hot and insanely humid, just like I expected it to be. The humidity left the dry clothes wet and the wet clothes hopeless. The bugs were not as bad as I imagined, except for in the jungle where the mosquitoes would come in clouds. My legs after the hike on day six were pink and bumpy. The crazy jungle mosquitoes were able to bite through the pants I had used and left my legs looking as if I did not use pants or repellent. The food from the Amazon differed a bit from the customary foods of São Paulo. The beans they use there are black, they use lots of tapioca, and some fruits, like açai, guarraná, and that green fat stick fruit that I ate on day six, are only found in the North. The Amazon people have less European ancestry and because of this the people of this region are darker skinned and generally shorter.
Brazil 101
-Some Amazon tribes believe that there exists a fresh water dolphin who can turn into a man. The legend is that this creature at night comes onto land to go to festas to be with women. And then at night he goes back into the water...leaving some tribe woman pregnant.
-60% of the Amazon is located in Brazil.
-The Amazons touches nine countries.
It is 9:37 and I am in the computer lab of Liceu my school starting my blog entry. Here with me are my friends Justin from South Africa and Andrea from Columbia. Its only us here. This lab serves as the exchange students periodic get away from the hallow drum of class.
Amazonias
The Amazon was incredible. I traveled with over forty exchange students from fourteen different countries through the hot and humid state. We flew into the capital, arriving there in the early morningof the 4th. From there we took a two floor bus to our hotel that was about two hours away in a different town called Presidente Fevereiro also known as ´´the land of waterfalls´´.
The first day we were take to see some waterfalls and then a certain part in the river where we were allowed to swim. The river was kind of rough. There was a bend in the river where many of the exchange students were crossing to get to the other side, which was a steep rock wall. I was nervous to cross rough river being that I am not such a strong swimmer, but I challenged myself and crossed successfully. The second part of the first day we walked through the very lush Amazon forest. The path we walked was wet and muddy and full of steep inclines and declines. I saw so much, but with that being said, the majority of the time my eyes were on this earth path; not only to keep myself from tripping, but to avoid the tarantulas and snakes that the guide said would often enough be found on the trail. We hiked about three hours into the forest to see the various waterfalls that were hidden within it. As we arrived at our last point, it began to rain. It was perfect. Of all of the forty kids, I was the only nerd wearing a poncho.
Day two we were taken to a very small animal reserve. This reserve exists as a sort of apology to the people of Presidente Fevereiro. In the sixties, if I remember correctly, a hydroelectric company was attempting to make a damn. Mistakes were made and they ended up flooding an area 10 times the amount of land that they had intended. This caused the death of many plant and life. So, this animal reserve that we went to was there attempt (weak) to balance the damage they had caused. After the reserve we went to the flooded area that is now a lake with lots of dead trees in the middle. They call it the Tree Cemetery. Later that same day we went to another waterfall to swim.
Day Three we packed up and left for Manaus, the Amazon capital, after breakfast. We were taken first to a zoo, where I helped feed a monkey. After we were taken to our ``six star´´ hotel. Our hotel was very large, and very nice. With in it were various restaurants, a theatre, a zoo, many stores, bars, game room and of course a pool. After dinner we went to the theatre to watch a singing and dancing performance of Boi Bumba. Boi Bumba is a story about a man who loved his bull. His bull was his best friend. Eventually this man got married and his wife became pregnant. One night his wife told him that she wanted cow tongue, but the man only had one bull and he did not want to kill him, but the wife insisted. So, one night the man went to his bull and cut off his tongue and the bull died. Then the man was sad.
The performance of this show was really neat. The dancers used elaborate costumes, decorated with colored feathers and sparkle, and body paint. The live music was done really well too. At the end of the show the dancers invited the exchange students on stage and we all mimicked the native style dance behind them, most of us ending up in a sweat. It was fun.
Day Four began with a very good breakfast provided by our hotel******. After we took our two floor bus to a fish market in downtown Manaus. At night in the hotel I ran into some college students from New York and spent a good part of my night talking with them.
Day Five we boarded our barco, where we would be staying until the end of our trip, showering with river water, battling with bugs, sleeping in hammocks... We made our way up the Rio Negra. The main event of this day was when arrived at the spot on the amazon river where Rio Negra and Rio Solimões meet. The two rivers are drastically different colors. Rio Negra is black and Solimões a light brown. The two rivers meet, but do not mix for over 18 kilometros, or just over 11 miles, creating a very strange line of difference in the two waters. The reason they do not mix, you may ask, is because of the diversity in pH levels.
Day Six we left our boat and took canoes into a very swampy part of the amazon and then into the forest. Our large group was split into two and each half was taken through a fresh trail of the jungle by a military man. These military men live in the jungle with the purpose of protecting it. My group´s guide was amazing. He was a native to the Amazons and therefore knew all the tricks of the trade. He gave us short demonstrations of how to "sobrevive" or survive in the jungle by building fire, shelter and traps. The two groups met at a clearing where we reapplied seriously needed mosquito repellent and ate lunch. The military men prepared fish in a fire under a type of rough shelter, the kind that our guide showed us how to construct. In the middle of the clearing was a rough table made from leaves and branches. It resembled the shelter, only smaller. On this table laid a watermelon, about a dozen enormous cooked fish and a pile of what looked like fat green sticks. My guide handed me a huge green leaf and told me to use it as a plate. I grabbed an entire fish, carefully so not to burn myself, and put it on my leaf plate and then found my Canadian friend. Together we devoured the fish with our hands. Then for dessert came the green sticks which I came to learn were fruit. One had to break open the shell, and then suck or chew on the green, squishy, mentos-sized seeds until the flavor was gone, and then spit out the seed. The tart flavor was reminiscent of a type of candy I have eaten before. They were very good. Later at night we took our canoes for a ride on the river. Our guide caught a baby alligator. We then passed the alligator around the three canoes. Everyone had a chance to hold him and take a picture with him.
Day Seven we were taken to a swampy part of the river and went fishing for piranhas. Later that day our guide steered his boat into a tree that was half-way swamped under water, as most of the trees there were. He then climbed the tree, very avidly, grabbed a sloth that no one but him had noticed, and returned to his canoe. All of us then had a chance to hold the sloth and take a picture with him. For lunch we returned to our main boat. Shortly after our main guide came and told us that she had haggled with some locals and was able to get all of us a chance to swim with fresh water dolphins for 15 reis each. So with in the hour we all were in the Amazon river swimming with pink dolphins.
Day Eight our group visited some native villages along the river. The exchange students were told to bring gifts for the native children. The place I went to in the village first was the small school which was a pavillion with desks and a flat screen T.V. I brought an ornament of Dorothy and Toto that sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and gave it to the classes teacher. There at the school we actually ran into a church group of about a dozen from Tennesee who made a short stop in the village to do an art project at the school and make a few medical check ups. That night after leaving the village, we watched the sunset on the river. After dark we went to a small beach where we had a luau. The luau involved a cook out and dancing. Our guide that night said her goodbye and spoke about the fun year she had traveling with this group of students (Rotary students travel with this company starting in November and ending in May, so she had known some of the students since November.) Eventually, I returned to the boat, leaving the luau a bit earlier than the rest. I went to the top deck of the boat and laid down on a bench facing the sky. It was a perfect night to star gaze, the right time, and the right silence to let the experience of my trip to sink in. Eventually the others made their ways back to the boat and one by one joined me in star gazing. Together, with the people I became closest with during the trip, we witnessed various shooting stars. Before the night ended I was asked to sing and so I chose "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", a song who's melody assumed would be familiar to everyone. Eventually we returned to our hammocks, but the night went on for those in hammocks near to my own. Our guide told us horror stories and after her many others, including myself, took their turns giving goose bumps to those who listened.
