Today was yet another amazing day in Brazil! I woke pretty tired because I am not used to sleeping here yet and I was up until 2 in the morning for Franca's birthday party, which was so much fun by the way, but I was ready to get out into Sao Bernardo and Sao Paulo! I had some breakfast and coffee and then we took the city bus to the University. Camilla, Franca's cousin's daughter (who lives next door and hosts Kaela and Trisha) took us on the bus so that she could show us how to ride the bus. It was very exciting and only about a ten minute ride from the university. I was so excited to get to the university because not only was this my first time being in the city by foot, but my good friend Indira was there with everyone!
After visiting and taking pictures for a while we loaded the tour bus and set off for Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo is the second largest city in the world with 18 million people living in the city and 23 million people living in the Sao Paulo metro area. We first went to the Central Supermarket, which is famous in Sao Paulo for all their exotic fruits, meats and things to buy. It was beautiful and I bought some beautiful hand made earrings and bracelets made from gold grass as well as lechi fruit. Lechi fruit is totally weird and looks like something out of a scifi movie, but tastes muito bom!
After having lunch we loaded back onto the tour bus and were taken to several areas in Sao Paulo that represent historical spots. One place was a museum that has the oldest wall in Sao Paulo ever built, another was the beautiful cathedral de sei, the famous avenida polista and many more. Sao Paulo is so huge it was impossible to see everything of importance, but it was muito bonita! There were a lot of homeless though and it was very sad to see! The men and women just set up beds and tents right on the side of the sidewalk and sleep. It was very sad to see!
After we got back to Sao Bernardo from Sao Paulo Camilla met us again and took us to the supermarket before we took the bus back home. I have been very pleased that in Brazil everything in a package is labeled "contém glúten": contains gluten or "não contém glúten": doesn't contain gluten. It has made it so easy to buy things or not, but I was still very disappointed to find that there are very few foods to buy that don't contain gluten. The Estados Unidos has many more options for celiac people than Brazil does.
When I got home I was super surprised to find company in the kitchen and even more surprised that we had a great time talking and becoming friends...even with the language barrier. Shirley, Rodrigo, Amanda, Gabriel and Gabriela all taught me the Portuguese alphabet, how to count, basic colors and several phrases. My new friends and family have been so wonderful and patient with me! Estou muito feliz and I can't wait to start classes tomorrow at the Universidad Metodista.
Thank you again to everyone who has kept me in your prayers and I hope you enjoy the pics from today's adventures!
Adeus!
Adventures in Brazil pictures
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