Everyday I take in a little more of this beautiful country around me and I hope to leave more of myself at the same time.
I jumped in here with two feet at once, and now I have to take one step at a time to get back out. The first step is actually admitting to myself that I have a confirmed flight to leave the country at 8 in the morning of June 10th. My host family is reminding me everyday in saddened tones of the fact that I have to leave very soon. For them, the date comes sooner than me actually leaving the country.
I have confirmed flights to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo where I will be spending a week, but I have truly fallen in love with the beauty and the culture that is of the Northeast of Brazil. I really feel like I have related and built an identity to the customs and the way of life in Brazil. I really became close to my host family and have been, I think, the luckiest of all in the abroad experiences that I've heard of. I have a fantastic group of students doing the program with me, and an Assistant Director, Oélito who is beyond words. All of my experiences have been nothing but positive, exciting adventures one after another. From having a bus getting stuck in the mud in the middle of the interior on the way to an MST settlement in the pitch black of night having to walk 2km to get there in the mud, to having taken a trip to Morro Branco with 13 out of 19 students and completely taking over the pousada with our numbers.
Even the daily bus trip home is an adventure, never knowing whether you're going to be sandwiched between 10 people with no breathing and having to shove your way to the front screaming, "Com Liçença!!" or your going to have the bus all to yourself and have the bus drivers on the street race against one another while speeding down the highway.
No one knows when the tapioca man is going on the street corner, but everyone always knows when it's going to rain and when it's going to pour.
Regardless of the rain, everyday is a perfect day for the beach or just hanging out in front of the house with friends and family.
Whenever I'm bored, I can just go home and hang out with my family. There is never a dull moment.
Going to work is not a chore, but rather enjoyable. I'm always recieved by hugs and kisses and always get to eat lunch for free and play with the animals.
I've already been invited to stay at my academic directors house and I was also invited to go on the annual retreat that the organization has in the mountains.
Really, it just feels like partaking in a good time. No one here is ever really in a rush, and business or meetings never start on time.
Life here is very fluid, and it spills into so many other aspects of work, school, friends, family and pulses through the veins of Brazil, creating a culture so rich, so vibrant that it shows through it's many popular facets of dance, dress, mannerisms and natural beauty.
Forest and jungle in my backyard, the beach in my front yard, Brazil has captured my heart.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Free Day!!
I've done so much stuff during my short stay in Salvador that I don't even know where to start, but here is a preview of what is to come in photos of what I've done here in Salvador da Bahia:
1. Architecture and social culture of Bahia and drumming lessons from Baguncaco
2. Small town of Cachoeira by the river and doing Samba da Roda with Candomble women.
3. Free day down by the beach with crystal clear waters
4. Visit to a candomble center followed by a beautiful view of the sunset at night.
5. Visit to Steve Biko Center for education and then a percussion workshop with the internationlly renowned Carnaval group Olodum and then walking around the historic center of Pelourinho
6. Free day to walk around the city going from cidade alta (ritzy) to cidade baixa (normal) and meeting a cool 21 year old, a man from spain who will let me know where to stay when I go visit, and then a Bahian that lives in Switzerland with his friend that lived in Europe for years, now he lives close by in Barra, is Brazilian and will show us around the city.
Tomorrow we have Afro dance class and visiting another ONG in the evening. We also might go to samba in Rio Vermelho which is really close by. Then after that the rest of the days are pretty much ours until tuesday when we fly out and on Wednesday we start our three week long Independant Study Project period.
It's going to be intense!
I'm not ready to go back yet or even think about it!
1. Architecture and social culture of Bahia and drumming lessons from Baguncaco
2. Small town of Cachoeira by the river and doing Samba da Roda with Candomble women.
3. Free day down by the beach with crystal clear waters
4. Visit to a candomble center followed by a beautiful view of the sunset at night.
5. Visit to Steve Biko Center for education and then a percussion workshop with the internationlly renowned Carnaval group Olodum and then walking around the historic center of Pelourinho
6. Free day to walk around the city going from cidade alta (ritzy) to cidade baixa (normal) and meeting a cool 21 year old, a man from spain who will let me know where to stay when I go visit, and then a Bahian that lives in Switzerland with his friend that lived in Europe for years, now he lives close by in Barra, is Brazilian and will show us around the city.