Day Nine our boat returned to dock in Manaus. From there we took a bus to a small beach and I spent about an hour telling people's futures with my deck of Cracker Jack cards, a feat I had become known for among the group. From the the beach we went to the large shopping mall and remained at the mall for five hours. There I ate and watched Iron Man II with my new friends. Shortly after the movie ended it was time for us to leave for the airport. There we made our check-ins, said a few goodbyes and then took a five and a half our flight to São Paulo.
Day 10 at five in the morning we arrived in the shockingly diverse cold in the city of São Paulo. There I made my tired goodbyes and left with Rosalie and Rui, two Rotarians from Piracicaba, for home.
It's in the Details
The entire trip was hot and insanely humid, just like I expected it to be. The humidity left the dry clothes wet and the wet clothes hopeless. The bugs were not as bad as I imagined, except for in the jungle where the mosquitoes would come in clouds. My legs after the hike on day six were pink and bumpy. The crazy jungle mosquitoes were able to bite through the pants I had used and left my legs looking as if I did not use pants or repellent. The food from the Amazon differed a bit from the customary foods of São Paulo. The beans they use there are black, they use lots of tapioca, and some fruits, like açai, guarraná, and that green fat stick fruit that I ate on day six, are only found in the North. The Amazon people have less European ancestry and because of this the people of this region are darker skinned and generally shorter.
Brazil 101
-Some Amazon tribes believe that there exists a fresh water dolphin who can turn into a man. The legend is that this creature at night comes onto land to go to festas to be with women. And then at night he goes back into the water...leaving some tribe woman pregnant.
-60% of the Amazon is located in Brazil.
-The Amazons touches nine countries.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Into the Jungle
Preparations
I spent yesterday packing my suitcase for the Amazons. The agency with whom I am traveling provides a check-list on their website if things the travelers need to bring. So, a good part of yesterday afternoon was as follows.
"Passport. check.
2 pairs of tennis shoes. check.
Bug repellant. check..."
My host mother's mother gave me a smaller sized suitcase to borrow for the trip, but it ended up being too small. So, I decided bring out my suitcase which had been stored away on the top shelf my host parents closet since early December. In the suitcase, I found my 70 sheet, wide ruled green notebook, which I used for notes, vocabulary and thoughts during my first few months in Brazil. I glanced through it a bit and was reminded of the times when I was so completely lost in Portuguese that I was provoked me to write things with my left hand just for the purpose of having something to do. For example I wrote hardly legible " She said writing with our left hand would mAKe us Smarter.".
Domesticated
Today I woke up early and made two loaves of Banana Carrot Bread and muffins. Around noon my host grandparents came to the house and Li and I ate lunch with them. After lunch I spent a good part of the afternoon watching movies and knitting. By 8 o'clock I finished my first scarf.
Big Day
Tomorrow is the big day. After lunch I have plans to ride with two other Rotarians to the airport in São Paulo. There I will meet up with about 20 other exchange students from all around the world who will be making this trip with me. Our flight leaves from there around 23:00. On the 4th I will arrive in Manaus, the Amazon capital and then will spend the next nine days traveling the beautiful yet dangerously hot jungle state.
So, ten days from now I'll be letting you know how things went.
Brazil 101
-It is customary for one (male of female) to live with his parents until marriage.
-Accents and skin tone differ greatly among the regions in Brazil.
-The head of the Brazilian Health administration announced a little less than a week ago that sex is a priority factor in matter of one´s health
I spent yesterday packing my suitcase for the Amazons. The agency with whom I am traveling provides a check-list on their website if things the travelers need to bring. So, a good part of yesterday afternoon was as follows.
"Passport. check.
2 pairs of tennis shoes. check.
Bug repellant. check..."
My host mother's mother gave me a smaller sized suitcase to borrow for the trip, but it ended up being too small. So, I decided bring out my suitcase which had been stored away on the top shelf my host parents closet since early December. In the suitcase, I found my 70 sheet, wide ruled green notebook, which I used for notes, vocabulary and thoughts during my first few months in Brazil. I glanced through it a bit and was reminded of the times when I was so completely lost in Portuguese that I was provoked me to write things with my left hand just for the purpose of having something to do. For example I wrote hardly legible " She said writing with our left hand would mAKe us Smarter.".
Domesticated
Today I woke up early and made two loaves of Banana Carrot Bread and muffins. Around noon my host grandparents came to the house and Li and I ate lunch with them. After lunch I spent a good part of the afternoon watching movies and knitting. By 8 o'clock I finished my first scarf.
Big Day
Tomorrow is the big day. After lunch I have plans to ride with two other Rotarians to the airport in São Paulo. There I will meet up with about 20 other exchange students from all around the world who will be making this trip with me. Our flight leaves from there around 23:00. On the 4th I will arrive in Manaus, the Amazon capital and then will spend the next nine days traveling the beautiful yet dangerously hot jungle state.
So, ten days from now I'll be letting you know how things went.
Brazil 101
-It is customary for one (male of female) to live with his parents until marriage.
-Accents and skin tone differ greatly among the regions in Brazil.
-The head of the Brazilian Health administration announced a little less than a week ago that sex is a priority factor in matter of one´s health
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Oitava Mes
Eight Months
Yesterday Li taught me how to knit. Ha. I sat in the living room with her, sitting to her right side watching and listening to her with as much focus as I could. Eventually she handed me the knitting needles. She placed the soft white yarn strategically around my neck and secured the end of the yarn in my right hand to create the needed tension, just as she had been doing. Eventually I got the hang of it and was able to create about four prefect inches of what will one day soon be a scarf. This is something I have wanted to learn to do for at least three years and yesterday I learned how. As we sat together knitting I smiled and broke out into random bits of laughter. “You completed one of my dreams” I told her and then I had to stop myself from thinking about how much I am going to miss her.
Sorocaba
I went to another city with my friends Andrea and Dominika to celebrate the birthday of their acquaintance (another exchange student). We traveled by onibus to Sorocaba, a large city of eight-hundred thousand located an hour and a half from Piracicaba. This trip was my first of this kind, being that it was with out supervision and it was semi far away. The experience of taking the bus in itself was a cool. In Sorocaba I spent the weekend meeting other exchange students, unfortunately speaking English. We took taxis, went to churrascos, got to know a little of Sorocaba and all the in between. In the end I met some interesting people who, with out knowing, gave me a new perspective on my exchange. Andrea and I stayed longer than originally planned in Sorocaba, but eventually our stay had to end and on Monday afternoon we took a bus back to Piracicaba.
Dust in the Wind
Tuesday I got a text message from my friend Jose Carlos, the man with the band. He invited me to Estação Tupi, a small, out-door bar located in a town just outside of Piracicaba. So, after my English classes, Sergio, Li, Juliana (Sergio’s daughter) and myself went there. Juliana’s boyfriend Ricardo also met us there. Not too long after our arrival my friend Carlos invited me to microphone. I accepted and sang four or five songs to the small crowd of people. One lady, situated in the closest occupied table sang almost the entirety of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from her seat. The most song I sang with the most success was “Dust in the Wind”, a song I learned only here in Brazil. Towards the second half of the night some friends of Ricardo’s made a surprise appearance at the bar. As the night went on we talked more and more with this group of people. After my second appearance at the microphone, “Serginho” or “Little Sergio”, Ricardo’s friend, invited me to Santa Barbara, his home town. He told me that there, live many Americans and exists a cemetery of Americans and that when I come he is going to introduce me to these Americans and give me a tour of the cemetery
Brazil 101
-Brazil was discovered 21 of April 1700 by Pedro Álvares Cabral
-The seat number on your bus ticket has nothing to do with the seat in which you will sit
-Brazil has had three capitals. The first Salvador, which is the longest standing capital with 214 yeas, The second was Rio de Janeiro which stood for 193 years , and the current Brasilia which has been the capital since 1960.
-As is in the states when you lose an eyelash it is common to make a wish with it. How they do it here is the person who loses the eyelash puts it on the tip of his finger and challenges a friend. The friend puts his finger on top of the others finger, covering the eyelash. Then they both prepare wishes and then separte their fingers. The one who has the eyelash in the end wins their wish....but only after throwing the eyelash down the front of their shirt.
