My adventure in Rio

I arrived to Rio de Janeiro by bus at 5:30am on a Friday. It was still dark, and all I had was R$10 in my pocket, my heavy bag and a piece of paper with the address of my friend and instructions to “take bus 170/172 towards Gloria”

Starving, exhausted, not knowing exactly where I was going, where to get off, broke (only had Dollars, no more Reales) and completely alone... SHIT, my head was out of the clouds and I hit the ground going 80mph. I understood how hard it is to travel alone, how isolating it is not to know the language, how helpless/vulnerable a girl/tourist/traveler can be at times and how much courage it takes to do something as simple as taking the bus. Having spent the last two weeks in SP alone had been nice, had been relaxing and even somewhat nurturing, but Rio is different. There was no sign though…

Facts and thoughts by day:

1 Friday – met Luciana, Ezra, Ana and the cat. Went to Ave Nossa Senhora de Copacabana. Bought orange swimsuit. Ipanema for the first time. Cried. First beer. Swam. LAPA at night for outdoor bloco and party. Spoke Portuguese all night with strangers. Saw the LAPA arches and stairs. Eye candy. Music. Dancing. First taste of Carnaval.

Luciana and Ana are a mix of my sister Anna. Gorgeous, curly, kind-hearted, conscious, funny, independent, ready to be your friend forever. After my terrifying reality check it was nice to be able to depend on someone else for a change as they took me through the busy streets, negotiated with the beach vendors and pointed me in the right direction.

Although I read two books on Rio de Janeiro, saw pictures and heard stories from Anna’s visit, seeing the beach for the first time in 3 years overwhelmed me in a way that I could not have prepared myself. Forgetting heat, the cloudless skies, the crowded beach with red and yellow umbrellas for a second… the white sand, the sound of the waves, the blue water and the smell of salt that filled my lungs took me by surprise. Seemingly unlimited coast with islands and skies as the background—it has been the most beautiful paisaje that I have ever seen in my entire life. (I type this and I am tearing up!)
“I can’t believe I am here,” I kept repeating out-loud… I walked slowly as to absorb the moment forever in my memory, in my soul. Then, as I gathered the courage to sink my feet in the water, I remembered… the last time I was in the ocean was when I held my father’s hand because he couldn’t stand alone. I remembered that I had held that moment in my memory as the most solemn show of support that I had ever given him… and I cried again.

LAPA is popular for the nightlife. You can see the pictures of people drinking and dancing on the streets but you can’t hear the Brasilian Funk, salsa and meringue, samba and American music coming from the windows, the beat of the drums outside in the plaza; you can’t smell the scent of beer and sweat, pot and cigarette smoke, and sun baked piss; you can’t feel the vibration of the energy of the crowd, the heat and breeze of summer and the incredible overwhelming feeling when everyone is singing the same song.

2 Saturday – Bloco in Botafogo/Barbas. Crowds. Heat. Humidity. Beer. Costumes: Ezra was a girl and Lu was a boy. Ipanema bloco to meet some friends. Had the first Brahva- Brasilian National Beer. Party in Centro. Took the funnest bus ride. Listened to Bob Marley under the stars and flew closer to the moon. Taxi ride back home: Reality check. Left phone in taxi.

Carnaval is about music, drums, dancing, people, colors, self expression and booze. The way that blocos work is that the local music/samba school organizes a parade that includes the queen/king, dancers, musicians with every percussion instrument imaginable and singers on a platform/truck—in that order. Then there are all the people that gather around it as it begins and then travels down the streets of the area. Each bloco has its own songs that they hand out the lyrics for and they also play some classics that every knows by heart J Costumes are encouraged as you celebrate this huge party and they ranged from everything from random wigs to girls with wings to boys as girls. One of the things I loved the most about Carnaval is also the one that I resent the most—people singing along. One thing is to hear the music, to see it being played, to feel the beat match your heart’s and dance (which I did) but a different one is to be able to share this feeling with others by singing along and pouring out all that joy you feel inside (which I could not do). L

On the taxi back home from the Centro I found myself alone, vulnerable and lost again. Didn’t know how far away I was from home nor how to get there. I was not sober and the taxi driver kept asking me questions that made me realize many things:

Taxi: So you’re a tourist traveling alone?
Me: yeah
T: Do you know where we are now?
Me: No
T: So I could take you anywhere I want and you wouldn’t know the difference?
Me: You wouldn’t do that. Por favor no L
T: This city is very dangerous
Me: I know

In the end, I ran out of the cab feeling a sense of fear that stuck with me for the rest of the visit there. To make things worse, I dropped the phone inside the taxi and although I called it many times, there was no answer.

