Living in Brazil 5

     


     

When January 2014 came around, I had noticed the sudden change in my appearance. I had lost about 10 pounds. I was slowly but surely adjusting to the life in Brazil. I had decided to explore more the city of Rio de Janiero. I started going on hikes, walks, explore the beaches, and local hot spots in Copacabana.  I made a consciousness effort to go to the beach every morning, play basketball or soccer every morning in a local park nearby me every weekend, within the coming months all the fat I started disappearing. I also started changing my eating habits, instead of McDonald or KFC which I was used to while living in the states, I started buying and eating fruits and vegetables. For lunch, I would have rice and beans, meats natural juice and vegetables. Also my routine which I changed a bit made a big difference. I would head to Copacabana beach every morning just at the crack of dawn. Take the metro which was 15 minutes away from me. I would spend 2 hours on the beach in Copacabana running and swimming. For me, early morning exercise was the best, you had few people at the beach, the sun was at its lowest point during the day, and also you have time to meditate and be alone and collect your thoughts. There was no big crowds before 8 o'clock, the sea was a quit and still place for me. Sometimes I could literally count the amount of people on my hand.In Copacabana near pier, there is a breath taking view of the sunset by the rocks. For me, It was my time of peace and relaxation and finally adsorb the fact I was living my dream.

     
   Things were starting to come together around the end of January. I had started exercising and working out more. I explored the sites around Copacabana. From the hikes, to the restaurants museums, beaches, and parties I was started to feel at home. The best part was yet to come as Carnival was just right around the corner. From the beginning of January until middle of February the anticipation begins to build as everyone begins to get into the festive mood.  Samba music is played on the street corners, where you have small crowds of people gathering around dancing and singing old and new classic classic. For me, I spend my first carnival mainly in the main central spot where many people gather at night called Lapa. There you have the famous Lapa steps where some of the worlds most famous artist have done videos, such as Snoop Dogg and John Legend. There at night, people gather on the steps,  talk and sing music and drink beer. That is one of the hot spots but to discover the true madness and craziness that transpires at night in Lapa you  have to go to the orcolos do Lapa where you have a people gathered around in crowds dancing and having a festive time. Along the way, there are bars and trendy restaurants where you can eat some enjoy yourself.

    Carnival was an amazing, exceptionally great experience for me.  It was something I dreamed about and wanted to experience my entire life, and here I was in the most beautiful city in the world about to have my chance. It was a so real experience Around mid February Carnival officially get off. It was everything and more that I had hope for, Large crowds  of people behaving like children for seven days without any rules or restrictions.  You can basically say, anything goes. Many people I spoke to told me, that Carnival was the heart and soul of Brazil.Carnival is apart of the culture that goes deeper than having loads of beers or vodkas or locking lips with total strangers but the idea that for one week, the people are enjoying the music and the company of others and the joy and being free and alive. I had the great chance to spend carnival with a friend of mine Jorge Andres whom was working at the Bellas Artes Hostel, where I was staying at the time. He and I would get up everyday, during the start of carnival and buy liquors and beers and hit all the local blocos, which were block parties in Brazil, on the street depending on  the time and place you were in Rio. There were different block parties throughout the day and each location. There would be blocos on the beach during the day and during the night, most of the blocos were situated downtown or in the main areas of the city. Everyday children, adults, young people, old people, locals, foreigners, and so on come together to show off their customs. Many of the men,would wear women dresses as a way to celebrate  the festivities and poke fun of the idea. Also many of the woman would come dress as men. The atmosphere is nothing like you would believe and the people and the magnitude was on a scale like no other places I have ever been. The school of Samba was the best part for me, a room full of musicians playing every instrument you can name dancing to old classic Samba music. The woman and men would dance and the whole room would be clap and cheer enjoying themselves.


