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Published: August 22nd 2011
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This past week has been good. A few days ago I went to work with Angela's sister-in-law Sonia, who is a social worker. She works for a foundation that organizes activities for old people who don't have anything....like arts and crafts, dancing, etc. It's right next door to a big school for children with disabilities and I think she does stuff for the parents of those children too. Anyway, she doesn't speak English, and neither did anybody there. We went to the school/hospital (its called APAE pronounced like "a pie"). I think she and I both just thought we could take a quick look, but the director came out and we ended up getting a whole tour. I went to every single clinical and class room, and met almost every single kid. A thousand kids go there. It was actually really cool. They separate all the classes according to age and severity of disability. There were kids with Downs Syndrome, and there were kids who can't talk or walk, and never will. They do a lot of really cool programs, like bake breads and cakes that they give to churches who distribute them to homeless people. It's a really neat set
up.
Anyway after that I went to an interview for a volunteer job with Angela. This was after a really exhausting day of speaking only Portuguese since 7 in the morning...and of course the interview was in Portuguese. And it wasn't just with one person.....it was with FIVE ladies, all asking me questions and talking to me all in Portuguese. It's a cool organization they take dogs to hospitals and schools for kids with disabilities (but not APAE...) all over Campinas. So its therapy dog stuff. I'm going to start this Wednesday.
This weekend, I went to Litoral Norte, or the Northern Coast, which makes no sense because it's in the Southern part of Brazil. I went with these friends of Douglas'; the family owns a hotel and three restaurants in Barra do Sahy and the area around, and they have a big family beach house where we stayed. I met up there with Nina, who grew up in Santa Cruz and is my age. Actually, it seemed like everybody in the whole town just got back from Santa Cruz. Not only is it a small surf town with good waves, but everybody wears Santa Cruz hats, jackets,
shirts, and use Santa Cruz surfboards. They all have been to Santa Cruz too it was so random.
Well it rained all weekend which was sad but it was still awesome. There is a big jungle that goes right up to the sand on the beach. I read this book about the area and they would have pictures of flowers and animals and the caption would be like "is this a nest or a coccoon? Nobody knows. This species is as yet unlisted" which I thought was really funny. I went for a run on the beach yesterday. It was so nice even though it was raining and I went swimming in the ocean after. I went the whole way barefoot so I was really cold after but I haven't died or anything yet.
So basically I spent all weekend in the jungle beach in the rain. I really wanted to go on a hike to see all the waterfalls, but it wasn't really practical becauseee I only brought shorts and tank tops. Oops. I still smell like rotting clothes.
Today there was a big dead whale on the beach. It smelled really good. The head and
DEAD WHALE!!!!
We think it was a gray whale...the head is supposed to be on the right but somebody ate it. Theres a rib sticking out. yum! tail were eaten off and it was STILL really big. Then a tractor came and buried it. But I thought it was really cool.
I'm trying lots of new foods and learning all about how weird Brazilians are. Friday night they said "hot dogs" were for dinner. But a "hot dog" in Brazil means you have a mini baguette, and a boiled hot dog, but it is topped with marinara sauce, mashed potatoes, and potato chips all in the bun. We ate a few meals at the hotel because they have a cool lounge with a big fire place and stuff...we had some nice Chilean wine and good food.
ANYWAY I miss you all!!! Bejos!!
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Alex Francoeur
non-member comment
so cool
CAITY I LOVE YOUR BLOG! your pictures are so great! brazil looks beautifullllll hope youre having a great time :)