candomble and good byes.

On Thursday evening a group got together to visit a Candomble ceremony. Candomble is sort of a mesh of Catholicism and the African ceremonies that came over from Angola, etc. as Salvador was a huge slave port. Being very interested in New Orleans Voodoo and Haitian Voodou I was very excited. In my mind I was going to see something that resembled the Lisa Bonet ritual scene from Angel Heart. (80’s Mickey always on my mind) We were driven into a favela where there was a a collection of houses. We had to wear white or bright clothes as we would not be allowed in in black or dark colors that attract bad spirits. The women were separated from the men. The was a drum circle and the shahs- were dancing, the high priestess (an old women) came in an took the seat in the front, they continued to dance and practicers of the religion and their shahs went into trance. I had stepped outside because it was too hot in the house and witnessed the tranced being taken out shaken and making noises that sounded like birds. After that, the community was served food and the shahs changed into these beautiful costumes and came back to continue the dance (or offering-if I understood correctly).
We had to leave shortly after but these ceremonies can continue in to the wee hours in the AM. Eventually a fermented pineapple drink comes around and everyone gets a high from the beverage. I am sorry I missed that interesting drink. Also, cell phones, cameras were not allowed into the ceremony. So no pics.

On Friday, since Frutos was still closed for Corpus Christi I worked at another placement, Madre Teresa Missionaries of Charity. It was located in one of the worst areas of Salvador as the Sisters help the poorest of the poor. The help children up to 2 years in age and the elderly women that have been abandoned. The Sisters all speak English and were quite funny so it was nice and the children were absolutely adorable. The older women were quite the personalities as the elderly tend to be. I did not take pictures out of respect that I was only there for the day but I did take some of the surrounding areas.

Outside Madre Teresa

Another home outside Madre Teresa

On Friday evening a small group went out as two of our members that arrived with us were leaving the next day. I was so sad as they were my roommates and two of the most terrific people I have met in a long time. I know the next two weeks with be quite lonely without them.

Han, Alissa and I

I did find out that next week is my last week at Frutos. This is slightly distressing news as I looked forward to two more weeks with the class. They go on a fall break after the Feast of Sao Joao. So Friday is my last day with them and I will most likely be working at an orphanage for the following week. As I mentioned in earlier posts I had them draw their community on a large mat which I laminated with tape. It is so amazing some of their representations. I have started making cars out of juice boxes for them to use. I originally wanted to make houses but the house I would make would not properly represent where they live (the favelas on stilts). I know to many it seems silly to make these things when I have the funds and ability to walk to the mall and buy them. I would love to do that but our policy strictly forbids donations to partner programs like that. The whole purpose is to try and give teachers the tools and ideas to build constructive learning environments with little resources- using recyclable items. So last night, Nicole (a program mate of mine at Frutos) worked on our “projects.”

facebook.

I posted this before. I cannot upload on this slow connection to Flickr (I will do back in the States). So email me and I can send you the Facebook link. They are private on there. And NO you do NOT need a Facebook account, Natalie and Stephanie! XOXO.

another week.

An escapee at my feet

I just finished another week at Frutos. A short week, as the Corpus Christi holiday closes the school for Thursday and Friday. Being in Brazil is really a revelation on just how lasped a Catholic I am. On Monday I had the kids practice counting to ten while making macaroni necklaces, Tuesday was just some coloring, and today I started them on a larger activity I hope will take us through next week. I had them draw their neighborhood on this huge mat that I am going to laminate with tape. I am making carros and casas out of juice boxes for them to use in their ‘hood. It is my surprise for them for the Sao Joao (Feast of Saint John) that is next week. Or maybe the week after.

Little guys at work

End of the morning, before almoco, it tends to go awry

A dirty futbol game

Parting shot

flickr.

Cannot upload to flickr. So very slow. Will try something new.

Morro de Sao Paolo

At the clay beach

Clay beach on Morro

So the group that arrived with me decided to take a weekend getaway together to an island south of Salvador, Morro de Sao Paolo. To get there we had to take a ferry to a bus to a boat. We had a wonderful hour drive through the countryside where in addition to street dogs there are street horses and cows.

