I have been in Campo Grande for two weeks and I have bitter sweet feelings knowing that i am leaving tomorrow morning! I have had amazing experiences getting to know my host sister Sarah, our many friends from the Universities and traveling to all the places the program has brought us! My friends and I had so much fun going to the Pantanal and Bonita where we fished, snorkeled, experienced many frightening bugs, ate amazing food and met amazing people who are involved in remarkable social movements. Even though we participated in tourist activities that I will never forget my favorite part of the trip was not the events, but rather the experiences we shared with the people of these social movements in Brazil!
It brought me so much joy to share lunch with the teachers at the Kilombo and learn about their long history and their current way of life within the Kilombo as well as meet the people of the Indigenous Guarani Tribe and learn their struggles for land in Brazil. Ambrosio, the leader of one the Guarani Tribes touched me the most and brought up so many questions that can't be answered or solved over night. I was heart broken to hear the current struggle they are enduring in obtaining the land that is obligated to them according to the Brazilian Constitution and the constant violence and prejudice they have from the farmers who don't want to give up the land. Even though Ambrosio and the people of his community have no idea when they will get the land or what struggle they face in the community when the land is turned over to them they are positive and vibrant! They are not giving up and they continue to create community through cultural traditions and creating awareness to Brazilians about their situation. I am worried for their community and what the future holds, but I am also excited to see them expand and grow and I can't wait to hear the news when they are given their land rights!
Some people may not understand the importance for them to achieve their land rights and before I went to their community and met them I didn't understand either. But after meeting Ambrosio and the community members it became clear to me that they want their land so that they have the ability to just exist! Their tribe and indigenous people all over Brazil are facing such violent opposition and prejudice that they just want the ability to exist in piece and develop their culture! And this want is something that is guaranteed to them through their constitution and through the Declaration of Human Rights, but it is not being given to them. I hope that through the awareness they are creating and the judicial system that they are able to achieve these simple rights and that the people of Brazil will continue to push for change within their developing democracy!
I also greatly enjoyed presenting at the Human Rights Conference yesterday! It was such an honor to be a part of the conference and get to share about education being used as a tool to advance human rights and social movements within Brazil. It was a great ending to such a great program and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to meet such wonderful people and be a part of such an amazing program through the University of Washington! I hope you have all enjoyed reading my adventures as well and even though the program through school is ending I look forward to sharing more experiences with you as I stay in Brazil for a few more weeks!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Amazing News!
It is Thursday night and we are leaving for Campo Grande in duas dias. I am so sad to leave my family in Santo Andre and the friends we have made at Metodista! However, I am happy to announce that there are some internship opportunites down here that are open and I have decided to stay for several months to work with Metodista as an aid to the International Programs Director and do an internship through one of the not for profit orgniations that Metodista is connected too! I am thrilled beyond belief that this opportunity has opened up for me and I can't wait to further develop the relationships I have made here and advance my Portuguese. My host parents Franca and Adamir have opened their home to me graciously and I am so excited that I will be staying with them!
On top of that wonderful news the last few days have been absolutely wonderful! I went to the Projeto Meninos e Meninas de Rua which is a really cool not for profit organization that works with street children and their families to push for human rights. The organization helps the families by providing awareness that they do have rights within the constitution and helps provide ways that these families can fight for their political rights and not just accept the situations they are in. Although it was really challenging because I am not fluent in Portuguese the experience was unforgettable. The association workers were so open and willing to work with us on our human rights project and they even took us to two families homes to meet them and their children. One child's name was Cloud and he, his sister and his mom were so generous to let us into their home to interview them and ask questions as to how the program has helped their families. It was an amazing experience and so encouraging to see that the program is more than willing to have me back to help in anyway that I can offer!
I also finished my Portuguese classes today and I am proud to announce that I recieved a B on my final exam! My proffesors have been such a treat to work with and I look forward to our graduation ceremony tomorrow afternoon. I look forward to sharing more with you as we experience graduation Brazilian style and take our travels to Campo Grande for two weeks. Thank you again to all my family and friends who have supported me all through these amazing experiences and I hope you can enjoy some of the pictures from the children's street project.
