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Background: Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country when in 1985 the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.

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By docey101
September 7th 2009

Brazil Independence Weekend South America » Brazil » Bahia » Salvador

The View from the Restaurant

We get a four-day weekend because there is no school on Fridays (usually) and Monday is Brazil's Independence Day. I went to the beach for an hour and half on Friday and then it started to rain. And I took a nap for the rest of the day! On Saturday, I took the bus to Shopping Barra, but I forgot my camera. It was my first time on the bus, it costs 2.20 R$ (1US$=1.85R$). I took a bus that had "Shop Barra" on the window sign and I was afraid I didn't get on the right bus, the ride there [View Full Entry]

By docey101
September 5th 2009

Salvador City Tour More Pics 1 South America » Brazil » Bahia » Salvador

Statues of Candoble deities

There is a limit for the amount of pictures in each post... [View Full Entry]

By docey101
September 4th 2009

minha família South America » Brazil » Bahia » Salvador

The whole family
(excluding myself)

This is my little family: Minha Mãe (My mom) Mary, she has a lingerie store, but I haven't seen it yet, maybe tomorrow. Meu Pai (My dad) Roberto. I have no idea what he does. I do know that he is from the south. Meu Filho (My brother) Leo. He's a twelve year old student. He swims well, he has won many medals. I'll take a pic of them later. But right now, he's into basketball. The maid Zilita, she's here Monday through Saturday. She cooks, cleans, makes the bed, and does the laundry. [View Full Entry]

By docey101
September 4th 2009

Salvador City Tour South America » Brazil » Bahia » Salvador

Just some shops along the way

Us 55 UC students were packed onto a tour bus and one of our culture class's teachers, Fred, gave us a tour of the town. There were a few forts, to protect Salvador (All Saints' Bay) from the Dutch raiding the sugar plantations around the bay. I only remember the first one is called St. Anthony. The other one is white. We visited a place of worship for Yemanjá, in an Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé, she is something like a sea guardian. We visited the lower city, which Fred refers to as the landfill. I took some pictures of favelas, which are [View Full Entry]

By Matt and Natalie
September 2nd 2009

Around Salvador South America » Brazil » Bahia » Salvador

Salvador
Barra Swimming Beach

All is well over here in Brazil bar a couple of hiccups (see below!). Since the last entry we´ve mostly been around Salvador which we´ve been using as a base. Our first trip out of there was to Lencois, a quaint little town about 6 hours west. Until twenty years ago it was a diamond mining town but when that source of cash dried up they turned it into a tourist destination as a base for exploring the nearby national park which is full of rivers, lakes, waterfalls and caves. Everything is connected by roads and paths created by the miners. [View Full Entry]

By docey101
September 2nd 2009

Capoeira South America » Brazil » Bahia » Salvador

The Music of Capoeira
Drum, tamborine, berimbaus (stringed instrument) and a double gond.

Today, we went to check out a Capoeira school around the neighborhood. They teach capoeira to kids and teenagers so they can learn and have something productive. Capoeira is Afro-Brazilian, defined as a game, it's a mixture of dance, fighting, and thinking. Today was also the first day of culture class. I live in a bubble, says the teacher. The EAP students live around the neighborhood of the school (ACBEU), which is upper-middle class. Salvador has 14% unemployment rate. And Salvador is the 3rd biggest city in Brazil and has the biggest black population, so this place is a cultural center [View Full Entry]

By docey101
September 1st 2009

The Mishaps of the Beginnings of My Southern Adventures South America » Brazil » Bahia » Salvador

Flying away
I believe this is Alameda..I wanted to get a shot of SF or Oakland.. Oh well.

My Brazilian study abroad program starts on the 28th of August and wants the students checked into the hotel by 8PM. I flew from SFO to Houston, TX, made the connection to get to São Paulo and got to Brazil the 28th of August. Originally, I was supposed to arrive in Salvador, my final destination by 1PM. Unfortunately, there was fog in São Paulo that forced the shutdown of the airport, after circling in the air for 40 minutes hoping the conditions will improve...it didn't, and we were forced to land in Rio de Janeiro to refuel. After that, we were [View Full Entry]

By docey101
September 1st 2009

1st Days in Salvador South America » Brazil » Bahia » Salvador

Outside my window1
I think it's around 4-5, the sun sets quick, around 6-7pm, because it's winter here? Or we're in the Southern Hemisphere?

I had my orientation and met my host family. I have a Mom (Mary), Dad (Roberto), and kid brother (Leo). There is also a maid (Zilita) that comes by Monday-Saturday. I haven't had the courage to ask to take their pictures yet, so someday...maybe. I don't know what they do. My Portuguese isn't good enough to hold any type of conversation. My mom speaks English quite well though. I live 5 minutes away from school, which is really cool. I get my own room, which has a gorgeous view. I moved in Saturday afternoon and mostly just watched TV with my [View Full Entry]

By vivakula
July 10th 2009

Salvador!!!!!!!!!!! South America » Brazil » Bahia » Salvador

gustavo, me and christina

So I arrived in Salvador at almost midnight and grabbed a taxi to meet my new friend Gustavo, a Chilean friend of Cleanto. Gustavo is doing his masters in environmental engineering in Salvador, but coincidentally its actually in toxicology (though not officially), so we had a lot to talk about. He was really pleasantly surprised when I told him I had a doctorate in toxicology and was totally willing to help him with his project. Gustavo was incredibly warm, friendly, and generous, offering me food and letting me stay at his beautiful downtown flat, right near everything including the main beac [View Full Entry]

By SineadandPhilippeRTW
June 28th 2009

Dodgy Salvador South America » Brazil » Bahia » Salvador

Backpacks and Sunburn

Sunburn and backpacks don´t go well together. So it was with a grimace that I pulled on the backpack on Friday afternoon. Our bus wasn't until 7pm on Friday so we requested a later checkout time from the Pousada and spent our last day appreciating the delights of Arraial d'Ajuda. We bought shoes for Sinéad, treated ourselves to a nice fresh fish lunch and then got a final dip in the sea in before running the bus,ferry,bus gauntlet to arrive sweaty and extremely early to the general bus station. The night bus went better than the previous one. The bus was [View Full Entry]

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