Yesterday Li taught me how to knit. Ha. I sat in the living room with her, sitting to her right side watching and listening to her with as much focus as I could. Eventually she handed me the knitting needles. She placed the soft white yarn strategically around my neck and secured the end of the yarn in my right hand to create the needed tension, just as she had been doing. Eventually I got the hang of it and was able to create about four prefect inches of what will one day soon be a scarf. This is something I have wanted to learn to do for at least three years and yesterday I learned how. As we sat together knitting I smiled and broke out into random bits of laughter. “You completed one of my dreams” I told her and then I had to stop myself from thinking about how much I am going to miss her.
Sorocaba
I went to another city with my friends Andrea and Dominika to celebrate the birthday of their acquaintance (another exchange student). We traveled by onibus to Sorocaba, a large city of eight-hundred thousand located an hour and a half from Piracicaba. This trip was my first of this kind, being that it was with out supervision and it was semi far away. The experience of taking the bus in itself was a cool. In Sorocaba I spent the weekend meeting other exchange students, unfortunately speaking English. We took taxis, went to churrascos, got to know a little of Sorocaba and all the in between. In the end I met some interesting people who, with out knowing, gave me a new perspective on my exchange. Andrea and I stayed longer than originally planned in Sorocaba, but eventually our stay had to end and on Monday afternoon we took a bus back to Piracicaba.
Dust in the Wind
Tuesday I got a text message from my friend Jose Carlos, the man with the band. He invited me to Estação Tupi, a small, out-door bar located in a town just outside of Piracicaba. So, after my English classes, Sergio, Li, Juliana (Sergio’s daughter) and myself went there. Juliana’s boyfriend Ricardo also met us there. Not too long after our arrival my friend Carlos invited me to microphone. I accepted and sang four or five songs to the small crowd of people. One lady, situated in the closest occupied table sang almost the entirety of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from her seat. The most song I sang with the most success was “Dust in the Wind”, a song I learned only here in Brazil. Towards the second half of the night some friends of Ricardo’s made a surprise appearance at the bar. As the night went on we talked more and more with this group of people. After my second appearance at the microphone, “Serginho” or “Little Sergio”, Ricardo’s friend, invited me to Santa Barbara, his home town. He told me that there, live many Americans and exists a cemetery of Americans and that when I come he is going to introduce me to these Americans and give me a tour of the cemetery
Brazil 101
-Brazil was discovered 21 of April 1700 by Pedro Álvares Cabral
-The seat number on your bus ticket has nothing to do with the seat in which you will sit
-Brazil has had three capitals. The first Salvador, which is the longest standing capital with 214 yeas, The second was Rio de Janeiro which stood for 193 years , and the current Brasilia which has been the capital since 1960.
-As is in the states when you lose an eyelash it is common to make a wish with it. How they do it here is the person who loses the eyelash puts it on the tip of his finger and challenges a friend. The friend puts his finger on top of the others finger, covering the eyelash. Then they both prepare wishes and then separte their fingers. The one who has the eyelash in the end wins their wish....but only after throwing the eyelash down the front of their shirt.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Feliz Páscoa
Páscoa/Easter
The Wednesday before Easter I went to an outdoor play called Paixão de Cristo. The performance, which took place in my city of Piracicaba, is the second largest outdoor performance about the life of Jesus in Brazil. The aspect of the it taking place outdoors was really neat. The show commenced at night in the dark. The scenes were set up on the broad side of a large grass, rock and dirt mound close enough to the Piracicaba river that one was able to here the water. The cool breezes that seemed to pass in the most emotional heightened moments created goosebumps on the arms of all who watched. The show had 500 actors who participated as towns people, soldiers, the deciples and all the main characters in the New Testement. The costumes were outstanding as was the scenery. The live horses and donkey were impressive. The music was well selected, the lighting perfectly placed, and the special effects successful. It was a great show. My host grandmother, two cousins, uncle and aunt and I all agreed.
Easter Day
Easter day I woke up around noon and acted on the urge to call my parents before even stepping out of bed. I got a chance to talk to with both of my parents and then was happily surprised to get a chance to talk with my brother who I did not realize had already returned to Ohio. The conversations were fairly short, but complete and lovely. After saying good bye I began to get ready for Easter dinner at Li's mothers house.
My host mother then eneterd my room and set a large brown box on my bed begining, what I quickly came to understand, the Brazilian Easter tradition. The box contained a large chocolate, truffle filled shell, easter egg. Honestly, I knew it was coming because I had gone with her to the shopping mall to purchase more than seven different large, deliciously shell filled, eggs. What I didn't know is how she would give it to me or when. So I hugged and thanked my host mom, she made a little joke about the "coelinha de Páscoa" (easter bunny) and reminded me to hurry up. At one o'clock my host mother, brother and I left for dinner. Sergio had been traveling with workthe entire week before, but after a long drive and shower he made it to the grandparents home, a little later than the rest, but in time. In the time before dinner, my host grandmother and grandfather gave me another large chocolate egg wrapped prettily in pink and gold shiney paper. I hugged and thanked them, and felt a little bad not having something to give to them. Then when my host aunt and uncle arrived they gave me another package wrapped in shiny black paper which contained a dark chocolate Easter egg. I quickly understood the Easter tradition fully and made mental notes to send these family members Easter eggs for the next year.
Soon we all sat down at a large ten person table in the dining room (my grandparents house here reminds me a little of my real grandmas' houses. Older furniture, lots of interior wood, family pictures, soft lighting, memorabilias, cookoo-clocks, and it generally smells like either somethings baking or old books.) For dinner, my host grandmother cooked so much food. There was salade, rice, cuscus, lamb, potatoes, roast beef, gnocci, and for dessert miniture strawberry torts and icecream. It was really good. Everyone ate too much.
After dinner I went with Sergio and Li to Li's grandmother and aunt's house for the first time. Li's grandma, aunt, mother and Li all look fairly the same. The great-grandma (Bisavó) is much older than the rest, with ninety some years. She suffers from an illness that makes her shake and interfers with mental clarity, but this day she looked well and was able to speak more in comparison the to first time I met her. What I found remarkable about bisavó was her skin. Even after ninety years her skin is practically free of wrinkles and glows with a soft white color. Li's aunt, who takes care of bisavó, much resembles her sister, Li's mom, not only with looks. They way she talked, the things she chose to converse about, the way she walked, they way she ignored our cries not to feed us. I imagine now seeing them in a room together and assume that I would not be able to control my laughter. They are both cute semi-old ladies. There we made a short visit to wish them Feliz Páscoa and drop off a traditional easter cake (bought). The aunt gave me my final Brazilian easter egg, a smaller (thank goodness) fist-sized chocolate egg wrapped in pink shiny paper. I thanked her, and smiled at her pile of easter cakes on a table.
The rest of the day was calm. We returned home, where my host parents crashed into their bed and I into my computer chair where I stayed until 2a.m. working on paper and sending Easter wishes to my buddies at home.
Enjoying the Weather
Wow, lately its been chilly here. Today is 19 degrees Celsius or 66 degrees farenheight and it was even colder the past two days. I actually love this weather. I love the clothes, my hair behaves better, the extra bedding, its perfect for exercise. It is great. I road bikes with my friend Dominika on the college campus across the street from my house. It was cool once I got over my fright or getting hit by a crazy brazilian driver, or getting mugged by a crazy brazilian hobo.
Yesterday Sergio took a break from traveling and came home to recuperate a bit. I went for a walk with him on campus. I always enjoy walks with Sergio. We talk about furtures, family, problems and we joke a lot. Sergio and Li have plans to come to Monroeville and meet my family. I am excited about this because I know they're not just talking. They have talked about this more than one time, and not once I have witnessed Li say she was going to do something and not follow through.
