With the end of our class and our near departure, I would surely miss the island of Florianopolis.
The last class provided insightful coverage of the internet and even a brief discussion of the emerging I/phone. It was sad to realize this was ending as we sat in that circle for that last time. Luckily, the professor put a positive spin on the negative connotation of our next destination: Rio de Janeiro. Most of the group will spend 3 days and four nights there in which we will roam the city visiting famous places such as Copacobana Beach and the Christ the Redeemer statue.
As we finished our essays and packed for the rest of the day, it felt strange to leave a place you had called home for three weeks. The relationships with local friends will continue as far as the internet goes and the beautiful scenery of the exquisite island will be no better than a photograph. But the stay in Brazil was well worth it and the experiences lived without comparison. Even if I never come back to the island of Florianopolis I enjoyed everyday I spent here and every entry in which I wrote about
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Reminisce the Present -June 28, 2007
Sometimes you have to remember, the most important history is the history you’re making today. Okay well I heard it in a television show, but it’s true nonetheless. That night we had a great night just spending time together as a group.
Being the last night before our last class we had accumulating homework to finish. That day I presented my technical chapter of global technologies and organizations. Getting past the informational jargon, I managed to present an adequate presentation of the International Telecommunications Unions and its global impact.
After doing some homework during the day and starting on my paper at night, I was happy to go out at night. Most of us started by going out the El Mexicano restaurant were we eat Mexican food. Four other group members would join us later. A local friend had said that you could only get Mexican food in three places on the island, El Mexicano being one. The whole mood was well lifted upon receiving our food. Finally we had spice in our diets and surely a lot of us had dearly missed eating tacos. In my case, I ordered flavorful nachos with meat and appetizing toppings. As we relaxed on an old-fashioned table in front of a two man band, I started reminiscing the present- if it’s possible. It was probably the last time we would hang out like this, and everyone was having a great time! The song of “Guantanamera” and familiar salsa songs set the mood that made me feel like I was living the past; as if the present was a vision of something that had already happened.
Afterward, we met up with the other people from our group. They were driven there by our good friend Laura who Ally had met in a local mall. Laura helped us get into an exciting night club. Again, it was like a nice 21 and over night club that I wouldn’t know of, and it had comfortable couches to lounge casually. The place was a good club to dance plus, the attractive DJ played continuously energetic music.
As a whole, it was one of our last nights as a group and we were all having a good time. In essence, I suppose that to have a great time while with a group it’s ideal for every member of the group to have fun as well- at least that’s what I think personally. Well, that night it seemed like every person had fun hanging out together, and quite frankly I did too.
Being the last night before our last class we had accumulating homework to finish. That day I presented my technical chapter of global technologies and organizations. Getting past the informational jargon, I managed to present an adequate presentation of the International Telecommunications Unions and its global impact.
After doing some homework during the day and starting on my paper at night, I was happy to go out at night. Most of us started by going out the El Mexicano restaurant were we eat Mexican food. Four other group members would join us later. A local friend had said that you could only get Mexican food in three places on the island, El Mexicano being one. The whole mood was well lifted upon receiving our food. Finally we had spice in our diets and surely a lot of us had dearly missed eating tacos. In my case, I ordered flavorful nachos with meat and appetizing toppings. As we relaxed on an old-fashioned table in front of a two man band, I started reminiscing the present- if it’s possible. It was probably the last time we would hang out like this, and everyone was having a great time! The song of “Guantanamera” and familiar salsa songs set the mood that made me feel like I was living the past; as if the present was a vision of something that had already happened.
Afterward, we met up with the other people from our group. They were driven there by our good friend Laura who Ally had met in a local mall. Laura helped us get into an exciting night club. Again, it was like a nice 21 and over night club that I wouldn’t know of, and it had comfortable couches to lounge casually. The place was a good club to dance plus, the attractive DJ played continuously energetic music.
As a whole, it was one of our last nights as a group and we were all having a good time. In essence, I suppose that to have a great time while with a group it’s ideal for every member of the group to have fun as well- at least that’s what I think personally. Well, that night it seemed like every person had fun hanging out together, and quite frankly I did too.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Brazilian Barbecue -June 27, 2007
Wednesday night I probably tried more new foods than in any other sitting.
That night we enjoyed a Churrascaria which is much like a Brazilian barbecue in which you eat and eat until you can’t eat any more! The elegant restaurant we ate at was called Altibia and was very welcoming as thirteen Americans and two other invited guests attended the feast.
