Ok, this is just so everyone gets an idea of what I've been doing. I love it here. I know the pics will seem empty without writing, but I promise I will have entries for the past week and a half by Wednesday (terca-feira). Tchau for now. -James [View Full Entry]

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Slept on an actual bed last night, it was much better than the couch we are sharing. Our room has 2 beds and 1 couch, 3 guys. We are rotating who gets beds. Breakfast was ok, but they were out of eggs by the time I got there. Started class at 9am, Rita Cliff (director of Bahia Street) came to the hotel and taught us the Portuguese Alfabeto and numeros 1-20. I enjoy learning new languages. Then at 10:30am we learned about the history of Pelorihno, the settlement of Brazil. Around 12 we grabbed a bus (onibus) to Pelorihno and Rita [View Full Entry]

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At the airport: Salvador is sub-tropical. It was humid and raining when we arrived, but warm. We claimed our luggage and met up with a driver (I didn’t know it then, but his name is Josalino, and I got to know him better as the week went on), he was a welcome surprise at 2am, much better than a taxi. He took us to Barra Flats, and we got our room assignments and went our separate ways. I’m rooming with Ben and Evan, very nice guys. Ben has been in Central America for the last month, and Evan was in NYC [View Full Entry]

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Wow. Sleeping on tile without a pillow or blanket really sucks. I check in to TAM around 6am, and quickly realize I’m going to need to know more Portuguese if I want to get around. Go through security and make my way to the gate. I run into Hsaio and same others in the calls and we board the plane around 8:30am. I sat next next to a nice man from Paraguay, he introduced me to the amazing South American drink called Guarana, made from a fruit that is found in the amazonias (the jungle). I equate it to Brazillian ginger [View Full Entry]

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After breakfast I did some sit-ups(100) and pushups(100) and got a shower. I was out the door by 10am. I started through Central Park, the North end. It is beautiful! Now what expected at all in a really big city. The maps were easy to navigate and I made me way South to the Conservatory Garden. I got some great pics. Beautiful flowers, fountains, and butterflies. Also, the weather was great, I think it got into the 90s, low humidity. I went South further to the Resevoir and got some great pics of the NY skyline and a turtle. Saw ~20 [View Full Entry]

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First day of a new adventure! I was up and showered by 5:30am and ready to go. I said my goodbyes to Mom and Diana (Mom saw me off to the shuttle, in tears, as always :D) and I was on my way. Security was smooth and was sitting on the plane before I knew it. I lucked out and sat next to 2 really cool UW alums, Marilynn and Brian. Marilynn was a talker, which suited me just fine. Their daughter had just gotten married and Brian had taken a ton of photos, but Marilynn had no idea how to [View Full Entry]

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