Tchau Lencois 

         The past few days have been amazing; trying to take in all the beautiful scenery and the local culture has been a challenge as there has been so much to process and digest about this amazing culture. Also, all of the beautiful scenery in the Chapada Diamantina usually involved some type of hiking so that was a challenge all its own, but I cannot complain too much as the views were worth it. 

         This morning we were planning on visiting the Remanso Community, a former quilombo. Quilombos are settlements initially created by escaped enslaved Africans. Unfortunately there was a considerable amount of rain last night.  Fortunately our group has learned the art of being seaweed so we adjusted and had a relaxing morning instead. Some relaxed at the hotel, some played ping-pong, while others explored the city of Lencois. 

         I was one of those who explored the city, which is a beautiful small city with a lot of cobblestone  (Wet cobblestones present a challenge in the rain.) The city is filled with little shops, many restaurants, and a lot of color. The buildings are painted with all different bright colors and streamers going from building to building. Lençois at one time–during the height of diamond mining–was an important city in Brazil (the French even had a consulate here) but now has become a small, charming touristy destination, a gateway to Brazil’s first national park.

         After we checked out of our hotel at 12:30pm we went to eat at Bode grill (bode means goat).  I was not adventurous enough to try any goat dish at lunch; I stuck to chicken. After lunch we had a few minutes to take one last look at Lençois, then we boarded the bus back to Salvador. I don’t have much to say about the bus ride back as I fell asleep about 10 minutes into the drive. (There was one stop to stretch our legs, use toilets, and get something to eat.  And there were Brzilian movies.)  After the wonderful seven-hour bus ride, I was greeted by my mae (mom) with a big hug and a lot of portugese, which I am starting to understand more of!

         Today was a good opportunity for me to digest and to process what has happened this far in our trip, as we are reaching the halfway point of our program. While thinking about the trip this far, I have started to fall in love with the way I have seen Brazilians live their lives. The relaxed nature of their culture is so refreshing in comparison to the typically American lifestyle of go, go, go. I have seen a love for their culture within the Brazilians I have met, I can see the pride they carry with them. I have seen this pride in the adults and children that I have observed thus far.

Até a proxima vez.
(Until next time) 

— Jenni Pallas

Eric Jensen

Waking up to the sound of roosters crowing and looking out on our patio to see Chris lying in a hammock jolted me quickly to the reality that not only are we in Brazil, but we are at a beautiful hotel in Lençois.  What an astonishing place!

There were monkeys that dined with us at breakfast! They look similar to marmoset monkeys that are native to Brazil, but I’m not sure what type.  They swung above us over to their fruit plates and wouldn’t budge when we approached for pictures.  Breakfast was a wonderful buffet full of breads, sweets, eggs, and juices. There is a great, freeing resort-vibe about this place.

The caves at Gruta da Lapa Doce are estimated to be 10,000-30,000 years old. This was the time when the oceans started to recede away from the area. The aramha alcapao spider digs holes that are 30-50cm deep. They would then build a lid and leave it open and put scents in the hole to attract their prey.  The spider would then hide under the lid and close it when they sensed that prey had entered the hole. Unbelievable nature and adaptation of animals!

Lapa Doce had a huge cavernous tunnel. It is not technically a cave because it has both an entrada e saida (entrance and exit). It was huuuuuge! The stalactites and stalagmites were incredible!

There was a time when we all turned our flashlights off and sat in the absolute darkness for two minutes. What a peaceful, cathartic experience. For me, it gave me time to reflect and think about just how small we are and how much the world has to offer. We are in Brazil! We are in a place that has been forming itself for thousands and thousands of years.

We hiked back up (tougher than the descent) and had a buffet lunch. I tried cactus for the first time and had yet another refreshing passion fruit juice.  It’s important to me to get out of my comfort zone in many different ways and try different food and drink while here.

Almost all of us napped on our way over to Poco do Diabo. We made the small hike down where many of us jumped off the rocks into the water and made our way over to the waterfall.  The shopping was cheap and almost everyone got something to remember this day and our being in Brazil.  I bought a wooden boat with an older man fishing  in it. I thought it captured the culture and lifestyle of Brazil perfectly. I’ve really attempted to leave my American judgments at home during this trip and really embrace life here. Brazil, in many ways, appears simple. While this might have a negative connotation to some, I write this meaning the exact opposite. Brazilians, on average, seem to be more at peace and less stressed. They strive for experience and being in the moment. It has been a challenge for me as an American to get out of my head and try to live in the moment. This is something that we’ve discussed as a group and more specifically I discussed with my roomies for this trip (Chris, Rylan, and Colin).

We had dinner at el Jimero pizzeria, an all-you-can-eat pizza joint. They make many, many different types of pizza from normal to pretty crazy like guava/cheese, mango/pineapple/ham, and banana.