The restaurant featured a side dish buffet and fancy waiters who brought out food to individual tables. As you ate, waiters continuously came out with sword like knifes which had roasted meat stabbed down the middle of them. As they passed by waiters would ask if you wanted what they had, and if you did they would carve out a piece with a smaller knife and fork to put it in your plate. Thus, they passed with delicious meats at often intervals so that by the time I was done with my side dishes, I had a plate full of weird meats. Who knows what I ate that night, even if I asked the waiters what the meat was, they only knew the name in Portuguese. Aside from all the meat, I had two favorite dishes that people brought out. One was the delicious slices of grilled pineapple flavored with some cinnamon coating, and two was the luscious grilled banana coated with sweet who know what. One last shot of flavor was a mousse injected with passion fruit flavor. It wasn’t that great, but the flavor really felt like a fiesta in your mouth. The food that night was great, and the deserts just made it better.
One thing missing from the food was spice. Apparently, Brazilian cuisine does not carry much spice. I’m not sure if their food would taste better with sauces of soy or red peppers, but it surely does not have them. Thinking about it foods around the world seem to carry a good amount of spice whereas local Brazilian food does not. Regardless, Wednesday I tasted a copious amount of food that I will surely miss back at home.
That night we enjoyed a Churrascaria which is much like a Brazilian barbecue in which you eat and eat until you can’t eat any more! The elegant restaurant we ate at was called Altibia and was very welcoming as thirteen Americans and two other invited guests attended the feast.
The restaurant featured a side dish buffet and fancy waiters who brought out food to individual tables. As you ate, waiters continuously came out with sword like knifes which had roasted meat stabbed down the middle of them. As they passed by waiters would ask if you wanted what they had, and if you did they would carve out a piece with a smaller knife and fork to put it in your plate. Thus, they passed with delicious meats at often intervals so that by the time I was done with my side dishes, I had a plate full of weird meats. Who knows what I ate that night, even if I asked the waiters what the meat was, they only knew the name in Portuguese. Aside from all the meat, I had two favorite dishes that people brought out. One was the delicious slices of grilled pineapple flavored with some cinnamon coating, and two was the luscious grilled banana coated with sweet who know what. One last shot of flavor was a mousse injected with passion fruit flavor. It wasn’t that great, but the flavor really felt like a fiesta in your mouth. The food that night was great, and the deserts just made it better.
One thing missing from the food was spice. Apparently, Brazilian cuisine does not carry much spice. I’m not sure if their food would taste better with sauces of soy or red peppers, but it surely does not have them. Thinking about it foods around the world seem to carry a good amount of spice whereas local Brazilian food does not. Regardless, Wednesday I tasted a copious amount of food that I will surely miss back at home.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
News Story -June 26, 2007
Why Go to the US?
Brazilian students have definite reasons for wanting to travel to the US. On a local island, called Florianopolis and located in Southern Brazil, I recently interviewed three students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Simply by asking specific questions I got a general feeling why Brazilian students may want to visit or study at the US.
"Going from Greek to Rome was as a great improvement," mentioned Heitor Cardoso, a journalist major who has visited the US and hopes to study next Spring semester at our school, "...it was like going to the center of the world." Heitor started with this remark as he attempted to explain why he would want to go to the US.
On the topic of "why the US" Heitor made it clear that the US was dominant in many aspects of the world. "Our famous musician Roberto Carlos is merely a Brazilian Frank Sinatra," he says to exemplify how other cultures might never be as important as the dominant cultures. Maria Casagrande, a business student at the federal university, visited the US for experience and the favorable economy. "I wanted to experience life on my own, learn culture, and make money," she mentions as she describes her recent experience at the US.
Maria now works at a World Study program and is convinced that going to the US helped her on a professional level. "I worked three jobs," she says "McDonalds, Subway, and a seafood restaurant barely giving me time to sleep and eat." While she enjoyed her busy stay others would rather not work in the US. "I visited New York and would love to live there," mentioned Fernanda Dutra a journalist major who considers living in the US, "(but) working there would just ruin my career goals." While she speaks good English, Fernanda knows she wouldn't make it as a journalist in the US and has no intention to change her career.
While discussing the lifestyle of the US Heitor mentioned "a friend who has only lived a year in Florida now has a room, car, and insurance- something like that is respected around here." He too would like to make money in the US but hopes he would not stoop to an underpaid or degrading job. He also sees the lifestyle as an array of better opportunities. "Consumption," he says "in the US is a habit, here its not, it's a privilege." Fernanda, on the other hand, made a very good point by mentioning that she is not "blinded by immediate feelings of a new purchasing power and higher monetary compensation." She feels that such purchasing power is not necessary to live a good life and in that respect does not see the US as necessarily dominant.