Brazil 101
-I learned in biologia that peanuts sometimes contain a type of bacteria that causes cancer.
-Brazilian businesses do not out source there help lines to India. (My host parents thought this was funny about the US)
-In Rio de Janeiro hundereds of poor people built their shack homes on a mound that used to be a dump, but was covered over....or a sink-hole. Now, after the heavey rain there, that ground sank killing many people and destroying all the homes. Rescurers resitate to enter the site because of the unsafe ground and toxitity.
The Wednesday before Easter I went to an outdoor play called Paixão de Cristo. The performance, which took place in my city of Piracicaba, is the second largest outdoor performance about the life of Jesus in Brazil. The aspect of the it taking place outdoors was really neat. The show commenced at night in the dark. The scenes were set up on the broad side of a large grass, rock and dirt mound close enough to the Piracicaba river that one was able to here the water. The cool breezes that seemed to pass in the most emotional heightened moments created goosebumps on the arms of all who watched. The show had 500 actors who participated as towns people, soldiers, the deciples and all the main characters in the New Testement. The costumes were outstanding as was the scenery. The live horses and donkey were impressive. The music was well selected, the lighting perfectly placed, and the special effects successful. It was a great show. My host grandmother, two cousins, uncle and aunt and I all agreed.
Easter Day
Easter day I woke up around noon and acted on the urge to call my parents before even stepping out of bed. I got a chance to talk to with both of my parents and then was happily surprised to get a chance to talk with my brother who I did not realize had already returned to Ohio. The conversations were fairly short, but complete and lovely. After saying good bye I began to get ready for Easter dinner at Li's mothers house.
My host mother then eneterd my room and set a large brown box on my bed begining, what I quickly came to understand, the Brazilian Easter tradition. The box contained a large chocolate, truffle filled shell, easter egg. Honestly, I knew it was coming because I had gone with her to the shopping mall to purchase more than seven different large, deliciously shell filled, eggs. What I didn't know is how she would give it to me or when. So I hugged and thanked my host mom, she made a little joke about the "coelinha de Páscoa" (easter bunny) and reminded me to hurry up. At one o'clock my host mother, brother and I left for dinner. Sergio had been traveling with workthe entire week before, but after a long drive and shower he made it to the grandparents home, a little later than the rest, but in time. In the time before dinner, my host grandmother and grandfather gave me another large chocolate egg wrapped prettily in pink and gold shiney paper. I hugged and thanked them, and felt a little bad not having something to give to them. Then when my host aunt and uncle arrived they gave me another package wrapped in shiny black paper which contained a dark chocolate Easter egg. I quickly understood the Easter tradition fully and made mental notes to send these family members Easter eggs for the next year.
Soon we all sat down at a large ten person table in the dining room (my grandparents house here reminds me a little of my real grandmas' houses. Older furniture, lots of interior wood, family pictures, soft lighting, memorabilias, cookoo-clocks, and it generally smells like either somethings baking or old books.) For dinner, my host grandmother cooked so much food. There was salade, rice, cuscus, lamb, potatoes, roast beef, gnocci, and for dessert miniture strawberry torts and icecream. It was really good. Everyone ate too much.
After dinner I went with Sergio and Li to Li's grandmother and aunt's house for the first time. Li's grandma, aunt, mother and Li all look fairly the same. The great-grandma (Bisavó) is much older than the rest, with ninety some years. She suffers from an illness that makes her shake and interfers with mental clarity, but this day she looked well and was able to speak more in comparison the to first time I met her. What I found remarkable about bisavó was her skin. Even after ninety years her skin is practically free of wrinkles and glows with a soft white color. Li's aunt, who takes care of bisavó, much resembles her sister, Li's mom, not only with looks. They way she talked, the things she chose to converse about, the way she walked, they way she ignored our cries not to feed us. I imagine now seeing them in a room together and assume that I would not be able to control my laughter. They are both cute semi-old ladies. There we made a short visit to wish them Feliz Páscoa and drop off a traditional easter cake (bought). The aunt gave me my final Brazilian easter egg, a smaller (thank goodness) fist-sized chocolate egg wrapped in pink shiny paper. I thanked her, and smiled at her pile of easter cakes on a table.
The rest of the day was calm. We returned home, where my host parents crashed into their bed and I into my computer chair where I stayed until 2a.m. working on paper and sending Easter wishes to my buddies at home.
Enjoying the Weather
Wow, lately its been chilly here. Today is 19 degrees Celsius or 66 degrees farenheight and it was even colder the past two days. I actually love this weather. I love the clothes, my hair behaves better, the extra bedding, its perfect for exercise. It is great. I road bikes with my friend Dominika on the college campus across the street from my house. It was cool once I got over my fright or getting hit by a crazy brazilian driver, or getting mugged by a crazy brazilian hobo.
Yesterday Sergio took a break from traveling and came home to recuperate a bit. I went for a walk with him on campus. I always enjoy walks with Sergio. We talk about furtures, family, problems and we joke a lot. Sergio and Li have plans to come to Monroeville and meet my family. I am excited about this because I know they're not just talking. They have talked about this more than one time, and not once I have witnessed Li say she was going to do something and not follow through.
Brazil 101
-I learned in biologia that peanuts sometimes contain a type of bacteria that causes cancer.
-Brazilian businesses do not out source there help lines to India. (My host parents thought this was funny about the US)
-In Rio de Janeiro hundereds of poor people built their shack homes on a mound that used to be a dump, but was covered over....or a sink-hole. Now, after the heavey rain there, that ground sank killing many people and destroying all the homes. Rescurers resitate to enter the site because of the unsafe ground and toxitity.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sétimo Mês
Sétimo Mês
Today is dia 22 de Mars. What does that mean? It means that seven months ago today I walked off an airplane and stepped into Brazil. At seven months in, I feel like I am at an emotional peak. My thoughts often drift to the ones I love back home. I often find myself imagining how it will be coming back...I expect that my parents and friends will bring me an automatic comfort. I dream about my brother...and the unparraled joy of being in his presence. I will need all them...My heart swells at the idea of sitting with them around a campfire...telling stories and laughing so easily...but this joyful thought cannot exists with out the heaviness in my chest. A heaviness that reminds me what I will have to leave behind.
These thoughts, dreams, emotions loom. I've been telling myself and telling those who've asked...I am not ready to go, but I will be when I the time comes. I still believe this...I believe that the same out of body, out of emotion force that took over me on the way here will return again and nothing beyond the furture 15 minutes will be of concern.
Routine
I've picked up a bit of a different routine with in the past month. I frequent high school Monday through Friday 7 until 12:45. On Tuesday I have Portuguese lessons with the other exchange students. Monday through Thursday teach English classes to three different groups of students ranging from 14-23 at the language school ICBEU (Culteral Institute Brazil USA). Thursdays I attend Drama classes. And then there is always the random things with school or rotary that I do during the week. Today for example...after school my friend Dominika from Slovakia came to my house for lunch, at then at 2 o'clock we went to the nursing home campus and played Bingo with some very old Brazilian Ladies.
Soul
Last Friday night my first host mother Lucy put on a Arabian food themed party for Rotary. In addition the the excellent food and company, Lucy and her sister Suzy (in who's house this was taking place) hired a two man band to keep the party entertained all night. I noticed quickly the bands talent and admired the singers correct pronunciation of English. At some point in the night..I was pressured into singing along with the band. After an improv. "Blowing in the Wind"and "Don't Cry for me Agentina" the two man band invited me to sing along with them in a gig they were having the next night in the shopping mall. I accepted. So, Saturday night with out practice or rehearsal I sang about 10 songs...half of which I had never previously performed. What turned out wasnt my best...but it was enough to impress the musicians and provoke them to further invite me to more gigs and offer to do a rehearsal with me sometime during the weak. I am excited about this and very humbled.
