February archive

boipeba

February 25, 2007

William and Kate - THANK YOU!!! Pousada Santa Clara was fantastic, the food was amazing, Mark and Charles are SOOO wonderful! The travel to and from the island is less than ideal, but you know, its not that bad.

i am going to save the fun stories about cramming 23 people in a van for later, when i have charger for my computer. and i'll put on the pictures.

New Address

February 22, 2007

News! We are moving houses - to the same neighborhood, but a new, bigger house. The new address is Rua Teixera Leal, 51 Graca Salvador - Bahia 40.150.050 Brazil

We move on Feb. 26, in less than a week! If you want to send anything (or call - email me and I'll give you the number) send it to this address!

this same rain

February 20, 2007

About twenty minutes ago, it was a gorgeous, sunny day. And now, it is pouring rain like the heavens exploded. But no worries. It will clear up. Weather here is a lot like it is in Chapel Hill. Everyone from other places complains about how humid it is, and I'm just like "this is what the weather will be like when I get back. I have nine months of humid, hot, miserable summer weather ahead of me." But I'm glad that I will be at least used to the heat when I get back to NC... It won't be such a surprise, like many of the other volunteers will have (going from 100 degree weather to 30 degrees. yikes.). And now, its sunny again.

Yesterday my roommates (and Jane) and I decided to take a break from Carnaval. We went to Praia do Forte to see the turtles! They have a turtle conservation thing there, and we got to watch the turtles be dug up! They were so cute! Many thanks to David Walbert for making me look up tons of pictures of turtles and animals, I can now identify loads of different animals and throughly impress my new friends. I couldn't do it without you David. :)

Today we're going to go see Olodum, a famous Brazilian band, and Gilberto Gil (awesome!) and Fatboy Slim! I am really really excited!

i did what everyone tells you not to

February 18, 2007

I took my digital camera to carnaval. Yes, I did. And no, it was not stolen, I am currently using it to upload alll the pictures I took last night on to this computer, and then I will promptly put them up on this website, have no fear. So last night, we did a camarote, which is basically a VIP room to watch the parade (trios electricos and blocos following them... trios electricos are big trucks, see pictures, and the blocos are these big areas that surround the trucks full of people.) from above. The one we went to was right on the ocean... with a great view of the lighthouse and the sea. It was fantastic!!! The place was huge! Marble floors and two balconies, with a beauty salon inside and 3 bars... It was seriously like being a VIP at a big party. There were people walking around carrying drinks all over. Then there were the buffet tables with loads of food, sandwiches, quiche, thai chicken, these cheese ball thingys, french bread, etc. It was all delicious and wonderful, and I ate so much. Or SOOOO MUCH because the food was SOOOO GOOOD. Apparently its become a big joke around the house because I'm always saying how something is SOOO GOOD or how the food was SOOO GOOOD. I am not enjoying the joke, but everyone else is, so it looks like I've got to stick with it for a while. Carnaval is like nothing else...There are people everywhere, all moving in the opposite direction as you are, and PDA is all over. Although last night on the way home, I saw a lot more homosexual male couples than I ever had here in Salvador. I think I saw more homosexual male couples than I did hetrosexual couples. The PDA is blind of sexuality though... everyone is making out, looking like they need to immediatley go to a more private area, or else star in their own voyeristic porno. On the street, guys just grab girls and try and kiss them. Kelly and I have gotten a lot of people grabbing our hands and then kissing them, or trying to kiss us. We just grab the other one and walk really quickly in the other direction. It seems to work! I had a great time though, and I would do it again if I had the money... the camarote that is. I will do pipoca (popcorn... the crowd that just walks around) on Tuesday because Gilberto Gil and Fatboy Slim are playing! I am going to hang out at their blocos for a little while.

I won't tell you all the artists that I saw last night, because you'll see pictures, and because you probably wouldn't know them anyway. Ok, more later. Don't worry, I'm safe, and I'm having a great time!

valentine's day

February 14, 2007

Happy Valentine's day all! Today was a pretty good day here. A lot of good things have happened so far, and I am still going out on a date for dinner! (My date is with about 6 other girls!)

