Hugs for you all!! I really love you all, and I hope you are doing well. Here are some more details about Brazil. I was writing an email to Mary, and I decided to post the email here for y'all to read too!
So, I really like Brazil. This part of Brazil is pretty different from Mexico. It seems a lot safer here and there is more varied agriculture. They have different types of fruit, etc. In Mexico, I knew that I was out of place, and so did everyone else. Here in Salvador, even though the majority of the population is black, I still could pass for a Brazilian. That is, until I start speaking. There are plenty of people who look like me - European descent, fair skin, light hair, and light eyes. The people here are super friendly. That is similar to Mexico, but maybe here the people are even more trusting of strangers. (It might make a difference that I am not walking around in a shirt and tie) The people want to make you a part of their family.
Yesterday we went to a favela (a town/neighborhood that springs up in the mountainous/hilly areas of the cities. It usually starts with people who do not own the land going out and starting to build on it. Then more people build and you get these small cities). The biggest favela here in Salvador has about 400,000 people and the biggest one in Rio de Janeiro (kind of the home of the favela) has 2 million people! They are traditionally locations of poverty and drug dealers. Not the place you want to walk at night.
Anyhow, we went with a police lieutenant here in Salvador. The police have built a community center in the favela. He said, "It is more important to have a good feeling of community than to have justice." That made me think of marriage and family relationships. I don't remember the exact phrase, but I think it is something like, "Would you rather be right or would you rather be married?" I thought it was really cool that he had recognized that and then had the courage to help implement it. Now the police feel like they can walk in there without tanks, a full convoy, etc. There is a school there near the community center. It is inspiring because everyone is proud of the school and the community center and they make an effort to stand together and protect those things.
In the school we sang and played with the students. They were probably about 5-8 years old. At the end of our singing, we sang a song telling everyone to give "abraços" or "hugs". So 3-4 kids came over and pretty much tackled me with hugs. It felt so great to be loved so openly and without reservation. As we went to leave, several kids kept coming up and giving me one last hug. :) Most of the kids didn't have shoes and you could tell that they had very few clothes, but you could also feel their happiness and energy.
The water, although still filtered in our house, is generally safe to drink here in the city. Since I am in a pretty nice part of the city, my comparisons to Mexico aren't as accurate. I would need to get out into a more residential/rural area in order to experience Brazil at the same level.
They have lots of good food (our Brazilian mom cooks a mean meal). And the beaches are fun as well. The rocks are sharp and slippery the perfectly dangerous combination for jumping on them. I am no longer a "kid who jumps on rocks". The "sharp" comes from the barnacles/shell growths on the rocks. The slippery comes from little plants. So you just slip right into the sharp parts. I went snorkeling a bit with some goggles that my roommate has (my roommate here. His name is Angus Bennion. He has posted some photos of me on facebook) It is fun to see all the fish by the rocks. It is also somewhat scary due the many of the rocks being covered in sea urchins. The black, spiky creatures inspire a mortal panic in any snorkler who.... haha. They did make me nervous because the waves push you around and sometimes you end up a lot closer to the rocks than you would like. The water is really salty as would be expected, and it is fun to play on the beach. Overall, it's an ocean.
I love being here with the people and experiencing the culture. My portuguese is slowly improving. There is one drawback... I miss Briana "somthin' fierce". We talk and email back and forth, and I love that. Sometimes I just have to take it one day at a time because 4-5 more weeks seems like an eternity. I try to focus on the small things that I can do and make sure I take advantage of all the fun and educational opportunities that I get.
Hope y'all take advantage of the fun and interesting opportunities around you! Love you!
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