3 Sunday – Bloco in Catete. Ipanema. Packed metro. First sunset. Home-made caipirinas. LAPA. Brasilian Kopec. Most pretentious man in the world. Too many rounds.

4 Monday – Bloco in Santa Teresa/Maracatu! Too hot. Artist neighborhood. Lovely views. Better costumes. Brasilian Kopec. Graffiti. Sambodromo without tickets

5 Tuesday – CARNAVAL! Santa Teresa, but forgot my camera. Lemme beach. Nap on the beach. Blocos all along Lake Shore. Walked from Posto 1-Lemme to Copacabana to Posto 9-Ipanema. Graffiti. Sunset tears. Beach at night. Emporio. Caipirinas with the girls. Smoking on the beach. Saw Luciana’s soul.

6 Wednesday – Cat falls out the window. Vet. Went to Maracana. Futbol. Life. Passion. Love. Loyalty. Flamengo vs Botafogo Semifinal

7 Thursday – Home: body protesting. Heart to heart with Ana. Emporio. Rum shots. Beer. Lu gets sick.

8 Friday— Bank. Beach. LAPA intimate concert. Graffiti . dancing. Too many rounds. Boys

9 Saturday— Visit Ana. Graffiti. Beach. Sunset at the rock. Sambodromo: Parade of Champions. Foreigners.

10 Sunday— Bloco in Copacabana with Ana. Capoeira dancers. Beach. Sunset. Graffiti.

11 Monday— Bank. Uruguiana. Boat party. boys

12 Tuesday— SP

First week in Sao Paulo

Soooo... I live in the Big Yellow House. I live in Vila Madalena. I live west of the Centro. I live in Sao Paulo --> #4 biggest city in the world by population (yay wikipedia!)
Talking to some of you I have said that to me it is (Chicago+Guatemala)^10 and it is because what I know best and what some of YOU know best :)


Chicago: it is a big city with many people (19 million), lots of buildings downtown and in commercial districts (most vertical city in the world if you measure and combine all skyscrapers), 4 lane streets, segregated neighborhoods (rich, poor, artsy, Italian, Japanese), flea markets on weekends, Metro system that runs pretty smoothly except for construction delays, the CowParade, people walking fast in suits, and music on the radio is the same shit at B96.

Guatemala: Co ncreto y vidrio en toda la cuidad, casas de ladrillo con portones, hay centros comerciales pero tambien hay vendedores con tiendas pequenas y ambulantes, venden de todo en la calle-- desde celulares, elotes asados, mangos, relojes, bolsas, MANIAS! zapatos, peliculas que estan en el cine ahorita, hasta perfumes-- mas barato que en cualquier otro lugar, trafico estatico hasta la madre todos los dias, motoristas locos, camioneteros rebeldes, calles de una via que cambian nombre a la mitad, subiditas y bajadotas, gente de la ca

lle en todas partes, basura, gente que te quiere como que fueras familia al conocerte, guardias de seguridad con rifles en todo banco, burocracia, calor de dia, lluvia por la tardesita y fresco por las noches, gente que vive en colinas y en barrancos, todo cierra a las 5 y los fines de semana, y aunque sea fea esta rodeada de belleza natural for todas partes y en lugares a un par de horas, un buen almuerzo por menos de $5 con carne, arroz, frijoles, ensalada y jugo natural :)

To the 10th power: the city is SOOOO big it is impossible to describe or understand the limits and the different areas, there are so many people that it feels like the 4th of July crowds every day during rush hours and there are so many cars that (just like in Mexico) you need a permit to use your car during certain times. If you thought that the CTA takes you there-- you have seen NOTHING. CPTM (Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos) Metro lines here run to every corner of the city and the seemingly unlimited number of buses have an intricate web of service that will eventually get you there. There are MORE tourists everyday and there are great numbers of Japanese, Lebanese, Italians immigrants-- so much so that these populations here are only surpased by the populatins in their respective countries. Also, people from other parts of Brasil come to work here so there are even more Paulistanos than the census will ever know. All in all, I know it is hard to imagine (it is hard to understand it even being here) but all the forementioned qualities multiplied by 10 is the best description I have for you of this city :)

Having all the free time I have gone sighseeing to some main areas in the city but Anna's stupid computer corrupted those pics and so I will have to go back and re-take the pictures. The only ones that I was able to save are the ones on the FB Album "Brassssssssil". The descriptions above are more of a reflection on all I saw anyway, so at least you get that part :)