Lastly, we spoke of personal development while traveling or studying to the US. Marina Casagrande recounts that English development was a big factor in traveling to the US- "I had already learned it, I wanted to put it to use." She had never lived alone or worked for money and she sought the US as the best place to do so. Fernanda sees the US as a place for "personal development, yes, but you don't just get that in the US." While she learned a lot in her experience and hopes to go back, Fernanda realizes that the US is not the only place to truly develop. As I asked Heitor about what he wanted to achieve as a person and where he wanted to reach in life he responds "Life isn't necessarily a progressive movement... it's the moment your in that's most important." Indeed I found myself siding with him as he added that possibly the rest of your life has mounted up until the stage the you're in now. In essence, Heitor states that traveling to the US will help him develop personally but realizes that he does not have to wait for life's stages to do so.
Brazilian students like the US for its experience, economy, lifestyle, professional and personal developments. They want to learn and experience even further by traveling once more or studying at our dominant country. --end of article
[Yet that day, I grew as much as the summer i turned 13, except this time it was as a person. Those Brazilian students are in many ways better than other students I have met back at home but have compelling reasons for traveling to the US.]
Preparing for the Last Week -June 25, 2007
This being the last week, I could really feel the trip ending.
The first week was fun, lengthy and adventurous. The second went by rather fast and only had a good weekend. For my stay at Brazil I wanted to enjoy from personal development, a foreign adventure full experience, and a small social network of local friends. I was not necessarily there yet and if I wanted to get more of an experience I felt like I should stop trying to do everything with an English speaking group of twelve. I definitely enjoyed spending time with them, but in Brazil there are surely many more experiences to be found.
Monday I didn’t do much at all since I had to catch up with sleep from the night before and stay in during the night to catch up with homework. That night, I got to visit an internet café for the first time and was surprised to see expensive webcams and earphones connected to each one. The computers were very useful and the girl in charge was an affable person who later became a good friend.In class, we discussed the media in the middle E. and Africa region of the world. I found there are many things to learn from other countries and just because we are one of the core nations of the world, does not mean we shouldn’t learn about other developing nations. The prestigious local university, for example, has lunch breaks when classes are suspended and students pay no tuition to attend, we could surely learn from that!
The first week was fun, lengthy and adventurous. The second went by rather fast and only had a good weekend. For my stay at Brazil I wanted to enjoy from personal development, a foreign adventure full experience, and a small social network of local friends. I was not necessarily there yet and if I wanted to get more of an experience I felt like I should stop trying to do everything with an English speaking group of twelve. I definitely enjoyed spending time with them, but in Brazil there are surely many more experiences to be found.
Monday I didn’t do much at all since I had to catch up with sleep from the night before and stay in during the night to catch up with homework. That night, I got to visit an internet café for the first time and was surprised to see expensive webcams and earphones connected to each one. The computers were very useful and the girl in charge was an affable person who later became a good friend.In class, we discussed the media in the middle E. and Africa region of the world. I found there are many things to learn from other countries and just because we are one of the core nations of the world, does not mean we shouldn’t learn about other developing nations. The prestigious local university, for example, has lunch breaks when classes are suspended and students pay no tuition to attend, we could surely learn from that!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Experiencing Brazil -June 23 & 24, 2007
Saturday morning we took a scenic trip on a boat that coasted the surrounding island.
After going out late the night before, I was surprised how the whole dozen woke up on time to catch our appointment with the early boat ride. Luckily no one was really hung over, as if the boat ride and ocean freshness overcame oncoming feelings of sickness. The trip lasted most of the day as we covered three islands: two with fortresses and one with nothing much but a restaurant.
The two fortresses provided Portuguese history and beautiful pictures. They were built with the help of slaves around the 1700’s to protect against foreigners. We had about half an hour to explore each. The random island had a restaurant and a couple of scattered houses. I’d say that whole small island had no more than a population of 60. As I left the restaurant and even saw a girl selling tourist souvenirs, I wondered how it would be like to live your life in such a small island. Even though our tourist ship might come in everyday someone born there might not have the resources to leave the island and make a living. Relate it to a trapped bird inside a cage. As a spectator it’s nice to appreciate the island and its people, but someone inside its isolation might not appreciate it so.
