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.
Couldn't be happier with my last day in Rio.
We then did a bike tour through the woods, a 9 kilometer trail and then kayaking on the river.
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.
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. 
and a botanical park to rival the best gardens in the world. 
We then saw a soccer game against rival teams both from Curitiba. The atmosphere was nothing like anything I've been to, with thousands of people crowded around outside and inside the stadium.
These peaceful grazers are everywhere at this park! We also went to an open market, which was a couple kilometers long. By the market, a beautiful blue mosque stood out against the other buildings.
Being in the mountains and farther south, the weather is chillier yet crisp, a testament to their sustainable energy efforts.
The finished sugar product was a pile of sugar on the floor of a warehouse. This is the sugar we get in the United States, just unprocessed.
This building is an example for Brazil and the world, recycling their water and waste.