     After a week, the streets slowly began to sweep away, the crowds were slowly disappearing and everything was getting back to normal. The kids return to school and adults returned to work. Just before the carnival had arrived I had met someone at the hostel named Wana Oliveira. She was from the Northwest of Brazil Belem next to the Amazons. She and I had become friends, and she told me a lot about her home down and how she grew up. She like me ha big inspirations to travel the world and find herself and so something meaningful with her life. She and I spent a week getting to know each other. In the time we spend together I found out she loved reggae music, she loved to travel, and she has a special love for animals. We talked would talk a lot about the possibility of meeting in New York one day which she was heading at the time, but for me I didn't want to go back, I needed more time to find myself, finish my book and look for the answers I was searching for. Its sad, because we were both the same  kind of people but at the time we were both headed in different directions in our lives.  I wanted to head out of the US and she wanted to head in. We made the most of our times together. In the week she stated at the hostel, we talked about hopefully meeting up in New York, because there is were she wanted to study and gain her English certificate. I knew for some reason in the back of  my mind it wasn't going to happen, but I was still optimistic, but for me we were just two spirits passing by in each others lives. To this day we sill keep in touch and she lives in New York.

Teaching in Brazil 5

   

After landing a job at Focus, I was feeling more relaxed and more comfortable with my role in Brazil. Better income and more freedom meant more opportunity to explore. Teaching English was becoming fun and enjoyable,  for the first time since the summer of 2013 teaching was fun again. I started getting groups to teach at the course. There were some unforgettable  students and groups that I taught but one group stood out from the rest. In the beginning it wasn't so easy as they had to get use to my way of teaching. They understood small words but generally in conversation they had a hard time grasping the idea and concepts of how to use the words. They also had difficulty adjusting to the speed and  pitch of my voice. They would say, slow down teacher. I knew then I had to learn how to adjust  to their  pace before they had to adjust to mine. In time things became easier and the lines of communication was beginning bridged. We had an awesome time getting to know each other. We would joke and tell each other stories in class. With time it build trust with everyone which made us more open about sharing our experiences, which made everyone want to share their experience in English. Every week Monday and Wednesdays at nights at 7 pm for an hour we would make the best out of our classes. Sometimes it would be difficult to get through to them, because they would complain about the long and difficult day they had at work. Especially with my evening group which I had twice a week. Monday and Wednesday nights. They would come up with different scenarios about leaving their book at home or forgetting their homework on the metro or at their job. They mostly used the typical we didn't have any time routine which I found fascinating because many of this grown adults were acting like children.  I  discovered that many people in Rio would rather past the time by going to beach, go to the bar, hang out with their friends, Anything to do with work or studying was not something their used to.


       It was a challenge for me at first, but with time and patience I had discovered, its good to change ones routine in order to get better results. I was bringing in a new concept and a new idea when it came to teaching. Everyone in the world can relate to fun. If used positively and constructively, it can change a person way of  learning. I would ask them general topics about their personal interest and what was going on in their lives. That was the perfect  opportunity they needed to speak so I can slowly give them  the tools they needed to speak efficiently and correctly. Many people in Rio de Janerio  were excited about having foreigners coming to their country to teach them English.. I was the most authentic person they knew and I could help them and change their lives in so many ways.

  When I made the transition to work at Focus. I didn't know what to expect, For starters,  the School was  a professional school which meant  I had to be organized to carry out the  lesson plans and execute certain paperwork and documentation I had to complete on a regularly basis... Something that I have struggled with  for the majority part of my life, so I had to focus a little bit more to make a better impression when it comes to organizing myself and preparing the lessons. As time went on, I learn to structure myself a little bit more. I gave myself enough time to absorb the lessons even more than what I am used t. Many of the students I had were beginners and they had never spoken any word of English, so for me, I had to be more patient than usually and try new techniques. Also many of them were timid to even want to attempt  it sometimes was like pulling teeth. For me, I had to make them feel comfortable. I had to get in depth with them on the things that were happening in their lives and find a way for them to feel comfortable enough to say it in English. In time, with my extrovert personality and communications skills, I slowly had them talking to me even when there was nothing to be said. The interest and level of excitement learning about my background and the State which everyone dreams of going to, New York. They saw me as hope, that one day they could have the opportunity,  to travel abroad  for a better life or just the opportunity to experience something different from what they were used to.