Tomorrow we have Afro dance class and visiting another ONG in the evening. We also might go to samba in Rio Vermelho which is really close by. Then after that the rest of the days are pretty much ours until tuesday when we fly out and on Wednesday we start our three week long Independant Study Project period.
It's going to be intense!
I'm not ready to go back yet or even think about it!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
After going through such a long and hectic academic process and complaining and moping about it, I finally realized that I really am far ahead of many people in my group, which makes me feel better, but not any better that I'm going back to Fortaleza to to my ISP.
RECIFE is AMAZING!!! I can't get over how beautiful and historic it is. Recife has done an amazing job balancing the modern and the antiquated buildings of their city. Recife is actually divided up by a bunch of lakes and the main downtown is actually built on an island. It truly is stunning.
During our trip here we've visited so many NGO's. We went to Fé e Politica where we learned about faith and politics, and the next day we went on a three hour bus ride with them to the interior to see an city with indigenous roots. Race and identity is so different here in Brazil and it's interesting to see the cultural perspectives on it and to see that racism exists all over the world. We went to the small town of Aldeia do Povo Xukuro em Pesqueira built within the hills. Xukuru is the name of the indigenous tribe that used to inhabit the area. There has been a struggle for 500 years since the portuguese colonized the lands of the natives to reacquire all the lands that have been taken from there. Cacique led this revolution for the past 20 years and was assasinated in 1998. He left his children and his wife and one son that took up the lead of the struggle to win back these lands. While in Pesqueira we went to the burial site of cacique and it truly was a magical, mysterious and truly inspirational experience. We went with his widow as she led us to a pocket under the canopy where she got on her knees and wailed her lament in relgious hymn. It really sent shivers down my spine and I feel that everyone was moved by this moment. Shortly after we returned to her house where she gave us all a necklace as a lembrança and blessed us with the positive force of nature.
On the way back, everyone was amazingly rowdy and we had karaoke on the bus. We really have such a great group. Our repetoire ranged from Disney, gospel, german, Kenyan and to even portuguese versions of bob marley songs. After the karaoke ended, we popped in the Notebook and had relaxed the rest of the ride home, being awake for 17 hours is exhausting!
The next day we went to Darue Malunga where they teach traditional afro-brazilian dance classes to children of all ages and also provide an education for them. Working with keeping children off the streets through art and dance. They put on a show for us and it was breath taking!
I have found my passion.
I'm going to take a dance class at Oxy.
After lunch, we went to another organization called CERVAC. It was basically a treatment and rehabilitation center for the mentally and physically handicapped. They did some incredible work with swim therapy to help children with muscle problems and they even had a group of special students that even recorded a cd! They were so sweet, and it was pretty intense for me because it really reminded me of Chris and how I wish he had an opportunity to learn music or have an organziation like this. But we're so lucky because he's taken amazing strides advancing.
Today as our last full day in Recife we went back this morning to Darue Malungo to take a free afro-brazilian dance class. That was an intense workout, but absolutely amazing. We were taught by Ana Paula who has been dancing for 25 years and has travled to asia, france and south africa to learn and perform. She is amazing and so are all the people at the organization. (The other day when we were there they gave us tapioca. And if you don't know what it is, I will make you some when I get home.)
I feel so good after this morning and especially since I'm eating waaaay more vegetables than I would in fortaleza, but that's a different story.
I'm really glad to be going back home to my homestay family and I can't wait to cook them some Latino food. HOpefully I remember how to do it, otherwise it could become a little messy.
Tomorrow We're leaving at 11:30am to catch our flight to Salvador, Bahia where 70% is from African descent and they actually like spicy foods!! We spend two weekends in Salvador and I definitely plan to hit up the beaches there.
Did I mention that Recife has tons of Shark warning signs because they have such a high rate of shark attacks in their waters?
Yeah, I think I'll avoid Jaws.
Oh, and Dengue is realy a serious epidemic in Rio de Janeiro. If you can, please donate blood for the epideimic that is going on in all of Brazil. First yellow fever and now dengue. I have the yellow fever shot, but there is not shot for dengue. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best while living every experience here to the fullest.
