Last moments in Rio

So I realized that I didn't take enough pictures in Rio. I'll post more when I gather everyone else's photos.

Although Rio was AMAZING, it was time to move on to the next city..... Salvador.

*ps: Rio De Janeiro translates to river of January ..

Random picture if eggs that were served with my meal.

Some sand art!

Christo Redentor

*I'm writing on my Iphone so I apologize for grammitcal errors. I'll fix it and make it flow better when I get to a computer*

My last post was super long, so I'm making them short and sweet from here on out!

On another day in Rio, the two friends I was traveling with met up with a few of our other friends in Copacabana. We all met up at the FIFA Fanfest, where we watched the final game of the World Cup with thousands of other people. (Germany vs. Agentina)

We were forewarned that there might be pick picketers and riots. We did see many people getting pickpocketed, but  luckily my group prepared well and so we all left with everything we came with!

As previously warned about, when Alemnha (Germany) scored against Argentina, EVERYONE went crazy. 

*Mom if you're reading this, stop now so I don't get forced on the next plane back to the U.S.* lol

All of a sudden my friends and I were being pushed in the middle of a large crowd. Now, I'm used to being pushed at parties when a fight breaks out and people are trying to get away, but since there were so many angry, drunk, foreign people... We were semi-scared for our lives (okay maybe not our lives... More like our money stash and our toes since everyone was stepping on each other). It got really crazy, but police acted promptly..... and we got out of there FAST! (luckily there were soooo many police around)

...... This was honestly such a great experience.... and yes we did go back out after everything calmed down.

This is me after we went back out that night. I was trying to take a picture that looked like I was being arrested so I could scare my mom. Lol, the policeman laughed at my attempt at speaking Portuguese, and kindly said no (i guess it's illegal) lol. 

Lol don't worry, we made sure the riot was over before we went out again. Although it's dark, it was also still pretty early in he night. (It gets dark around 5pm here since we are in winter here in Brazil). 

Side note about partying(mainly for my mom): Brazilians don't drink at parties (if they do it's very little), they dance face to face, or they just stand there and talk. So when I say partying, I mainly mean us dancing to American music and trying to speak Portuguese to random people lol.

CHRIST THE REDEEMER:

Although we couldn't do a lot of sight seeing in Rio because of the lack of time, we were'nt leaving without seeing Christ The Redeemer.

This is one of my friends laying on the ground to take pictures of people, lol. Christo was very large and sat up higher than us, so this was the only angle we could get all of him lol. 

This is my "Turn-e Up-e" crew at Christ the Redeemer.

A small "church" at the bottom.

This was one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen. Ever. We also got there early before anyone was there, so we got some great pictures. 

To end my experience in Rio:

Rio is sooooo much more beautiful than I first believed (because of the flavelas). The people are also some of the sweetest people I have ever encountered . I can't lie, I was veryyyy nervous about my safety when traveling to Brazil ( ofcourse I heard the most negative of the stories), however I've learned that it's just like anywhere else. The more flashy you are with electronics/money/jewelry , the more you become a target. Like I mentioned before, I was robbed in the U.S. Right before I came here, so I don't label Brasileiros as any more dangerous than the people in my country. I'm already in Love with Brazil, and I'm already getting sad that I have to leave in 5 weeks :/.

When in Brasil....

*I'm writing on my Iphone so I apologize for grammitcal errors. I'll fix it and make it flow better when I get to a computer*

STARTING WITH RIO:

After the 16 hour flight from Los Angeles to Rio, I can honestly say I wasn't very impressed with the city.... INITIALLY.

After leaving the airport, we drove through about an hour of flavelas (Rio's "ghetto"). Let me first say that although the picture is appealing, the flavelas make America's ghettos look like the good life. 

However, I've learned a lot since my initial impression. These flavelas have electricity, running water, plumbing, television, etc. and these people are very happy. Personally, these living conditions are the worst I've ever seen (thus far, because they definitely aren't the worst on earth, and are still live-able). However there is so much beauty in the way the Brasileiro's walk around smiling despite the extreme lack of material things. Ofcourse I know I am privileged, but it makes me wonder if I'm as happy as those that reside in the flavelas. I definitely don't think i could live like they do..... 

*side note* : just to give a reality check to my fellow Americans: MOST of the people in the world live like this, and many live in even worse conditions . 

HOWEVER: Rio is VERY beautiful. I now even believe the flavelas are beautiful.

We ended up arriving to our apartment in Rio a couple hours early and having to stand out side with all of our luggage. Ofcourse, I was only traveling with two other people who, like me, do not speak any Portuguese (how convenient). We ended up using hand signals and Spanish to ask people to use their telephones. Surprisingly, they willingly handed over their phones and two even offered to call the landlord and speak in Portuguese for us. 

