Stray Dogs
There are stray dogs all over. I am sure I noticed this aspect about Brazil during my first stay here, I even remember writing something brief about it, but I am even more impressed by the doggies now than before. I guess I like the idea. Every stray I have come across has been very friendly, and not nearly as smelly or ill as my own childhood dog Bootso. Poor Bootso. I didn't like the idea of all these stray dogs when I first arrived, I thought it was sad that these pups didn't have owners and I was grateful that there aren't many sad lonely doggies in the US. Then I remembered that the US capture and kills there nomad dogs and said a little prayer that Brazil doesn't ever adopt this tradition of ours.
Travels
I didn't make it to Blumenau, the German colony about an hour away from where I currently live, but I have spoken plans to travel there this weekend with my friend who lived there as an exchange student in 2008. I am curious to see how German this German colony really is.
Relationships
I have gotten really close with my host family's extended family within the past few weeks. Its always refreshing to the soul to encounter people who just understand. All it takes is a look in someone's eye. Sometimes there is something there (recognition, understanding) and sometimes there isn't. Everyone has recognition and understanding on some level of course, but its not always easy to find. Humor is a good way to explain what I am talking about I suppose. You know when you see something funny and you try and may eye contact with people to see who else noticed what you noticed and thought it was funny. These connections are rare, but kind of easy to access in that they don't require language. On multiple occasions through out my life I have been able to have a connection and a good laugh with someone who's language I didn't speak, or someone I didn't even speak with. Ha.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Travels
This past weekend I rafted for the first time and enjoyed it. The hot springs at the hotel my ISA group stayed in weren't exactly "hot", but they were warm and enjoyable in the cool weather. Saturday night Americans and Brazilians gathered in the movie room of the hotel to watch the UFC Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen. Chael Sonnen made himself look like such a jerk that not even the Americans could cheer for him.
This next weekend our group will take a trip to the part of Santa Caterina that was colonized by Germans, Blumenau. I expect to see German architecture and actually here the language. Our group is scheduled to visit a beer brewery, whale watch and site see, see sites....sites the see.
Sins
I spend too much time on facebook. The program I am traveling with told us not to "try and live two lives", meaning..your body is here so bring your mind here. My mind is not always here. Even though I am in Brazil I am not convinced that the language I am surrounded by is Port ...as I am in school the majority of the day with Americans and then I go home and get on Facebook.
Redemption
In order to be happy with my current self and past self... years down the road, I am creating some standards for myself.
1. less facebook.1 hr per day?
2. try harder to converse with natives.
3. avoid English when possible
4. Put focus in Brazil.
Homework
I was given a homework assignment to research a church of choice in Florianópolis. During a three hour break in my classes, I walked the downtown area until I found an open church. I was hesitant to enter because the door seemed to be blocked stopper, but I made I contact with one of the three people who were in the church and mouthed "can I enter?" I was given a yes signal and went in. I was quickly approached by the evangelistic pastor who had been talking to person number three, a crying woman. I told him I was there to do research for a class...and he asked me if I wanted to be blessed. Hmm..to be honest..no I did not want to be blessed by him...but when abroad and when safe..saying yes to everything is my philosophy. The pastor lead me and the teary lady to the from of the entirely white chapel and asked us to close our eyes. I felt his hand on my head and heard the typical "God enter these bodies and relieve their problems" type speech. Every time the pastor accented a word or spoke louder his hand would tap/squeeze my skull a bit harder. Towards the end of the blessing he wiped oil on our foreheads and sat us down in the white beach chairs that were arranged in long rows in the church. Once we sat down he talked a bit more about how money is nothing and God is everything and then tried to sell us a DVD of his travels to Israel for 10 reais. The pastor eventually lead us over to a table that had little clear bags that had colored papers in it. As the pastor placed both hands on the pile of paper and plastic and mixed the pile, he looked at us and told us to choose a bag to find our "seed of faith". Immediately I was reminded of fortune cookies. I choose the plastic bag closest to me. The past took my bag from me and opened it. Again I was reminded of fortune cookies...everyone wants to break the cookie and read the fortune. My cookie of faith was "Your salvation is to wait for the Lord".
The pastor let me interview him a bit after he gave his impromptu presentation and he invited me back to services which was very nice.
Brazil 101
-Brazilain Coca cola is made with real sugar instead of corn syrup.
-One single orange is less than 25 cents.
-One bottle of cheep nail polish remover is about 75 cents.
-Students often receive discounts in movies theaters, concerts and public transportation.
This past weekend I rafted for the first time and enjoyed it. The hot springs at the hotel my ISA group stayed in weren't exactly "hot", but they were warm and enjoyable in the cool weather. Saturday night Americans and Brazilians gathered in the movie room of the hotel to watch the UFC Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen. Chael Sonnen made himself look like such a jerk that not even the Americans could cheer for him.
