Body Notes #1

My body is so happy right now. I just had possibly my favorite dance class ever, a delicious nourishing meal, a jump in a pool, shower and pineapple jello. Really, could it get better?
We had an Afro-Brazilian dance professor come today, and she led us through some capoeira, dance of the blocos afro and samba. She was one of the most beautiful women I've every seen, with pulsing muscles and curves. She didn't speak English, but was one of the best communicators I've every met, using her body, voice, sound to let us know what we were doing. (Also, my Portuguese is rapidly improving.)
Usually when I dance, I have some level of self-doubt and self-consciousness. Even though I love to dance, in a class setting I feel like I am trying to prove myself and my title as a "dancer." At the beginning of the class I felt a little like that, because I've talked with a lot of people about dance here, but I really tried to focus on being in my own body and not compare myself to anyone. By the end, I felt completely present in my body, just moving and sweating and singing.
The fact that I am such an outsider actually helps to some extent because I feel like I have very little to prove in my capabilities, I am here to learn. When I was younger I often felt that I had to "prove" my black identity through dance. And even though dance is such an important part of black identity in Brazil, I've matured to a point where I no longer feel that pressure and since I am definitely not Brazilian, it is obvious that I will not ever have a black-Brazilian identity. With that pressure off I'm able to let go and enjoy myself much more.
This class was perfect because one of my major goals for my time here is to take dance classes and this instructor teaches a class twice a week that I plan to take and I'm thinking that she might be a great resource for my ISP. Just in all, everything feels so right. I just have a sense that I'm in the right place, at the right time.
tchau!

Getting Oriented

Hey Hey Hey,
I started orientation today. I feel very orientated and I'm very excited not only about the content of our program, but also about the philosophy and methodology behind SIT. Our director is an awesome physician/psychiatrist/anthropologist/health activist. Our program it definitely going to be very busy, with lots of excursions and outings.
I've had a bit of culture shock because I went from the city center during Carnaval, which was full of music and dancing and constant stimulation, to a very nice house in the suburbs by the airport. It's kind of like a retreat. We even have a swimming pool!
But during Carnaval we were on our own schedules with lots of different people, but here we really just sit around and get oriented- except we don't really know where we are in the city.

But tomorrow in addition to my first official Portuguese class we have an afro-Brazilian dance class! I am so incredibly excited, especially because I think that I will focus my independent research on the role of dance in empowerment. Damiana, our director, was really excited about the topic and supportive.

Also, I have been eating the most delicious food here, which is a huge step up from my ramen diet at the hostel. There are so many delicious vegetables, fruits and juices. Below is a photo of the spread. Bring on the delicious Brazilian food!!!



Also, here is a link to a picasa album with the few photos I took of Carnaval

Brazil 2011

Real Life Begins

Today is the first day of my real life in Brazil. It's the last day of Carnaval, but we have to miss it to go to the airport, meet our group and begin orientation. Carnaval has been a great time, and we've all had a wonderful vacation, but it will be nice to have regular meals and sleep more than 4 hours. I don't know if I have the stamina to continue the Carnaval pace of life anymore.

I'll have orientation for 5 days and then move in with my host family and begin classes on Monday.

Food #1: An Introduction

Ok, since I'm obsessed with food, I thought I would give a little food blog.
This should be the first of many, because unlike most other times I travel, I haven't actually eaten that much different kinds of food because I know that once I move into my host family I will have copious amounts of delicious Brazilian food fed to me on a regular basis. So currently, I am feeding myself as cheaply as possible, with lots of Brazilian ramen nooodles, but I have tried a few things
*Caiparinha- the national drink with cachaca, lime and sugar
*Feijoada- the national dish. It's a bean and meat stew served over rice. I had it at a not so stellar restaurant (Mom, yours was better) so I'll give an update once I've tried more
*Cheese on a stick- this street food has become a staple of my diet. It is literally a rectangle of cheese, which tastes sort of like mozarella, which is on a stick, then they grill it on a little pot of coals. It's best when it's topped with herbs and this sweet molasses/honey sauce. It sounds weird, but it delicious.
*Lots and lots of fruit
*Acai- Ian, thanks for giving me the heads up about this one. It is a delicious thick smoothie made with acai and the fruit of your choice (mine is mango) and then topped with granola. You eat it with a spoon and it is the best icy treat in this weather.


Other than food I have been dancing in the streets in Carnaval and sitting on the beach during the day. I tried to take pictures, but my disposable camera was stolen 5 minutes into Carnaval on the first night, so I decided to wait until after Carnaval to start taking picture. If you want to see pictures, you should look Salvador Carnaval up online, because that's pretty much what it looks like.

Overall, I'm loving Salvador. There is literally ALWAYS beautiful music playing, people sitting in the streets and sunshine. My hostel has been really fun, full of fun travelers in addition to about 7 people who will also be on the SIT study abroad program.

That's all for now. Lots of love.

First things first

Hello Friends!!!!

I finally started a blog.

I will try to keep this updated. My goal is to write at least one blog a week. Hold me to it, because I will probably start slacking.

Here are a few random notes:

· So far things have been good. I arrived yesterday and was very proud of myself because I took a bus into town from the airport, and then I managed to use my limited Portuguese to ask for directions.

· My Portuguese is steadily improving. I’m sure I sound like an idiot a lot, but at least I’m trying.

· Yesterday I mostly just walked around, ate some food and had my first Caipirinha, Brazil’s national drink. It’s lime, sugar and Cachaca- a sugarcane liquor.

· I’ve met up with two women who will be on my study abroad program, and also some British students who are on their gap year. We all went to the beach today, and I got my first Brazilian sunburn.

· It’s really hot and sunny. There is music playing all the time.

· Carnaval starts tomorrow, so I don’t promise any updates for the next week, but I’ll try to give you the highlights when its over.

Tchau!