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Published: January 14th 2011
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Day One Down
Yesterday I arrived in my new home with wide eyes, ready for whatever life wants to throw at me. After a full 24 hours in this country, I feel I can safely say that this is going to be the experience of a lifetime.
After a rocky start to our trip, with multiple flight cancellations resulting in a 24 hour late arrival, classmate and friend Rachael Klarich and I finally boarded a flight from Houston, TX direct to São Paulo, Brasil at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the 12th. I was indescribably excited to be almost there, and therefore slept for no more than an hour total on the 9 1/2 hour flight. In that 9+ hours, all I could think of was how lucky I am to get to do this again. In between in-flight screenings of CSI, The Office, and CBS's newest hit comedy Mike and Molly, (which airs on Mondays at 9:30/8:30c, only on CBS, for those that care), I was able to track our flight progress on the monitor, anxiously awaiting touchdown on Brazilian soil. Believe it or not, FM Radio stations come in with surprisingly crisp reception at 34,000 feet, and
I was able to listen to Super Estación 88.9FM in Bogotá, among others, as we crossed over this vast continent that I love so much. Though the waiting was killing me, I was blessed with the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the southern Amazon rain forest, in shades of brilliant orange and purple, lighting up the rivers below to give me my first glance at the place I'll call home for the next 6 months of my life. The little plane on the monitor seemed to move so slowly that I could hardly stand to watch, but there I was with my eyes glued to the screen as we passed over the Andes, the Amazon, Curiaba, Belo Horizonte, and finally, "
Ladies and Gentlemen if you could please fasten your seat belts as we begin our decent into Guarulhos International." This was it!
I finally worked up the courage to speak in Portuguese, at the very end of the flight, to the Brazilian man sitting next to me when I had a question about filling out the customs sheets given to me by the flight attendant. "Você sabe o q é o numero RNE?" I asked timidly, "O que?"
he responds. "O numero RNE.. não sei que é" I say again, losing confidence quickly as I thought he had no idea what I was saying to him. "Ah.. não.. acho que isso é somente pelos Brasileiros" he responds with a smile. And that was that, I can do this.
After landing, making a stop at the restroom and then the baggage claim, and then the ATM, Rachael and I walked outside of the airport, just as wide-eyed, in search of a taxi to bring us to the city and to our fellow students. We paid 64 Reais, (roughly 37 USD,) to some very pretty girls at the taxi counter in exchange for a ticket to give to the taxi driver, and we were off!
The drive in to São Paulo from Guaruhlos was shockingly similar in many ways to the route between Maequetia in VZLA in to Caracas (minus the mountains), and the same sensory overload that occured on that trip was back in full effect. Driving by us in wreckless fashion were the Ford Fiestas, Chevy Whoknowswhatchacallems that they don't sell in America, and the moderately insane motorcyclists that I miss so much about this continent.
We quickly struck up conversation with our very nice and polite taxista about anything and everything that we could. We asked about the traffic, the city, and public transportation, the weather, the police, and his english courses, among other things; He talked with us happily the whole way to the Hotel, noticeably glad to be able to share with us all about his city and country. This taxi ride worked wonders for my confidence, as I found the Portuguese that I haven't spoken in any formal fashion for more than 8 months flowing back in to me without strain or stress. (Obviously, it wasn't great Portuguese,) but it served us well as he understood everything I tried to communicate to him and we had a very pleasant conversation.
Upon arriving at the hotel and thanking our taxista profusely for his help and conversation, we went in and were able to meet steadily throughout the day all 40+ of the students taking part in both the CIEE São Paulo and CIEE Bahia programs. We were quickly caught up on the orientation parts we missed due to our delayed travel, and in the evening had the opportunity to meet our Host
Families for the remainder of the time we spend here in São Paulo (approximately 4 weeks). Waiting in the lobby, I was greeted with open arms and a HUGE smile by Fátima Dantas, "Você é Brente?? Meu novo filho!?" (Are you Brent, my new son!?) "Sim! Eu sou!" I replied, as all of the nerves about communicating with my new host melted away in her very Brazilian embrace. It was clear to me immediately that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Everyone paired up with their families (mostly just mothers,) and we sat for a light meal of Brazilian pastries, cheese bread, fruits, tropical juices, and chatted excitedly about ourselves with our mothers who were very interested in learning all they could about us in as short a time as possible. Before one answer was complete, the next question, (or two,) already vocalized, would be floating around in my head, forcing me to think really hard about answering the first. Fátima told me "I have a present for you," with a smile on her face, saying, "open it now!" As I pulled a box of
Havaianas Flip Flops out of the bag she had given me, I thought to
myself about how blessed I am that someone who has never met me and is opening her home to me for the next month was thoughtful enough to get me a gift, and such an awesomely Brazilian one at that. "I don't think they'll fit you, now that I look," she says, quickly taking them from me and promising to return them and get me a size that fits as soon as possible.
What an incredibly nice lady I think to myself the entire time. She left to go home after giving me a hug and a kiss, and will be picking me up this morning to take me to her house!
After meeting the families, a large group us decided to go out, and we walked down to an extremely popular local deli/supermarket/restaurant/liquour store/convenience store/bakery for a bite to eat. I had a Brahma (local beer) and a Sanuiche (sandwich) the size of my head. Pastrami, about 10 lbs of browned buffalo mozzarella, lettuce, and Rúcula (in english, "Rocket," which was a very interesting and delicious Pico de Gallo-like salsa made of peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic and some sort of vinaigrette.) After dinner, several of us
decided to pick up a bottle of coke and a bottle of bacardi and go back to the hotel to have a couple of drinks and chat. After a wonderful night, exhausted and running on 1 hour of sleep in the last 40+, I finally got to bed at 4:00am only to wake up at 9 for my Portuguese oral placement test, and that brings us to now! The first day is over and there are many more great ones awaiting me. Got to go,
gente!
Até logo!
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Jessica
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Very well written, Brent :)