February 6, 2008

After a long night at Carnival, it was time to get some sleep!Today, I did not start the day until around 10:30 and a few of us headed down to Itaparica Island.Itaparica is about a 45 minute ferry ride from Salvador.We walked down to our ferry boat, which only cost 3 Reis (which is the Brazilin money) and had a nice quiet ride over to the Island.Once we got there, we found out that we took the wrong ferry to the wrong side of the Island, oh well, no big deal… we just hopped in a taxi and got to the beach area and then started our trip.It was an adventure, but you know what, we made it and had fun… it did not matter how we got there.

Our first order of business was lunch.We stopped and ate at this local place and ordered us some food.Yet again, we could not read the menu or speak to the server, so we just found something that looked like meat or chicken or fish and just said what the hell.Luckily enough, we got our food and it was okay for our location and price.I do miss some home cooking and a McDonalds right about now, but hey I am in Brazil, experiencing this culture.

Off to the beach, that was our next stop.By the way, if I didn't tell you already, it is HOT as hell out here.Just being outside for 20 minutes, you are sweating like a pig, your clothes are sticking to you and you are just drenched and exhausted.The sun and the heat is crazy, and it is only February.As soon as we got ourselves situated at the beach, we ran right into the water.The ocean was even warm, but yet refreshing.It was fun to be on the beach and be with the locals from the Island, relaxing with them.We did not do too much but relax, away from the students, away from the ship and just in our own little world.

Here we are, four white folks on a beach island surrounded by all Brazilians, where no one speaks English, where no one looks like us, where no one can even communicate with us.But being there made me realize, we are here for the same reasons, we are thesame in some manner or not.They are all here relaxing from being off of work from Carnival, they are here to have fun, they are here to swim and take a day off, just like we were doing.

Looking back at today, I can begin to know what it feels like to be the only person in a surrounding area that may NOT look like everyone else and the majority.It is a very different feeling just looking at the visibility aspect of this, but overall, we are the same and still have our own similarities and differences when I think about that as well.Even looking around, many of the local Brazilians may look alike or be from the area, but they are still different in their own ways as well.

What I found to be interesting was the kids and what they were doing on the beach.These kids had to be no more than 7 or 8 and they were flying handmade kites.They made their own kites out of Styrofoam plates that they found on the beach, tied some string to the end of it to make a tail and then got more string to make the kite fly.You know what, it worked and those dam kites were flying HIGH.These kids did not need no $40 - $100 special kite to have fun.They got by with what they had and enjoyed their time.Do you think our kids in the USA can enjoy something like that, probably not!!

It is sad to see how poor the area is and how many homeless kids and families are on the street and walking around the area asking us for money and to help them.They were nice when we said no, but it was sad to see how skinny, hungry and helpless they were.Other children were working on the beach and in the street as vendors, trying to get us to buy their snacks or water, just to make a living for their families.

Granted, I am only in Brazil, and I know things are going to get poorer and worse as we move along our voyage, but visiting this new area has really opening my eyes on life and what things I take for granted on having, on doing and experiencing.Yes, the Brazilians are living life; they are enjoying their life and are just doing what they need to do.In the USA, how much do we complain about what we don't have, what we want or just complain about things… you know what I am talking about!Here, they are just happy with what they have and that is it.If they can't get something, oh well..if they have something, GREAT and let's keep it and make it work for ever.

Brazil also has some other nice areas.The more city area of Bahia, more downtown city area of Salvador are really nice places to see as well.

The country is so big and there are a lot of different things to do here!!I do hope one day you can see Brazil and experience this culture and what it has to offer.

Stay tuned for more about Brazil!!We are not done yet.