I love and miss you all!!
Drop me a line and let me know how you're doing!
P.S. I didn't bring my computer to our excursion, nor do I have private internet access, so pictures will be uploaded once I return to Fortaleza, trust me I have tons!
RECIFE is AMAZING!!! I can't get over how beautiful and historic it is. Recife has done an amazing job balancing the modern and the antiquated buildings of their city. Recife is actually divided up by a bunch of lakes and the main downtown is actually built on an island. It truly is stunning.
During our trip here we've visited so many NGO's. We went to Fé e Politica where we learned about faith and politics, and the next day we went on a three hour bus ride with them to the interior to see an city with indigenous roots. Race and identity is so different here in Brazil and it's interesting to see the cultural perspectives on it and to see that racism exists all over the world. We went to the small town of Aldeia do Povo Xukuro em Pesqueira built within the hills. Xukuru is the name of the indigenous tribe that used to inhabit the area. There has been a struggle for 500 years since the portuguese colonized the lands of the natives to reacquire all the lands that have been taken from there. Cacique led this revolution for the past 20 years and was assasinated in 1998. He left his children and his wife and one son that took up the lead of the struggle to win back these lands. While in Pesqueira we went to the burial site of cacique and it truly was a magical, mysterious and truly inspirational experience. We went with his widow as she led us to a pocket under the canopy where she got on her knees and wailed her lament in relgious hymn. It really sent shivers down my spine and I feel that everyone was moved by this moment. Shortly after we returned to her house where she gave us all a necklace as a lembrança and blessed us with the positive force of nature.
On the way back, everyone was amazingly rowdy and we had karaoke on the bus. We really have such a great group. Our repetoire ranged from Disney, gospel, german, Kenyan and to even portuguese versions of bob marley songs. After the karaoke ended, we popped in the Notebook and had relaxed the rest of the ride home, being awake for 17 hours is exhausting!
The next day we went to Darue Malunga where they teach traditional afro-brazilian dance classes to children of all ages and also provide an education for them. Working with keeping children off the streets through art and dance. They put on a show for us and it was breath taking!
I have found my passion.
I'm going to take a dance class at Oxy.
After lunch, we went to another organization called CERVAC. It was basically a treatment and rehabilitation center for the mentally and physically handicapped. They did some incredible work with swim therapy to help children with muscle problems and they even had a group of special students that even recorded a cd! They were so sweet, and it was pretty intense for me because it really reminded me of Chris and how I wish he had an opportunity to learn music or have an organziation like this. But we're so lucky because he's taken amazing strides advancing.
Today as our last full day in Recife we went back this morning to Darue Malungo to take a free afro-brazilian dance class. That was an intense workout, but absolutely amazing. We were taught by Ana Paula who has been dancing for 25 years and has travled to asia, france and south africa to learn and perform. She is amazing and so are all the people at the organization. (The other day when we were there they gave us tapioca. And if you don't know what it is, I will make you some when I get home.)
I feel so good after this morning and especially since I'm eating waaaay more vegetables than I would in fortaleza, but that's a different story.
I'm really glad to be going back home to my homestay family and I can't wait to cook them some Latino food. HOpefully I remember how to do it, otherwise it could become a little messy.
Tomorrow We're leaving at 11:30am to catch our flight to Salvador, Bahia where 70% is from African descent and they actually like spicy foods!! We spend two weekends in Salvador and I definitely plan to hit up the beaches there.
Did I mention that Recife has tons of Shark warning signs because they have such a high rate of shark attacks in their waters?
Yeah, I think I'll avoid Jaws.
Oh, and Dengue is realy a serious epidemic in Rio de Janeiro. If you can, please donate blood for the epideimic that is going on in all of Brazil. First yellow fever and now dengue. I have the yellow fever shot, but there is not shot for dengue. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best while living every experience here to the fullest.
I love and miss you all!!
Drop me a line and let me know how you're doing!
P.S. I didn't bring my computer to our excursion, nor do I have private internet access, so pictures will be uploaded once I return to Fortaleza, trust me I have tons!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Recife!!!
