Tonight is my last night in Brazil. Our flight leaves here tmrw afternoon at 1, and after 30 hours of travelling, we'll be in Canada!
We left Manoel Viana Friday morning, and have been staying in Porto Alegre (a large city - the capital of the province) for the past 4 days. Words can't really describe how it felt during the goodbye dinner for the host families the night before we left and the days leading up to it. How do you leave a place and people knowing you'll never be back again? I'm not going to say that I had the easiest time living there.. it's a really small town, and the adaptation was super hard - there was never anything to do if I wasn't working, and we were all under this intense scrutiny from the town - but after leaving that world behind and going back to a city, I realize that I will actually miss the way of life there.
I don't know if I can even begin to tell anyone how it feels to leave somewhere wondering about the mark you've left while you were there. It's different if you were to leave somewhere after a couple days, or weeks even, but we lived there. Sure, there's now a day marked on the calendar now for cleaning the city, sure there are more garbage cans around the city, sure CIANE is painted and beautiful, sure there are more trees planted along the side of the river, sure the library is painted an amazingly bright orange that you can see from across the park, yes we did all of that. But aside from the physical changes to the city we made, I wonder about the mark and changes we've made on the people in the community. All the boys who cat-called and yelled things at us when we walked by them, the people whom we talked to in the course of our work there, the people we partied with on the weekend, the girls that the boys from the group made out with (and vice versa), the host families, the children we played with, the kids at the schools we made presentations in, neighbours, tia Laura (haha), the friends we made... it's weird to think about.
Two days before we left, we went to a baile (a dance where the community goes to dance traditional dances to tradtional music) to celebrate our last night out in a city we'll never come back to. Needless to day, I drank way too much and talked to a group of people we were hanging out outside with and ended up inviting them to come with us to the beach where more booze was given to us, and um new "relations" were forged..
4 days in an actual city has made me completely exhausted. As promised, our counterparts made sure we got to know the city in the last couple days that we were here. Saturday was the birthday of one of the boys in our group, and of course he was home and able to celebrate with his friends, which meant that we all got to go out and party hard, also in celebration of our leaving of Manoel Viana. We went to a club that resembled Circa on a Friday night. My counterpart insisted that we go there, and that it was totally my scene and she was completely correct. The music was good - most of it I had on my ipod, the scene was great, and the people there were definitely people I'd party back home with. Free champagne till midnight, Disco Rock, Miami Bitch - definitely calls for a good time. Relations were forged once again, and now we know that things not only work differently in Manoel Viana, but all of Brazil. The party was a good booster for mid-program. It helped me remember who I am and what I like to do.. it got lost somewhere between eating churrasco everyday and going to bailes to party.
Yesterday, some of us went to a soccer match and today we went shopping, and my counterpart brought me to the photography studio where she works, and I got to see how commercial photography works and got to handle $4000+ equipment (woohoo the third world!).
I'm completely physically and mentally exhausted, dealing with noise and pollution and traffic (people drive like nuts here) after living in a small town for 3 months is almost terrifying. I'm used to walking behind a horse and cart, and waiting for a flock of chickens and some dogs to cross the road, not busses and cars barreling down streets at 100km/hr.
It's actually really sad that I'm leaving here, because in the 4 days that I've been here I got to meet my counterparts family and friends and I don't know if I'll ever see them again. I know I'll return to Brazil some day, but probably not to this region..
For now it's tchau tchau e beijos para Brasil, and hello Canada, bonjour Quebec in about a day or two. It's hard to remember that the program isn't half over yet.. we still have 3 months left to go.. I don't want to know what it will be like to leave everyone at the end, but I guess we'll get to that when it comes.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
the home stretch
It's crazy to think that I only have 3 weeks left in Brazil. Tomorrow is the first of September and we leave the city of Manoel Viana on Sept. 19th. From here we'll be going to Porto Alegre (a big city where all the Brazilian participants are from..) and we'll be staying in our counterparts' homes for 4 days. On the 24th we'll leave Brazil for Quebec and start the second phase of the program.
It's actually pretty amazing to think of all the things that I've been able to accomplish in the 2 months that I've been here. I've been able to get a grasp of a new language... my spoken Portuguese is still very poor, but I am able to understand almost everything, with my work project working with the ministry of the environment for the city, my work partner and I have successfully gotten the city to approve a plan to place more garbage cans around the city, and we're definitely going to be able to see these be put up before we leave, also we've been able to set up a place for tires that need to be disposed of so that they can be collected and recycled.
I've helped paint and beautify a school for children with special needs - we've painted a mural on the walls inside, painted the exterior different colours, started a little garden to the side for veggies to be grown, and just generally made teh place feel and look less like an institution.
