SSA-GIG-ATL

When I first looked into booking the travel to Brazil, I tried to find the least expensive tickets with the fewest connections. Ultimately, the trip that appealed to me the most was a trip from Atlanta to Salvador with a stop in Rio de Janeiro. This trip was not the shortest trip but it had the fewest connections and was a relatively good price. The biggest challenge was that the trip had a 9 hour layover both ways. I knew that we could possibly go into Rio de Janeiro even if only for a brief time with this layover. Thanks to our caring friends in Salvador, both Fred and Clara, we were able to organize a 4 hour trip into Rio on our way back to the states. Two things hit me upon arriving in Rio (which I had only been to once before about 15 years ago): it is immense and it is very different from Salvador. That shouldn’t surprise me as I would say that about two different cities in the United States. However, the trip into Rio de Janeiro made me realize why I like taking students to Salvador. Salvador is a city that will wrap its arms around you, give you a grande abraço and you will come away with a different perspective on things (at least it is like that for me). Perhaps I feel this way in part because of all the wonderful people that I have come to know there. I also believe it is part of Bahian culture and style that separates it from other parts of Brazil.

Me, Prof. Magee and Pounce at the top of Corcovado.
Me, Prof. Magee and Pounce at the top of Corcovado.

Nonetheless, our trip to Rio (and 4 hours away from GIG airport) was a great time. And I was finally happy to rest once we all arrived back in Atlanta safely!

Crossroads

After our action-packed weekend of adventures in Lençois, today started out a bit more low-key. This morning we had a lecture at the Institute of Collective Health from Professora Monique Azevedo Esperidião; she discussed the history of Brazil’s United Health System (SUS) and the role of social participation and social control in SUS. Based on the lectures we’ve heard so far about SUS, and conversations with several Brazilian people about SUS, the general consensus seems to be that SUS is a great idea in theory but very difficult to implement in an ideal way, i.e. in a way that allows every citizen a voice in the conversation about their healthcare system and allows equal access to healthcare and equal quality healthcare to everyone in the country. Professora Monique said that with the government changes occurring at this moment in Brazil, she worries that the healthcare system will change, and that instead of private insurance being a supplement to the main SUS coverage, SUS coverage may become a supplement to private insurance, which could be seriously detrimental to 70% of the Brazilian population.

After lunch at our home stays, we reconvened at ACBEU for a Portuguese language class with Mauricio, during which we played a game of “dominoes” – matching pictures of foods with the names of the foods in Portuguese. Next, our activity after language class was a lecture from Makota Valdina Pinto, a practitioner of the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé. For an hour we learned about Candomblé, the history of the religion (brought over by slaves from several African countries and practiced in Brazil in order to continue the African culture), the common misconceptions (negative connotations commonly associated with voodoo or dark magic), and how different components factor into the religion (including food, music and dance). After some time for questions, Makota Valdina closed the lecture by telling us about Exu the god (orixá) of the crossroads. Each one of us is always at a crossroads, deciding which way to go – forward or backward, toward good or toward evil. Makota Valdina said that to be at a crossroads is to be in a position of power because it is a position of choice. As she said to us, I hope that each of you reading this post will think hard about your next (or current) crossroads and make a choice of family, a choice of life, a choice of new things!

After a nap and some dinner, we took several taxis to Pelourinho, Salvador’s historic district, to see a concert by the Geronimos and to DANCE! The music was an amazing mix of samba, salsa, reggae, etc. It was a great bonding experience for our whole group to be together on the dance floor, and we were definitely glad that we had Antonio’s Afro-Brazilian / Samba dance class last week – we were tearing up that samba rhythm!

-Michelle Sarah Livings

With Makota Valdina Pinto
With Makota Valdina Pinto

Keep Calm and Let Clara Handle It

Keep calm and let Clara handle it.
Keep calm and let Clara handle it.

On Saturday, we boarded the tour bus to go to Lençoís. On the way, we picked up Clara Ramos who is the coordinator of all things cultural (and perhaps all things…) for our program. When she stepped onto the bus, her shirt said “Keep Calm and Let Clara Handle It”. It had a crown on the top to symbolize a queen.  She showed the group her shirt and told the group that another study abroad program director sent it to her. The phrase is a perfect description of what she does for our program here in Salvador. Clara has an ability to coordinate logistics, solve problems, make everyone feel at home and provide a signature experience for those that come through her programs. It is life changing and as a matter of fact, it changed my life.

I was a student who came through a program coordinated by Clara in 2003. The experience was wonderful and when I came back in 2014, I spent one afternoon right before I left talking to Clara about starting a program with her. I was so impressed with the services she offers and the passion she has for the activity, we formed a wonderful program. I feel very lucky to have this person in my life and in our students lives because she really does take care of everything. Yesterday, she loaned her shoes to a student so the student wouldn’t have to wear her tennis shoes walking around town. Tonight she took an exhausting bus ride home so she could spend the entire day with our group and two others here in Lençoís. The dedication she has in her programs and with her students is endless. She is a wonderful ambassador for her city and country and we are all a little bit better after meeting her.Morro do Pai Inacio

 

Seja Bem-Vindo! Welcome!

We arrived in Brazil yesterday after almost 24 hours of airports. I am really looking forward to spending the next three weeks learning from our students and having them learn about this wonderful city of Salvador, its wonderful people and interesting culture and history.

Halfway through our very long layover in Rio de Janeiro.
Halfway through our very long layover in Rio de Janeiro.