So much time has passed and I really haven't had time to update this blog with as much information as I wish I could. A really super long entry couldn't even begin to describe how much has gone on these past two weeks, but I'll really try to sum up as best as I can.
Last week was absolute mayhem as it was the week that our ISP proposals were due (stating what we wanted to do for our projects for three weeks) and also our book review which was to be a seven page masterpiece. (I hope!!) I was really making progress on my work affiliated with my project, and I could have been done on Thursday to take Friday off, however, for the past two weeks before that, I had heard no news from the organization I wanted to work with, and finally 3 days befoer Thursday, I found out that for a while they weren't accepting any more students for a while because they had bad experiences in the past. So things were really up in the air but they told me to keep working on the original idea. Thursday rolls in and I'm 98% done with my work and then they tell me that the organization decided not to take me in because of lack of resources. I was really crushed, stressed and really overwhelmed because all of the work that I was doing had been really for nothing. It was really the worst part of my experience in Brazil because I had to come up with a new project in one day. Luckily I had a back up plan and it was sort of related to my original idea, but it also wasn't in Salvador, where I really had my heart set on going. However, this way I get to stay with Homestay family for more time.
This week our group flied out to beautiful Recife. It is a huge change from Fortaleza and once I get back to my computer, I'll make sure to upload some pictures from here and Salvador because it is absolutely gorgeous. However, I do miss Fortaleza because I was starting to get to know it like the back of my hand. But soon I will be back working with this amazing NGO that I've already visited in the past MSMCBJ Movimento Saude Mental da Comunidade Bom Jardim. It's an amazing organization that has its doors open for literally everyone. I'm really happy that they're my backup organization and I know that it's going to be an amazing experience.
Time running out in internet cafe, need to go, more later with pictures, tchau!!
Last week was absolute mayhem as it was the week that our ISP proposals were due (stating what we wanted to do for our projects for three weeks) and also our book review which was to be a seven page masterpiece. (I hope!!) I was really making progress on my work affiliated with my project, and I could have been done on Thursday to take Friday off, however, for the past two weeks before that, I had heard no news from the organization I wanted to work with, and finally 3 days befoer Thursday, I found out that for a while they weren't accepting any more students for a while because they had bad experiences in the past. So things were really up in the air but they told me to keep working on the original idea. Thursday rolls in and I'm 98% done with my work and then they tell me that the organization decided not to take me in because of lack of resources. I was really crushed, stressed and really overwhelmed because all of the work that I was doing had been really for nothing. It was really the worst part of my experience in Brazil because I had to come up with a new project in one day. Luckily I had a back up plan and it was sort of related to my original idea, but it also wasn't in Salvador, where I really had my heart set on going. However, this way I get to stay with Homestay family for more time.
This week our group flied out to beautiful Recife. It is a huge change from Fortaleza and once I get back to my computer, I'll make sure to upload some pictures from here and Salvador because it is absolutely gorgeous. However, I do miss Fortaleza because I was starting to get to know it like the back of my hand. But soon I will be back working with this amazing NGO that I've already visited in the past MSMCBJ Movimento Saude Mental da Comunidade Bom Jardim. It's an amazing organization that has its doors open for literally everyone. I'm really happy that they're my backup organization and I know that it's going to be an amazing experience.
Time running out in internet cafe, need to go, more later with pictures, tchau!!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Long overdue
There is just too many things going on all at once all the time that I really don't find the time to write it all down, especially since my laptop stays at school and I really don't find the patience to sit down and write it all down. My mind works much faster than I can write...all the time.
So I guess last time I updated, I said that I was going to visit an MST settlement. It was an incredible experience, and although many people in Brazil don't believe in the movement, I still think it's crucial to move forward.
There are a lot of land issues here in Brazil, and MST (Movimento Sem Terras) is fighting to deconcentrate the huge land hold that only a handful of rich families own, and all of this land is unproductive. In better hands, this land could be farmed and feed thousands of families all over Brazil. It's ridiculous what these families have to go through, living in shacks made up of no more than black trashbags on the side of road for years just to get a piece of land to farm that would otherwise be lay to fallow.
