Braziiiiiil

In my short life, I’ve been so blessed to have traveled to Belize, Honduras, Mexico, Chile, Thailand, Israel, Colombia and Argentina and in three short weeks I will add another name to that list – BRAZIL! 

I still can’t believe that after months of talking about it I actually bought a ticket – the very first international plane ticket I paid for completely on my own.  I’m so excited to be visiting this rising superpower and the incredibly beautiful city that will soon capture the attention of the entire world for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. I’m pretty terrified to be in a city where I cannot speak the local language – this was a pretty disorienting experience in Israel, but most Isreali’s speak English and I was with a group of 40 english speakers…with a tour guide…and Sasha who translated for us when we travelled on our own. Apparently, in contrast to many other south American nations, Brazilians really don’t speak English (power to them). Anita's sister Alicia is doing her Fullbright year in Brazil right now! Read her blog post here on her experience being an English teacher in Brazil.

Luckily, I have some contacts in Rio – Kiah who is studying abroad there and Kate SG who is living there for a while. Kiah will have class during the day but we’ll have two weekends to hang out and after classes. She told me today she and her roomates are waiting for me to go to Sugarloaf Mountain – supposed to be one of the most beautiful views in Rio! Kate has offered to let me stay with her and to show me around the city and I could not be more grateful! I’ll have to think of something good to bring her from Bs As (who am I kidding, I’ll bring her alfajores). As my friend Daniele is (most probably) coming with me for part of the time, we will also spend some nights in a hostel.

In the meantime, I will try to concentrate on my homework, dream about the fruit juice stands, find out what days the museums have free admission, read about the gentrification and pacification efforts being made in preparation for the World Cup and Olympic Games and do some DuoLingo Portugues lessons! 

Also here's a weird quote I found online - what?

Latins are tenderly enthusiastic. In Brazil they throw flowers at you. In Argentina they throw themselves.

Marlene Dietrich 

And this one:

No one knows anything about the fashion industry in Brazil. They don't care what you do. They just want the beach and the sun and the fun. I feel the freest and the happiest there.
Candice Swanepoel