Month: June 2015

Last Full Day in Brazil!!!

Today is our last full day in Brazil. Last day of class in Brazil! Class was cool though, it was productive. We went shopping today! Daria and I hit the market again. We were rushing and running around because time was running out, but there was so much more we wante to get! We wended up being like 15 minutes late, however it did not compare to how late somebody else was. We had our fare well dinner at the restaurant where it all started. I thought that was pretty cool. This time I did not get as much of the meat unlike the first time. It’s bitter sweet leaving Brazil. After two weeks in America I’m going to want to come back.

It’s my birthday!!!

I do not think I could celebrate my birthday any better than to celebrate it in Brazil. This is such a blessing and I’m very thankful. Today we went to have a drum lesson. It was really fun and cool only I suck at it. I would pick the most complicated drum. The kids were really nice and happy. I thought then I new word “hater.” We also got a tour of the neighborhood and it was eye opening. We take so much for granted and we are spoiled. We were complaining about hot water and wifi and these people are living in mud and dirt. For dinner I had some pasta from the mall because the restaurant we were going to “Gruapos” was closed. Someone on the street told us that Monday’s is a slow day in Brazil and business shut down early or don’t open at all. Overall today was a great birthday.

Free Day

today I did not utilize my free day as I thought I would. Most of the day I slept. I’ve been getting sick, so I took some pis that Daria has bought. Those pills are so strong because they make me so drowsy. I see a little improvement but not much. I’m going to have to get some Ā medicine when I get back to the states. It seems like everyone has been getting sick on the trip.

Day 13 in Salvador da Bahia

This morning we had our last day of class in Brazil. This study abroad trip has been a great experience for me because I got a chance to get a taste of another culture while learning. I wish it would not have came by so fast because I really enjoyed myself. After class we went shopping for gifts and shirts to take back to America. Later on that night we had a Farewell Dinner at a steakhouse which was amazing. Now time to get back to Jackson State. The next two days are going to be very long getting back to school.

Day 12 in Salvador da Bahia

Today we visited the Arte Consciente at Saramandaia. I like what the program is doing and the impact it has on the community. This program keeps the young children off the streets and it really changed the neighborhood because at one point it was tension between two different sides of the neighborhood and the program changed that. The program offers boxing, drumming, and singing for the children. The visit to Arte Consciente at Saramandaia was a great experience for me because we had a drumming lesson and had the opportunity to play the drums with the other children in the program.

Last Day in Brazil

I’m sad.

Brazil was a very surreal experience. I don’t think it has entirely registered that I’ve been in Brazil for exactly two weeks. There is no other group of people that I would’ve wanted to experience this trip with. I have memories that will last a lifetime. I have pics too but certain things you have to just take in and actually live within the moment. I can’t wait to go home and get on everybody’s nerves with the little bit of Portuguese that I have learned. I also can’t wait to tell them about everything that I have experienced and seen and tasted and smelled and learned to understand about such a diverse and complex culture: Brasil.

I am forever grateful for Professor Stewart because without his graphic design scholarship I wouldn’t have had this opportunity. He’s such a laid back professor which totally made this trip extra cool.

Also JSU for their contribution because without them I wouldn’t have had a flight or a passport with a visa. Lol

Experiences like this are the reasons that I am so glad that I chose JSU.

#theeilove #foreverindebted #blessings

 

 

 

Day 13teen

Day 13 was our last official day of the program. I get sad at endings so I tried not to think about it all day. I took tons of pictures because I know that was probably the last opportunity to do so. šŸ™

we began our day with class. I think it went better than yesterday for me because I actually completed the project. My ideas don’t necessarily match my skillset so It’s a process. I’m excited to see my growth.

Afterwards we had lunch at this olive fares type place. I was confused the entire time but once I understood how everything went It was tasty. The Kuat bottles were really cute so of course I kept mine.

Afterwards we went to Pelourinho to shop at there and at the market. There’s just not enough time to shop there. I got everything that I wanted for such great prices. We sort of lost a companion and had to wait until he showed up. Lol he finally made it and we got on our last bus ride. šŸ™

we Low key waited a while for the bus in which we all talked about theĀ bom fim ribbons, took pics, and tried out Rakia’s popcorn.

Afterwards we had our farewell dinnerĀ at the same steakhouse that we had our first dinner. It was better this time because we knew how to fix our plates And actually say “no obligado” to the overwhelming amount of meat. For dessert we had these really good Popsicles. I got Oreo. It had a whole Oreo on the outside of it. The dinner ended with selfies and free shirts from the CIEE program.. And maybe a tear here and there.

We returned to hotel where I packed and went to sleep Immeditately.

Day 13 was great too.

Day 12elve

Day 12 was a great day. We began our day with a drumming lesson at Arte a consciente. It was so not what I expected. What we did was actually way better. We got an intro of the man who helped start it 12 years ago, got to hold the award that they received as recognition for a great deed, and got one on one training from the kids in the actual program. Lol

It was awesome! Despite the language barrier the music sort of took over and was the means of our communication. It was so fun attempting to replicate the beats that we each had to play. You could tell how much of an impact this organization has on the children because they all seem so happy and informed about everything that was going on. I enjoyed being immersed in the session. Afterwards we took a tour of the neighborhood in which we learned about the positive effects the organization has had upon it in terms of keeping children out of trouble and off of the streets.

Afterwards we had lunch and class. Class was ok. Photoshop is that one thing that I have to work on. It’s so challenging. Ima get it tho. I always do. I spent the rest of my day working on the orphanage project.

It was also Bridget’s birthday. She turned 21! 🎉🎈🎂🎁🎀

we were about to go to This Mexican restaurant around the corner called Guapos for her birthday but they were closed so we ended up at the mall. I got mcdonalds along with Tyra while she opted for some sort of shrimp and pasta dish.

I ended my night with photoshop tutorials and no sleep.

The 12th consecutive great day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under the weather

today getting ready for class I wasn’t feeling well at all. My throat hurts , it hurts to swallow , my body is having hot flashes , nostrils flared, etc. I made it through the class and lunch but that was about all I could take. When we returned to the room , my roommate gave me a pill . It knocked me out until she returned. I didn’t make it to the drum class. & I didn’t really want to me around people feeling like this . I’m just ready to go home