Tchau Tchau!
On top of that wonderful news the last few days have been absolutely wonderful! I went to the Projeto Meninos e Meninas de Rua which is a really cool not for profit organization that works with street children and their families to push for human rights. The organization helps the families by providing awareness that they do have rights within the constitution and helps provide ways that these families can fight for their political rights and not just accept the situations they are in. Although it was really challenging because I am not fluent in Portuguese the experience was unforgettable. The association workers were so open and willing to work with us on our human rights project and they even took us to two families homes to meet them and their children. One child's name was Cloud and he, his sister and his mom were so generous to let us into their home to interview them and ask questions as to how the program has helped their families. It was an amazing experience and so encouraging to see that the program is more than willing to have me back to help in anyway that I can offer!
Tchau Tchau!
Monday, August 13, 2012
The story continues!
WOW! A week has flown by and I have not written because I have been so busy with Portuguese classes, lectures, family and of course friends! The first week I was here everything was so new and sometimes confusing, but now after two weeks we are all in a nice routine and comfortable with our surroundings as well as connecting the dots between the culture and our classes! Brazil's culture is so rich and complex all at the same time and everyday I experience something new that leaves me speechless!
I have made amazing new friends and had the opportunity to travel to Rio! Rio was an amazing city that offered an unforgettable experience and I truly enjoyed every tourist activity from the 8 hour bus tour featuring the sugar loaf and Cristo to the sandy beach of Ipanema! Going to school in a foreign country has been an amazing experience as well! We have really gotten into a routine with our Portuguese classes and the lectures have really pushed me in thinking critically from the Latin American view. My first lecture with professor Margaret was really enlightening in discussing the democratic issues that face Brazil, but even more they made me realize that whether you are living in a developed country or developing country every democracy needs social movements to push for the rights of the people!
Because Brazil's government just came out of a military regime in the mid to late 80s there is still a very rich and complex social environment as well as political environment. Brazil is still currently considered a developing country with wide gaps between the rich and poor, social inequality, deep roots in racism, major faults in the education system, intense crime and police brutality and political injustices. But while all these things are happening in Brazil's emerging democracy you begin to realize that democracies all over the world have many of the same injustices. If you look at America for instance you find many of the same issues and you realize that just because people have free elections in a country, does not mean democracy is finished. It takes the people constantly moving forward together with activism and education to continue to create social and political change.
Brazil has offered so much to my learning and I am truly enjoying every minute I spend here. I only hope that I can continue to learn about this amazing and diverse place!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4481932612560.2187936.1417420286&type=1#!/media/set/?set=a.4481932612560.2187936.1417420286&type=1
I have made amazing new friends and had the opportunity to travel to Rio! Rio was an amazing city that offered an unforgettable experience and I truly enjoyed every tourist activity from the 8 hour bus tour featuring the sugar loaf and Cristo to the sandy beach of Ipanema! Going to school in a foreign country has been an amazing experience as well! We have really gotten into a routine with our Portuguese classes and the lectures have really pushed me in thinking critically from the Latin American view. My first lecture with professor Margaret was really enlightening in discussing the democratic issues that face Brazil, but even more they made me realize that whether you are living in a developed country or developing country every democracy needs social movements to push for the rights of the people!
Because Brazil's government just came out of a military regime in the mid to late 80s there is still a very rich and complex social environment as well as political environment. Brazil is still currently considered a developing country with wide gaps between the rich and poor, social inequality, deep roots in racism, major faults in the education system, intense crime and police brutality and political injustices. But while all these things are happening in Brazil's emerging democracy you begin to realize that democracies all over the world have many of the same injustices. If you look at America for instance you find many of the same issues and you realize that just because people have free elections in a country, does not mean democracy is finished. It takes the people constantly moving forward together with activism and education to continue to create social and political change.
Brazil has offered so much to my learning and I am truly enjoying every minute I spend here. I only hope that I can continue to learn about this amazing and diverse place!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4481932612560.2187936.1417420286&type=1#!/media/set/?set=a.4481932612560.2187936.1417420286&type=1
Sunday, August 5, 2012
A full and busy weekend!
Ola minhas amigos!