Finally we visited a gym where young children are introduced to capoeira and adults practice this martial arts and dance form.  I know I am not the right person to sum up our experience with capoeira, but I will do my best.  It was a blessing to see culture, pride, and dance poor out of every fiber of people’s bodies.  From probably 3 or 4 years old to older adults, capoeira is a dance mixed with martial arts and acrobatics that originated here in Brazil with African roots.  While there were historically many reasons for beginning capoeira, the main reason seems to be for an escaped slave to be able to defend themselves without weapons. The dance was disguised in many ways to not show slave-owners about the violence and self-defense aspects of the dance.  Once again, I am not the right person to verbalize this, but it was a thrill and a sight to see.  Ailton Carmo starred in the Portuguese film, Besouro, about capoeira. Aílton Carmo was there tonight and we can see why he was selected to be the main part of the film. Now, I’m no master in physics, but the man jumped, did not land, and somehow jumped again. He was incredible. The entire experience left me speechless, and frankly, I am having a hard time finding words to describe what that experience was like. Finally we visited a gym where young children are introduced to capoeira and adults practice this martial arts and dance form.  I know I am not the right person to sum up our experience with capoeira, but I will do my best.  It was a blessing to see culture, pride, and dance poor out of every fiber of people’s bodies.  From probably 3 or 4 years old to older adults, capoeira is a dance mixed with martial arts and acrobatics that originated here in Brazil with African roots.  While there were historically many reasons for beginning capoeira, the main reason seems to be for an escaped slave to be able to defend themselves without weapons. The dance was disguised in many ways to not show slave-owners about the violence and self-defense aspects of the dance.  Once again, I am not the right person to verbalize this, but it was a thrill and a sight to see.  Ailton Carmo starred in the Portuguese film, Besouro, about capoeira. Aílton Carmo was there tonight and we can see why he was selected to be the main part of the film. Now, I’m no master in physics, but the man jumped, did not land, and somehow jumped again. He was incredible. The entire experience left me

We had the privilege to give small gifts to the children there that were in various stages of learning capoeira. These kids took their studying of capoeira seriously and were quite driven. They must maintain strong grades in school just to remain in this program.I can say quite easily that those kids gave so much more to me than anything I could’ve given them.

What another wonderful day! Que dia maravilhoso! Para o proximo! Onto the next!

— Eric Jensen

All of the students groaned out of cama (bed) by the crack of dawn at seis da mañha (6 in the morning) for our excursion to Lençois, a town in the Chapada Diamantina National Park in western Bahía. Our mothers sent us off with comida (food) their love. Waiting for Clara Ramos’s 99 onibus, we met up with the Georgia State group and were blessed with a sign of hope, a sign of peace, a white dove….which turned out to be a pigeon.

We rode out through Salvador’s valleys, surrounded by favela-topped hills. These poor communities were unplanned and most not painted, so the inhabitants can say they are still building the structures and don’t have to pay taxes. The houses quickly reduced in concentration, leaving smaller communities or a lone casa to mingle with the vegetation surrounding the main highway.

Large towns and factories came up now and again. This dispersion of settlements reminded me of rural Nebraska, creeping further westward a town of two show up now and again, or a single farmhouse, yet the urban life is hundreds of miles away.

The landscape slowly morphed into a drier climate, starting with cactus and flattening the hills, leaving lone mountains and plateaus. We stopped at a town and surveyed the food, purchasing suco and various pastries, and we conversed.

The cushioned bus seats lulled many of the group back to slumber as the bus bounced along. The road ahead weaved through hills and the dirt turned red, while we watched the movie Besouro, where many beneath foot bled.

Besouro is about capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial arts and dance form, and the Cadomblé religion, and the title character. The story is set in the early 1900s in Lençois, where while the slaves had been freed by that time, they still lived on sugarcane plantations under masters.

Capoeira was connected to the Orixá, or the spirts of nature in Cadomblé. Besouro is transformed in the movie by the death of his mentor, and he becomes a hero and legend to his people and a menace to the master, military, and their men. It draws reflection on American legends, and how they carved and redirected the path of history in our own society, and this wasn’t the last we’d hear of heroes for today. 

As we entered the Chapada Diamantina National Park, the setting was before our eyes. Various buttes and mountains rose from the sloped valley. We hiked one called Pai Inacío.

The hike was roughly 20 minutes, the rocks carved in interesting patterns by wind and water, views and buttes at every etched angle. Small pools of water, plants, and a few lizards were at the top with a lightning rod cross. The view (see for yourself) was spectacular, many photos were taken, and the story of Inacío was told by Clara’s colleague, Aércio.

The story gave background to the area, and how enslaved Africans were sent to Chapada to mine, and why the mountain is named after Pai Inacío. At the point Inacío jumps off the mountain, Aercío jumped onto a lower cliff to add to the dramatics. After the story we trekked down and bee-lined it to Lençois.