    In August 2014,  I started working at Focus. It wasn't an easy transition from INEP because in that course, I had more freedom to do what I wanted and with Focus the classrooms were bigger, the students were more, the atmosphere was more professional. The difference which I liked about Focus  was that it had more current and up to date material that could relate to,while learning English. In  Focus, we use music, games, conversation new and up to date books and even activities outside the classrooms to draw a picture of the real English experience.The  co-workers at the course are really good to work with.  They are very helpful and if I was in a situation in which I need their help they would be right there.This made me believe I was in the right situation. For me, If I work in an environment in which everyone helps out the other I will show one hundred percent dedication and hard word into making sure I do my part. From the first 3 months, it was a  roller coaster ride, But towards the end of December 2014, many of my students had already gotten used to me, even calling me the crazy teacher. It would be an insult for most, but for me I was letting them into a world were learning can be fun and exciting. 

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US President Barack Obama makes historical visit to Africa. He addresses the African Union about some of the difficulties and issues facing Africa today.  He talks about human rights laws, when it came to same sex marriages, the treatment of woman, and the labor laws of children and how corruption place  a  huge role on the African Continent.  He also talks about those in power and the role they play in the world and  them having accountability for their actions.

Same Sex Marriage Rights Legalized

CNN Freedom Project- West Africa Slavery

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Maroon Connection Freedom Project

This documentary talks about the original Jamaican Maroons and the African Atlantic Slave Trade and the influence of the people of Sierra Leone. Enjoy!

Living in Brazil 4

                                                                 

   At  the end  of 2014, I was becoming very uncertain about my decision moving to Brazil. I was still adjusting to the language and I wasn't in the situation I had hoped for. I had learnt from my years living in New York, if you want to change the outcome you have to put in the work to get it. I did just that. Things were about to change. I started working at a hostel down the street from the first hostel where I was living. The name of the Hostel was Kariok Hostel. I first encountered my boss Luciene there on the last day in December. She decided to give me an opportunity  to work for the hostel for the entire month of January. Her spirit is of a person who is always buzzing.  She is very strong, smart, independent, and loyal. She is a very kind heart-person who believes in giving others an opportunity. She knew my situation and my my lack of knowledge with Portuguese, but she still decided to give me a chance anyway. I worked the night shift everyday for a month. After working there for a month  I felt at home. I met some really amazing people working there as well. They made me feel like family from the get go. Until this day, that's why I continue to still  work there. Valentina Torquemade was a co worker of mine was working thereat the time. She was originally from Venezula, but like me, she was also searching for a dream and a better life; I had a great time getting to know her. We had fun, told jokes and had a few good nights in Lapa with the guest. She has now moved on to Switzerland. Another co-worker that I had fun getting to know was Caroline Souza  a local Carioca from Rio de Janerio. She was a very nice, smart, outgoing, and fun. I had a really awesome time playing with her son. I call him my little buddy. Caroline and I would talk about things  and took many pictures at the hostel. A week ago, she decided to move on, after two years working at the hostel. It was sad, but the same time, I know the reality. Its times like these you appreciate the people who helped you, listen to you, and guided you, and that´s what exactly what they did. There are unforgettable.

   In the week approaching Christmas, I felt alone for the first time in along time. I had no one to talk to and nothing to do. I spend  most of  my time reading and writing in my room. I thought about my family a lot, what we have been through, where we´ve been, what we´ve done together. A few days before Christmas there was a new employer working at the hostel. Her name was Ines MarquesBastos. She took the place of my friend Emily who was  the receptionist.  Emily had decided to return to the States, and she was the only connection I had in Brazil. When she left there was another person who took her place. Ines Bastro was her name. She was from Portugal. She spoke Portuguese, English and Spanish. She was only 21 years old. By her maturity she seemed as if she had lived on the earth  5 years prior. She was very down to earth, adventurous and who loved freedom. When we first meet we had an instant connection. We talked alot about our past experiences, where we were going, and where we hoped to be. Our connection was like of two people that were children, meeting for the very first time.. We went to the beach, we went to mall, we had deep and really insightful conversation. Within the two weeks we became really good friends. Our best moment was when we went out to Copacabana on New Years Eve. It was a magical night full of dancing, and laughter. It was a moment that will forever live in my memory. It  would be the last time we hung out together. After two weeks working at the hostel, she decided to move on. I couldn't blame her. We had a good-bye dinner with two of our other good friends from Argentina who were staying at the hostel at the time. We laughed and shared stories and made plans to someday meet up again. Being in this situation many times before, traveling abroad for the past six years now, I knew it would be the last time, but to this day, I reflect on the times we had with pure joy, and the understanding why sometimes people are brought into our lives when we least expect it.