Some explanations:
Little geography lesson: Located in the Southeast region of Brasil, Sao Paulo is the name of the state and the capital. It borders Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul and the Atlantic Ocean.
In the centro, there is the Catedral Metropolitana de Sao Paulo and a monument called 'Kilometro 0' in the middle of 'Praca de Se'-- a nice park area with lots of commerce and street vendors. This is where all distances are measured from, the center, the beginning, the core. A very symbolic beginning to my journey :)







ps. there are also some pictures of the inside of the Catedral, i still feel a little weird about taking pictures inside churches though, so they are not that good



Cow Parade: Since 1999 there have been 55 cities to exhibit the CowParade, some of you might remember this in Chicago in 1999 and others, but Sao Paulo has been the host twice, once in 2000 and now in 2010. The CowParade is a public art exhibit created/funded/supported by local artists/businesses/citizens of each city. Anyway, there are 76 cows all over Sao Paulo and I intend to find as many as I can. Some I will stumble upon, such as the ones I have taken pictures of but others I will have to go out and find them. Silly? Lame? Well, I owe it to JoVa, the culture of the city and the fact that I they have been strategically placed in many places that will lead me to more sight-seeing.
Also, the names of the ones I have found so far are awesome: Cowgestionamento, Kowlômetros, Escowdaria, Sampa Sem Parar(to the left here), Soja e MUUUito mais. (see on facebook or click the link)

Flea Markets: On the weekends there are even more markets than usual-- some are for tourists, some for groceries, some for antiques and some for pure fun :) The last weekend I was here I went to 4 of them :) you can see some pictures on FB but all it was tents, people, sun, every kind of thing you can imagine from art, to clothes, brazilian flaged items, cheap food, old records, silver tea sets, collectable coins, comic books, vintage shoes, lamps, trinkets, paintings, textiles, etc. It wasn't so much that I went shopping but it was for the atmosphere, the people, the noise, the exchange of money, valuables, deals, and stories. Where did you get this autographed album from? How long have you had a booth here? Can I have a coconut with my lunch, please? How do you make these collages? R$10? I'll give you R$7. Yes, I am a tourist, sorry my Portuguese is so bad =P

Then... Orientation :)
nothing exciting there except for now you can find me on google if you type in "Ruth Sierra, USP" and it will be the first link that appears. It is a listing of all the exchange students this semester along with pictures ;) On this day too, I bought my ticket to Rio de Janeiro.

None of the things I had read, none of the things I had heard, none of the things Anna told me, none of the things I have experienced, none, nothing at all could have prepared me for Rio de Janeiro............

Not about Brazil, but HILARIOUS!

Proofreading is a Dying Art these days!


Proofreading is a dying art, wouldn't you say?
Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter
This one I caught in the SGV Tribune the other day and called the Editorial Room and asked who wrote this. It took two or three readings before the editor realized that what he was reading was impossible!!! They put in a correction the next day.

I just couldn't help but send this along. Too funny.
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
No crap, really? Ya think?
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Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Now that's taking things a bit far!

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Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
What a guy!
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Miners Refuse to Work after Death
No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's!
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Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
See if that works any better than a fair trial!
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War Dims Hope for Peace
I can see where it might have that effect!
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If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Ya think?!
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Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Who would have thought!
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Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
They may be on to something!
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Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?
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Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
He probably IS the battery charge!
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New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Weren't they fat enough?!
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Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
That's what he gets for eating those beans!
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Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Do they taste like chicken?
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Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Chainsaw Massacre all over again!
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Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
Boy, are they tall!
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And the winner is....
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

Did I read that right?

Made many mistakes before coming:

-Not being proactive, waiting, being passive. Si fuera Comandante, daria ordenes firmes y siempre se haria lo que yo quiero
-Should have apologized to mom. Si fuera buena hija, le hubiera dicho de que me falta mucho por aprender pero de que lo poco que se lo he aprendido de ella. Que aunque he logrado hacer muchas cosas, me siento derrotada y de que en este viaje tratare de mejorar como persona. Le hubiera dicho de que perdonara todas mis faltas de respeto y mi silencio orgulloso. Le hubiera dado las gracias por tener tanta paciencia con migo.
-Should've shopped there, everything here is just as expensive and inconvenient because I don't know where things are located and do not have a car. Si fuera millonaria, esto no seria un problema.


1) Didn't sleep on the plane. I usually have no problem entering a temporary coma when I travel but I was uncomfortable and uneasy. The woman sitting next to me was from Minas Gerais and was coming back from a 7-y hiatus from the US after finishing her Masters in Education at UIUC. Small world. She invited me over to her house. I hope to make it in May. This was my first Brazilian hospitality encounter.

