I love the sounds of this city. I love the way the kids squeal with joy as they play basketball. I love the music of the man that lives across the way from me. I love the way the dogs bark as if the world hears them and they are all waiting for the world to talk back. The cars don't roar the same way and they do in a big city in the states, unless someone just wants to be seen. The sounds are different.
I love the sights of this city. I love the way the Christ figure sits on the hill. It is metaphoric for me because I feel like in times of trouble, you can look and he's always there. In the last three days I've felt like I need him. I need feelings of security and love, all of which religion brings to me. I love the way the homes tuck into the mountains as if to provide protection and I love the way the waves hit the surfaces of the beaches as if they are calling for you to come and join them.
I love (some) of the people in this city. You can see their joy and their sarcasm in nature. But also their kindness frequently shows itself. I have a habit of smiling at people in the streets. I do it in the states frequently. People enjoy being acknowledged. I haven't tried it here, and maybe it'll get me into trouble, but a smile is worth a thousand words.
My host family is wonderful. They live in a flat in Gávea, just 20 minutes by walk to the beach and an hour by walk to Cococabana. They are two women, a mom and her daughter. They are intelligent and fun and we have created a new language all our own, "porte-gles." We communicate the best we can and are making do. Luciana just moved into the apartment one month ago and so it is missing some things. Including but not limited to a washing machine. Ya girl washed her shirt in the sink today (and i'm going to tell you that's my first time. How much of a first world problem is that?).
Luciana, my Brazilian mom, has made sure I am cautious when moving around this city because foreigners are targets. She is right, and I know I am. I don't carry anything on me but maybe 30 reais (7 USD) and a copy of my visa with Luciana's address incase anything happens. (I'm not saying anything will, but better to be safe than sorry). So I have bad news for you, if you get a picture on a blog from this trip it will be lucky because I can't carry anything with a camera. I expect that once more people arrive it will be safer for me to carry more things but for now nothing comes with me out of the house.
Brazilians are relational people, or at least that's what they teach you in university anyways. Luciana's daughter Clara has already referred to me as her sister and Luciana gets excited when I make friends. Needless to say I think I'm doing okay here. :)
Ironically, my lulu lemon plain shirts have actually been more handy than anticipated because they don't know lulu so they don't know it is expensive they just think it is a plain shirt. I can't wear any of my gamecock shirts because I look like a target. point of the story is I need new shirts.....
The way of life here is much different than in Europe because of safety concerns. The first day I couldn't go out unaccompanied and the last two days I have gone to the beach and come home by myself. Today I met a new friend who is from Switzerland. He and I went to the university, the mall, and then to dinner. It was nice to speak in english and I did so very quickly because I was very excited.
Tomorrow is my first day of class. We have 5 hours of intensive language immersion. However, I assume a lot of it will be fundamentals and review. I know more than I thought I would so it will be interesting to see how helpful it is.
I started this post and then proceeded deleted it because I have a lot to say about poverty from being here for three days, but I would like them to allow me to stay in the country for a month so I will refrain until I can phrase it better.
I hope all is well. I'm having a more difficult time adjusting than anticipated and all prayers are appreciated.
lots of love xx
I love the sights of this city. I love the way the Christ figure sits on the hill. It is metaphoric for me because I feel like in times of trouble, you can look and he's always there. In the last three days I've felt like I need him. I need feelings of security and love, all of which religion brings to me. I love the way the homes tuck into the mountains as if to provide protection and I love the way the waves hit the surfaces of the beaches as if they are calling for you to come and join them.
I love (some) of the people in this city. You can see their joy and their sarcasm in nature. But also their kindness frequently shows itself. I have a habit of smiling at people in the streets. I do it in the states frequently. People enjoy being acknowledged. I haven't tried it here, and maybe it'll get me into trouble, but a smile is worth a thousand words.
My host family is wonderful. They live in a flat in Gávea, just 20 minutes by walk to the beach and an hour by walk to Cococabana. They are two women, a mom and her daughter. They are intelligent and fun and we have created a new language all our own, "porte-gles." We communicate the best we can and are making do. Luciana just moved into the apartment one month ago and so it is missing some things. Including but not limited to a washing machine. Ya girl washed her shirt in the sink today (and i'm going to tell you that's my first time. How much of a first world problem is that?).
Luciana, my Brazilian mom, has made sure I am cautious when moving around this city because foreigners are targets. She is right, and I know I am. I don't carry anything on me but maybe 30 reais (7 USD) and a copy of my visa with Luciana's address incase anything happens. (I'm not saying anything will, but better to be safe than sorry). So I have bad news for you, if you get a picture on a blog from this trip it will be lucky because I can't carry anything with a camera. I expect that once more people arrive it will be safer for me to carry more things but for now nothing comes with me out of the house.
Brazilians are relational people, or at least that's what they teach you in university anyways. Luciana's daughter Clara has already referred to me as her sister and Luciana gets excited when I make friends. Needless to say I think I'm doing okay here. :)
Ironically, my lulu lemon plain shirts have actually been more handy than anticipated because they don't know lulu so they don't know it is expensive they just think it is a plain shirt. I can't wear any of my gamecock shirts because I look like a target. point of the story is I need new shirts.....
The way of life here is much different than in Europe because of safety concerns. The first day I couldn't go out unaccompanied and the last two days I have gone to the beach and come home by myself. Today I met a new friend who is from Switzerland. He and I went to the university, the mall, and then to dinner. It was nice to speak in english and I did so very quickly because I was very excited.
Tomorrow is my first day of class. We have 5 hours of intensive language immersion. However, I assume a lot of it will be fundamentals and review. I know more than I thought I would so it will be interesting to see how helpful it is.
I started this post and then proceeded deleted it because I have a lot to say about poverty from being here for three days, but I would like them to allow me to stay in the country for a month so I will refrain until I can phrase it better.
I hope all is well. I'm having a more difficult time adjusting than anticipated and all prayers are appreciated.
lots of love xx
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