This next weekend our group will take a trip to the part of Santa Caterina that was colonized by Germans, Blumenau. I expect to see German architecture and actually here the language. Our group is scheduled to visit a beer brewery, whale watch and site see, see sites....sites the see.
Sins
I spend too much time on facebook. The program I am traveling with told us not to "try and live two lives", meaning..your body is here so bring your mind here. My mind is not always here. Even though I am in Brazil I am not convinced that the language I am surrounded by is Port ...as I am in school the majority of the day with Americans and then I go home and get on Facebook.
Redemption
In order to be happy with my current self and past self... years down the road, I am creating some standards for myself.
1. less facebook.1 hr per day?
2. try harder to converse with natives.
3. avoid English when possible
4. Put focus in Brazil.
Homework
I was given a homework assignment to research a church of choice in Florianópolis. During a three hour break in my classes, I walked the downtown area until I found an open church. I was hesitant to enter because the door seemed to be blocked stopper, but I made I contact with one of the three people who were in the church and mouthed "can I enter?" I was given a yes signal and went in. I was quickly approached by the evangelistic pastor who had been talking to person number three, a crying woman. I told him I was there to do research for a class...and he asked me if I wanted to be blessed. Hmm..to be honest..no I did not want to be blessed by him...but when abroad and when safe..saying yes to everything is my philosophy. The pastor lead me and the teary lady to the from of the entirely white chapel and asked us to close our eyes. I felt his hand on my head and heard the typical "God enter these bodies and relieve their problems" type speech. Every time the pastor accented a word or spoke louder his hand would tap/squeeze my skull a bit harder. Towards the end of the blessing he wiped oil on our foreheads and sat us down in the white beach chairs that were arranged in long rows in the church. Once we sat down he talked a bit more about how money is nothing and God is everything and then tried to sell us a DVD of his travels to Israel for 10 reais. The pastor eventually lead us over to a table that had little clear bags that had colored papers in it. As the pastor placed both hands on the pile of paper and plastic and mixed the pile, he looked at us and told us to choose a bag to find our "seed of faith". Immediately I was reminded of fortune cookies. I choose the plastic bag closest to me. The past took my bag from me and opened it. Again I was reminded of fortune cookies...everyone wants to break the cookie and read the fortune. My cookie of faith was "Your salvation is to wait for the Lord".
The pastor let me interview him a bit after he gave his impromptu presentation and he invited me back to services which was very nice.
Brazil 101
-Brazilain Coca cola is made with real sugar instead of corn syrup.
-One single orange is less than 25 cents.
-One bottle of cheep nail polish remover is about 75 cents.
-Students often receive discounts in movies theaters, concerts and public transportation.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Florianópolis
New city, new stay, new friends, new culture. Florianópolis is the city in the Southern state of Santa Caterina, Brazil. The city is primarily made up of a people of primarily European ancestry, especially German and Italian. Because of this the people look slightly different in colors and clothes. The food is also a bit different and the social behaviors. The city of Florianópolis, aka Florípa, is a huge island extends about 433km or 270 miles. It has 42 beaches on both lakes and Ocean. The city is truly beautiful and clean.
The past few days I have been going through program's orientation and school began for my group on Tuesday. While I am here I will take a language class, two culture classes and two weeks of conversation class, everything will of course be in Portuguese:)
My university is located in the center of the city. In the part of the city the buildings are placed tightly together and the streets, which are only for pedestrians, are paved with a mosaic design. Three blocks from the school there is a street market that sells fresh produce and cookies and cakes and breads and what not...It's so nice.
This weekend the program is scheduled to visit a nearby city where we will swim in the natural hot springs and go rafting. I am excited. There is lots to write but I am tired. As I expected the language and the constant stimulation really wears me out...physically and mentally. But! Though I am tired, I am very happy.
More to come!
New city, new stay, new friends, new culture. Florianópolis is the city in the Southern state of Santa Caterina, Brazil. The city is primarily made up of a people of primarily European ancestry, especially German and Italian. Because of this the people look slightly different in colors and clothes. The food is also a bit different and the social behaviors. The city of Florianópolis, aka Florípa, is a huge island extends about 433km or 270 miles. It has 42 beaches on both lakes and Ocean. The city is truly beautiful and clean.
The past few days I have been going through program's orientation and school began for my group on Tuesday. While I am here I will take a language class, two culture classes and two weeks of conversation class, everything will of course be in Portuguese:)
My university is located in the center of the city. In the part of the city the buildings are placed tightly together and the streets, which are only for pedestrians, are paved with a mosaic design. Three blocks from the school there is a street market that sells fresh produce and cookies and cakes and breads and what not...It's so nice.
This weekend the program is scheduled to visit a nearby city where we will swim in the natural hot springs and go rafting. I am excited. There is lots to write but I am tired. As I expected the language and the constant stimulation really wears me out...physically and mentally. But! Though I am tired, I am very happy.
More to come!
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