Finally we arrived in Lençois, a small town foaming with historical and cultural charm. Before we got the chance to settle in and explore the town, we went on another hike along the river. 

The rocks alongside the river presented many colors, and the iron in those rocks left the river a dark orange and blackish tone, leaving the depth of circular pools up to the imagination.

Aércio took us into the colored sands, an area with many rocks elevated above, leaving the bottoms above the sandy floor. The area was sensitive to sound so only a few whispers followed our footprints. Many of us pointed out the paths and passage ways throughout the walk, leaving the majority of the sands untraveled.

As we continued, the group crossed the the rio (river) again, making two stone paths to cross, while others walked straight through the water. The end of our path came at a waterfall, complete with a vendor selling Guaraná, amongst other bebidas, and toads whose croaks mirrored electronics. After a few photos, we disembarked as the sun was setting.

After finally arriving at the hotel, we all took time to rest and lounge and enjoy our rooms or scope the grounds and all that the open-air style had to offer. Dinner was at a nearby restaurant, leaving all of us satisfied. All either retreated to our hotel and socialized or to the music-filled town center, soaking in the sights, sounds, and shops, giving a relaxing ending to our first day in the Chapada.

Bryce Kaltenbach

This morning I woke up later than usual so my mae (mom) wrapped my breakfast to go. Today we started Portuguese class at 9am with Professor Sidney. His name in Brasil is pronounced “see-ja-nay” which really confused me at first, but I have definitely gotten used to it! Our professor is definitely hard on us, but it is paying off, as I have been able to understand small phrases when talking to my host mom. Today we began by playing Brasilian BINGO, which is completely different than how we play it in the US. Basically you scratch off each number whenever it is called, regardless of the placement. The first person who gets all of the numbers scratched off wins!

After class I headed home to have lunch with my mae and my sister, Julianna. Julianna is from Texas and has been staying in Brasil for the past seven weeks. She is fluent in Portuguese, so she helps me communicate with my mae often. In Brasil, lunch is the biggest meal of the day. Today I had a large variety of food, including beef, pasta, eggplant, potatoes, squash, and for dessert- fried bananas with cinnamon and cream! When I first met my mae I told her I enjoyed Guaraná, a Brasilian soda. Because of this, mae surprised me with a huge bottle of Guaraná at lunch today! The food in Brasil is amazing, and I always look forward to eating my mae’s cooking, it’ll be hard to transition back to life in the United States!

Around 2pm the group met up at the ICR, Instituto Clara Ramos, to go visit Evaristo da Veiga public school. One of our tour guides, Freddy, works as a teacher at the school so he was able to show us around and introduce us to his students! In Salvador, most children that graduate with a high school degree from a public school will not be accepted into public universities, as they are extremely hard to get into. However, last year four students from this public school were accepted into the University. In total, Evaristo da Veiga public school has 830 students. This includes all of the children that attend in the morning and afternoon, as well as adults that take night classes to better their education. During our tour we learned that this school has less financial assistance than private schools, but it has most that is needed to provide a good education to their students. In addition, they also provide lunches to the students. These lunches are supplied by local farmers that take their products directly to the school. This eliminates the need to buy from a grocer and the costs associated with them. Because of their contribution, the government provides assistance to the farmers.

While at the school, we were given the opportunity to speak with both 7th graders and juniors in high school. First we visited with the 7th graders, who primarily asked us our names and ages. The conversation mostly surrounded the kids and what they wanted to do when they grow up. A few of the girls found Colin and Rylan cute but were upset when they found out they were too old for them!!! The interaction was so sweet and left all of us in a good mood. We were also given the opportunity to talk to some juniors. In the beginning, the students asked us surface-level questions like what America is like. However, soon they began asking more hard hitting questions, such as: “What is the difference between culture in the US and in Brasil?” “What are the schools like in both rural and urban cities?” We were also asked about racism, homophobia,  and crime compared to Brasil. These questions were so intentional that it surprised a lot of people in our group, especially when reflecting on what our own classes were like junior year. When we were able to ask questions, we asked what their thoughts were on the US, homophobia in Brasil, and about their life after high school. We learned that the dchool has a culture that woks to curb homophobia and that most of these students felt that graduating high school and going to college is a big responsibility that they are ready to take. They definitely understood the power of a degree and how they could use it to make a difference.

The entire trip to Evaristo da Veiga public school so powerful that we decided to debrief after the visit as a group. Some of the most memorable parts included the noise in the school (the children were loud during the breaks which made it difficult to concentrate on our conversation, much less a lecture), the state of the desks and the lack of school supplies, and the fact that the teachers work so hard to provide an education and to help students stay on a track of empowerment.

