I had lots of fun in Salvador dispite the fact that it rained intermittently. When ever there was a brake in the clouds we were out trying to find what was happening. we were fortunatly adviced to check out Dida an all women samba percusion band. which we did.
Check out the pictures here. http://picasaweb.google.com/118119070914986201243/FirstNightOutInSalvador#slideshow/5466298945372154034
Here's some video
We went to a lake with statues of the Orixa on it. It was confusing. The colors and the symbols that they held weren't the ones I'm familer with from Yourba. It was pretty at night. It rained particularly hard giving me the start of the cold I have now. It rained so hard there were times were I had to hold my breath like I was under water. Crazy! We had a couple more great expericances before we left Salvador but you'll have to catch one of us to find out the particulars. We are home now. We both have colds and jetlag. I'm happy to be home though. It was an adventure and a lot of fun but it's nice to be here with my husband and dog. Nothing like a good kiss and cuddle - and that was just from my dog.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Last Days In Capim Grosso
So we are now in Salvador. I want to show you some of the last things I did in Capim Grosso. I'll miss it very much. Next pictures from Salvador. We'll see if I can continue the blog. I might not have internet access.
Enjoy!
http://picasaweb.google.com/118119070914986201243/LastDaysInCapimGrosso#slideshow/5465965178272619122
Enjoy!
http://picasaweb.google.com/118119070914986201243/LastDaysInCapimGrosso#slideshow/5465965178272619122
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tira Dentes
This Wednesday was a holiday - Tira Dentes. This holiday celebrates a dentist that fought the Portuguese during the Brazilian revolution. Everyone get's a day off. We had no classes so we went to the little town of Caiçara to help our new friend V make recorders with his students and have lunch at his mother’s house. We had a lot adventures while there.
Check out the photo’s.
http://picasaweb.google.com/118119070914986201243/Caicara#slideshow/5462969782907344914
During the course of our stay we had an entourage of little girls. It was fun playing with them. After a while we realized they wanted to dance with us (but not outside in front of boys so we went inside and had a dance party – four generations of us.
Check out the photo’s.
http://picasaweb.google.com/118119070914986201243/Caicara#slideshow/5462969782907344914
During the course of our stay we had an entourage of little girls. It was fun playing with them. After a while we realized they wanted to dance with us (but not outside in front of boys so we went inside and had a dance party – four generations of us.
Normal days in Capim Grosso
This last Sunday (Domingo) was a nice quiet day. A day for chorus, visits and relaxing. I was feeling good, Rami was feeling better and it was a beautiful hot day. We had a visit from Fabio, Sacia and the boys. We all had lunch together. Aija got me to steal fruit from the school attached to our compound. Fruit taste better stolen!
Acerola fruit - high in vitamin C - Good for sickos
I washed my laundry by hand. This week my jobs are taking out the garbage which entails bring it across the street before lunch and dumping it on the sidewalk. I guess someone comes by and gets it... It feels a little strange though. My other task is hand washing all the rags that we use for cleaning everything else. Other chorus I've done but have forgotten to mention in the past are cleaning the bathroom (including taking out the trash which is gross considering we don't throw our used toilet tissue in the toilet), periodically picking avocados if they are not falling fast enough and taking a machete to the weeds in the garden and laundry area. Hard stuff but everyone has to take a turn at all the chours - alls fair! It's much nicer when it's clean and unstinkey!
Rami may be well enough to teach dance Thursday. Monday she was ambitious enough to go to Feria (the open market) with me. We didn't make it all the way there but we did make it to the guy who pressed sugarcane to juice and got some with lime pressed with it - good enough to make anyone feel better!
For pictures!
http://picasaweb.google.com/118119070914986201243/JustAnotherDayInCapimGrosso#
Acerola fruit - high in vitamin C - Good for sickos
I washed my laundry by hand. This week my jobs are taking out the garbage which entails bring it across the street before lunch and dumping it on the sidewalk. I guess someone comes by and gets it... It feels a little strange though. My other task is hand washing all the rags that we use for cleaning everything else. Other chorus I've done but have forgotten to mention in the past are cleaning the bathroom (including taking out the trash which is gross considering we don't throw our used toilet tissue in the toilet), periodically picking avocados if they are not falling fast enough and taking a machete to the weeds in the garden and laundry area. Hard stuff but everyone has to take a turn at all the chours - alls fair! It's much nicer when it's clean and unstinkey!
Rami may be well enough to teach dance Thursday. Monday she was ambitious enough to go to Feria (the open market) with me. We didn't make it all the way there but we did make it to the guy who pressed sugarcane to juice and got some with lime pressed with it - good enough to make anyone feel better!