The island itself is amazing. The beach dogs really had it made…aside from the nasty fleas they all had. There is a lot of Italian and French that have homes on the island if I understood correctly. So there was this really bizarre amount of Italian food. It is off season so it was quiet but we still met many people from all over. On Saturday, we went to the clay beach. We took a 20 minute boat ride to the other side of the island and all rolled in the clay. I had acquired a nasty sunburn by then and am still in the worst pain. Yes, I wore sunscreen- but like Savannah the sun penetrated the 30 SPF and fried me. Ugh!

Ewwwww.....

The trip back was an adventure. Some miscommunication-just plain shadiness- happened and we ended up being instructed off the boat in this little random beach town. We were told we had to take a van to the ferry. Okay. The was nothing we could do. The van breaks down about halfway yet everything was taken care of within the hour. It was starting to look like the beginnings of a bad horror movie.

I think this is the beginnings of the movie Turistas.

We only have 3 days of placement this week because of the Corpus Christi holiday. I may visit Madre Teresa Sisters of Charity on Friday. We’ll see.

I am putting all my pics on flickr tonight.

week one. done.

Victor Lima- so much fun!

About half the class

So this week I met my group of kids at Frutos de Maes. Very ramboncous group of 3 years olds. The language barrier is tough. It is very difficult to communicate with the teachers. The children tend to be the same as children everywhere- very very verbal and needing so much love and attention. The conditions outside of the school are hard to take in as an educator but the love and life inside the school is empowering. I hope to create an outline of tips for the school before I leave. The “teachers” are not teachers but are more room mothers and any help or direction is really appreciated. So for the next three weeks I am trying to put together relevant activities that will help the students with the basics with little to no resources. It is going to be tough but I am excited!

Main corridor of the school

View from bathroom. That is the front yard to about 4-5 shantys.

Arley and Antonio look out to the favela.

In the corridor.

My first activity with the little ones.

Oh this past week I went to a reggae concert in the old city and had capoiera and samba lessons. I still am a horrible dancer.

work. finally.

Alagados favela

I start work today in about 1.5 hours. I did not take the picture above but that is the area where my placement, Frutos de Maes is located. It is Alagados favela (sort of like saying Cabrini Green- but favelas are NOT government funded- it is a squatting thing if I understood correctly) in the Uruguai neighborhood. The early childhood center was started by a woman from the area with no formal education and is run now by her daughter. It is to prepare students with basic skills- both social and academic. I am working with 2-3 year olds. They supply us with volunteer reports from before and while I have read them all (very positive) I want to get a sense of it myself and then some of the comments and suggestions will start to make more sense.

hmm.

I can’t get my Facebook to work and I am having a very hard time uploading pictures. The house is pretty full now, the other group is back from their weekend vacation and everyone is online at the same time. We had a formal orientation today and will be at our placement tomorrow morning. The beach was wonderful again today. Can’t even believe it is rainy/winter down here. There is a whole group of study abroad kids in the Graca area.

One more thing!

I was so happy when I saw this! I couldn’t wait to share with my Dad (and blog) This is our ride around Salvador. There are MANY here- along with a billion VW hatchbacks.

finally.

The travel to Salvador is finally over. It went by very smoothly. I was able to get on an earlier flight to Miami to avoid a tight 30 minute layover. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise that I was accidentally in business class on the flight to SSA and did my best to sleep during the overnight travel with a whole row to myself!
Salvador is amazing. So big and teeming with culture – sensory on overload. We went to Pelhourino- the UNESCO World Heritage site. It was beautiful and humid. I was very upset with the street dogs and have to tell myself they go home each night to nice families or else I would go and pick them all up.
My Port is still slowly coming along. I was too exhausted today to even try although I am very familiar with say No, abrigado (a). Which means No Thanks to Everyone trying to sell you something. I bought a postcard for my student teaching kids and we enjoyed some wonderful Brazillian beer at the Mercado Modelo.