Merry Christmas

Búzios is beauuutiful. The view from this pousada is amazing, like from a storybook. We're convinced that some of the pretty painted fishing boats are "show boats" but even so they add to the amazingly relaxed and kicked back but still luxurious atmosphere. Not luxurious like gold toilets which I would say are tacky but luxurious like, beautiful surroundings, jacuzzi overlooking the beach, an amazing chef/barstaff and restaurant. Sheer white curtains all over the place, you have to wind through them to get to the sun deck and open air, but roofed restaurant.

So, I wrote that first paragraph before I had twenty something mosquito bites on my shins. And I think I was especially allergic to these ones- so much that I sought pharmaceutical help. When Brazilians get sick they usually try the pharmacy first, because you can get pretty much any drug over the counter. They didn´t look surprised though, and just gave me some oral antihistamine and cortizone cream, so I'm less worried.

Best part of Búzios, or at least a highlight was meeting South African guys with a bottle of Johnny Walker black label. The bar had closed early that night (understandably, it was christmas eve) and I was going to go get my welcome drink and then I ran into them. Antoni, jumped across the bar and found us ice and glasses, and accidentally broke a glass- it was awesome. Kevin came and joined us too. It was one of those impromptu, timing just worked out perfectly moments that can never be repeated. People meeting people.

It definitely didn´t feel like Christmas day. Though, sharing favorite Christmas moments over a delicious meal for Christmas eve dinner at the pousada- Vila d´este- was fun, but I miss snow.

I got to Rio today, to my hostel that I reserved- It wasn´t labelled at all except for the address, and I think Kevin and his parents were a little freaked out to leave me there. It wasn´t in a bad part of town though, I feel totally safe here- the security is pretty comprehensive. The staff at the hostel is really chill, treats everyone here like part of the family. People are watching Das Experiment dubbed in portuguese and with english subtitles. Good movie, interesting in translation. I didn´t leave the hostel today, because it has been pouring rain all day. Sort of wish I was back in Búzios, making fun of Paulo the hotel manager.

Londrina- I miss you already

Cheesy, sure- but I mean it.

Thursday night was the last night before Marlene closed down the office until after the new year. That night, Marlene, Joao, Isa and I went to a bar called Vilao for a end of year celebration where we met everyone else from the office, plus a few significant others and/or relatives. Carolina came with her sister, Emerson with his girl, Samara with her boy and Josi with her husband. We somehow went through 5 bottles of wine. Really really good dry red wine. Concha de Toro, and then St. Helena. To get to this bar, you had to walk through literally a jungle. Well, not really a jungle, it was a brick walled hallway with lights strung up over head, and trees and plants growing on either side, some of them in pots, some not- forming an archway towards the back where the entrance to the bar was. The bar itself had a collection of just about everything, you can see in some of the pictures that I promise to post soon.

I'm not sure if it was the wine, or if it was the dim nostalgia-inducing lighting or maybe I just got bug spray in my eye- but there were a couple of times where I looked over at Marlene, or at Isa, or Josi and Andre, and wanted to cry. Like, floods of memories from the past two months ran through my head, from first meeting them at the airport, to goofing off at dinner in Marlene's kitchen, to making tea for the office, to dancing and singing in the car with Isa... just made me wish it didn't have to end. And then when I realized it was going to, whether I was ready or not, it got to me. I have made great friends over the short time that I have been in Londrina. And I hope- no I know, we'll see each other again. Whether it will be back in Londrina, or in NYC 2010 (Marlene is planning a trip there, then).

This trip has been so much more than a work-exchange program. Sure, I learned a lot, picked up a few programs and a few projects to put in my portfolio. Being here, meeting people and seeing how they live what they value how they see the world- Its restored my faith in the good in people, in love, in myself. Amazingly good people are out there, and I've been truly blessed to meet some of them.

For me, the face of Brazil will always be Londrina, Marlene-Lima arquitetas e interiores, and the boa gente of the Ricci-Souza family and their friends. Leninha, their maid- who is more like a good friend who's job happens to be to clean and cook for them has spoiled me rotten for the past couple months, her two kids Tunico and Nayara are both amazing, Tunico (actual name is Wellington) is an amazing artist and wants to be an architect. I really think he will be when he grows up, he has a great talent. And Nayara, she will do whatever she sets her mind to, she's very bold and talkative- huge sweetheart.

Getting sidetracked... So today I got into Sao Paolo. The bus was late and it was PACKED at the terminal- but somehow Kevin (my uncles friend who's parents are also visitin) found me, and everything is good. Thank goodness he is here! And willing to host my aimless-self for a while. We had an amazingly delicious dinner at an Italian place downtown. I took some pictures of buildings along the way- Sao Paolo is immmmense. I can't even handle it- will need to crack open a guide book- yuck tourist stuff. Tomorrow we're off to Buzios, a small beach town- I can't wait for the ocean!!

embora...

I bought my bus ticket to Sao Paulo today. I had been putting it off for a few days because I don't really want to think about leaving. I've really connected with everyone here. People from the office, and the family. I feel like I've just gotten to the point where you really get to know people. Past the daily personality things you perceive over time to the deeper, things about their pasts you could only know if they told you, confided in you. To that point where you trust each other with anything, where you are completely comfortable- where you can joke about everything, where I understand their jokes in Portuguese, and then make my own. I'm finally there, and now I'm leaving in 5 days.

I know Christmas here would be wonderful, but I also want to get out there and see more of Brazil. I'm actually torn over travelling and I never thought that could happen. Seeing Kevin (my uncle´s good friend from college who works for GM in Sao Paolo) will be great, I know I will have a great Christmas with him and his parents too. Everyone keeps telling me that Búzios is gorgeous, and I can´t wait to see for myself. Reveillon 2009 will be in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro with other IAESTE students. Cannn't wait!

Yesterday I dreamt I was in my parents house- took me a second to figure out where I was once I woke up. I think its my subconscious confirming that I do miss them, even if I don't want to think about it. Homesickness is a terrible, humbling thing, sort of like nostalgia- it takes away from living in the now, and now I am in the best place I can possibly be. I want to remember all the impressions and perceptions that I'm getting here and now in Brazil, not from missing friends and family from the states. At the same time, its good to realize how much you take for granted while abroad. Even though things are worse than they´ve been in years, I still think that I´m privaleged to live in the good old US of A and I want to come back. Especially now, I think with Obama, as a country we are finally moving in the right direction and I'm excited to see what happens- to be part of it.