After the visit to the school we were originally supposed to go home and change for our Afro-Brasilian dance class. However, we learned that we didn’t have enough time to drop everyone off and arrive on time, so we had to go in our jeans and pants since we couldn’t wear shorts to the school… .  As our program directors have said, there are times we need to be like seaweed and be flexible, going with the flow.

Our Afro-Brasilian dance class was taught by Professor Antonio Cozido. In the beginning, he told stories of the migration of the Portuguese to Brasil and what life was like for the enslaved indigenous people and the enslaved Africans that were eventually brought over. While telling us, he taught us moves to help our hearts and minds connect. We learned dance moves for two hours and allowed ourselves to be free of any mental constraints! At first it was difficult because I wasn’t used to allowing my body to let loose when dancing, but Antonio made us feel welcome and we were pros by the end of the session!  We also had fun learning to do some Brazilian dance moves.

At home I had leftovers from lunch and had my first Portuguese conversation with my mae! We were both super excited and proud of how far I have come in only four days. I will spend the rest of the night packing and getting ready for our weekend trip in Lencois!

Thank you for reading.  Tchau!

— Bryce Kaltenbach

Chris Neu

Morning walks to ICR

We’ve gotten to the point that we can now walk without assistance to the ICR (Instituto Clara Ramos) where we have class. It doesn’t take long (10-15 minutes). It’s fun to see everyone in the morning and talk about how the previous day went and what happened when we got home. Each of us has a different story to tell, making the morning fun!

Morning lecture

Today ProfessorWillys Santos, a Baiano now living and teaching in Nigeria, taught us about the Afro-Brazilian religions found in Brazil. We learned about Umbandu, Candomblé, the Neo Pentecostals, Popular Catholicism, and some of the changing nature of religious intolerance in Brazil. Learning about religious intolerance was super impactful as we learned how currently in Brazil many are being increasingly persecuted and punished for their heritage and religious beliefs.

Candomblé is an Afro-Brazilian religion that incorporates orixás, spirits of nature, with Popular Catholicism. There are other Afro-Brazilian religions like Umbanda, but Candomblé developed here in Salvador. We learned mostly about Candomblé and Umbanda today because they are the largest variants of Afro-Brazilian religions. We also learned how they developed through the presence of slavery in early Brazil and a process called syncretism. It was really interesting to learn how two religions that are completely different can come together in synchronicity and adapt to the local situation. That really challenged a lot of our ideas of what religion is and often the rigidity of religion. Syncretism, the merging or combining of religious beliefs and traditions, is a good example of Brazilian culture and its flow around challenges rather than through them. Today ProfessorWillys Santos, a Baiano now living and teaching in Nigeria, taught us about the Afro-Brazilian religions found in Brazil. We learned about Umbandu, Candomblé, the Neo Pentecostals, Popular Catholicism, and some of the changing nature of religious intolerance in Brazil. Learning about religious intolerance was super impactful as we learned how currently in Brazil many are being increasingly persecuted and punished for their heritage and religious beliefs. Candomblé is an Afro-Brazilian religion that incorporates orixás, spirits of nature, with Popular Catholicism. There are other Afro-Brazilian religions like Umbanda, but Candomblé developed here in Salvador. We learned mostly

Swimming

After the informative lecture (with opportunities to ask questions) we walked down to the beach before lunch. Some of us got in, some of us didn’t. It’s filled with seats and umbrellas where people will try to entice you to sit so they can rent you the spot. We found our own nice spot outside the umbrellas and chairs where we placed our towels and enjoyed the beach! The tide was coming in, and near the end got close to our towels. This quick interlude on the beach was relaxing and gave us our sun for the day!

Afternoon Class

Portuguese class today was filled with learning phrases to introduce ourselves. I find that a lot of us have been exposed to some Spanish words and often want to resort to the Spanish version of the phrases. We struggle together in learning to say “eu” (I) instead of yo, “meu” instead of “mi”, and “estudo” instead of “estudio”. We are slowly improving and learning more. We shall see if our confidence grows soon as well.

Futebol game

What a crazy experience. The security was lax and crazy at the same time. The crowds were “locura” (crazy). We stuck together like glue, each of us wearing our newly acquired Esporte Clube Bahia t-shirts, and made our way to our seats. Brazil takes its futebol seriously. What a game! Lots of emotion from the fans, several goal attempts. But alas one mistake saw the downfall of Bahia to Grêmio. We did see a red card, a yellow on a coach, and several “injured” players continue to play. What more can you expect from the theatric and artful game of soccer?! 

After the end of the game, we created our little train of people and squeezed our way through the penguin shuffle down the stairs. I mean seriously, picture that movie with Morgan Freeman and the penguins shuffling, packed together. That was us in the sea of Bahia fans moving out of the arena. Several headcounts were made along the route to ensure everyone got out together. All in all what an emotionally charged experience! What a great end to the day.