Before we went to the city of Candide, which is sort of like a religious mecca for the surrounding area. They have this church where they pray for miracles, and if their wish or desire or dream comes true, they send in a photo which gets added to a huge wall composite of photos and a wooden carving of the body part that was healed is donated. It really is incredible and emotional to see the before and after photos of all of these people.
After Caninde, we rode on our bus to the MST settlement where the bus got stuck in the mud. We were in the middle of nowhere, 2 miles from the settlement in pitch black dark, where the final decision was to walk to the two miles in the mud, in the pitch black dark, and where we got our famous SIT quote from Jackie, "I did't sign up for the Amazon trip!" Luckily I and a few others had our flashlights. It was a very intense weekend, surrounded by intensely gorgeous landscapse and also a very important social movement that does not only affect Brazil, but many other Latin American Countries as well.
We got home and my legs looked diseased! I got bitten so much that it was unbelievable, and no one else got bitten my mosquitoes!! Like my mom says, I must have sweet blood. Ugh, why!!
Moving along, we came back for a few days of class and then we would be off for a few days for spring break. Technically semana santa, but it was our version of spring break. We were all working really hard to turn in our proposals for our research projects as its nearing crunch time. Oh no!! but we got through it and we were off to Morro Branco!
Morro Branco is a gorgeous almost pristine beach where we went away for 3 days and 2 nights. There were 13 of us that went out of 19 students total, it was an amazing experience to bond and share stories with each other. Basically everyone is crazy. The beaches here are marvelous as well because we had barracas on the beach and we could order food and just sit and then go for a dip in the ocean. (which by the way has warm water...it's really strange and odd and I really miss the icy cold waters of the pacific ocean) We stayed in MOrro Branco from Thursday to Saturday. ON Friday, we walked 4km to the next beach over Praia das Fontes where we were supposed to see some majestic waterfalls. When we finally made it to Praia das Fontes, we were told by a tour guide that the water falls were 2 hours away walking distance, so we gave in and rented a buggy to take us...except for the fact that the buggy ride was only five minutes, the water falls looked like mini faucets and we were not going to pay because we were lied to. So we used our awesome portuguese skills and negotiated with the drivers. We got away scott free! but we did have to walk all the way back.
All weekend we bought friuts, borrowed the blender from the restaurant and made our own tropical mixed drinks, and at night, when it was raining, we went to the beach for a late night dip. It was really paradise. and all for only about $70. The bus fare for a two hour ride was only $5!! I can deal with this. Oh, and did I mention that I'm getting used to drinking everything with a straw here?
I came back home 10 shades darker and with burnt shoulders. OUCH! but it was so worth it, and now my family says that I look like a true Brazilian! Haha, blending in = GREAT!
Today is easter and my family is preparing what looks like a feast. I have to go buy chocolate from my Grandma and eat lots of good food, ugh, what a life!
Aside from all the good things, there have been the bad. My friend Amanda's phone got stolen right out of her hand as she was waiting for the bus, there have been two murders in our neighborhood since we got here (drug and gang related) and a friend of ours almost got mugged by two 12 year olds with a gun. I try everything I can to remain safe, and that even means never going out by myself or without a brazilian, never carrying anything, and taking everyones suggestions to heart. One that has really worked for me has come from Jennifer: No matter where I'm walking, even if I'm lost, look like I'm walking somewhere with a purpose, even if it is to the next light post. I feel it has helped, and only talking in portuguese when I go out.
I really should go. I have a portuguese midterm tomorrow oral and written, and then Tuesday we start our community projects where we go there all week and bascially do a mock ISP project. This week looks like it'll be intense, but I feel will really help my portuguese skills.
I miss everyone so much, including vegetables and eating boiled yuca instead of fried. I also miss tortillas and mexican and nicaraguense food in general. I'm not going to say that I haven't been impressed by the food, but it is good though. The fruit drinks even more so.
tchau & beijos for everyone!!
So I guess last time I updated, I said that I was going to visit an MST settlement. It was an incredible experience, and although many people in Brazil don't believe in the movement, I still think it's crucial to move forward.
