Sooo much to write about and soooo little time.
Friday night I went to the grandmother´s and hung out with the host fam for the evening. Good food, great novellas, sparklers, what more could a girl want? I´m enjoying being part of a family that drops me off in the morning and pics me up after class, that cooks me dinner and is always worried about how I´m doing, who has a maid that cleans my room and does my laundry..its quite sweet.
Saturday we went to the supermarket and then to the grandmother´s for most of the day. I saw Toy Story in Portuguese. After I went down to the culture center...the Palacio Justiça and saw and art exibit. It was all sculpters by some french lady that I didnt think was all that good, and all the little placards were about the affair she had with her teacher who was older and married, and the fact that she eventually became so paranoid she was incapacitated. I took no pics because it didnt warrent it.
Saturday night I went with the mother, her brother and his girlfriend and the grandmother´s 16yr old servant to see Banda Callypso. It was interesting. The place was PACKED and everyone was dancing Forro (Fo-HO) which the mother attempted to teach me. We got the 16yr old drunk and he brought me this pink sparkly headband which they made me where.
The 10-1 girl-guy ratio here really sucks. All the guys think they can just touch you and grab at you, which they were doing in this crowd, and its ok. The women here dont mind it, but sketchy 40yr old me all over me is just not my cup of tea.
Sunday morning I woke up and the 17yr old model male cousin was there so I talked to him for a bit, then the fam went out for breakfast at this roadside stand and went to Macro, afterwords we went back to gradnma´s for most of the day because it was too rainy to go swimming. I then went and sqaw Premoniçâo 3 (Final Destination 3) with Orlean, the model cousin, and his 14yr old brother at the mall. It was in ingles with portugues subtitles, which was good for me. I talked to Orlean a lot about the differences between the US/Canada and Brazilian culture, because he´s going to Ontario in January.
Yesterday I had a test, went to the post office, and made Fettuccinni Alfredo for the fam. They loved it, but they all remarked about how fatty and heavy that type of food is. A little different from fish, rice and fejão.
There are 2 main things Ive learned about Brazil, one positive and one negative aspect of their culture. On the plus side people here never seem to be self conscious. They seem to be more open, friendly and care free. They dont seem to worry about being judged ever. Bigger girls tend to dress sexy and just have so much more self-confidence. EVERY goes to a concert and DANCES and doesnt worry about looking like a fool. Even in there crazy messed up relationship rituals people just go for it and dont play games or worry. People hug strangers and are incredibly open and welcoming.
On the downside there seems to be a lack of personal responsibility. Im still not that comfortable with the idea that...oh the maid will do it...leave the dishes in the sink for tomorrow. People leave the trash on the table in the cafeteria and drop it in the street for others to pic up. The main system of trash disposal seems to be throw it out the window instead of in the trash. Instead of garbage disposals they have pet cats that meow at the window for whatevers left on the table. It makes Manaus kinda grimy and gross. Hopefully Rio will be better. Ahh...no more time...tchau
Saturday we went to the supermarket and then to the grandmother´s for most of the day. I saw Toy Story in Portuguese. After I went down to the culture center...the Palacio Justiça and saw and art exibit. It was all sculpters by some french lady that I didnt think was all that good, and all the little placards were about the affair she had with her teacher who was older and married, and the fact that she eventually became so paranoid she was incapacitated. I took no pics because it didnt warrent it.
Saturday night I went with the mother, her brother and his girlfriend and the grandmother´s 16yr old servant to see Banda Callypso. It was interesting. The place was PACKED and everyone was dancing Forro (Fo-HO) which the mother attempted to teach me. We got the 16yr old drunk and he brought me this pink sparkly headband which they made me where.
The 10-1 girl-guy ratio here really sucks. All the guys think they can just touch you and grab at you, which they were doing in this crowd, and its ok. The women here dont mind it, but sketchy 40yr old me all over me is just not my cup of tea.
Sunday morning I woke up and the 17yr old model male cousin was there so I talked to him for a bit, then the fam went out for breakfast at this roadside stand and went to Macro, afterwords we went back to gradnma´s for most of the day because it was too rainy to go swimming. I then went and sqaw Premoniçâo 3 (Final Destination 3) with Orlean, the model cousin, and his 14yr old brother at the mall. It was in ingles with portugues subtitles, which was good for me. I talked to Orlean a lot about the differences between the US/Canada and Brazilian culture, because he´s going to Ontario in January.
Yesterday I had a test, went to the post office, and made Fettuccinni Alfredo for the fam. They loved it, but they all remarked about how fatty and heavy that type of food is. A little different from fish, rice and fejão.
There are 2 main things Ive learned about Brazil, one positive and one negative aspect of their culture. On the plus side people here never seem to be self conscious. They seem to be more open, friendly and care free. They dont seem to worry about being judged ever. Bigger girls tend to dress sexy and just have so much more self-confidence. EVERY goes to a concert and DANCES and doesnt worry about looking like a fool. Even in there crazy messed up relationship rituals people just go for it and dont play games or worry. People hug strangers and are incredibly open and welcoming.
On the downside there seems to be a lack of personal responsibility. Im still not that comfortable with the idea that...oh the maid will do it...leave the dishes in the sink for tomorrow. People leave the trash on the table in the cafeteria and drop it in the street for others to pic up. The main system of trash disposal seems to be throw it out the window instead of in the trash. Instead of garbage disposals they have pet cats that meow at the window for whatevers left on the table. It makes Manaus kinda grimy and gross. Hopefully Rio will be better. Ahh...no more time...tchau