— Chris Neu

Chris Neu

by Crystal Felk

Today, I woke up hearing different types of birds and traffic through my open window. I heard a group of people yelling, and my Brazilian mom told me it was the police warming up. My mom made breakfast which included rice pudding, chicken and vegetables, chickpea soup, lettuce with avocado and tomatoes. We had a hard time communicating since I don’t yet know much Portuguese, and I don’t remember a lot of Spanish from high school. Google Translate was our best friend for trying to communicate. 

After breakfast, we walked to ICR (Instituto Clara Ramos) for our first Portuguese class! The first class was overwhelming because we were trying to incorporate any Spanish knowledge into Portuguese, but a lot of Portuguese words are different or pronounced differently. We kept getting frustrated because we spoke the Spanish version of what we were trying to say rather than the Portuguese version. We learned the basics like greetings, numbers, days of the week, and how to introduce ourselves. Our professor’s name is Sidney who is from Brazil but now primarily lives and teaches in Toronto, Canada.

After lunch, we came back home to eat. I had chicken with vegetables, rice, watermelon, mango, avocado, lettuce, and chocolate milk. The food was all so delicious. We watched the news, and I recognized a few of the words they were saying from our Portuguese class. I was super excited about this!

After lunch, we walked back to ICR, then we drove to old Salvador, the Pelourinho area, now a UN Worls Heritage site, for a walking tour of this historic part of the city.  Simone was our tour guide, and she worked to help us understand the history of what we were exploring.  The original city of Salvador, established in 1549, was built of cliffs above the Bay of All Saints in order to protect the city from invading pirates.

We visited the site of the old cathedral which was unfortunately torn down in the 1930’s in order to build a trolley terminal.  A broken cross now marks this spot.  (The trolleys and the terminal are long gone.)  Next door the former home of the bishop still remains.  We could see where a walkway had connected his residence to the church.

We also visited the church of São Francisco where a side courtyard has one of the largest tile collections under one roof in the world. These blue and white tiles were manufactured in Portugal and shipped to Brazil where they served to educate people about topics like Christ, life, death, materialism, and spirituality.  The squares represent different things. For example, one of them had a string with scissors connected to it which was described as God can cut our life anytime so make the most of it. The tiles weren’t all there because the humidity causes the walls on which they are mounted to decay, allowing the tiles it to fall off. They have attempted to repair them by putting a tape over to keep them from falling.

We then went into the church which is full of beautifully carved wood (carved by enslaved Africans), much of it covered with gold mined in Brazil—over a metric ton of gold!  This chruch, like many others, was actually constrcuted in Portugal, disassembled, and shipped to Brazil where it was re-assembled. Interior decorations, the altars, and other furnishings were all constructed locally by slave labor.

After São Francisco we bought Esporte Clube Bahia t-shirts to wear to Wednesday’s soccer game, then we visited the current cathedral.  This church, like the others, is several hundred years old, but it has recently undergone a years-long restoration effort.  The beautiful church helped us see how maginificent these churches might have been in their prime, before years of humidity and decay took their toll.

After we went to the churches and before mass, we visited the Casa do Carnaval where we learned about the hsitory and traditions of this important annual celebration.  To further our understanding of Carnaval, we had an opportunity to dress up with boas, hair accessories, hats, and masks. Then on one wall of the room, a large music video played Carnaval music and showed us how to dance, Carnaval-styleWe all had a good time. This are was around the elevator that connects the lower part of the city to the higher part of the city.

After we danced, we went to Nossa Senhora do Rosario dos Pretos (Our Lady of the Rosary of Black People), a church built by and for enslaved Africans, for an African-Catholic mass. (Simone explained that it took 98 years for the church to be built since the enslaved Africans could only work on it during the 6 hours per day when they were allowed to sleep)  There were people playing drums when we walked in as well as playing the flute. I could tell when the mass started that it was going to be similar to the Catholic masses at home with the altar servers walking in with the cross as well as the priests behind. It was cool to see women being an important part of the mass. During all the songs, people danced and sang, using their whole bodies to worship. It was different seeing people walk in and out as they please as well as singing loudly. I enjoyed mass even though I couldn’t understand what they were saying.

After mass, we gathered outside in the square where Simone, our guide told us about the whipping post and that some enslaved Africans would be whipped up to 50 times a day for as many as 7 days in a row. This was the same square where Michael Jackson shot the video to his hit song, “They don’t care about us.”

After that, we went home and ate supper. I got home and my mom had supper waiting for me, but then she went out with friends.

Boa noite! 

— Crystal Felk

Sunday, July 14

By Jaylen Cook-Gibson

Breakfast at the hotel: 

Since dinner “estava muito boa,”  most of us assumed breakfast would be too, and it was! Filled with “gostoso fruitas e paoes.”  It was a good start to the morning!

