I guess I finally have somthing to write about now since I'm sort of done with school and actually have time to keep a blog. So I left the U.S. Wed. afternoon, very anticlimatic might I add, no tears from the GF just lots of hugs and kisses. I flew to Chicago for my first connectiona and as I was waiting I ran into Andy aka Andrew who is also a part of the ACBEU program in Salvador. He told me that he was participating in another program in Rio and he wouldn't be in Salvador for a couple of days. We sat next to eachother and started an interesting conversation about religon. I, just having rented Bill Maher's 'Religoulous' the previous weekend, was a little skeptical to say the least. Not because the content of the film made me take a new stance on religion but because it kind of reienforced what I allready thought ( tangent... sorry). So after that convo, I was feeling pretty tired, I soon fell asleep only to awake 2 hours outside of Sao Paulo. I listned to some Amy Winehouse and before you know it I was on the ground ready to start drinking.(jk) Inside the airport I gave 'the boo' a jingle but she didn't answer, because she thought I was a solicitor. Meanwhile my bag was going through customs without me. Apparently I was supposed to pick up my all of my luggage when I arrived, not just my carry on. So after struggling with that for a while I went to the Baggage Service where I was first introduced to the highly praised Brazillian Charm. The laddies whom helped me were among the nicest I've ever known. They helped locate my bag and board my next flight. "No falar portugues", I said as street vendors whom tried to sell me keychains passed by. Little did I know , money speaks all languages...while outside enjoying one of my ciggarettes I made my first purchase, a keychain for "1 us dollarz". I then figured it would be time to exchange my US bills for Rias... I gave Branco do Brasil US$187.00 and recieved 335 Rais ... not bad... I know :) (fast forward to 4:15 my flight to Salvador Bahia) "We will be landing in 5 minutes .... thank you for flying with TEM", The pilot exclaims. David wakes up to find that Salvador looks like its experienceing a hurricane.. "Wow" he says to himself... minutes later as the plane begins to decent the pilot decides that landing is not so good of an idea, he puts the pedal to the metal... Zooom back in the air.... The intercom comes back on " we will be making an emergecy landing sorry for the inconvienance". After sitting at random abandoned airforce base about 120 miles north of Bahia in the forest a truck with gas arrives to give us the fuel necessary to make it to Salvador. After refueling I said my prayer( look I know I contradicted myself about Religion..but... I dont need that now) and we were back in the air. We landed safetly the second time but the cab driver who was expecting me 4 hours earlier ( needless to say) wasn't there. I paid 80 Rias to go to the hotel were I was greeted by a couple of familiar faces. After Eating dinner in the hotel lobby I was peer pressured to going to a Bohemian Bar where they charged us way too much... oh well it was nice to the Brazilians Samba. After that I went home where my roomate Dan was asleep.. I crawled into bed and passed out..
The next morning I awoke to attend orentation.. useful information but a bit boring. At lunch I finally met my host mother... She is the sweetest little ol' Brazilian Lady. She doesn't speak ANY ENGLISH and I speak very little Portugues... So a bit awkward. She took me to her home and showed me my room. as well as her daughter ( who is currently in lawschool) her two nephews and her mother ( my host grandma. I finally got a chance to call home and talk to 'meu amor' y 'familia' which was nice. Next I went to Capoerea Practice, where we listned to this old man tell us the history and significance of capoerea , and then watched the pros do it whom then invited us to give it a shot... I absolutely loved it... I will be back as soon as I have more free time.. It was such a work out, and I felt like I was getting back to some of my 'Afrikan' roots. It was one of those experiences I hope to never forget.
In closing... I think I got my first dose of culture shock , I plan on working on some grammer for the remainder of the evening..... until you visit agian Grade Brasso David ( pronounced Davidgi)
I guess I finally have somthing to write about now since I'm sort of done with school and actually have time to keep a blog. So I left the U.S. Wed. afternoon, very anticlimatic might I add, no tears from the GF just lots of hugs and kisses. I flew to Chicago for my first connectiona and as I was waiting I ran into Andy aka Andrew who is also a part of the ACBEU program in Salvador. He told me that he was participating in another program in Rio and he wouldn't be in Salvador for a couple of days. We sat next to eachother and started an interesting conversation about religon. I, just having rented Bill Maher's 'Religoulous' the previous weekend, was a little skeptical to say the least. Not because the content of the film made me take a new stance on religion but because it kind of reienforced what I allready thought ( tangent... sorry). So after that convo, I was feeling pretty tired, I soon fell asleep only to awake 2 hours outside of Sao Paulo. I listned to some Amy Winehouse and before you know it I was on the ground ready to start drinking.(jk) Inside the airport I gave 'the boo' a jingle but she didn't answer, because she thought I was a solicitor. Meanwhile my bag was going through customs without me. Apparently I was supposed to pick up my all of my luggage when I arrived, not just my carry on. So after struggling with that for a while I went to the Baggage Service where I was first introduced to the highly praised Brazillian Charm. The laddies whom helped me were among the nicest I've ever known. They helped locate my bag and board my next flight. "No falar portugues", I said as street vendors whom tried to sell me keychains passed by. Little did I know , money speaks all languages...while outside enjoying one of my ciggarettes I made my first purchase, a keychain for "1 us dollarz". I then figured it would be time to exchange my US bills for Rias... I gave Branco do Brasil US$187.00 and recieved 335 Rais ... not bad... I know :) (fast forward to 4:15 my flight to Salvador Bahia) "We will be landing in 5 minutes .... thank you for flying with TEM", The pilot exclaims. David wakes up to find that Salvador looks like its experienceing a hurricane.. "Wow" he says to himself... minutes later as the plane begins to decent the pilot decides that landing is not so good of an idea, he puts the pedal to the metal... Zooom back in the air.... The intercom comes back on " we will be making an emergecy landing sorry for the inconvienance". After sitting at random abandoned airforce base about 120 miles north of Bahia in the forest a truck with gas arrives to give us the fuel necessary to make it to Salvador. After refueling I said my prayer( look I know I contradicted myself about Religion..but... I dont need that now) and we were back in the air. We landed safetly the second time but the cab driver who was expecting me 4 hours earlier ( needless to say) wasn't there. I paid 80 Rias to go to the hotel were I was greeted by a couple of familiar faces. After Eating dinner in the hotel lobby I was peer pressured to going to a Bohemian Bar where they charged us way too much... oh well it was nice to the Brazilians Samba. After that I went home where my roomate Dan was asleep.. I crawled into bed and passed out..
The next morning I awoke to attend orentation.. useful information but a bit boring. At lunch I finally met my host mother... She is the sweetest little ol' Brazilian Lady. She doesn't speak ANY ENGLISH and I speak very little Portugues... So a bit awkward. She took me to her home and showed me my room. as well as her daughter ( who is currently in lawschool) her two nephews and her mother ( my host grandma. I finally got a chance to call home and talk to 'meu amor' y 'familia' which was nice. Next I went to Capoerea Practice, where we listned to this old man tell us the history and significance of capoerea , and then watched the pros do it whom then invited us to give it a shot... I absolutely loved it... I will be back as soon as I have more free time.. It was such a work out, and I felt like I was getting back to some of my 'Afrikan' roots. It was one of those experiences I hope to never forget. 
In closing... I think I got my first dose of culture shock , I plan on working on some grammer for the remainder of the evening..... until you visit agian Grade Brasso David ( pronounced Davidgi)
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