Brazil

Brazil was much more amazing than I thought it would be. I didn’t really know what to expect and it was not one of the places I was most excited to go to. However, I was pleasantly surprised and I had a really great time there. I didn’t have much of anything planned so I was able to play it by ear. I had talked with someone about going by bus to Lencois for a couple of days but then ended up not going. The ship arrived on the last day of Carnival and that had everyone excited. (I didn’t know much about that either but it apparently has a reputation and is officially the biggest party on earth according to Guinness.) There is somewhat of a routine to get to get up at the butt-crack of dawn and watch as the ship sails into the harbor of each port city. It really is a great experience and also makes for great photo opportunities (oh the sunrises!!).
The first night, I went out with a group of people to join in the festivities of Carnival on the street level. It was apparently a pretty gutsy move to take my camera, but I survived without being robbed, pick pocketed, molested, or violated. Salvador is a dangerous city and we were all warned to an extreme. But I made it through just fine. My impressions of Carnival were much better than I expected. I had a really good time and have some fun pictures to show at a more feasible time. It was crazy fun!!!
I spent the daytime hours walking around the city, taking pictures, enjoying local food, and checking out the markets. I tried Capoeira which is some sort of martial arts type dance that is very popular there. I was able to interact with the guys doing it and they tried to teach me but I wasn’t very good.
Thursday evening, we were able to experience Brazilian soccer. It was highly anticipated by everyone on the ship and nearly a third of the students went to the game as an organized trip through Semester at Sea (SAS). Many of the other students were on trips to the Amazon or to Rio. The game was a lot of fun and our team won 2 to 0.
Another night, I went out to dinner with a small group of friends and we ate at a restaurant outside where a guy played a guitar as another guy sang. It was a very, very nice dinner and evening. I am learning how fast paced everything in America is. Brazilian dining is meant to be enjoyed and not rushed. We were at the restaurant for about 3 hours just for dinner, but it was very enjoyable. I loved it. We then walked through the city for a bit and stopped for a local desert. I can’t remember what it’s called but it’s a frozen fruit mix that looks like mud (you can add granola to it if you’d like). It was a scrumcious desert though.
The last day, I headed to a beach. People knew we were Americans just by our swimwear. Brazilian females (including young ladies) wear thong bottoms and very tiny tops while the men (including the young ones) wear Speedos or small and very tight shorts. I got a little sunburn. I slightly underestimated the power of the sun close to the equator against one coat of SPF 45. It really wasn’t too bad though and it’s making its way into a nice tan I have been eagerly awaiting.
We headed back to the ship a little early on the last night because there was a huge BBQ onboard. Because a lot of people came back early for the special dinner and everyone else was back onboard on time, we left the harbor over an hour early and are now en route to Capetown!! I have so many great things lined up for that port and some things I am going to try to plan once I get there (including sky-diving is time allows).
Meanwhile, we are busy with classes and homework while at sea. Everyone is preparing for the Sea Olympics which is a day-long event for everyone to participate in and compete against other teams (teams are selected based on which deck you live on). They are really working hard to hype everyone up for it and whichever teams wins gets to get off the ship first when we return to the states and disembark (rumor has it that it can take about 6 hours to get people checked out and off the ship in Miami). I hope we win!!!
The big event between now and Capetown is Neptune Day, which as I mentioned is being celebrated on Valentine’s Day. There are no classes!!!!! I only have another day or two to finally decide if I am going to shave my head or not!
I can’t wait to write about Africa. It’s gonna be a long entry though; we are there more days than any other port and I am going to have a lot to write about. So far, I have a Habitat for Humanity project to work with, a day long visit to the Amy Biehl Foundation of Trust, an Operation Hunger service visit, and trip to BUSH Radio, and a township visit to learn about the music and dance of the culture. Independently, I am planning trips to Robben Island, a hike up Table Mountain, and possibly a sky diving trip if time allows. I am most excited about Africa I think. It is somewhere I have always wanted to go, secretly. Aside from that, it will be our first chance to really see a country that is vastly different from ours. Puerto Rico is very Americanized and along with Salvador, quite touristy. Salvador has a very different culture and a larger language barrier, but it was very much a tourist spot in some aspects. However, in South Africa, I will be able to venture away from the “developed” city of Capetown and into the villages and townships to experience the way of life there. I am excited to interact with the people and can’t wait to share it with you!
Watch out Africa, here I come! We are still crossing the Atlantic as of now, but will arrive in Capetown in just three short days!!!