For pictures!
http://picasaweb.google.com/118119070914986201243/JustAnotherDayInCapimGrosso#
Friday, April 16, 2010
Time with Sacia and Fabio
One of the reasons I came to Capim Grosso Brazil is to see Sacia and Fabio. We all lived so close for a while at the Chateau I’ve missed them. Then when we all got the news of their adoption of twin baby boys recently it gave me extra reasons want to visit. I’m a new tia (auntie!) So I’d been here for a while and have been so busy that I didn’t have much time to go and hang out with them until this week.
Even though I wasn’t feeling well on the day I stayed home from the lucuri festival I took a deep breath and ventured out of our compound on my own, pointed myself in the direction of their house and started to walk. I was very proud of myself when I realized I was remembering the way. I was around half a block from their house when Fabio and his driver pulled up next to me. It turned out that Sacia and Fabio had gone to the compound to surprise me after reading that I was sick on this blog. We got to hang out a while and I got to play with the babies Gabriel and Zeca. These boys are wonderful. Even though they are nearly identical they already are developing distinct differences. Zeca seems more laid back. He’s usually napping when I see him. Gabriel is the one who is usually first at everything. They both are charming and love to be engaged with silly faces. Holding either of them is like hugging love – wigglely love.
This is a picture of Zeca and me!
It’s great watching Sacia and Fabio with them. They are such great parents. I’m impressed especially since parenthood happened so fast. It’s also great watching the extended family and community interact with the babies. It seems twins aren’t so common so Sacia gets stopped often when they are out in about with the “twin” new stroller. They are little celebrities.
More pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.com/saciastiles/April2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCIOvmrWliqbZYg#
Even though I wasn’t feeling well on the day I stayed home from the lucuri festival I took a deep breath and ventured out of our compound on my own, pointed myself in the direction of their house and started to walk. I was very proud of myself when I realized I was remembering the way. I was around half a block from their house when Fabio and his driver pulled up next to me. It turned out that Sacia and Fabio had gone to the compound to surprise me after reading that I was sick on this blog. We got to hang out a while and I got to play with the babies Gabriel and Zeca. These boys are wonderful. Even though they are nearly identical they already are developing distinct differences. Zeca seems more laid back. He’s usually napping when I see him. Gabriel is the one who is usually first at everything. They both are charming and love to be engaged with silly faces. Holding either of them is like hugging love – wigglely love.
This is a picture of Zeca and me!
It’s great watching Sacia and Fabio with them. They are such great parents. I’m impressed especially since parenthood happened so fast. It’s also great watching the extended family and community interact with the babies. It seems twins aren’t so common so Sacia gets stopped often when they are out in about with the “twin” new stroller. They are little celebrities.
More pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.com/saciastiles/April2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCIOvmrWliqbZYg#
Back with More!
So my sick progressed - diarrhea, stomach, pain then fever. I was been very weak and have been sleeping a lot. Rami and our other room mate Lisa both had fevers. Nadia was sick too. I eat regardless of my hurting tummy and make sure I drink water to remain hydrated. Melanie and Nadia brought back live probiotic cultures in two wine bottles and fresh picked tea leaves from Casa da Saúde for all of us. I felt miserable. I had to miss co-teaching a couple of times. My sick culminated in a cold that hit like a bolt of lighting. My fever rose I hurt all over especially my face. I cried like a baby! Students in the class that I co teach with Marena helped decide what medicine I should take and rode Lisa to the store on a motorbike to make sure I got it quickly. It lasted one day then cleared almost as fast – really strange. Now I’m on the mend. I’m taking garlic tincture to strengthen my immune system and a local remedy called Multi Mistura to build my overall strength. I feel great.
Unfortunately Lisa got worse she was brought to the hospital two days ago and diagnosed with dengue fever. Rami’s fever still lingers. It’s suspected that she has it too. It’s suspected that she has dengue too but she’s doing relatively okay so no hospital for her. Nadia and I may have had it but if we did our cases were milder.
So I’m back to work!! I’ve had to take over teaching Lisa’s English classes by myself which is an adventure considering I can’t give instruction in Portuguese. In the English 1 we translated the song “I Want to Know What Love Is” and played Uno. In the English 4 class we had conversation practice, which ment they got to ask me about life back in the States. We compared life here to life in West Oakland. Believe it or not West O has it much worse in some ways. I find this extra offensive considering the States don’t have the excuse of being a developing country. We talked about college, marriage, politics and social justice – hard conversations we needed a dictionary.