Latley at CAASAH, we have been really frustrated. Caasah is extremely unorganized, and unsanitary, and the children are very difficult. It is the most challenging placement, I think mostly because the kids have no one in their lives. No one loves them. They don't have consistent staff, and most of the staff that is there just take advantage of the kids and gossip. Most of the kids also have families, but their families don't ever visit them. They have no one to love them, so they don't trust or love people easily. They are also extremely skeptical and need lots of attention. They don't know how to get the right kind of attention, so all they do is act out. I think a lot of it is boredom, and a lot is because they are so desperate for someone to love them that they will do anything to get someone to pay attention to them.

Finally, Monday, one of the other volunteers who is checking out all the other placements came to CAASAH. She has had a lot of experience in things like this so she had lots of ideas right away, with lots of suggestions. Yesterday, she spent the day going over old resources and writing up schedules and plans of action for the volunteers. She noticed that one of the big problems was consistency from volunteer to volunteer. That is a big part of where I come in, because I'm still here for 7 more weeks (well, 6 and a half), and there will be new volunteers at the beginning of March. Today, we tried out our new schedule.

The schedule was supposed to go as follows: 8:30-9:00 cleaning, 9:00-10:30- organized activites, 10:30 - water break, then 10:35-11:30-games. Well, we got there at 8:30 with high hopes, and cleaned. The kids were rowdier than normal, which isn't surprising considering Carnaval starts tomorrow. But we successfully cleaned up the area, and started activity time. We even got the kids to go along with this circle game that starts with a song "Make a circle, make a circle, make it round, make it round, join your hands together, join your hands together, now stand around, now stand around..." Then you introduce the activity, and let the kids start. Well, not a good idea, but it wasnt mine, so whatever, but the first activity we introduced was to paint strips of paper and then make rings and chains to decorate the room with. All was going well enough until this older girl, The Godfather we call her (if that gives you an idea of her personality and her importance for the kids), Christiane, took a jar of paint and literally poured it on her hands and the hands of several other kids. Needless to say, disaster ensued. All the children were trying to steal the other jars of paint, so Dan and I had to guard them, because the tops were holding the paint for the kids to paint out of. It was terrible. Once they got their hands dirty it was all over. they started painting each other, us, etc. It was TERRIBLE! So, we left. Grace and Kharmela, two of the CCS staff were with us and they told the kids basically if they liked having us come every day, they had better act right, because this isn't happening again. They got told off and we spent the next two hours playing dominos with a couple of the adults. Kharmela and Grace had been talking with the staff of CAASAH, saying that the volunteers are fed up and can't work here, so either something has to change at caasah or we won't be coming back! I felt like FINALLY someone got what I've been saying for the past 5 weeks, and something good is finally going to come of this! YES!!! We spent the better part of an hour talking to Grace and Marcia, one of the staff members at CAASAH about the plans and what we needed and what needed to be done. She was VERY receptive to our ideas and our concerns, and I felt really really good coming out of there. Also, the guy we were playing dominos with told us that he really really appreciated us coming, because they are bored there, and we hang out with them and entertain them. We also don't treat them any differently just because they have HIV or AIDS, and they appreciate that soooo much! It was wonderful to get such nice feedback, and to feel so wanted and to feel like we were doing so much good and had no idea.

Today, I finally felt hopeful about the rest of my time here. I felt like I would actually do some good for these kids, instead of just giving them some toys. I feel like their lives are going to be better because I was here. Its something that I've never felt before, and I am so pleased. Its made today really wonderful. It has made me feel like this trip will be a sucess.

CARNAVAL

February 12, 2007

2007 starts on thursday. This thursday. Which means, that I'm going to be immersed in some mad crazy partying for a week solid. I'm beginning to think that Brazilians don't sleep. Most of the parades and stuff start from 12 -3 pm, and the party goes from then until 10 am. Straight. So I'm excited. I also might be changing placements soon... but ill write more on that later.

jealous of the moon

February 11, 2007

This was an incredibly lazy weekend. And, an awesome one I might add. Yesterday Kelly and I were going to abandon Liway (she left at 2 pm yesterday afternoon) to go to Praia do Forte, where there is a turtle project! We both really wanted to go, but at the last minute (literally) we backed out, in favor of a lazy weekend at the house. So instead, yesterday we went to Mercado Modelo (the local craft market - very touristy), and helped Liway get ready to say goodbye. It was SOOO sad, I was trying not to cry but a few tears slipped out. I kinda wish I had just bawled, because the rest of the day I was so emo. I read a book, started a new one, added pictures on here (check out the Peroba album) and moped around. We rented Coach Carter, and I decided that I am going to go out more!