Jungle
On May 3rd I will be flying to the Amazons. Ill fly into the capital, Manaus. There I will do some site seeing and museum tours. Then for four days I will be floating down the Rio Negra in a medium sized boat making stops at some indian villages. At night I will be sleeping in a hammock and be wearing bug repelent instead of skin. After the boat there will be some more village and city sight seeing and then on My 13 I will fly back to Sao Paulo.
Brazil 101
-Only about 20 years ago in Piracicaba sport and leisure clubs were openly denying membership to blacks.
-Families exchange large chocolate eggs for easter.
-Automatic cars have only become socially acceptable in the past decade. Before this they were percieved as handicap cars
-it is common to encouter not only handicapped parking, but also old people parking
Today is dia 22 de Mars. What does that mean? It means that seven months ago today I walked off an airplane and stepped into Brazil. At seven months in, I feel like I am at an emotional peak. My thoughts often drift to the ones I love back home. I often find myself imagining how it will be coming back...I expect that my parents and friends will bring me an automatic comfort. I dream about my brother...and the unparraled joy of being in his presence. I will need all them...My heart swells at the idea of sitting with them around a campfire...telling stories and laughing so easily...but this joyful thought cannot exists with out the heaviness in my chest. A heaviness that reminds me what I will have to leave behind.
These thoughts, dreams, emotions loom. I've been telling myself and telling those who've asked...I am not ready to go, but I will be when I the time comes. I still believe this...I believe that the same out of body, out of emotion force that took over me on the way here will return again and nothing beyond the furture 15 minutes will be of concern.
Routine
I've picked up a bit of a different routine with in the past month. I frequent high school Monday through Friday 7 until 12:45. On Tuesday I have Portuguese lessons with the other exchange students. Monday through Thursday teach English classes to three different groups of students ranging from 14-23 at the language school ICBEU (Culteral Institute Brazil USA). Thursdays I attend Drama classes. And then there is always the random things with school or rotary that I do during the week. Today for example...after school my friend Dominika from Slovakia came to my house for lunch, at then at 2 o'clock we went to the nursing home campus and played Bingo with some very old Brazilian Ladies.
Soul
Last Friday night my first host mother Lucy put on a Arabian food themed party for Rotary. In addition the the excellent food and company, Lucy and her sister Suzy (in who's house this was taking place) hired a two man band to keep the party entertained all night. I noticed quickly the bands talent and admired the singers correct pronunciation of English. At some point in the night..I was pressured into singing along with the band. After an improv. "Blowing in the Wind"and "Don't Cry for me Agentina" the two man band invited me to sing along with them in a gig they were having the next night in the shopping mall. I accepted. So, Saturday night with out practice or rehearsal I sang about 10 songs...half of which I had never previously performed. What turned out wasnt my best...but it was enough to impress the musicians and provoke them to further invite me to more gigs and offer to do a rehearsal with me sometime during the weak. I am excited about this and very humbled.
Jungle
On May 3rd I will be flying to the Amazons. Ill fly into the capital, Manaus. There I will do some site seeing and museum tours. Then for four days I will be floating down the Rio Negra in a medium sized boat making stops at some indian villages. At night I will be sleeping in a hammock and be wearing bug repelent instead of skin. After the boat there will be some more village and city sight seeing and then on My 13 I will fly back to Sao Paulo.
Brazil 101
-Only about 20 years ago in Piracicaba sport and leisure clubs were openly denying membership to blacks.
-Families exchange large chocolate eggs for easter.
-Automatic cars have only become socially acceptable in the past decade. Before this they were percieved as handicap cars
-it is common to encouter not only handicapped parking, but also old people parking
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Themes and Dreams
Not Just Any Bus Ride
I took a feild trip yesterday to see Cirque de Soleil. My classmates and I boarded the Omnibus at 7 in the morning (the regular hour for school to start) and drove to Sâo Paulo. The bus ride itself was an experience. I have been on a travel bus a few times in my life...through out my travels though London, parts of France and Italy and a couple of times in the states.....and in all of these experiences...they were about the same... There exists the people who sleep, the people who listen to music...the couples..the window lookers...the person with motion sickness...the complainers...the gossipers..those who talk too loud.. Usually there are catagories that all get filled in. On this bus trip the middle isle was filled with people standing...because they wanted to stand and there was no one to tell them they were not allowed. Lots of pictures were taken...lots of music was sung...the bus was loud, no one complained, and the intercamistas were the only ones who attempted to sleep or look out the window. On the way back, there was a moment when the entire bus was chanting for me to sing. Haahaha..they love music. And towards the end I stood in the isle as well..temporarily pushing aside my thoughts of survival statistics and Brazilian driving.
Inbetween
The bus arrived early in São Paulo. There, at some popular performing area, our bus, along with an estimated 20 more....parked and waited about two football feilds away from an enormous blue and yellow circus tent covered with national flags. After about an hour wait and lecture on rules (which included no cameras) our bus was released and we entered the the tent. Before the show started there was a rush for food....in which I stood in line for a good hour to recieve a sandwich that I had paid for as part of my admission ticket. Unfortunatly, by the time I got close to the front of the line...they ran out of food. Hahaha...it was my first experience of being denied food here. My friend Andrea (Columbia) was gracious enough to share with me some of her hamburger...which we ate quickly and then entered the theater. Again we waited...
The show was recorded and will be shown this Saturday on Brazil National television..so we had to wait for the cameras to get set up. Then the host of the show came out and told us about fake applause...and eventually the ball got rolling.
Four famous Brazilian singers from each realm of genre (rap, rock, folkclassic, and country), one after the other, began the show...each of them singing two of their popular peices. The crowed was wild in the prescence of the famous. All of the music I recongized, but really only one of the names I knew. Maria Gadu was the third person to perform, a young famous singer(classic, folk) with a very layed back style and a powerful voice. Jealous...
Send in the Clowns
The show began with the ending. Since everything was being filmed for TV...they filmed the end first. Is that how it is always done* Soon the clowns came in. First there was a comedy act...in which four students were pulled from the audience to participate in a silent film directed by a very forward clown. Next there was a man in a wheel, followed by four people dangling from rope, followed by four little Chinese girls jugling wooden spools and doing flips. All the acts accompanied by erie, yet awesome music. I adore Cirque de Soleil. Their theme ^Impossible is Only a Word^ I thought to be a bit weak..for such an off-the-wall show...but if you say it with a French accent...and it seems almost worthy.
After the Show
After the show, when we arrived back in Piracicaba, I walked with some of my classmates to a mid-central quare...where a small sandwich stand exists. There we ordered hotdog sandwiches (two hot dogs cut open and places in a grilled bread..with white cheese, corn, tomato, and chicken.). They were huge, cheap, and very tasty... I felt like I was in college...sitting with a group of my classmates....at night, school the next day...no parents...some of them casually drinking skol. I loved the moment....and now writing about it I miss my friends back home and wish they could have been there.
Brazil 101
-There are levels of rice. Grade 1 is the best because it is the best looking. The less pretty the rice is, the higher the grade and lower the price.
-Brazilians say the hardest part about living abroad is the food. They begin to miss their everyday rice and beans
-There are two national holidays were it is custom for men to dress up as women. But aleast one of these days the women dress as men too.
Monday, February 15, 2010
CARNAVAL!
Festa de Carne
Brazilians are crazy about their meat. It only takes a few churrascos (Brazilian BBQ) to observe this. So the fact that they have a national holiday named for meat (carne) is ridiculously appropriate. The origin of this holiday came from the dominatly Catholic Portuguese...(Brazil was a Portuguese colony). Part of the Catholic tradtion is to refrain from eating meat as well as doing other forms of penance for the 40 days of lent that lead up to Easter. So the people of early Brazil decided to take advantage of the five days before lent by throwing a huge party. Over time Carnaval became greatly influenced by African culture and became more focused on costume and dance (Samba:)).