Okay, it is 11:18 in salvador and I'm going to a college party! I'll finish posting amanha (tomorrow). Lol

-----> 

To finish the story: 

We ended up finding friends of the landlord who let us in our apartment early. They spoke very little English, but they were some of the nicest people we met on the trip. To get into our apartment, we had to use a veryyyy outdated elevator:

Most of the elevators I've been on in Brazil look like this- sooo cool! Except I've been stuck on one since I've been here in salvador, and that has to be the scariest thing I've experienced thus far lol. There was a key for the elevator door that opened right up to our apartment, there were multiple keys to our apartment, and multiple doors to enter. (You enter through a door that leads to the stairs if you are wet from the beach).

We each had our own sleeping area, there were two rooms, a couch, and a flat screen tv. It was wayyy nicer than I expected from looking at it from outside. 

So after getting settled into our apartment, we did a lot of Partying ! Lol

I met with some friends of friends (from back home) that happened to be in rio at the time. They took us to a party in Lapa, Rio. 

The party was FILLED with people and we easily managed to find some English speaking brasileiras (Female brazilians)!!!

Also, I found out Brasilerios LOVE American music , lol! All they played was America hip-e hop-e (hip hop) and they mouthed the words as if they knew them! It was hilarious but so cool. They play American music everywhere, even in the taxis.

 A taxi driver yesterday even tried to school me on a Bruno Mars song, I said in English "He dresses like Michael Jackson" and the taxi driver ( who didn't speak English) responded in Portuguese "No No No don't you know this is not Michael Jackson, it's Bruno Mars" .........LOL, yeah I know Mr. Taxi Driver 

Salvador

So far, the only thing I don't like about Brazil is the lack of wifi. It makes it hard to post, but I'll try to keep my blog up as much as I can.(I am typing on my phone do I apologize for typos lol)

Other than wifi, I LOVE everything here. Before I came, a previous student told me to expect many cultural differences that would take a while to get used to. He explained that cold showers, lack of wifi, hour bus rides to school, small breakfasts, and not being able to flush toilet paper were all things that I just needed to learn to live with. I was also warned that the people in Salvador were not as nice as the people in Rio, and the chances of me getting mugged were a lot higher out here.

While I may be at high risk for getting my iphone stolen (because iPhones out here can cost as much as R$2000 which is roughly $1000 USD), everything else I was warned about turned out to be ....... not as bad as I thought.

Firstly, I live directly next door to the school. In other words, ACBEU (my school) is in my backyard. Secondly, my shower gets very hot, although it is hard to use because it is electric. I'm still not completely comfortable with seeing electrical wires taped to the wall as I shower, and I don't understand how electricity and water can coincide so peacefully . BUT, I have hot showed and I am happy. However, the toilet thing is true- we can't flush the toilet paper. Brazil's plumbing is not as advanced as the United States 's plumbing, but all you have to do is throw the toilet paper in a trash can next to the toilet. This trash can is changed multiple times a day, so it's not as nasty as you think.


Also, the people here are amazing! There definitely are those that will mug you if they get the hint that you're wealthy, but I just got my car stolen from a good area in Los Angeles- therefore I'm not judging. Other than that, I've had a great experience with the Brasileiro's  thus far. They've been respectful and very  helpful .

Okay, there is so much more I want to write, but I'm guessing you all want to see some pictures. I'll explain more about my experience under the pictures.

Pre-Arrival

*Disclaimer* I will be posting a lot about my feelings and reactions towards what I encounter during this trip. My hope is that future "study abroaders" get some questions answered and become a little bit more at ease about what they're feeling both pre-travel and during the trip. (if anyone wants me to post about what items I've brought,  what I wish I brought, how i purchased my tickets/hotels/excursions etc. leave a comment and I am happy to do so) I'll try to keep these blogs a little short so I don't bore people.


So.... Today I leave on a 15 hour flight for Brazil. AND I am soooo nervous.

- Went shopping for brazil, left things in trunk for ONE night.
- My car AND everything in it was stolen early tuesday morning.
- I couldn't replace everything I originally bought for multiple reasons. I hope I have what I need.
- Ofcourse, I didn't finish packing until the night before........okay actually I still have to pack a little more this morning before I leave..... PROCRASTINATION at it's finest. lol
- Although this week was not the best, the amount of family and friends that stepped in to help has left me feeling so loved....I'm still happy.



OKAY:
     I'm praying for this flight, not only that it is arrives safely, but ALSO that these sixteen hours are bearable! My program is only in Salvador, Bahia, but some friends and I decided to go a few days early for RIO - because how can I go to brazil and not experience Rio? ... but that also means I'll be there during the craziness called the World Cup......


ADUES POR AGORA!