Regardless of the day of the week-our Brazilian crew-the director, professors, guides, homestay families and drivers-showed up with energy and passion to make sure we could soak up as much history, culture, and information as possible-Every. Single. Day. From early mornings, weekend afternoons, and the evening-the hours of our days in Brazil have been filled with meaningful activities that introduced us to diverse cultural perspectives and experiences of communities and aspects of residential life. On the final Saturday before departure, the sun shone brightly as we learned about the port of Salvador-and the important role that the marina has played throughout history.
The buildings, churches, architectural structures within the area showcase centuries of classic design elements complete with motifs of the sea abound in what was the earliest entry point into Brazil. Over time, the waves of individuals resulted in expanding development into the upper sections of Salvador, connected by a winding main road that brings you to the upper section of Pelourinho.
Today, the contemporary connection is marked by the famous elevator which offers stunning sunset views of the sea as well as the stepped cityscape silhouette. The marina teems with action daily-as it is serves as the port for access to the many surrounding islands and well as for cargo business, fishing, and local trade.
Another highlight of the morning was exploring the Mercado Modelo. Professor Mauricio designed two interactive activities that prompted us to find food and beverage options that covered the alphabet within the two-story food court (building one) within 30 minutes. Of course, we rose to the challenge and identified numerous menu items from A to Z.
The second activity took place in the section of the market with vendor stalls located housed within a long tent during restorations of the permanent structure. Students set out with a worksheet in hand-focused on identifying details of three souvenirs of interest which required conversational Portuguese exchange with merchants. Beyond language skill-building, students practiced the art of price negotiation. Overall, students valued the personal interaction with vendors and observed their personal connection to the wares they sold and the livelihood their shops represented to so many. On the other side, the thoughtfulness exhibited by students in their careful consideration of the intended recipients of the souvenirs was evident and equally touching. With minds challenged and bags full…We had another successful and productive day of learning about Brazilian life while engaging in critically important retail therapy.