Later that night I and another three went to a party at the local university. Literally, it was at the university right outside the communications department were students had music, drinks and food. Around Florianopolis, drinking alcohol isn’t as restricted (perhaps because people don’t binge drink as much) and the drinking age is merely eighteen. The party was hosted by the journalism department and most of the students that I met surprisingly spoke good English. In fact, many of them had already visited the US or had studied English since they were children. With the advantage of making new friends, many students were delighted to practice their English and keep me company as the party kept going.
Sunday morning I took my time to find a descent place to eat, and walked around to see if I found a church. Numerous businesses are closed on Sundays so finding food was no easy task. Finding a church was only a matter of asking local people but when I did find one, it was closed. Being Sunday I thought I could at least walk into the church, but all the doors were locked and no mass was in session. Across the street, I found a small complex of stores, which were all closed, and an upper level with a food court, which was mostly open. I enjoyed a calabresa pasta and went on back to the hotel for our next planned event.
That afternoon the group visited the mall and watched Oceans Thirteen, a recently released movie. The highlight of the movie was probably the freshly popped caramel corn that I and a friend bought. Later that night we went out like locals do, getting to the night club around 12. I enjoyed the music and the strobe lights that lasted most of the night. The atmosphere was energetic and concentrated with people, the club reminded me of that 21 & over club that I’ve never been to. My friends were mostly drunk, and I the younger one helped get them back home.
After going out late the night before, I was surprised how the whole dozen woke up on time to catch our appointment with the early boat ride. Luckily no one was really hung over, as if the boat ride and ocean freshness overcame oncoming feelings of sickness. The trip lasted most of the day as we covered three islands: two with fortresses and one with nothing much but a restaurant.
The two fortresses provided Portuguese history and beautiful pictures. They were built with the help of slaves around the 1700’s to protect against foreigners. We had about half an hour to explore each. The random island had a restaurant and a couple of scattered houses. I’d say that whole small island had no more than a population of 60. As I left the restaurant and even saw a girl selling tourist souvenirs, I wondered how it would be like to live your life in such a small island. Even though our tourist ship might come in everyday someone born there might not have the resources to leave the island and make a living. Relate it to a trapped bird inside a cage. As a spectator it’s nice to appreciate the island and its people, but someone inside its isolation might not appreciate it so.
Later that night I and another three went to a party at the local university. Literally, it was at the university right outside the communications department were students had music, drinks and food. Around Florianopolis, drinking alcohol isn’t as restricted (perhaps because people don’t binge drink as much) and the drinking age is merely eighteen. The party was hosted by the journalism department and most of the students that I met surprisingly spoke good English. In fact, many of them had already visited the US or had studied English since they were children. With the advantage of making new friends, many students were delighted to practice their English and keep me company as the party kept going.
Sunday morning I took my time to find a descent place to eat, and walked around to see if I found a church. Numerous businesses are closed on Sundays so finding food was no easy task. Finding a church was only a matter of asking local people but when I did find one, it was closed. Being Sunday I thought I could at least walk into the church, but all the doors were locked and no mass was in session. Across the street, I found a small complex of stores, which were all closed, and an upper level with a food court, which was mostly open. I enjoyed a calabresa pasta and went on back to the hotel for our next planned event.
That afternoon the group visited the mall and watched Oceans Thirteen, a recently released movie. The highlight of the movie was probably the freshly popped caramel corn that I and a friend bought. Later that night we went out like locals do, getting to the night club around 12. I enjoyed the music and the strobe lights that lasted most of the night. The atmosphere was energetic and concentrated with people, the club reminded me of that 21 & over club that I’ve never been to. My friends were mostly drunk, and I the younger one helped get them back home.
Friday, June 22, 2007
The Great Sand Dunes -June 22, 2007
Friday was one of the best days thus far!
The second week overall had passed by too fast and I didn’t feel like I had done much to enjoy Brazil. After class on Friday most of us felt great- we had just finished a midterm and gotten good sleep the night before. Without much delay, all twelve of us decided to change into something comfortable and check out the sand dunes by the Joaquina Beach.
We left the hotel around noon, got a bite to eat and regrouped at a bus terminal an hour later. The climate was somewhat cold with soft breezes of wind and little direct sunlight, but waiting at the bus stop for 30 minutes was irritable. Right when most people were ready to give up the bus and go find a cab, team leader Matthew decided to take the next bus we saw. It was a risky move, but it got us moving and apparently in the right direction. After we got off in a random street, we knew which bus to take, the 330 which would head us into the Lagoa Terminal. With the help of twelve outspoken Americans and a random stranger we were able to catch the next bus and board it to our next destination. From the Lagoa Terminal we caught a third bus that took us to the popular beach. It was 3:30PM and we were finally at our final destination.