The second day of Carnaval my host parents and I drove to Sao Paulo to meet up with my host aunt, uncle and cousins at there home. Together we ate lunch and then after everyone napped in order to prepare for the extensive night a head. Around ten o'clock two taxis arrived and we drove through the city and to the out skirts where the Sao badrem...(the spelling is wrong) or this stadium specifically built for Carnaval is. The taxis proved to be a very good idea...as we passed large masses of traffic waiting to park.
The show began as we arrived in our seats, our seats only feet away from the stretch were all the focus was taking place. The pictures above tell the a good part of the general story. There were seven dance schools that put on the show/competition. Each school consisted of about 4,000 participants. The 4000 had to make it down the long stretch (about a mile) with in an hour...dancing and singing..some pushing the huge detailed cars that you see above. At times there would be explosions of confetti that littered the statium like snow...creating a star-like effect in some of the photos. The final show my family stayed for (we left at five in the moring, an estimated two hours before the end....) had the crowd wild. The theme was Corintias...a very famous soccer team in Sao Paulo. Before this particular school started...Corinthean flags were passed out into the entire croud... WIth the mucis blaring and the bass strong...the entire crowd stood and waved there flags to the beat of the music....singing and shouting in preparation for what was to come. Fireworks went off....the dancers came...and placed on the main float was a the famous Ronaldo...a Corinthain soccer player.
Funny story about this guy. My host mother told me last night that it was top news last year that Ronaldo entered a motel with two prostitutes. My host mother explained that it wasnt that they were prostitutes and it was not that there were two of them...it was that the two beautiful women that he entered with were not actually women...and when Ronaldo discovered this (hahaha...awkward) he became so enraged that be distroyed everything in the motel room... And then...he got charged for this..and went to jail.
Carnaval lasted until until Tuesday. Sunday of Carnaval I went to a baile with my friend...Monday I went to Aguas de Sao Pedros with my host parents and met Heini and his wife and mother there. And then Tuesday was Sergios, my host father's birthday..so family came to our house and we had a small part with pizza and icecream cake. There is going to be another party for Sergio on Saturday..this time with more people.
MIND
-----------
MATTER
Today I was scheduled to return to school...eghh.. My host mother entered my room this morning and asked if I wanted to go... Ohh.... I layed in bed for five minutes creating a mental pros and cons list.
Pro: leave house
Possibly see other exchange students
I technically should
Con: Sit and Do nothing
sit and do nothing
sit and do nothing
So, I stayed home today. It's a joke really. There is almost no motivation for me to want to go... Sometimes I read...the same book that I have been reading for the past couple months. Everytime I read it gets easier and becomes more enjoyable...but I can read at home as well...and not have to worry about offending the teachers...ughh.. School tomorrow..I actually want to go.. Too long in the house...and I want to go to school...one day at school and I want to stay in the house.....One day and then the weekend. Yay!
Brazil 101
-"the good life ends after 25"
- Cheating in relationships seems to be more accepted here than in the states...however..only on the males part......I think this idea is European as well
-If you pray to some saint to help you find something and find what you are looking for...you jump three times and say "achei achei achei" ....."found found found"
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Five Down, Five More to Go.
Back to School
I returned to Liceu, my high school, on Monday. The Christmas break here is the equivilent of the US summer break. So, before December I was in 2nd grade and now I am in the 3rd, the graduating year. (Brazilian high school is divided into three years) I was happier than I had expected to be, when I saw the faces of my classmates. They all looked the same, except that everyone was a bit more bronze, and for the most part, they even sat in the same desk order that they had the previous year. On the first day, I sat in the very middle of the classroom. Behind me, the new kids, six of them. Last year it was I, who sat in the very back of the classroom and I could not help but smile to myself, feeling that I had moved up in the food chain, no longer the novist.
For now, it is good to be back. Its good to have a focal point and a (sort of) realm of orginization.
The Other School
Last weekend I was in the town of Aguas de Sao Pedros. There my host parents and I spent the weekend celebrating the birthday of Heini, my hosts dad's long-time friend. There, I met a lady named Erly, who spent a year of High School in North Canton, Ohio. Erly, who now owns a Language School in Piracicaba invited me to teach English class at her school. On Monday, I visited her school and she gave me a short briefing on how she wanted me to teach the class and provided me with some text books. My first class was the next day. Now, mondays through Thursdays I teach a one hour class per day.
"When the Moon Hits Your Eye"
For the most part, last Friday night until Sunday afternoon was a blur of endless meat, sleep and for those who drink it, beer. However, for a couple hours on Saturday night, we took a break from churrasco. Ever since my family found out that I was a "Pizzaiola", they wanted to test my skills. Saturday night I cooked for a dozen people. I prepared the dough two days before hand and constructed six pizzas that night infront of everyone. It was a lot of fun to impress the brazilians with my dough tossing skills and was really cool to cook in a stone oven for the first time. The pizzas, except for the first one (was not used to the stone oven) turned out wonderful.
Half Way
Glass half empty? Glass half full? I cannot decide. I am five months in now and I have reached the half way point. The glass is definatly still full. I have plans for furture travel inorder to see more of Brazil, I have the furture holidays, my Portuguese has further need for improvement. Five months is a good amount of time, but then again...where have the previous five gone? I cannot help but feel the beginning of the end. I am not sad because I already have plans for when I come home, but I am aware that their will be sadness in future and it's a bit haunting.
Brazil 101
-Don't judge a store by it's cover. (It's a fact that decent clothing is much more expensive here than in the states. However, it is possible, at times, to find clothing at a decent price. Here, some stores appear expensive from the window...but are in actualluality decently priced. So, it's best to check it out...)
-Eating is sacred. I found the perfect example of this on a Brazilian Sopapra. On the show, there was this little girl fighting with her mother. Her mother remained calm through out the name calling and bad behavior, but when her mother asked her if she was going to eat supper and the little girl said no, her mother threw her hands up in the air and stomped out of the room.
-Brazilian government has OBVIOUS corruption.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Getting Down with the Sickness
Finishing Up at the Beach
My host uncle (future host father) Rodolpho, and his family joined my family at Juquehy for our last couple of nights there. Together we spent the rest of the time similarly, in the ocean on the beach. The very last day was particularly fun for me. I played "Fresco Ball" (the popular beach game I made a reference to in my previous update) with my uncle, impressing the family with my quickly avid skill. :) I spent my final hours on the beach building a sand castle with my host father. I learned from him how to create a really cool affect with the sand, simply by dribbling wet sand on top of previously dribbled sand... It was great, and the process unexplainably relaxing and enjoyable.
Souveniers
I do not much believe in souveniers... In my mind, they are just trinkets that collect dust and take up space (unless of course it's as practical as a shot glass...at least then your using it on a daily basis.....just sarcasm mom) Well...my host parents and I brought home some memorabilia from the beach..that will neither dirty or take up space. For the past couple of days, My host parents and myself have been dealing with some type of stomache virus we picked up there. The first couple of days were the worst with abdomonal pain and angry intestines.
The three of us around the kichen table at lunch and supper time was a hilarious sight. All of us sitting there, quiet, sad faces, trying our hardest to coax our bodies into swallowing soup. I couldn't help but laugh. Now, both my host parents are back to work, and I am almost 100%.
I respect the sickness. When you go into the ocean...it's impossible to play on the waves and not accidently swallow a bit of water. With out these germs and intestinal infections, people wouldn't have a reason to leave the beach... This little souvenier brings the depressed returning vacationers back to reality...reminding them nothings perfect...and giving them a little happiness in the comforts of home.
Independence
My friend brought up an interesting point. With in his exchange he has been learning and relearning the definition of independence and in general with exchange students, this is true. I recently read this scientific article written by Bettina Hansel and Neal Grove, "International Student Exchange Programs-Are the Educational Benefits Real?" This article was based on a study done to compare 15 specific types of personal growth between students who studied abroad and students who did not. The average exchange student rated themselves righer interms of Independence upon their return. So, had I been a part of this study, would I in the future be rating myself higher on the post-test? Though I feel a bit over protected here, I respect the people and the process and I feel again that I have been put into the right place. Whether my parents planned it this way or not, they successfully raised their children to be very independant people and so luckily...this said type of independence is not specifically a life skill that I feel I need to develop on at this point in time. Good job mom and dad.