So today, we went to the museum of modern art, and I'm about to go to a cabaret performance. The museum was amazing, they had some really incredible stuff there. It is a bunch of buildings right on the water, with incredible views.

About the new album - I decided to get a little perspective on CAASAH - they've had some admin problems, and I don't particularly like the relationship that CCS has developed with them, so I wanted to see how a similar placement is. Jose Peroba orphanage is on the other side of town, and I went with a bunch of other volunteeers who go there regularly. It also happened to be my roommate Liway's last day there, so I was glad to be able to share that with her! So the pictures that I added are from Friday, and we had a waterfight! One of the socal fathers (I think they are supposed to be father figures to the orphans) started the fight with Kelly, and then a lot of the kids got involved. It was hilarious!

I have to go get ready to leave! Its so late!

Hark the sound of

February 8, 2007

Tarheel voices, ringing clear and TRUUUUEEEEEEEE" - This is what I've been singing all day. Seriously, all day.

its been amazing.

GO HEELS!!!!!!

It was a hellova night

February 5, 2007

We got new volunteers this weekend, and its been busy getting to know them and helping them get accustomed to all this brazil business. It always helps to tell other people things you know... It makes me feel useful and it makes them feel welcomed.

I put some more pictures up - a new album called RANDOMS, and some more pictures in the Lencois and Morro de Sao Paulo albums. I'm trying to give people an idea of where I am and what life is like here. Very laid back and relaxed - very do it at your own pace.

I have a confession to make. It is really really hard to be here sometimes. Its difficult to do all the work and be so far away from home and feel so disconnected. I miss everyone, but at the same time its good to be by myself. Sometimes I get really emotional and feel like I'm going to cry (I'm not the only one, this happens to other people too!), and I can't figure out why. Its crazy and strange and this constant wave of emotions, trying to be acommodating and personable and do what you want. And to see the kids every day - its draining!

Well, I just found out some interesting news - we're moving in a month. To a new house. Its supposed to be bigger. When I find out the address, I'll let you know. We should be there March 1. Exciting!!!

Ok, well enough emo news. I'm going to watch a movie.

My bright is too sly to hold back all my dark

February 4, 2007

Friday was the festival to celebrate the Orisha Yemanja. She is the goddess of the sea, and of birth - The fisherman pray to her so that she will bless their catch. On Feb. 2nd they give her gifts. Yemanja is said to be a very vain orisha (god or goddess) so people give her flowers and perfume and statues of herself. They line up for about a mile outside of the Yemanja house on the edge of the sea, just to be able to have their gifts blessed and put them in boats and send them off. The festival lasts all day long and people are constantly sending things out on boats. I even got to see some Baianas go into a trance! SWEEET!

So we went to that festival, I took some pictures.

Saturday I got sunburnt. Today I'm resting my sunburn. Check out the photos.

The Half-Time Show

February 1, 2007

So, Go HEELS!!!!!! Excellent past few wins, I'm very proud to be repin' UNC down here in South America, where no one cares about basketball but me. They just care about soccer. Speaking of which, we went to a Bahia soccer game last night (they tied, apparently Bahia isn't that great). As the only white girls in a male dominated fan base, we quickly became the center of attention. Try as we might, we couldn't get those Brazilians to focus on the game. Although, I haven't seen many fans like that since I last went to a Carolina game. And even that hardly compares. This soccer team is mediocre at best, and the fans act like their lives depend on the outcome of the game! They all dress up, and stand up and scream at everything! They are serious drama queens out on the field- always making the worst of any time another player touches them. But back to us, the white girls - we were sitting on the bleachers, watching the game, and this guy bought us ice cream and then tried to feed it to us. We got more than one phone number, and at one point a local who spoke english came up and started translating for the Brazilians, and I promise there were at LEAST 30 men surrounding our group of 7. It was almost scary at times, because Brazilians are very forward and very suggestive. It was ok though, no one tried anything, and we left before the game was over to avoid any craziness. The game was a lot of fun though, I think that I'm going to go back!

So lately I've been craving mexican food (who knows why, I guess its all the beans and rice with no tortillas to go with it), and today I read about a mexican place in a guide book! I hope its still there - I think we're going to go eat dinner there tomorrow!

Tonight we are going to listen to a concert on the beach after dinner. I don't know who it is, but I think they are playing reggae music or something. I'm excited.

We get 14 more volunteers this weekend- the house is going to be EVEN fuller!