Facing the large sand dunes we easily saw the place were locals rented sand boards. After an awkward introduction (since none of us know good Portuguese), we all rented boards for only five dollars. As we took off with our waxed board we climbed a small hill that took you to the highest position around- it was a great sight. Imagine large piles of granulated sand, completely dry but soft sand that forms valleys and hills of steep and gradual slopes. And when the wind blew, it was much like an old western movie scene but without the thorn bush. A 7 inch layer of sand off the top of the hills would hover over the sand without altering the shape of the dunes. Plus, atop that centered hill you saw the green forested wetlands down below, a town of numbered houses in the right distance, and an overview of the beautiful Beach coasting along the left horizon.
First, I started by going down the small bunny slope of sand by a nearby hill. I had put too much confidence in the fact that I knew how to skate, because skating down the sand was not the same! Right away, my friend Cristina proved to be better than me. Well, it was everyone’s first time so we all felt comfortable facing our first horrible attempts of sand boarding. When I finally got the confidence to launch down the steeper sand slope, I went halfway down to catch speed and fall right on my face! I got up almost immediately and happily found out that it didn’t hurt. Except the sand all over my face, nose and ears I was happy that the falls weren’t so bad, and pursued down the hills with new found courage.
The hardest part being walking up the hills, I couldn’t wait to launch myself down them over and over again. Even as everyone left, I went down two final hills without falling and stopping but felt exceptionally tired while making the last climb.
As I left, I really wished we had something similar back at home. A professional boarder who we hardly spoke to just mentioned he knew we had them in Nevada. I wouldn’t know if there are sand dunes like those back at home, but if anything felt grateful that I found them all the way in Brazil.
The second week overall had passed by too fast and I didn’t feel like I had done much to enjoy Brazil. After class on Friday most of us felt great- we had just finished a midterm and gotten good sleep the night before. Without much delay, all twelve of us decided to change into something comfortable and check out the sand dunes by the Joaquina Beach.
We left the hotel around noon, got a bite to eat and regrouped at a bus terminal an hour later. The climate was somewhat cold with soft breezes of wind and little direct sunlight, but waiting at the bus stop for 30 minutes was irritable. Right when most people were ready to give up the bus and go find a cab, team leader Matthew decided to take the next bus we saw. It was a risky move, but it got us moving and apparently in the right direction. After we got off in a random street, we knew which bus to take, the 330 which would head us into the Lagoa Terminal. With the help of twelve outspoken Americans and a random stranger we were able to catch the next bus and board it to our next destination. From the Lagoa Terminal we caught a third bus that took us to the popular beach. It was 3:30PM and we were finally at our final destination.
Facing the large sand dunes we easily saw the place were locals rented sand boards. After an awkward introduction (since none of us know good Portuguese), we all rented boards for only five dollars. As we took off with our waxed board we climbed a small hill that took you to the highest position around- it was a great sight. Imagine large piles of granulated sand, completely dry but soft sand that forms valleys and hills of steep and gradual slopes. And when the wind blew, it was much like an old western movie scene but without the thorn bush. A 7 inch layer of sand off the top of the hills would hover over the sand without altering the shape of the dunes. Plus, atop that centered hill you saw the green forested wetlands down below, a town of numbered houses in the right distance, and an overview of the beautiful Beach coasting along the left horizon.
First, I started by going down the small bunny slope of sand by a nearby hill. I had put too much confidence in the fact that I knew how to skate, because skating down the sand was not the same! Right away, my friend Cristina proved to be better than me. Well, it was everyone’s first time so we all felt comfortable facing our first horrible attempts of sand boarding. When I finally got the confidence to launch down the steeper sand slope, I went halfway down to catch speed and fall right on my face! I got up almost immediately and happily found out that it didn’t hurt. Except the sand all over my face, nose and ears I was happy that the falls weren’t so bad, and pursued down the hills with new found courage.
The hardest part being walking up the hills, I couldn’t wait to launch myself down them over and over again. Even as everyone left, I went down two final hills without falling and stopping but felt exceptionally tired while making the last climb.
As I left, I really wished we had something similar back at home. A professional boarder who we hardly spoke to just mentioned he knew we had them in Nevada. I wouldn’t know if there are sand dunes like those back at home, but if anything felt grateful that I found them all the way in Brazil.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)