Final Post

Before going on the trip, I heard horror stories of people getting constantly robbed, or poverty striking all but one percent in Brazil, or that Brazil was just a big favela. I knew this was not going to be the reality on the ground, but all of this was weighing on my mind when I landed. Whenever I travel, I keep an open mind and try to push out any preconceptions about the country, so I can truly appreciate the country. I was greeted in Brazil with stunning views, delicious food, and the most open and diverse population I have seen.

A lot of people may say seeing the favelas or seeing the poverty will drastically change them or their perception of the country, but I’ve seen slums in Ghana, Peru, Pakistan, and the sad reality is that poverty is all over the world. Seeing the size of the favelas was fairly shocking however; just the immensity of them is inspiring in the sense to take action.

One experience that really changed my perspective on not only the country, but on my life, was a scene in Rio on the beach during the bike ride. Seeing the person make caipirinhas in the stall, with a sleepy puppy laying in the sand, made me realize the insignificance of what we do. It’s not like we can all quit and make caipirinhas on the beach, but there is more to life than work and money (obviously). Just enjoy the little things, like the Brazilian way.

The language barrier was not tough to get over. If you can communicate your basic idea with universal signs while ordering food and if you keep calm, you can get by. Not getting frustrated is key to getting your message across, because whoever you are speaking too is feeling the same way. Getting angry and frustrated will not help convey your message. Also, having people who speak Portuguese with you most of the time (shout out Leo and Renato) helps a boat load.

Immersion in any culture is letting yourself fade into the crowd, the masses, and learning their ins and outs and experiencing their life, like trying their foods and (trying) to speak their language. I tried to feel the Brazilian time, the vibe, the music, and I really enjoyed trying to understand the locals. Their pace of life changes with every city, with Sao Paulo being quick and business, Curitiba being community driven, Foz de Iguacu was kind of weird to be honest, and then Rio’s laid back personality. Each city has a personality, one that the people embody.  

If I could go back and do something differently, it would be spending time with some specific people in the group more to get to know them better. But also, I would have wanted to worked harder to learn Portuguese so the language barrier would be more permeable. Overall, Brazil is a place that cannot be forgotten, and has completely stolen my heart. I have to go back to find it again.

Last day in Rio

On our last day in Rio, we went to Copacabana and played beach volleyball and soccer with locals. There were fresh coconuts for 1 dollar, food everywhere, and perfect weather.  Couldn't be happier with my last day in Rio. 

Christ the Redeemer

On Sunday, we went to Christ the Redeemer and Pao de Azucar, or SugarLoaf, where we saw the sunset. The views were breathtaking, and no camera can capture the environment.    

Free days in Rio

On Saturday and the rest of the trip basically, we had a free day in Rio where we went around the city and then at night, we went to a popular bar where a big band was playing. 

Macucu Safari

On Friday, we went to the Iguacu Falls, a waterfall that is three times larger than Niagra Falls. We had a boat ride where they drove right next to the falls and let the water bombard us to feel the full power.  We then did a bike tour through the woods, a 9 kilometer trail and then kayaking on the river. 

First day in Foz de Iguacu

The first day in Foz de Iguacu we went to the Itaipu Dam, a huge structure that stretches over 1 kilometer and generates electricity for Paraguay and Brazil. Because it is owned by two countries, Itaipu Dam is its own independent territory, worked on by 50 percent Brazilians and 50 percent Paraguans.  This is the overflow spill way that is open maybe 10 percent of the year, so its lucky that we were able to see it. 

Town Hall Curitiba and Flight to Foz de Iguacu

On Tuesday, we went to the Curitiba Town Hall in the morning, basically a 20 acre park dedicated to preserving the environment in Curitiba. We were given a presentation on projects that Curitiba has implemented and will implement to better protect the environment. They have a fantastic recycling system, with incentives to recycle, allowing the disadvanted community to have a reason to recycle. They are constantly implementing new renewable energy plans to decrease their carbon footprint and protect native species of fauna and flora. 

Their campus was mostly woods with little buildings scattered across it.  We then flew to Foz de Iguacu to see Itaipu Dam, a hydroelectric power plant that generated 15 percent of Brazil's electricity and 80 percent of Paraguay's energy.