New News.
Yesterday, I met the new foreigner on the block. Justin Dike, from South Africa. AHhh yes, South Africans speak English (with an excellent accent) ANd they drive on the wrong side of the road (haha) I had thought that was only in the UK.
One reason I love meeting new people is that they always teach you new things. In only a few hours with Justin I learned:
-People from Finland take drivers Ed for three years. Because of this...they are typically good drivers.
-Only 1% of Brazil is Black (African South American?)
-School systems in South Africa are layed back in terms of violence as well as punishments...they do not have metal detectors
-Currency in S.A. is known as the "rand"
-S.A. drive on the opposite side of the road
OSU in ESALQ!
This morning my mother showed me a newspaper article with a picture of OSU students doing some volunteer work here in Piracicaba. The college across the road from my house has a agriculture program that apparently teams up with students from OSU....(My future school!). My host mother made some phone calls (Rotarians have all the connections) and ended up getting in contact with the Brazilian head of this program. SO....tonight...hopefully, if it all works out...I should be meeting up with some buckeyes. Small world....small small world.
Brazil 101
-Funerals take place only hours after the death
-At movie theaters...you chose what seat you want to sit in when you buy the ticket. Its funny where you find pockets of organization here.
-If you return to a store for a refund or trade in...it is actually helpful to yell or threaten to phone the police.
Mitch, you are cool
Monday, January 11, 2010
Juquehy
Juquey
"Que Vida Difícil" my host parents have been saying, or "such a hard life", but they're only joking ofcourse. Juquehy is the name of the beach we arrived at last Saturday and life here on the beach, in the town of Sâo Sabastion is anything but hard. I was here once before with Sergio and Lee last October in the vacation home of Sergios sister. The previous stay here was different. Last time a good part of Sergios family was here, celebrating the 93rd(I think) birthday of his mother. My Portuguese in October wasnt too strong, and I remember not understanding a good part of conversation and having difficulty speaking. This time, I am fluent and have less trouble speaking and it is just my family and my host brother's friend Fernando, who I also know from Liceau, spending the week here in the beach house. Tiago, my 32 year old cousin, who's wedding I attended in Sâo Paulo, was here the first two nights, but had to return to Sao Paulo for work.
Brazilian Family
Tiago, actually reminds me lots of my cousins. He has the whole big framed, sport soul, sweet heart personality that a number of my real cousins and family members share. The first night here Sergio, Lee, Tiago and I played Trunca, a card game not really comparable to any other card game I know, but a good good game with really good company. The second day here was mostly spent in the ocean, and later in the day Tiago taught me how to play...oh man I forget the name of it...a game with wooden rackets and a rubber ball. All you do is volley the ball back and forth. Its a really popular game..every time I have been to beach I have seen numerous people playing it. We were on the beach playing it and it started to rain...but we played in the rain anyway. (I always thought it illogical for people at the beach to leave when its raining)
Tiago mentioned a more than once that he is going to mark a day for me to come and play Texas Hold 'em with him and his family. I mean...really..this guy couldnt be more like real family.
Today
I woke up around seven this moring in the beach house living room. Although there existed a bedroom for me to sleep in I chose to sleep in the "sala" with the fans. Even with the fans, this morning was very warm and I couldnt seem to go back to sleep. So I took five or six short steps into the kitchen...opened up a bag of pistacios and poured myself a cup of pear juice. Shortly after I slept again. Around nine, I ate a small breakfast with my host parents and then we slathered ourselves in sunscreen (a process taken very seriously) and went to the beach.
Beach
The beach here is long. I would say it stretches at least a mile. Unlike the lake beaches I am accustomed to in Ohio, the sand here is real and white and clean. From the beach, maybe another mile out into the ocean exists about 6 or seven islands .....these random tiny mountains sticking up out of the water...giving everyone on on the beach a focus point so not to get lost in the eternity of the ocean. From the water, looking at the beach you can the homes directly beyond the sand, but beyond the homes you see green mountains, varying in size and shape. It really is beautiful.
Today cont.
After spending a few hours of the moring and a few more hours of the afternoon at the beach...I walked the unpaved road back home, only a short and safe distance away. Being here, I've lost a great deal of my independence. I cannot drive, I rarely have the opportunity to cook for myself, I do not go placed unaccompanied....so little instances like this...just walking by myself a little ways becomes something special to me....something worth writing about.
Upon returning home I moved my things from the bedroom downstairs to the upstairs room that Tiago had been using. I made a trip to a grocery store with my host father, twice...because the first time he forgot his wallet (a characteristic of his..hehehe). Later checked my emails, ate a good lunch with my family, napped, made brownies minus recipe. Looked up real recipe online afterwards. Began writing my blog and then was told to leave with my brother and Fernando. Walked with the two of them into town, watched them ironically eat American food and then walked back and now am writing this.
Pets
Listing the things I've done today makes it seem like I did lots. But my days lack accomplishments. I understand here, while I am on vacation at the beach there is not much I can do, but I have an idea, a goal, that when I return back to Piracicaba I will find a task, a mission to accomplish. I need something. This thought often comes to my mind; that I am a pet. I am like the family dog in that the funny things I do are good for conversation , I have a few tricks, and the family loves me and takes care of me. But in the end I am not a golden retriever and having some real tasks would make me really happy.
Last Wednesday
Last wednesday night I went to a barzinha with the group of people that I met through a boy from my school before he left for Switzerland. This group of people is perfect. They are my age, into theatre, hilarious, smart. When it happens, it is just really nice to find people you click with.
Brazil 101
-The current president of Brazil, Lula, currently has a movie in theatres about his life story....
-It is common and delicious to cook eggplant on the grill.
-Brazilians do not have powdered sugar. They have something with the translation of powdered sugar...but it is not the same
"Que Vida Difícil" my host parents have been saying, or "such a hard life", but they're only joking ofcourse. Juquehy is the name of the beach we arrived at last Saturday and life here on the beach, in the town of Sâo Sabastion is anything but hard. I was here once before with Sergio and Lee last October in the vacation home of Sergios sister. The previous stay here was different. Last time a good part of Sergios family was here, celebrating the 93rd(I think) birthday of his mother. My Portuguese in October wasnt too strong, and I remember not understanding a good part of conversation and having difficulty speaking. This time, I am fluent and have less trouble speaking and it is just my family and my host brother's friend Fernando, who I also know from Liceau, spending the week here in the beach house. Tiago, my 32 year old cousin, who's wedding I attended in Sâo Paulo, was here the first two nights, but had to return to Sao Paulo for work.
Brazilian Family
Tiago, actually reminds me lots of my cousins. He has the whole big framed, sport soul, sweet heart personality that a number of my real cousins and family members share. The first night here Sergio, Lee, Tiago and I played Trunca, a card game not really comparable to any other card game I know, but a good good game with really good company. The second day here was mostly spent in the ocean, and later in the day Tiago taught me how to play...oh man I forget the name of it...a game with wooden rackets and a rubber ball. All you do is volley the ball back and forth. Its a really popular game..every time I have been to beach I have seen numerous people playing it. We were on the beach playing it and it started to rain...but we played in the rain anyway. (I always thought it illogical for people at the beach to leave when its raining)
Tiago mentioned a more than once that he is going to mark a day for me to come and play Texas Hold 'em with him and his family. I mean...really..this guy couldnt be more like real family.
Today
I woke up around seven this moring in the beach house living room. Although there existed a bedroom for me to sleep in I chose to sleep in the "sala" with the fans. Even with the fans, this morning was very warm and I couldnt seem to go back to sleep. So I took five or six short steps into the kitchen...opened up a bag of pistacios and poured myself a cup of pear juice. Shortly after I slept again. Around nine, I ate a small breakfast with my host parents and then we slathered ourselves in sunscreen (a process taken very seriously) and went to the beach.