I'd like to think that we have made a difference in the community and that we've created projects that are sustainable and will continue after we leave.. but there's no way of telling..
I've done and experienced so many new things..
I've been away from home for the longest I ever have and it really was not that big of a deal for me. Thinking about it before leaving was a lot harder than actually leaving and living it. I don't actually miss anything about Canada that much.. but then again I have a lot of comforts where I am now and although it was sort of hard to adjust, I wasn't forced to go through many hardships. But it's still nice to know that I am able to transplant myself for long periods of time..
I've met so many people that I would probably never have met without the program. I'm not just talking about the Brazilians, but the Canadians too. We all come from so many different provinces and cities, but we're all together here and have become friends.
I've definitely drank more in the last 2 months than I ever have in my life. Beer is cheaper than coke here, and this means drinking at least once a week.
This weekend has made me want to stay here longer. It was a pretty perfect weekend and it's sad to think that I may not experience anything like it again.
Friday Marie-Claude cut my hair for me and chopped off a good 3-4 inches.. she cut it without anything but a pair of scissors, while sitting out on the front porch of her house. Afterwards we chilled, had a beer and I went home and had dinner with my host mom, brother, Carmel (my counterpart, her boyfriend who came to visit from Porto Alegre, Eric and Mauricio, and the supervisors.
Saturday we went for a boat ride on the Ibicui River.. we went from our city down to a farm farther downstream to plant some trees. The boatride took an hour and of course, beer was offered. It was unbelievable. There were 4 little motor boats and 6 people in each boat, it was 10:30 in the morning and by the time we got to our destination we were tipsy from the beer and lack of food. After arriving we planted some trees by the shore of the river (to prevent erosion) and rode on the back of a pickup truck through the fields to the farm where we ate and chilled before returning to the shore to take the boats back. It was unbelievable, I was on a boat, sailing on a river in Brazil in South America.
Saturday night was the Baile do Linguiça (roughly translated to Dance of the Sausage - or Sausage party as we called it..) for R$5 we got to go to a dance and have all you can eat sausage. The dance was to traditional gaucho music and of course beer flowed freely all night at the price of R$3 (about 1.75) per 600ml bottle. Needless to say we all got pretty trashed and gorged on sausages all night.
Today, the group had an excursion to Cerro do Tigre. We scaled up the side of a mountain to find a naturally occurring bridge of rock. We hung out at the top for 3 hours enjoying the view and exploring. Completely chill.
Has being in Brazil for 2 months changed me? My one fear is that when I go home at the end of the program, I'll be the same person I was when I left.
So far, the changes haven't been drastic, but I feel that I may have changed a little. I'm a little more tan, my hair is now shorter.. I've become more touch-needy - I've almost gotten rid of the Canadian stiffness that made me recoil any time we met someone new and they came towards me for cheek kisses..
I've also realized that I am capable of being independent, that there are times when I need to distance myself and be alone for sanity's sake.
I definitely have more of a appreciation for Canada and the opportunities that being a Canadian has given me..
I'm also more aware of how lucky I am... in having what I have and living where I live.
I've also learned that this is what I'm made to do. Going to different countries and learning about culture, getting to know people I never ever wouldve met otherwise. Nothing could make me happier than learning the traditions and customs of another country.
Although it's sad that the Brazilian phase is almost over, it's weird.. because the program itself isn't even half over. After this we still have 3 months in Valleyfield.. and I'm definitely excited to get there and eating a fucking poutine.. it's all we've been talking about for the last 2 weeks.. and I think we'll continue to talk about it until we get there and get one.
It's actually pretty amazing to think of all the things that I've been able to accomplish in the 2 months that I've been here. I've been able to get a grasp of a new language... my spoken Portuguese is still very poor, but I am able to understand almost everything, with my work project working with the ministry of the environment for the city, my work partner and I have successfully gotten the city to approve a plan to place more garbage cans around the city, and we're definitely going to be able to see these be put up before we leave, also we've been able to set up a place for tires that need to be disposed of so that they can be collected and recycled.
I've helped paint and beautify a school for children with special needs - we've painted a mural on the walls inside, painted the exterior different colours, started a little garden to the side for veggies to be grown, and just generally made teh place feel and look less like an institution.
I'd like to think that we have made a difference in the community and that we've created projects that are sustainable and will continue after we leave.. but there's no way of telling..
I've done and experienced so many new things..
I've been away from home for the longest I ever have and it really was not that big of a deal for me. Thinking about it before leaving was a lot harder than actually leaving and living it. I don't actually miss anything about Canada that much.. but then again I have a lot of comforts where I am now and although it was sort of hard to adjust, I wasn't forced to go through many hardships. But it's still nice to know that I am able to transplant myself for long periods of time..
