Cyber Chapina: May 2005

Monday, May 30, 2005

The Countdown Begins

I went to the Mission SF Carnaval yesterday to get in the mood for Brazil. There won't be any Carnaval while I'm there but maybe some other visit in my future. I saw tons of people I havent seen in forever. Who knew that you could just kick it at a booth and see all kinds of beautiful familiar faces come to your neighborhood, finally! I took refuge in this booth most of the time cause large crowds are not my thing. I hung out with Rosa and Gina who were selling their beautiful hand made beaded jewlery (of course I already have two pairs) and Jerry was selling his T-shirts with his original art www.estiloclothing.com. I actually came to the booth to look at the shirts and realized...well looky here, its the homies! And of course can't forget Xago looking shady in his shades and beautiful Susie surveying the scene, visiting home from LA.

I'm starting to pack and have been doing some research on the places I will be staying (I leave June 6th!) I will be in Rio the first week and then after that we will be in Belo Horizonte
(portuguese version here) working with the non profit Salo do Encontro (there used to be a site in english but I can't find it anymore, you'll get the idea though). I just found out that Belo Horizonte is the birthplace of Sepultura, (R will be so excited) and also the 3rd largest city in Brazil. It will be fall/ winter time there so I think that means the weather will be just right, but still a lot of humidity which is just how I like it. You know I have those tropical roots.

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

I'm Going to BRAZIL

I know I should be excited. I think I am, I am just trying to finish up finals, grading papers and spring cleaning. I've just been in a blue mood and Im doing everything in my power to procrastinate. Stress does that to me. I dont want to go out of the house if I dont have to or if Im not forced to. And with this beautiful weather you would think I would go outside and not want to come back.

But yes BRASIL!! That will definately take away my blues. I will be too busy taking in the new surroundings not to love life. We are going to be working on a video project for a non-profit in Belo Horizonte. We will also be spending some time in Rio. I'm leaving on June 6 will be there a month and half, with an extra week just to travel by myself. I havent planned that part of the trip yet but I've got a guidebook and I figure while we are working on the project I will figure out what to do with that extra week. Im glad that the group I am going with is small. Im a little worried though cause some of those undergrads seem like they havent really traveled out of the US before and I am so over traveling with gringos who only want to party. Not that I dont want to have fun. It is close to impossible for me not to have fun. I love having adventures in new realities...yes I said reality. I love learning about someones day to day experiences. I'm just not into hanging out with other tourists.

I hope I will have internet access so I can post a little on what the experience is like. I hope I pick up Portuguese with my spanish speaking background. I think we will be taking lessons in the mornings. But of course they say the best way to learn a language is on the pillow. hmmm