I’m so happy to feel good again. Am I tired of Brazil – no. I’m glad to be well. I miss everyone especially Kele and Fana but the ups and downs are a part of the adventure – yes? I’m well enough and ready for some more ups now though. Let’s see what we can do!
Unfortunately Lisa got worse she was brought to the hospital two days ago and diagnosed with dengue fever. Rami’s fever still lingers. It’s suspected that she has it too. It’s suspected that she has dengue too but she’s doing relatively okay so no hospital for her. Nadia and I may have had it but if we did our cases were milder.
So I’m back to work!! I’ve had to take over teaching Lisa’s English classes by myself which is an adventure considering I can’t give instruction in Portuguese. In the English 1 we translated the song “I Want to Know What Love Is” and played Uno. In the English 4 class we had conversation practice, which ment they got to ask me about life back in the States. We compared life here to life in West Oakland. Believe it or not West O has it much worse in some ways. I find this extra offensive considering the States don’t have the excuse of being a developing country. We talked about college, marriage, politics and social justice – hard conversations we needed a dictionary.
I’m so happy to feel good again. Am I tired of Brazil – no. I’m glad to be well. I miss everyone especially Kele and Fana but the ups and downs are a part of the adventure – yes? I’m well enough and ready for some more ups now though. Let’s see what we can do!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Ups and Downs
This week started out really busy. It was my week to make breakfast which includes buying the milk and bread. I'd get up and out of the door at 7am to walk down to the bread shop were I'd pick up fresh hot little loaves. Then I turn right and walk down a bit and get the milk from a lady standing in front of her house. The milk is in a large garbage can (only used for this purpose of course). Each time I go I meet a big black puppy, just old enough to start acting to big for his birches. On Tuesday this little guy was running in and out of the bread shop and behind the counter nipping at everyone including a very small boy. (Dogs are free to come an go as the please for the most part here). I joined in chasing him for a minute. That same day the milk hadn't arrived when I got there and so I had to sit until I got some (15 minutes). This daily task made me understand the weight of sayings dealing with spilt milk. Walking back to our compound with a small pitcher of milk for everyone for the day makes me nervous.
I continued co-teaching English. I also started my exchange visiting the nuns at Casa da Saúde. Casa da Saúde is a health clinic that they run that uses all natural healing practices. They’ve agreed to let me come as many times as I want to study.
I was recruited to make a lucuri cake while Nadia and Charles concocted an avocado frosting for Franciscos's (another voleenter) B-day. Controversy ensued at the tasting.
Thing also got harder this week. I noticed I had a rash that started to itch and burn. I went to the pharmacy (they’ll diagnose you there) and they said I had a skin infection from swimming in infected water… (Oops!) I also begun to feel run down and realized that I had diarrhea. This turns out to be normal “go to another country and get sick thing.” (There are those who blame our lucuri avocado cake. I don't think so.) I feel just miserable. There’s no telling how long it will last. Nadia and Lisa another volunteer that just came back from vacation have it too.
Lastly it started to rain. Since Capim Grosso is in a desert they don’t expect rain often so our compound is mostly open to the elements. We’ve had to eat huddled in the kitchen so we turned it into a dance party to make it fun.
I eat, do what ever I have to do, then lie down. To day is the lucudi festival. I’m not going because I don’t want to be a drag down on the fun for anyone.
I hope the rain stops soon and I hope I feel better.
I continued co-teaching English. I also started my exchange visiting the nuns at Casa da Saúde. Casa da Saúde is a health clinic that they run that uses all natural healing practices. They’ve agreed to let me come as many times as I want to study.
I was recruited to make a lucuri cake while Nadia and Charles concocted an avocado frosting for Franciscos's (another voleenter) B-day. Controversy ensued at the tasting.
Thing also got harder this week. I noticed I had a rash that started to itch and burn. I went to the pharmacy (they’ll diagnose you there) and they said I had a skin infection from swimming in infected water… (Oops!) I also begun to feel run down and realized that I had diarrhea. This turns out to be normal “go to another country and get sick thing.” (There are those who blame our lucuri avocado cake. I don't think so.) I feel just miserable. There’s no telling how long it will last. Nadia and Lisa another volunteer that just came back from vacation have it too.
Lastly it started to rain. Since Capim Grosso is in a desert they don’t expect rain often so our compound is mostly open to the elements. We’ve had to eat huddled in the kitchen so we turned it into a dance party to make it fun.
I eat, do what ever I have to do, then lie down. To day is the lucudi festival. I’m not going because I don’t want to be a drag down on the fun for anyone.
I hope the rain stops soon and I hope I feel better.
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