There are a lot of land issues here in Brazil, and MST (Movimento Sem Terras) is fighting to deconcentrate the huge land hold that only a handful of rich families own, and all of this land is unproductive. In better hands, this land could be farmed and feed thousands of families all over Brazil. It's ridiculous what these families have to go through, living in shacks made up of no more than black trashbags on the side of road for years just to get a piece of land to farm that would otherwise be lay to fallow.
Before we went to the city of Candide, which is sort of like a religious mecca for the surrounding area. They have this church where they pray for miracles, and if their wish or desire or dream comes true, they send in a photo which gets added to a huge wall composite of photos and a wooden carving of the body part that was healed is donated. It really is incredible and emotional to see the before and after photos of all of these people.
After Caninde, we rode on our bus to the MST settlement where the bus got stuck in the mud. We were in the middle of nowhere, 2 miles from the settlement in pitch black dark, where the final decision was to walk to the two miles in the mud, in the pitch black dark, and where we got our famous SIT quote from Jackie, "I did't sign up for the Amazon trip!" Luckily I and a few others had our flashlights. It was a very intense weekend, surrounded by intensely gorgeous landscapse and also a very important social movement that does not only affect Brazil, but many other Latin American Countries as well.
We got home and my legs looked diseased! I got bitten so much that it was unbelievable, and no one else got bitten my mosquitoes!! Like my mom says, I must have sweet blood. Ugh, why!!
Moving along, we came back for a few days of class and then we would be off for a few days for spring break. Technically semana santa, but it was our version of spring break. We were all working really hard to turn in our proposals for our research projects as its nearing crunch time. Oh no!! but we got through it and we were off to Morro Branco!
Morro Branco is a gorgeous almost pristine beach where we went away for 3 days and 2 nights. There were 13 of us that went out of 19 students total, it was an amazing experience to bond and share stories with each other. Basically everyone is crazy. The beaches here are marvelous as well because we had barracas on the beach and we could order food and just sit and then go for a dip in the ocean. (which by the way has warm water...it's really strange and odd and I really miss the icy cold waters of the pacific ocean) We stayed in MOrro Branco from Thursday to Saturday. ON Friday, we walked 4km to the next beach over Praia das Fontes where we were supposed to see some majestic waterfalls. When we finally made it to Praia das Fontes, we were told by a tour guide that the water falls were 2 hours away walking distance, so we gave in and rented a buggy to take us...except for the fact that the buggy ride was only five minutes, the water falls looked like mini faucets and we were not going to pay because we were lied to. So we used our awesome portuguese skills and negotiated with the drivers. We got away scott free! but we did have to walk all the way back.
All weekend we bought friuts, borrowed the blender from the restaurant and made our own tropical mixed drinks, and at night, when it was raining, we went to the beach for a late night dip. It was really paradise. and all for only about $70. The bus fare for a two hour ride was only $5!! I can deal with this. Oh, and did I mention that I'm getting used to drinking everything with a straw here?
I came back home 10 shades darker and with burnt shoulders. OUCH! but it was so worth it, and now my family says that I look like a true Brazilian! Haha, blending in = GREAT!
Today is easter and my family is preparing what looks like a feast. I have to go buy chocolate from my Grandma and eat lots of good food, ugh, what a life!
Aside from all the good things, there have been the bad. My friend Amanda's phone got stolen right out of her hand as she was waiting for the bus, there have been two murders in our neighborhood since we got here (drug and gang related) and a friend of ours almost got mugged by two 12 year olds with a gun. I try everything I can to remain safe, and that even means never going out by myself or without a brazilian, never carrying anything, and taking everyones suggestions to heart. One that has really worked for me has come from Jennifer: No matter where I'm walking, even if I'm lost, look like I'm walking somewhere with a purpose, even if it is to the next light post. I feel it has helped, and only talking in portuguese when I go out.
I really should go. I have a portuguese midterm tomorrow oral and written, and then Tuesday we start our community projects where we go there all week and bascially do a mock ISP project. This week looks like it'll be intense, but I feel will really help my portuguese skills.
I miss everyone so much, including vegetables and eating boiled yuca instead of fried. I also miss tortillas and mexican and nicaraguense food in general. I'm not going to say that I haven't been impressed by the food, but it is good though. The fruit drinks even more so.
tchau & beijos for everyone!!
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