After a very full and intense weekend of two museums, a family party and a trip to Guaruja I am sad to say that officially one week of my adventure is over. I have had the best time and I am so over joyed to be here, but I am sad to think that I only have 4 more weeks.
Saturday was an early day that started with scrambled eggs and of course Brazilian coffee that was followed by a tour of the anti resistance museum in Sao Paulo. The museum was small and didn't offer a lot to look at, but we experienced the jail cells that have been preserved from the military regime that ended in Brazil in the late 1980s. We also got the amazing opportunity to talk with an ex-detainey who was brought to the jail during the time of the regime. It was an amazing experience that saddned me deeply, but I was so glad that the Brazilian governement has now provided a space for those who had crimes committed against them to join and share their experiences with each other, students and the young people of Brazil.
After the museum I enjoyed a fabulous lunch in the sun with champagne and salad before our group traveled to the African-Brazilian movement museum. This museum was much bigger and offered a lot of african art as well as Brazilian history to learn. It was fabulous to learn about Brazil's past history of slavery and the effects that this slavery has had on racism in their country.
The museum was then followed by a crazy car ride, Brazilian style, that took myself and my friends all over Sao Bernardo and Santo Andre until we arrived at family bbq at my host brother's home. The party was a little intimidating at because even though I have learned a lot of portuguise in only a week, I still know very little and it is very hard to communicate. But after a glass of wine and an amazing dinner full of carne, linguisa and rice (typical Brazilian foods that are wonderful) I made a lot of friends and had a great time! I am blown away time and time again by the generosity of the Brazilian people, their patience and their welcoming attitude! They relationships I have made with my host family have been truly wonderful and I am looking forward to what the next few weeks bring.
Today was another early morning that started with 3 cups of coffee (not a good idea by the way...the energy is amazing, but the crash is tough!) and a long bus ride to Guarjua. The weather was not very beach permitting, but we still had an amazing time and really enjoyed experiencing another beach, navigating our way through foreign cities and tasting new foods!
I am truly looking foward to the start of a new week with continued portuguiese classes, developing my project further and discovering new things within this amazing culture!
God bless and boa noite!
After a very full and intense weekend of two museums, a family party and a trip to Guaruja I am sad to say that officially one week of my adventure is over. I have had the best time and I am so over joyed to be here, but I am sad to think that I only have 4 more weeks.
Saturday was an early day that started with scrambled eggs and of course Brazilian coffee that was followed by a tour of the anti resistance museum in Sao Paulo. The museum was small and didn't offer a lot to look at, but we experienced the jail cells that have been preserved from the military regime that ended in Brazil in the late 1980s. We also got the amazing opportunity to talk with an ex-detainey who was brought to the jail during the time of the regime. It was an amazing experience that saddned me deeply, but I was so glad that the Brazilian governement has now provided a space for those who had crimes committed against them to join and share their experiences with each other, students and the young people of Brazil.
After the museum I enjoyed a fabulous lunch in the sun with champagne and salad before our group traveled to the African-Brazilian movement museum. This museum was much bigger and offered a lot of african art as well as Brazilian history to learn. It was fabulous to learn about Brazil's past history of slavery and the effects that this slavery has had on racism in their country.
The museum was then followed by a crazy car ride, Brazilian style, that took myself and my friends all over Sao Bernardo and Santo Andre until we arrived at family bbq at my host brother's home. The party was a little intimidating at because even though I have learned a lot of portuguise in only a week, I still know very little and it is very hard to communicate. But after a glass of wine and an amazing dinner full of carne, linguisa and rice (typical Brazilian foods that are wonderful) I made a lot of friends and had a great time! I am blown away time and time again by the generosity of the Brazilian people, their patience and their welcoming attitude! They relationships I have made with my host family have been truly wonderful and I am looking forward to what the next few weeks bring.
Today was another early morning that started with 3 cups of coffee (not a good idea by the way...the energy is amazing, but the crash is tough!) and a long bus ride to Guarjua. The weather was not very beach permitting, but we still had an amazing time and really enjoyed experiencing another beach, navigating our way through foreign cities and tasting new foods!