2) Talk about the kindness of strangers. Thank you Mr Antonio Soares for lunch, pick up at the airport, calling card, getting wet under the rain to get my luggage and the hugs and laughter. Speaking Spanish, English and Portuguese at the same time we are able to understand each other. Although I know that I would do this and more for anyone, it is so amazing to find this hospitality and genuine warmth in a complete stranger.

3) Hostel was like an understatement in my life. Everyone on their own tune. Exhausted. Not shy but not friendly. Got some good tips but it wasn't the atmosphere of friendly travelers I had expected. >> http://okupe.net=

4) Moises, my landlord, is absolutely gorgeous. As he read my contract and paused to see if I undesrtood I couldn't help but giggle like a 16-y old girl.

5) The big Yellow House: Pretty and big, lots of outdoor space. 4 big rooms, 2 small- mine being tiny: a glorified bathroom I call it. Everything is messy, and dirty since none of the other roommates have been here for almost a month. Rooms are big and spacious (except mine) with lots of light. I love light.
Roommates are 4 French (2 guys, 2 girls) and 2 Brazilians (both guys). Apparently this is the big party house where all the students from the program come and get trashed and leave the house the same. Although this seemingly exciting social scene should excite me, it does not. At all. *sigh*
We'll see how it all goes, at least when I'm tired of partying I am already home ;)

6) The area I live in is called Perdizes/Vila Madalena. Closest Metro line is Green (my favorite color). I am 15 minutes (40 by Metro) away from Downtown Sao Paulo (SP from now on) and 40 minutes (Metro/driving) from University of Sao Paulo (USP, like US then P, from now on). That is without traffic. Traffic adds like 30+ minutes.
Thank Google for Google Maps.



7) So far I have walked around my neighborhood to see what is close to me and rode the Metro lines to see distances and get a better idea of how immense this city truly is. There are 11 Metro line. Yes, 11 and two more under construction. They have a ridiculous number of buses that go everywhere in Downtown and Greater SP area. There are no maps for these, unfortunately, and since they aren't like in Chicago that go up and down the same street, you gotta get to know the crazy routes they take by asking (NOT an option for me) or trial-and-error
.





8) Pictures of this adventure to follow. I already ordered my SD Card Reader, just waiting for it to come

9) My Portuguese is terrible.
It is so similar to Spanish that I understand everything if the person speaks slowly and if I speak Spanish I am also understood. I try to speak as much Portuguese as much as I can though and people are extremely patient and kind with me. I can form simple sentences and got all the basics down from saying the same things over and over but my accent needs lots of work. For now, it is more important to get everything right and the accent will come later ;) For now, it is a mixture of Span-guese and lots of hand motions and intonation. Falo um pouquinho do Português

10) People I have met are mostly European since my roommates all go to the same school in France. So at least at home I get to speak English/French/Spanish. This has been a rude awakening to meet so many well traveled kids. They speak 3 languages and are learning more, have lived in different countries and plan on doing so in the future. Their parents are pretty wealthy and visit them often. They are CEO's of Banks, are Ambassadors/Diplomats in Brazil, or Investment Bankers. Damn *sigh* When I think of Americans I think they are lagging, but then again... I am not in that crowd back at home

So far so good, I'll be writing more later in the week when I can upload pictures. Plus, this is long enough =P

"To understand the misery and confusion that exists within ourselves, and so in the world, we must find clarity within ourselves, and that clarity comes about through right thinking. This clarity is not to be organized, for it cannot be exchanged with another. Organized group thought is merely repetitive. Clarity is not the result of verbal assertion, but of intense self awareness and right thinking. Right thinking is not the outcome of or mere cultivation of the intellect, nor is it the conformity to pattern, however worthy and noble. Right thinking comes with self-knowledge. Without understanding yourself, you have no basis for thought; without self-knowledge, what you think is not true "




So this is the first entry to my blog...
Though I am not sure that I should keep one I feel the need to stay connected. Not considering myself an artist with words, I have developed the ability use pertinent references to express myself. There will be a lot of that.
Also, the need to keep my sanity is a pressing reason to make this since I wouldn't have to keep repeating the same thing over and over. Though there won't be too much of that, I will try for this blog not to become a "today I did..." boring narative of my irrelevant life but more of a recycled, examined and meaningful reflection of how the Universe conspires to bring me to where I need to be.
Thank you for reading