My Experience Living In Brazil- Pre View.

  Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever expected to be in a place so beautiful, so exotic. Full of so much history and cultural diversity, Brazil is a place all in its own. I first gravitated to Brazil when I was a boy in Jamaica. I used to watch old films of Pelle, when he used to dominate the world of soccer. I became even more curious in 2002 when I came across a film called the City of Gods. It was with this impression which made me want to explore the country even more. From conversation and discussions I had with folks, I was only aware of the good points of the country and like anything in life, there is also a negative side so I had to find out more for myself. August 16, 2013, was the day I arrived here. I decided to give up the life that I once knew and take on a different challenge. I wanted to see for myself but I also wanted to educate my mind.  What better time than now! With the World Cup approaching and the Olympic Games in a few years, Brazil was calling and I decided answer the call. When I first arrived,  I was a bit unsettled, a little scattered, but from past experiences, I've learned to stay calm. The scenery was breath taking on the drive down. Fevelas surrounding me on both sides and the neighborhood children were all out playing soccer. I can see from the games that I was observing, the greatest of country started with the obsession and passion of the youths.

  To move along, I had a difficult time adjusting to the country in the very beginning. The culture and customs where different. For on thing, Brazilians are more informal when it comes to greetings and meeting new people. For example, when Brazilians meet one another, they exchange with a  kiss on both cheeks or a hug, while in the United States,  people are more formal and distant. Greeting with a simple handshake. In Rio De Janeiro the people are extremely friendly and outgoing, while in the states people tend to keep to themselves. While there are differences, there are certain characteristic they both share. They both share a wide diversity when it comes to its people. In Brazil, the people are made up of Africans, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, French and so on. Anyone here can pretty much pass for a Brazilian. Thanks to a few people I have met along the way,  my stay in Brazil has been magnificent.  Thanks to  Drica, Patricia, Rafaela, Miguel, Rodrigo, Bernard, Celestino, Josquin. They have taught and showed me the Brazilian lifestyle and made me feel really at home. Hostel Bellas Artes Hostel is where I am staying, and from the first time I entered there, I felt really comfortable.

  My favorite moments and time at the hostel will have to be at the  Jazz shows, and swapping stories with the guest. The city of Samba which Rio De Janerio is known for is filled with so much vibes. Especially in Lapa and Santa  Teresa, which is the main area where tourist and locals go. Music videos and famous films have been documented there and its one of the most recognizable places in Brazil. There you can listen to funk, Jazz, Samba, Reggae, and so on. On the weekends especially, the streets are swarming with people. My favorite destination in Lapa has to be the Lapa steps, where many videos such as Beautiful song by  American Rapper Snoop Dogg was sang there. There people can relax, sit and talk and drink a beer. When Brazilians want to relax on the weekends, there is nothing more peaceful then heading to the beach. Copacabana and Ipanema are the most popular beaches in Rio, but there are others that are really eye popin to look at as well. I have gotten to chance to explore much of Brazil as of yet, but I am looking forward to getting to know more places in the near future such as, Bahia, Sao Paulo, Brasilia among other destination. Leading up to this moment has been up and down roller coaster for me, but Teaching has put everything in prospective. Especially making a difference in the life of the students and bringing  my experience from abroad. As time goes on I will reveal more about my time teaching . Also the protest leading up to the World Cup, and the obsession of the Brazilian culture with football..... Stay tuned.

LAL Summer Camp 2013 part 2

      All and all getting to know everyone at the camp was my favorite time including the staff. Coming from diverse backgrounds and upbringings It was a real educational experience for me. Stephanie M is a sweetheart and one of the most fun loving people I ever met. Stephanie S has  a positive outlook on life. Robercy T  is a fun and outgoing girl, who loves to be the life of the party. Rebecca C has a  great work ethic, and is a great person to talk with. It my time of getting to know her I discovered she has a humorous side. Raul M was a person whom I thought had the most interesting journey out of everyone at the camp.

 He traveled the world, and his love for music made him explore all corners of his passion. 