I am truly looking foward to the start of a new week with continued portuguiese classes, developing my project further and discovering new things within this amazing culture!
God bless and boa noite!
Brazilian beaches are amazing!
Boa Noite,
I am sorry it has been a little longer than normal for an update, but I have been so CRAZY busy that I have hardley even been home. Last I updated I was headed out with friends and since then I have been go go go every day and night! I am in portuguese class almost every Monday through Friday from 9:00-12:30 and then most afternoons we have lectures or other classes to attend. Even though I have been very busy with school I have had had a great time enjoying my time making new Brazilian friends and enjoying the night life that Sao Bernardo has to offer.
Last night after school my friends and I went with one of the host moms, Maria Joanna, to the neighborhood market. It is basically a lot like a farmers market, but with more food items to sell. I was able to try mihol (corn) in a corn husk (kind of like a tamallee, but not as good), corn pudding with cinnamon (AMAZING) and my next favorite....suco de cane sugar. It was pure cane sugar juice sweetned with lemon and it was so yummy. The man making the juice was so nice that he gave Andrea and I our own stick of cane sugar to eat raw. It was so yummy! Afterward, we all went to a regae show and had the best time dancing.
Today after class we all went to Santos and I truly enjoyed my first Brazilian beach! We had so much fun walking on the sand, swimming in the waves and enjoying the amazing agua con coco, carne e linguiso on a stick, ice cream with coco and pumpkin and all the beauty! The sunset was the true cherry on top and I feel so blessed that I am able to to take this trip.
Tomorrow I am really looking forward to going to the resistance museum and african movement museum with my friends and our professor in Sao Paulo. Which will be great to get more background information on the struggles here in Brazil before I confirm my project topic. Currently I am thinking of doing my project on the link between homelessness and Capoeira. There is so much homelessness and poverty down here that I have really been sadened and after learning Capoeira I decided to talk to the International programs director here at the Metodista and she informed me that Capoeira has really worked in helping to get people off the streets and help many out of poverty. When I found this out I was so excited, because the two topics together as one could be an amazing movement to document and research.
Boa noite!
I am sorry it has been a little longer than normal for an update, but I have been so CRAZY busy that I have hardley even been home. Last I updated I was headed out with friends and since then I have been go go go every day and night! I am in portuguese class almost every Monday through Friday from 9:00-12:30 and then most afternoons we have lectures or other classes to attend. Even though I have been very busy with school I have had had a great time enjoying my time making new Brazilian friends and enjoying the night life that Sao Bernardo has to offer.
Last night after school my friends and I went with one of the host moms, Maria Joanna, to the neighborhood market. It is basically a lot like a farmers market, but with more food items to sell. I was able to try mihol (corn) in a corn husk (kind of like a tamallee, but not as good), corn pudding with cinnamon (AMAZING) and my next favorite....suco de cane sugar. It was pure cane sugar juice sweetned with lemon and it was so yummy. The man making the juice was so nice that he gave Andrea and I our own stick of cane sugar to eat raw. It was so yummy! Afterward, we all went to a regae show and had the best time dancing.
Today after class we all went to Santos and I truly enjoyed my first Brazilian beach! We had so much fun walking on the sand, swimming in the waves and enjoying the amazing agua con coco, carne e linguiso on a stick, ice cream with coco and pumpkin and all the beauty! The sunset was the true cherry on top and I feel so blessed that I am able to to take this trip.
Tomorrow I am really looking forward to going to the resistance museum and african movement museum with my friends and our professor in Sao Paulo. Which will be great to get more background information on the struggles here in Brazil before I confirm my project topic. Currently I am thinking of doing my project on the link between homelessness and Capoeira. There is so much homelessness and poverty down here that I have really been sadened and after learning Capoeira I decided to talk to the International programs director here at the Metodista and she informed me that Capoeira has really worked in helping to get people off the streets and help many out of poverty. When I found this out I was so excited, because the two topics together as one could be an amazing movement to document and research.
Boa noite!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Portuguese classes and more!
Oi!
Today was my second day of school and I can't even explain how amazing it has been! Yesterday was my first day in Portuguese classes and even though it is really hard it is so much fun! My classmates are truly becoming such good friends of mine and my proffessora Juliana is awesome. She is so pateint with us and so fofa (cute)!