I've met so many people that I would probably never have met without the program. I'm not just talking about the Brazilians, but the Canadians too. We all come from so many different provinces and cities, but we're all together here and have become friends.
I've definitely drank more in the last 2 months than I ever have in my life. Beer is cheaper than coke here, and this means drinking at least once a week.
This weekend has made me want to stay here longer. It was a pretty perfect weekend and it's sad to think that I may not experience anything like it again.
Friday Marie-Claude cut my hair for me and chopped off a good 3-4 inches.. she cut it without anything but a pair of scissors, while sitting out on the front porch of her house. Afterwards we chilled, had a beer and I went home and had dinner with my host mom, brother, Carmel (my counterpart, her boyfriend who came to visit from Porto Alegre, Eric and Mauricio, and the supervisors.
Saturday we went for a boat ride on the Ibicui River.. we went from our city down to a farm farther downstream to plant some trees. The boatride took an hour and of course, beer was offered. It was unbelievable. There were 4 little motor boats and 6 people in each boat, it was 10:30 in the morning and by the time we got to our destination we were tipsy from the beer and lack of food. After arriving we planted some trees by the shore of the river (to prevent erosion) and rode on the back of a pickup truck through the fields to the farm where we ate and chilled before returning to the shore to take the boats back. It was unbelievable, I was on a boat, sailing on a river in Brazil in South America.
Saturday night was the Baile do Linguiça (roughly translated to Dance of the Sausage - or Sausage party as we called it..) for R$5 we got to go to a dance and have all you can eat sausage. The dance was to traditional gaucho music and of course beer flowed freely all night at the price of R$3 (about 1.75) per 600ml bottle. Needless to say we all got pretty trashed and gorged on sausages all night.
Today, the group had an excursion to Cerro do Tigre. We scaled up the side of a mountain to find a naturally occurring bridge of rock. We hung out at the top for 3 hours enjoying the view and exploring. Completely chill.
Has being in Brazil for 2 months changed me? My one fear is that when I go home at the end of the program, I'll be the same person I was when I left.
So far, the changes haven't been drastic, but I feel that I may have changed a little. I'm a little more tan, my hair is now shorter.. I've become more touch-needy - I've almost gotten rid of the Canadian stiffness that made me recoil any time we met someone new and they came towards me for cheek kisses..
I've also realized that I am capable of being independent, that there are times when I need to distance myself and be alone for sanity's sake.
I definitely have more of a appreciation for Canada and the opportunities that being a Canadian has given me..
I'm also more aware of how lucky I am... in having what I have and living where I live.
I've also learned that this is what I'm made to do. Going to different countries and learning about culture, getting to know people I never ever wouldve met otherwise. Nothing could make me happier than learning the traditions and customs of another country.
Although it's sad that the Brazilian phase is almost over, it's weird.. because the program itself isn't even half over. After this we still have 3 months in Valleyfield.. and I'm definitely excited to get there and eating a fucking poutine.. it's all we've been talking about for the last 2 weeks.. and I think we'll continue to talk about it until we get there and get one.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
update - en breve
mercomix:
- everyone in the town got super excited about this HUGE festival coming to town... it was like bread and honey, only with more food.
- there was a show every night on the weekend i went to 2 and skipped out on the third (good thing..)
- on sunday our group was expected to put on a "spectacle" showcasing canadian culture. we did a dance and put on a play.
- after the show we got super drunk at someones house, and thus missed out on the last show... apparently there were boys looking for some of the girls.
JAE:
august 8th, 2008 --> i was part of a group that was supposed to put on an educational activity day to teach the rest of the group about the culture here.
- we learned 2 traditional dances
- we all dressed up in traditional clothing
- we learned/taught how to lasso
- i learned so much ridiculous shit about the culture here, did papier mache and made puppets for the most amazing puppet show ever on earth
last weekend:
- i went with some of the other participants and our families and climbed a mountain.
this week:
- i am helping paint and beautify a school for children with special needs --> i have red paint in my hair and it wont come out.
today:
- i was walking and i saw a gaucho (a cowboy of sorts) riding a horse down the street while talking on his cell phone.
WTF, IS THIS FOR REAL
tonight:
marylenes (our supervisor) birthday! --> we're having churrasco (bbq but BETTER) and moustache party which means its an excellent night for drinking way too much for very little money.
i have so many fucking photos to upload at this point i dont think ill be able to. the reason that i am sitting in this internet cafe right now is to upload, but thse computer is not reading the fucking harddrive. and i dont know what to do.
there are less than 40 days left in teh brazilian phase.. this weekend is mid-project and the whole group is going on a trip. i cant believe it.. times flying by so fast!
bah. im sorry about the lack of photos! i have 4 up on my personal flickr right now... you can check them out if you want. theyre all from the camp. i keep saying this, but next time hopefully ill get a computer that will read the hard drive and HOPEFULLY ill have more up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28806621@N05/
- everyone in the town got super excited about this HUGE festival coming to town... it was like bread and honey, only with more food.