Meeting my host mother was a very nerve-racking but fulfilling experience! Each of us students was given a half of a postcard, and we had to find our mothers who had the other half.  My mother was so welcoming and loving. From the moment she hugged me and held my hand, I could tell we would have a connection. I’m looking forward to growing a relationship with my ‘mae’ Celísia and my ‘pae’ Nilson.

These pictures don’t capture the overwhelming feeling of being in Brazil. I had a feeling of being home when walking around seeing everyone look like me. It’s a scary but loving feeling. All I could do was smile in awe and take in each feeling. Each site we stopped at created a new connection to Brazil! I saw the ocean for the first time. We visited Casa de Yemanja, a significant site in the local Afro-Brasiliero religion. We visited the neighborhood of Ribeira, where Prentice (meaning gift from God) creates very beautiful, scenic, and amazing handmade tiles and we ate some awesome ice cream in great tropical flavors.  The night ended with a meat-crazed dinner at Boi Preto (Black Ox), a Brazilian churrascaria.

While in the van, going from place to place, seeing the ‘favelas’ or ‘communidades’ and saying ‘não, obrigada’ (no, thank you) to those “begging” us to buy what they were selling, stirred up feelings of guilt. Here I am visiting a country so beautiful and so full of poverty, much like our own, and the people are still smiling and making the best of what they have! The feeling of being grateful and living life, not letting life run you is so great. I’m blessed with the opportunity to experience and see the beauty and long history of Brazil through music, art, and buildings.  (Pictures below of each site)

Brazilians can come and bring offerings on boats to the African spirits (Orixás). Yemanja is the spirit of salt water.

Built in the 19th century of second-hand materials- It’s a significant church for both ‘Condomblé’ (African religion) and Catholics. On the second Thursday of January, they wash the stairs of the church in a ceremony reminiscent of some African traditions..

I absolutely fell in love with this restaurant! The food was beyond ‘gostoso’. I did not get one picture of my food because I was stuffing my face. The shrimp was my favorite and the desert was ‘muito bom’!

Fique ligado!! (Stay tuned)

— Jaylen Cook-Gibson

By Fatima Al-Waely

We all had a very long day. I picked up Eric and Jaylen from the City Union at 6:00am and headed to Eppley Omaha Airport. We all needed to be at the airport by 7:05. The whole group met up so we could all check our bags and head upstairs to our gate. Each of us checked our own bags in and headed back to where our families were waiting for us to say their goodbyes. For me personally, this is not my first flight nor my first time leaving the States, so my family dropped me off outside the airport and headed back home to Lincoln. 

As a group, we took our first group picture at the Eppley Omaha Airport. Only Rylan was missing since he was coming from Seattle and meeting up with us in Dallas. All of the parents had their phones out, taking as many pictures as they could. Not one of us knew what phone to look at. There were about 10 phones out. It was great. We had our few minutes of fame. Haha.

Once we said our goodbyes, we headed upstairs to TSA and our gate. We all got through TSA; some of us had to get patted down, but it all went fine, and we walked together to our gate, A7. As we were waiting to board the first plane for this journey, the flight attendants made an announcement that some might need to check in their carryon bags. That was over half of our group that needed to check in their carryon. Some of us went to the small gift shop to get last minute gifts for our host moms in Brazil and other went to grab breakfast. I bought my host mom a cow stuffed animal that is wearing a shirt with corn. What other two things best represent Nebraska besides a cow and some corn? 

While we were in line to board the plane to Dallas, we all asked each other what seat we were in. We were lucky enough to be really close to each other on the plane. A couple of us sat next to strangers, but for the most part we all sat next to each other. Jaylen sat next to me. Our plane from Omaha, Nebraska left on time at 9:37am. Once I got on the plane and fastened my seat belt, I was out for most of the flight. I woke up as we were getting ready to land in Dallas, Texas at about 11:15am.

All of us needed to prepare ourselves for our 8-hour layover in Dallas. As we all got out of the plane, we waited for our entire group to all meet up in front of the gate. Once we were together, Paul and Cody led the way to an open spot for all of us to sit at. Once we found a place, Paul made an announcement about where to go and to stay at the airport. He also mentioned jokingly (I think) that if we weren’t back together by 3, he would call Marnie and book us a flight back home. Haha. After we were given the okay to wander off in the Dallas airport, we all decided to find somewhere to eat. 

Eric, Liesl, Jenni, Crystal and myself decided we wanted Applebee’s. We all wanted one last American meal. While we were walking to Applebee’s, we ran into Jaylen, Bryce and Regan. They were also deciding where to eat lunch. After 10 minutes, they sent us a group text message on WhatsApp to see if we were at Applebee’s. They came and joined us for lunch. We all ordered something different. I ordered the classic combo which comes with mozzarella sticks, wings, spinach and artichoke dip, and chicken quesadillas. I forgot to take a picture because I was so hungry. But we did get a picture of Eric and his famous $13 drink. He had no idea his drink was more than his food until the bill came. Eric made sure he drank every drop of his pricey drink. 