Beach
The beach here is long. I would say it stretches at least a mile. Unlike the lake beaches I am accustomed to in Ohio, the sand here is real and white and clean. From the beach, maybe another mile out into the ocean exists about 6 or seven islands .....these random tiny mountains sticking up out of the water...giving everyone on on the beach a focus point so not to get lost in the eternity of the ocean. From the water, looking at the beach you can the homes directly beyond the sand, but beyond the homes you see green mountains, varying in size and shape. It really is beautiful.
Today cont.
After spending a few hours of the moring and a few more hours of the afternoon at the beach...I walked the unpaved road back home, only a short and safe distance away. Being here, I've lost a great deal of my independence. I cannot drive, I rarely have the opportunity to cook for myself, I do not go placed unaccompanied....so little instances like this...just walking by myself a little ways becomes something special to me....something worth writing about.
Upon returning home I moved my things from the bedroom downstairs to the upstairs room that Tiago had been using. I made a trip to a grocery store with my host father, twice...because the first time he forgot his wallet (a characteristic of his..hehehe). Later checked my emails, ate a good lunch with my family, napped, made brownies minus recipe. Looked up real recipe online afterwards. Began writing my blog and then was told to leave with my brother and Fernando. Walked with the two of them into town, watched them ironically eat American food and then walked back and now am writing this.
Pets
Listing the things I've done today makes it seem like I did lots. But my days lack accomplishments. I understand here, while I am on vacation at the beach there is not much I can do, but I have an idea, a goal, that when I return back to Piracicaba I will find a task, a mission to accomplish. I need something. This thought often comes to my mind; that I am a pet. I am like the family dog in that the funny things I do are good for conversation , I have a few tricks, and the family loves me and takes care of me. But in the end I am not a golden retriever and having some real tasks would make me really happy.
Last Wednesday
Last wednesday night I went to a barzinha with the group of people that I met through a boy from my school before he left for Switzerland. This group of people is perfect. They are my age, into theatre, hilarious, smart. When it happens, it is just really nice to find people you click with.
Brazil 101
-The current president of Brazil, Lula, currently has a movie in theatres about his life story....
-It is common and delicious to cook eggplant on the grill.
-Brazilians do not have powdered sugar. They have something with the translation of powdered sugar...but it is not the same
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
New Years
Acknowlegment
Most of the time, before writing a new update, I read my previous blog, always discovering grammar and spelling errors. In my defense, the spell check tool in this program is set in Português and I am not always thinking in English. I do not expect this aspect, the quality of my writing, to change as I am unwilling to spend more time than nescessary on this website but, I offer my apologies to the author of "Eats, Shoots and Leaves".
Feliz Ano Novo
This new year at midnight I stood on a dining room chair and ate three spoonfuls of lentils. Imediatly after, I ate fruit from nine seeds of the brazillian fruit homá, wrapped the seeds themselves in a dollar and stashed it in my wallet. Brazil has lots of tradition...and superstition..and symbolism and the New Year here just brings that all into the spot light.
Brazilians wear white for news years to sybolize a clean slate for the in coming year. I mentioned before that the color of new underwear they wear symbolizes what they hope to gain. For example..I wore my new white calcinhas...which I hope to bring me peace in 2010.
I watched on TV the millions of people who traveled to ocean beaches and threw flowers in the water and danced in the water....everyone dressed in white. Yes yes....lots of tradition here. Its beautiful...it brings everyone together. The lentils I ate while standing on a chair were so that I wont go hungry in 2010 and the nine seeds were three seeds for each of the three kings in Bethlehem.
The new year was spent in the vacation home of my now...host uncle...but furture host father, Rodolpho. There his family, and my family, and the grandparents spent our time eating and playing in the river/lake and just having a good time. 2010 has already given me my first ride on a jet ski (very exciting). I also spent time boating. The idea of being in the hot sun in January is just nice in itself. The sceneary on the lake/river was stunning. Across the river were these green picture perfect hills...scattered with palm trees and bush....the green highlighted in color in company with the blue and white sky.
I met some other boys who had houses on this lake/river...the ones who owned the jet skis. New Years day, a boy named Bruno drove me....and a boy named Caiio drove my cousin...down the rived away from the beaches to a bend in the river. There, were a herd of white cows (cows here have the same clueless faces...but they are different. They are all white and they have humps) grazing right next to the water. There we swam in the river alone in the hot afternoon, just us four, the jet skis and the cows. Then before leaving Bruno and Caiio use the jet skis to splash the cows...freaking them out and making them stampede away.
Days After
I arrived back in Piracicaba today. It was a great time there...but theres nothing like the comforts of home (temporary home).
I spent a lot of time this new years thinking about where I was the same time last year. Last year I spent the holliday with my brother and sister...and the memories of us together really made me miss my family. I am hoping now with the holidays over and the sentiments of love and family starting to fade from focus I'll be able to banish this sort of haze it has created.
Brazil 101
- Brazilian women like to control
-Brazilians have many superstitions.
-Kissing is part of social life for people of my generation.
Most of the time, before writing a new update, I read my previous blog, always discovering grammar and spelling errors. In my defense, the spell check tool in this program is set in Português and I am not always thinking in English. I do not expect this aspect, the quality of my writing, to change as I am unwilling to spend more time than nescessary on this website but, I offer my apologies to the author of "Eats, Shoots and Leaves".
Feliz Ano Novo
This new year at midnight I stood on a dining room chair and ate three spoonfuls of lentils. Imediatly after, I ate fruit from nine seeds of the brazillian fruit homá, wrapped the seeds themselves in a dollar and stashed it in my wallet. Brazil has lots of tradition...and superstition..and symbolism and the New Year here just brings that all into the spot light.
Brazilians wear white for news years to sybolize a clean slate for the in coming year. I mentioned before that the color of new underwear they wear symbolizes what they hope to gain. For example..I wore my new white calcinhas...which I hope to bring me peace in 2010.
I watched on TV the millions of people who traveled to ocean beaches and threw flowers in the water and danced in the water....everyone dressed in white. Yes yes....lots of tradition here. Its beautiful...it brings everyone together. The lentils I ate while standing on a chair were so that I wont go hungry in 2010 and the nine seeds were three seeds for each of the three kings in Bethlehem.
The new year was spent in the vacation home of my now...host uncle...but furture host father, Rodolpho. There his family, and my family, and the grandparents spent our time eating and playing in the river/lake and just having a good time. 2010 has already given me my first ride on a jet ski (very exciting). I also spent time boating. The idea of being in the hot sun in January is just nice in itself. The sceneary on the lake/river was stunning. Across the river were these green picture perfect hills...scattered with palm trees and bush....the green highlighted in color in company with the blue and white sky.
I met some other boys who had houses on this lake/river...the ones who owned the jet skis. New Years day, a boy named Bruno drove me....and a boy named Caiio drove my cousin...down the rived away from the beaches to a bend in the river. There, were a herd of white cows (cows here have the same clueless faces...but they are different. They are all white and they have humps) grazing right next to the water. There we swam in the river alone in the hot afternoon, just us four, the jet skis and the cows. Then before leaving Bruno and Caiio use the jet skis to splash the cows...freaking them out and making them stampede away.
Days After
I arrived back in Piracicaba today. It was a great time there...but theres nothing like the comforts of home (temporary home).
I spent a lot of time this new years thinking about where I was the same time last year. Last year I spent the holliday with my brother and sister...and the memories of us together really made me miss my family. I am hoping now with the holidays over and the sentiments of love and family starting to fade from focus I'll be able to banish this sort of haze it has created.
Brazil 101
- Brazilian women like to control
-Brazilians have many superstitions.
-Kissing is part of social life for people of my generation.
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