Everyday People-Sly and the Family Stone

All things Brazilian

Throughout my time in Brazil I kept a list of things that seemed specifically Brazilian to me.  Wherever I traveled in the country I would notice these same cultural characteristics.  Coincidentally as I was on a layover on my way home, one of the TGC teachers posted a link to this article about 10 things you should know about Brazil.  Here is my list so you can see how it compares:

1. The best way to spend an evening is out on the sidewalk at plastic tables and chairs.

2. The best way to greet someone is by hugging and kissing, and sometimes cheirar.

3. Time is a flexible concept.

4. Food should be eaten with silverware, or held with a napkin.

Proper eating technique

5. Drinks should be very cold.

6. Small plastic cups or straws should be used for any drink in a can or bottle.

7. Donkey carts are a good way to get around.

8. Juices are the drink of choice.

9. A good way to advertise is to put some speakers on the back of a truck and blast it around town.

10. You always need a purse chair for bags.

11. Dinner should not be eaten before 9-10 at night.

12. Dogs can just run free and hang out wherever.

13. You should always carry some toilet paper in case you use a public restroom, but don't flush it down the toilet.

14. Cardboard makes a good sun protector.

15. A good way to buy lunch is by weight at a kilo restaurant.

One of many kilo lunches

16. Singing, dancing and partying are always in order.

17. Manioc and tapioca flour can go on anything.

18. Pizza should be eaten with ketchup and mayonnaise on top.

19. Trash should be picked up from wire baskets on the street.

20. It's better to air condition one room at a time than an entire building.

21. Speed bumps go in every road, even two lane highways.

22. The honor system is a good way to do business.

America-Neil Diamond

As much as I love to travel, there is something reassuring about returning to your home country.  You land and all of a sudden all the signs are in English and you understand the process and what is happening all around you.  Even if you are confused, you can easily communicate about what you need to do.  I love being in new places, but there is a feeling of relief when you understand what is happening around you and no longer have to concentrate so hard to communicate on a basic level.  It’s almost as if you don’t truly realize how much you have to think about to communicate in another language and country until all of a sudden you don’t have to think that hard any more.  It is a good reminder that we shouldn’t let ourselves settle into complacency but continue to challenge ourselves with new experiences and ideas.

As I am settled in on my final flight to Bozeman (this is my 12^th flight since I left Bozeman in June,) I’m excited to see my family and friends.  I can’t wait to pet my dog and it will be nice to sleep in my own bed in my own house.  As always, there are some comfort foods I look forward to eating when I get back from a trip abroad and I can’t wait for a fresh salad from Biankini’s and some Mexican food!

Final Countdown-Europe

I can’t believe it’s already our last day in Brazil!  It’s amazing how fast the time has gone but I also feel very fortunate to have been able to experience so many different places in such a diverse country.

The weather seems to have finally turned nice for good and we woke up to beautiful blue skies.  After some packing, Liza and I headed down for some much anticipated time on the beach.  Here things work much the same way as they do in a restaurant as you rent chairs (R$5 for the day, or $2.50 U.S.) and they write your name in a notebook.  If you order any drinks, snacks or coconuts they tally that by your name and you pay at the end.  I love this system.  We spent a few hours on the sand and it felt amazing to take a nap in the warmth of the sun after so many rainy days.

Beachfront coconut

Final rooftop picture

waves in the sand

waves on the sidewalk

Sadly we had to pack and check out by 2PM.  Tami and I walked down the beach to meet up with some of our Teachers for Global Classroom friends who had just arrived in Rio.  As we were walking Tami and I talked about how traveling together really binds people together.  Afterall, we had really only spent about 10 days with these people, four days in Brasilia and a few days in Salvador, and it had only been a week since we saw them last, but we were as excited to see them as if we were meeting up with long lost friends.  We had a great time catching up, comparing stories, and discussing the peaks and valleys of our time in Brazil.  Actually we only discussed the peaks, there were so many positive experiences.

 

Lunch reunion

We parted ways as Tina, Staci and Judy went on to begin their exploration of Rio and Tami, Liza and I got ready for the airport and heading home.

Final sunset over Sugarloaf

After an excruciating two hour taxi ride, we arrived at Rio’s international airport in time to check in, weave our way through security and passport control, and board our 9:30 flight back to the U.S.

Dance Tonight-Paul McCartney

We woke up early Wednesday to catch a cab for our 8:30 tickets up Corcovado Mountain to see Christ the Redeemer.  It was finally supposed to be sunny and we hoped to enjoy some good views as the weather cleared.  You can take a taxi and van up the mountain, but most people ride the cog train through the rainforest.  We rode up and enjoyed amazing views of lush greenery contrasting with city-scape and seashore.  At the top you come around a bend and all of a sudden Christ the Redeemer is looming high above.  It was an amazing view anyway you looked, whether up at the statue, or down at the city.  We spent over an hour taking in the views and doing our best to capture the sights with our cameras and iphones.  As we headed back down on the train, a samba band hopped on to provide some entertainment.  Liza fell in love with one of the musicians and was more than thrilled as he puller her up to dance in the aisles. 

 

Rocinha favela is on the right of the mountain as we headed up the cog train 

at the top

Rio

Sugarloaf

 

The Redeemer

Ipanema Beach from the cog train

Liza's boyfriend

Once back at the hotel we decided to hit the beach since it was finally a little bit sunny.  Of course, the weather once again tricked us and by the time we were changed the clouds had started to set in.  We tried to brave the weather as long as we could, but it wasn’t long before we were huddled under clothes and sarongs trying to stay warm.  Oh well…we did get to enjoy some barbequed cheese on the beach which had been recommended by Tami’s Portuguese teacher, it was good!  We finally gave up on the sun and headed around to buy souvenirs since, sadly it was already our last full day in Rio.

 

Liza hoping for some sunshine 

Trying to stay warm

Chilly but not wanting to leave the beach

BBQ Cheese-yum!

Brazilian beverages

my order card

That evening we headed out for a night on the town at Rio Scenarium, a well known local samba club in the Lapa neighborhood.  The area where Rio Scenarium is located is full of fun little bars and restaurants with live Brazilian music.  We arrived early (way early by Brazilian standards!) but were able to get a great table right by the band and dance floor.  Our friends from the U.K. who we met in Iguazu arrived in Rio the night before and they met us out for a night of dinner, capirinhas and dancing.  We learned a little samba, enjoyed watching some great dancers, appreciated some Brazilian music, and had a great time with new friends.  One thing that is fun and interesting in Brazil is ordering and paying for food.  In many places in Brazil they waiters write down whatever you order on little pieces of paper or in a little notebook.  At the end of the night they tally up all of your orders and total your bill.  It seems like a little thing but there’s something really trustworthy about little written orders to me.  Rio Scenarium takes this idea to a whole new level as you get a tally card at the beginning of the night and each time you order, they just add a little tally mark.  At the end of the night you take your card to the cashier to close out your card.  We closed out when the place closed at 1:30 and headed home, exhausted from another full day of Rio events.