Brandon K was our education coordinator. He has a great work ethic and he is good at instructin. He made me see what life is like if you work hard. Aruna K is a sweet girl. I enjoyed joking with her. She has a great sense and a great sense of style.  Jordan is  a cool dude, very family oriented guy who is a great person to talk to. Jesus G is a jokester and loves to find humor in anything he does, he is also a great person to talk to. Kady M was a great person to be around. She loved to laugh and enjoy life. Her ability to  go with the flow was something I grew to admire.  Kady B is a fun person who loves to laugh, she has a sarcastic way of making the simplest thing seem funny. Patrick W is a laid back  dude, who doesn't  reveal much in the beginning, but once you get to know him,  he is a awesome person. Michelle C is a sweetheart, soft spoken and a person who thrives on doing a good job. I had a great time getting to know her. Kirsten B is a great person to be around, I had random times with her.  

          One moment that stuck in my mind was our trip to Washington Square Park in NYC. It  was a moment  I would never forget  because it was our last time we ever spend together as a group. Lindsay D is  a great friend. I had a great time sharing  personal stories with her. She is a great person to talk to. Carrie L is  a great person who loves to laugh. She has a carefree way about her, which makes you gravitate towards her. Julia Z would have to be the most outgoing persons  I ever met,  full of vibes and a positive outlook on life, she was a great person to work with . Heather A is a fun person who loved to be around the  kids which, I loved about her. My time getting to know her was like looking at a female version of myself in the mirror. A interesting past with ambitious future. I had a great getting to know her. Margo D was the craziest and most outgoing one in the group. I recalled our first meeting as a staff  and she showing us something we were not expecting to see and I thought to myself this girl is so cool. I recalled our conversation in the cafe, she really wants to be something special one day, which I admired about her. The Sense was my favorite person getting to know at the camp. 

             We identified with each other and we understood each other. While most people observed him from the surface, I explored and discovered the human side of sense from the inside. He has fought, he has loved, and now he is freed. In our conversation, I learned to look at life differently and let go of the painful past that haunts us. I've  leaned about courage, and not folding under pressure. The camp wouldn't have been the same without the IGL's. Urkus  is  the most fun loving and enjoyable person I've every been around. She loved life and enjoying it to the fullest. My time with her in Central Park was the most impressionable and unforgettable. Marta V was wild and fun.  I never met a person who loved joking so much. Yuri B was amazing person, and I enjoyed sharing my time and stories with him. He is the coolest guy  I ever met. To the other IGL's it was a pleasure to get to know each and everyone of you. Thanks for sharing your lives with me and also your culture. To the LAL students, it's  because of you I love to do what I do. I will never forget this experience. Thanks for the memories. One Love.

LAL International Summer Camp 2013

This summer had to be one of  the most unforgettable times ever in my life, thanks to a group of international students.  I was able to  take a time machine into the past and live my life as if I were an adolescent again. When I first decided to take  the summer position as an ESL teacher/Activity Leader/House Parent, I didn't know what to expect. All I knew was at some point my body was going to take a toll on me, but I knew when that time came, I had to fight through it  and prove to myself and the kids I will be there for them. The first week is always difficult. Getting to know colleagues, staff and your new environment,but with time I have learnt to roll with punches and take as an opportunity   shine. The first week would be a testimony of that.

   In my first week of teaching my organization was a bit off, so I had come up with different ways of reaching the students , so I used games, media, social networks,  books, and personal stories to make the lessons more interesting.. Over the counts of days I found the method to have worked and both the students and I had a mutual respect  for one another. The second job I took was activity leader. In being an Activity leader, I had to learn to be active and engaging with the students. The house parent position was no cakewalk, but It was my second favorite position, because it allowed me to spend time with the students that would  help each other in the classroom. At the house parent meetings we sang , we joked, clown around , but in between I learned about their culture, foods, way of life, and the history of their country.  We even sang the most recognized song in Italy. "Volare" a song that would remain in my head for the rest of camp.

  The Italian group had a long and lasting impression on me. Maybe it was the song,  which made  me even more curious of wanting to visit Italy someday. I also got a chance to learn about the Taiwanese culture, thanks to a bunch of fun, outgoing, crazy and wild teenagers. I got a history lesson on Taiwan. It was our sharing and our curiosity for one another that helped form a great friendship. My favorite moments with them would have to be hearing them talk about the American girls. I had a great time learning about the German culture. I had a great time learning German from the German students. They were amazing and very receptive when it came to  sharing their culture about Germany.