Once we were done with lunch, we walked  back to where we were sitting and met up with the rest of the group. This is where we met up with Rylan. He flew in from his hometown near Seattle. Jenni asked the group if they wanted to play card games; about half of us said yes. Rylan introduced a new game called Mao to some of us like myself. The game is really similar to Uno but the difference is that as you play the game, you need to figure out the rules. I thought it was frustrating and decided to quit in the first round. During the game there was laughter and some frustration, but overall we all enjoyed playing and getting to know one another better. After lunch we just hung out, talked, and laughed! We started a new round of playing, and then it was time for us to meet and discuss Brazil. Cody had found a small quiet place for us to talk and discuss. We all followed Cody to the place. It was on the floor across from the yoga studio. It was convenient the yoga studio was right behind us because we talked about mindfulness. 

Paul and Cody had an activity planned for us. Our activity was to write a letter to ourselves about what we were nervous, scared, and excited about this trip and how it will help us grow. They told us that we would get these letters back us in September when our final is due. This is so we are able to reflect on what we wrote now and how it changed to who we will be in September. Paul and Cody told us to spread out and take some time to write the letter, and we would have a brief discussion when we were all done writing. Some sat inside the yoga studio, others sat along the wall that connected the terminals, and others went to the chapel to write. 

We spent about 45 minutes writing our letters. When everyone was done, we met back up in the hallway that connected the terminals. There was much less sound in that area than sitting by the gates to board. Once we were done discussing, we walked back to our gate as a group. Everything that was discussed was important to know but one important thing I thought that we needed to hear for this education abroad experience iis to be like seaweed, to be flexible and just go with the flow. 

We still had about 2 hours left until we were leaving American soil. In those two hours some walked around the D terminal, some got Starbucks, others just sat by the gate waiting for our group to be called to board. 

Our time to board the plane from Dallas to São Paulo was finally here. As we were standing in line with Cody, we were asking him how to translate “this is happening” in Português. Paul wasn’t in line with us because he was in group 5 and we were in group 8 to board. At this point we were only a few minutes from boarding our last American flight to Brazil. We were excited about getting on the plane but we were not looking forward for our 10-hour flight. We all knew it would be long, but we also knew we could get through it because that meant we would officially be on Brazilian soil. 

During the flight we were served dinner and breakfast. For dinner we had two options to choose from. Option one was chicken, and option two was pasta. I went with the pasta. The pasta was okay, but it wasn’t the best in my opinion. On the tray of dinner we had our main dish, a small water bottle, a brownie, dinner roll, salad, dressing for our salad, butter and cheese for our dinner roll. I thought everything else was good except for the pasta. But that’s okay because I was still full from the Applebee’s.

On this long flight, some of us watched movies, walked around the plane, and slept. I did a little of everything. I don’t think anyone had a good sleep on the plane. Our flight attendants for the most part were amazing and super sweet. One of the flight attendants showed Colin and I were they get breaks and sleep. They showed us the spiral staircase that goes up to the cots but we weren’t allowed to go all the way in to see it. That was cool to see that and to know about where they sleep and they get breaks. She even told me that they spend 36 hours in São Paulo and go on another overnight flight back to the United States.

We were about 1.5 hours away from Brazil when the flight attendants turned on the lights so they could serve breakfast. For breakfast we were served strawberry yogurt, a fig bar (which is my favorite), and coconut oats with dates and other nuts to mix in your yogurt. We all expected a different breakfast but that small breakfast filled you up just a little bit to get us to Brazil. At 7:15am, we were FINALLY in SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL!🇧🇷🇧🇷

As we arrived in São Paulo, we needed to grab our checked luggage, go through immigration, and check them back in. The officers in customs/immigration were really nice and everything went smoothly. After we were all checked in we walked with our carry-on luggage to the next airline. At this airline we needed to get our tickets to board on our last flight to Salvador. The boarding passes look like a receipt.

Once we checked back in our luggage we all went to go grab a Brazilian breakfast. Cody and Paul suggested that we all try pão de queijo, coixinhas and Guaraná. The coixinhas look like raindrops. But those were some delicious rain drops stuffed with cheese and chicken. I even asked Cody if our host moms would be able to teach us how to make them. I am determined to learn how to make them so I can have my family try them when I get back home.