- there was a show every night on the weekend i went to 2 and skipped out on the third (good thing..)
- on sunday our group was expected to put on a "spectacle" showcasing canadian culture. we did a dance and put on a play.
- after the show we got super drunk at someones house, and thus missed out on the last show... apparently there were boys looking for some of the girls.
JAE:
august 8th, 2008 --> i was part of a group that was supposed to put on an educational activity day to teach the rest of the group about the culture here.
- we learned 2 traditional dances
- we all dressed up in traditional clothing
- we learned/taught how to lasso
- i learned so much ridiculous shit about the culture here, did papier mache and made puppets for the most amazing puppet show ever on earth
last weekend:
- i went with some of the other participants and our families and climbed a mountain.
this week:
- i am helping paint and beautify a school for children with special needs --> i have red paint in my hair and it wont come out.
today:
- i was walking and i saw a gaucho (a cowboy of sorts) riding a horse down the street while talking on his cell phone.
WTF, IS THIS FOR REAL
tonight:
marylenes (our supervisor) birthday! --> we're having churrasco (bbq but BETTER) and moustache party which means its an excellent night for drinking way too much for very little money.
i have so many fucking photos to upload at this point i dont think ill be able to. the reason that i am sitting in this internet cafe right now is to upload, but thse computer is not reading the fucking harddrive. and i dont know what to do.
there are less than 40 days left in teh brazilian phase.. this weekend is mid-project and the whole group is going on a trip. i cant believe it.. times flying by so fast!
bah. im sorry about the lack of photos! i have 4 up on my personal flickr right now... you can check them out if you want. theyre all from the camp. i keep saying this, but next time hopefully ill get a computer that will read the hard drive and HOPEFULLY ill have more up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28806621@N05/
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
update
Alright, so its basically been a month since I've left home, and surprisingly I'm not as homesick as I thought I'd be considering this is the longest I've ever been away. It definitely changes day to day.. and last week it was pretty brutal. I'm living in buttfuck Brazil, and sometimes just thinking about it.. it's pretty amazing. At other times, it sucks major balls because there's shit all to do here.
Last week sucked, this week has been pretty good so far.
Being away from home has made me realize that it's the little things that make all the difference. A couple nights ago some of the boys had some of us over and they made pancakes for us for dinner. It totally picked everyone up being able to eat food that was familiar and being together.
A couple nights before that one of the host families for another pair of guys went away for the weekend, so we went over to their house, hung out in front of the fire, and watched music videos (michael jackson, spice girls, backstreet boys, the village people, abba with some random brazilian bands) and had hot chocolate.
You can only lie around in bed and read for so long.
It's also been raining a lot, so taking walks are sort of out of the question.
At the end of the week there's a festival coming to town - Mercomix, so I hope to be able to get some shopping done.. if there's anything you want my to bring back for you, you should let me know to keep an eye out for whatever it is for you!
I'll update again soon! (I hope.. and hopefully with pictures!)
Tchau!
Last week sucked, this week has been pretty good so far.
Being away from home has made me realize that it's the little things that make all the difference. A couple nights ago some of the boys had some of us over and they made pancakes for us for dinner. It totally picked everyone up being able to eat food that was familiar and being together.
A couple nights before that one of the host families for another pair of guys went away for the weekend, so we went over to their house, hung out in front of the fire, and watched music videos (michael jackson, spice girls, backstreet boys, the village people, abba with some random brazilian bands) and had hot chocolate.
You can only lie around in bed and read for so long.
It's also been raining a lot, so taking walks are sort of out of the question.
At the end of the week there's a festival coming to town - Mercomix, so I hope to be able to get some shopping done.. if there's anything you want my to bring back for you, you should let me know to keep an eye out for whatever it is for you!
I'll update again soon! (I hope.. and hopefully with pictures!)
Tchau!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
http://www.flickr.com/photos/projrondon2008
i dont have any of my own pictures on there (but soon!) i think all of them are taken by my counterpart carmel, so check it out anyways!
i dont have any of my own pictures on there (but soon!) i think all of them are taken by my counterpart carmel, so check it out anyways!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
part of the group at thais' house in porto alegre
everyone on the bus during the 8 hour bus ride from porto alegre to manoel viana
me and my counterpart carmel!
everyone at tia laura, the hottest and only hang out in manoel viana.
studying portuguese and drinking hot chocolate.
ayman showing elliott some love outside CIANE
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