The Universidad Metodista that I am attending is beautiful and the staff are so welcoming! My friend Andrea and I joined the gym on campus and were able to get some personal training today, which was super fun. We also were given a class on Capoeira today. For the many of you shaking your head trying to even say the word, it is an african-brazilian dance that is practiced here in Brazil and all around the world. The dance is a combination of marshal arts and dance and was created by the african slaves a long time ago. The dancing includes beautiful music, instruments and singing which we all got to take part in. It was truly one of the most amazing experiences and the professor was an amazing instructor and dancer! He made the class so much fun and really inspired us to join together in the spirit of Capoeira! I am looking forward to sharing my videos with you all!
As an added bonus I have also decided to share with you all a few things that are a must know when traveling to Brazil....other wise you find out the hard way like some of us on the trip ha ha ha!
1. Brigadeiros are AMAZING!!! It is a little chocolate doce (dessert) that is one of the best things I have ever eaten and I hope you all get to try one some day.
2. The clothing is not cheap and Brazil is not the place for shopping on a budget!
3. Most Brazilians speak very little to no English so you may want to come prepared with a little bit of knowledge in Portuguese.
4. You have to put your toilet paper (after being used) into a trash can by the toilet. I know this is not ideal for Americans and seems totally strange, but the plumbing in Brazil can't handle all the paper so everywhere you go you must dispose of the paper in the garbage or you have to pay the plumber.
5. Brazilians are very outgoing people and you always kiss each others cheek when you say hello. It is actually very nice and immediately helps you to feel close to people.
6. This one is one of my favorites...everything in a wrapper says if it contains gluten or not on the back label! It is absolutely wonderful and makes eating so much easier for me.
7. Another favorite is the coffee. You drink it in a small glass, but it is very strong and very good! A little goes a long way as my mother used to say.
Anyways that is all for now because I am going out with minha amigos.
Enjoy!
Today was my second day of school and I can't even explain how amazing it has been! Yesterday was my first day in Portuguese classes and even though it is really hard it is so much fun! My classmates are truly becoming such good friends of mine and my proffessora Juliana is awesome. She is so pateint with us and so fofa (cute)!
The Universidad Metodista that I am attending is beautiful and the staff are so welcoming! My friend Andrea and I joined the gym on campus and were able to get some personal training today, which was super fun. We also were given a class on Capoeira today. For the many of you shaking your head trying to even say the word, it is an african-brazilian dance that is practiced here in Brazil and all around the world. The dance is a combination of marshal arts and dance and was created by the african slaves a long time ago. The dancing includes beautiful music, instruments and singing which we all got to take part in. It was truly one of the most amazing experiences and the professor was an amazing instructor and dancer! He made the class so much fun and really inspired us to join together in the spirit of Capoeira! I am looking forward to sharing my videos with you all!
As an added bonus I have also decided to share with you all a few things that are a must know when traveling to Brazil....other wise you find out the hard way like some of us on the trip ha ha ha!
1. Brigadeiros are AMAZING!!! It is a little chocolate doce (dessert) that is one of the best things I have ever eaten and I hope you all get to try one some day.
2. The clothing is not cheap and Brazil is not the place for shopping on a budget!
3. Most Brazilians speak very little to no English so you may want to come prepared with a little bit of knowledge in Portuguese.
4. You have to put your toilet paper (after being used) into a trash can by the toilet. I know this is not ideal for Americans and seems totally strange, but the plumbing in Brazil can't handle all the paper so everywhere you go you must dispose of the paper in the garbage or you have to pay the plumber.
5. Brazilians are very outgoing people and you always kiss each others cheek when you say hello. It is actually very nice and immediately helps you to feel close to people.
6. This one is one of my favorites...everything in a wrapper says if it contains gluten or not on the back label! It is absolutely wonderful and makes eating so much easier for me.
7. Another favorite is the coffee. You drink it in a small glass, but it is very strong and very good! A little goes a long way as my mother used to say.
Anyways that is all for now because I am going out with minha amigos.
Enjoy!
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sao Paulo...tourist style baby!
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
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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