When everyone was done with eating their amazing Brazilian breakfast, we all walked around the airport a bit. But not all of us walked around a lot. Once we found open seats we all sat down. At this point of our trip we were all exhausted. I think it’s safe to say that not one of us has had enough sleep to have the energy to walk around the airport much So we all sat down; some just sat; and Eric, Rylan, Crystal and I played another card game called Egyptian Rat Screw. It is similar to Slap Jack. We waited for Paul to meet with us and walked together to the next security screening and gate.  While we were waiting to board our last flight, some played Mao, some took naps (Paul, Cody, and myself), Bryce worked on decorating her journal, and others just sat back and relaxed. After I took my short nap, I started my blog so I made sure that I didn’t miss anything. I wanted our families to have a very detailed blog to read. I wanted our families to read it and be able to picture it as they were reading. As we were sitting and relaxing, there was an announcement about 45 minutes before boarding our flight that it had been delayed an extra 30 minutes. We all stayed positive about the delay. The delay was that the plane was ready but the crew members weren’t. While we waited everyone just laid down on the floor. We finally boarded our plane at 3:05, jone hour behind schedule. Be like seaweed!

As we were boarding our flight to Salvador, we are all getting excited to get there. While waiting in line to board, Regan, Jaylen, Bryce and I were practicing some of our Portuguese words. I think we will be fine with the few words we have memorized, but I also think we are all willing to learn as we go. On this flight we all sat near each other. Crystal, Jaylen and I got to sit next to each other. As we were on this flight many of us closed our eyes and slept until we made it to Salvador! 

And finally we were in Salvador, Brazil!! After 34 long hours of traveling, we had made it! While on the plane we were all excited about getting ready to land. We are ready to take on this journey and experience Brazilian culture! When we got off the plane they split us up in two different groups. The front of the plane passengers got off from the front of plane and the other half at the end of the plane exits from the back door. We all exited from the back door expect for Reagan. She exited from the front. We then got on a shuttle that drives you to the baggage claim at the airport. Reagan thought we were still on the plane and was waiting for us to join her but we were already at baggage claim. Paul went and found her and brought her to the group. We all got our luggage from baggage claim and were greeted by Dave who had come earlier to prepare for our arrival. Dave welcomed us all to Brazil by sending us a group text on WhatsApp saying, “Bem vindo, Nebraska!” We then waited for our shuttle to take us to the hotel. While on the shuttle van, Dave gave us a welcome sheet from Clara and a run down of what our evening would look like.

While riding to the hotel we were all just exploring this beautiful city and making small talk about Salvador. The drive from the airport to the hotel was about 45 minutes. There was some traffic, but I didn’t think it was heavy traffic. Upon arriving at the hotel, Paul, Cody, the driver and the hotel staff unloaded our luggage. Each of us had been assigned to rooms by Clara, our local host and program director.  Since there were 11 students, 3 people had a share a room. Those three people were Crystal, Bryce and me. We were the lucky ones to room with three people. Once we got into our rooms, we all showered (pretty sure we all were stinky, haha) and headed down to dinner around 7:30pm. 

We all then met downstairs in the hotel lobby to get dinner all together. We had dinner at the hotel. They had a salad bar, soup and dessert bar. For the main dish they had three options: Dourado com molho de alcaparras e arroz piemonteses (golden fish with capers, sauce, aand rice piemontese), suíno com molho barbecue e mousseline de batata (pork with barbecue sauce and potato mousseline, and penne ao molho gorgonzola (penne with gorgonzola sauce). I ordered the fish and rice. I thought the fish tasted different but it was something new. And I am willing to try all new foods on this trip. We all had different desserts and each one of us had a favorite dessert. My favorite dessert was the passion fruit mousse. We are all excited for tomorrow’s breakfast since we all enjoyed the dinner tonight!

After dinner we hung out at our tables and just talked and discussed our ages and our planned activities here in Brazil! And finally we were all ready for bed. 

Adeus por agora! ✌

–Fatima

This program offers students an opportunity to have a culturally immersive experience in Brazil around the topics of families, schools, communities, culture, and language.

Program Features:

• Observe and discuss Afro-Brasileiro culture, religion, racial identities, family life, dance, music, percussion, and art.
• Compare and contrast experiences in Brazilian elementary schools and high schools with those in the U.S.
• Learn about Brazilian family life, their traditions, and rich cultural heritage, by interacting with families in homestays.
• Attend a soccer match, explore a tropical beach, taste delicious fruits and tropical dishes, and form friendships with Brazilian students and families.
• Explore a National Park
• Study Portuguese.

Earn UNL Credits

While in Salvador, most mornings will be devoted to survival Portuguese language study. Afternoons will involve site visits, activities, and presentations to help students understand Brazilian schooling, families, history, culture, religion, government, politics, economy, and racial/ethnic identities.

Students should be registered for CYAF 482/882a.

Program leaders will be Dr. Paul Springer and Cody Hollist from the Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies and Dr. Dave Wilson from the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education in the University of Nebraska Lincoln College of Education and Human Sciences.

Program Dates: July 13th to August 2, 2019.