   My favorite moment with them would have to be learning German at the Yankee Game. It was my first intensive German lesson that I had, which the kids where great at explaining the rules of the game to me  as I was learning about their individual likes and dislikes. The group from Spain where fun. They talked about their love for food and culture and why Spain was ranked number 1 in the world in soccer. I was close to two students from Spain.  Ricardo and Carlos. I had a great time getting to know them, and spending time with them. The Russian students was more a pleasure getting to know because beforehand I knew very little about Russia, but the students were great filling me in about the current state of Russia and the history. I enjoyed learning Russian, but of all the languages I found it to be the most difficult to learn. The students were great at being patient and teaching me their language.

Michael Jackson- Heal The World

A Global Icon with his message for peace love and unity. He transcended how we look at popular music today. My favorite song of his was heal the world, which I remembered very well. I was only ten years old back  in 1991, but the song spoke to me in volumes. To this day, his message couldn't be clearer. On 4 year anniversary of his death,  I remembered man who fought for what he believed in. Through his music he lives on. R.I.P King of Pop.

 

Supermoon Lights Up The World

The moon controls the tides of the oceans, but early morning, Sunday, June 23, observers from all around the world  got a magnificent and a rare glimpse of the 2013 super moon as it loomed from above the earth . A super moon happens only when a full or new moon is at its closest orbit to the Earth throughout the year. The moon appears 14 percent larger than normal, but the difference is so small that most sky watchers won't notice.The next time that the moon will be this close to the earth again is in August 2014. Here are some breathtaking photos of the moon,
                                                            Statue of Liberty

                                                                     Tel, Aviv, Isreal

 

Topkapi Palace

                                                 
                                                              Judean Desert In Israeli

 

Singapore

Boise Idaho

State Capitol in Jackson, Miss

“Judean Desert”  Palestinian West Bank

 Norco, La 

Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack, N.J., 

In Cairo, Egypt,

Hinds County, Miss., near Jackson, Miss

                                                        
                                                                Istanbul, Turkey

                                                     
                                         Home Place clock tower in Pratt ville, Ala.,

Next Chapter--Rio De Janeiro Brazil

There comes a time in a person life when they have to move on , especially if it's the same old boring routine. Traveling is my forte. I embrace the idea if continual growth by going to different places to try and find out what links us all to the human experience. My last destination was South Korea, I learn a very important lesson during my travels there that I will always take with me no matter where I go. What I learned from that experience made me grow up quickly, because I never had chance for someone to explain it to me. Life can throw curve balls and sometimes u won't be prepared to handle them, and that was what I learn on my journey in South Korea. This time a year and half wiser and more  experienced I have decided to take on another adventure. Brazil has always been on the top of my list. It has a deep history and a rich culture. From beaches, to soccer, to foods and lots of sights Brazil is one of the most popular destination to visit around the world. The World Cup is right around the corner, and Brazil has been known to produce some of the greatest soccer players in the world. Partly that is why I am going, but also within recent weeks there has been protest throughout the country about the arrival of the Olympic Games and how its forcing people from the inner city to move out to make room for the World Cup and Olympic Games. Also, there has been other issues regarding  inflation and government spending.. Why are people so angry? We will soon find out. I must say, I am really excited but at the same time a little bit nervous, but like my other  trips, I've learned once you bring an  openness to adopt and want to be apart of the culture people will embrace you.

Lego Artist Takes Shape And Form

Artist express themselves in various ways, for me I like to use words to paint my audiences a picture. Nathan Sawaya's prefers Legos. The contemporary artist transforms those colorful plastic bricks that delight children, wreak havoc on vacuum cleaners and inflict pain on bare feet, into amazing sculptures.  Talk about a unique way to express yourself. Sawaya has created new works for the New York show, featuring more than 100 sculptures constructed from millions of plastic bricks. And If you've visited a Lego land theme park and think you've seen Lego sculptures, expect edgier stuff from Sawaya. I had a chance to see his latest work in the Metro news this morning called "Swimmer" It went on display in the "Art of the Brick" show at Discovery Times Square on June 18.