Our first day..

Even though we got in late last night, we started out early this morning. We met our guide, Maricela, and she took us to a nearby favela (or slum neighborhood). We were there to visit a large social project, with a school for the poor children, and a quite large sports facility, job training cite, library, medical clinic, and samba-dome. We had the opportunity to meet the director of the project, as well as several teachers. We got a long tour of the grounds, which were large, and we got to see how all the space available was used. For example, the elementary school was clearly built in waves, and part of it was literally under the tracks of the nearby metro train. Because of the heat, the windows in the classrooms were open, and the noise from the train was quite loud. We got to briefly visit a classroom with kindergartners, and they recited their lesson for us (which was really charming). The whole project is sponsored by a Samba School, which is more of a social club than a school per se. The social project has made a huge difference in the lives of the children of the favela, and we could see kids and teachers and coaches all throughout the grounds. Apparently, not only have many of these kids gone on to middle class management jobs in large Brazilian corporations, but several have become professional athletes and Olympians.

One of the funniest parts of our visit to the school was the fact that the middle school age kids were out on break while we were there. They were QUITE interested in us, just as we were interested in them. Of course, the girls of the school happened to notice our one guy, Brendan, and began to flirt with him by calling out to him and trying to take his photo. Some of them started to make the sign of a heart with their hands, and at one point, Brendan made them a heart too, at which point they began to shreik and shreik and laugh. Of course we all laughed too, and Brendan just went along with some photos and such. I guess it must be how Brad Pitt feels when he travels (!).

We brought some gifts for the younger kids at the school, a large bag full of pens and markers and stickers and paper. The college book store donated about a 100 purple pens, so we had those too. We handed them over to the principal, and she thanked us profusely. Apparently they have a hard time affording actual school supplies, and many of the donations that come to them go straight to keeping up the facilities. It was a good place to see, and learn some about Brazil, and it was nice that we could bring something for the kids.

After we left the social project, we drove along the ocean and stopped at a small cove where there are a lot of hang-gliders coming down from a steep mountain. We had the chance to get some coconuts (hacked open with a machete right in front of us) and we stuck straws inside and drank the coconut water while watching the ocean. Some of the students walked down and put their feet in the water. It was lovely.

We had lunch in Ipenema, right near the beach. This neighborhood is an upscale shopping neighborhood, and we had to stop at the bank so everyone could get to an ATM and get their money. We didn´t go shopping, but we did get some lunch. Some people bought fresh fruit juice from a small stand, while others went into a restaurant that sold food by the dish from a buffet line. Everything was so fresh and healthy and delicious!

In the afternoon, we had the chance to go up to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain. This is the famous almost completely vertical mountain right along the shoreline. The only way to reach the top is by cable car, with a stop to change cars on a nearby mountaintop. The views from the top were amazing, and we got a sense of the geography of much of the city. There are a number of beaches and bays, coves, and of course, these strange steep vertical mountains everywhere. The city faces the water, but because there are so many shores and beaches, the city faces in many different directs depending on the beach. It´s SO beautiful, and we were lucky to get a very clear day. Around us, way up high, buzzards circled in the updrafts, and despite their reputation, these giant birds were gorgeous to see. There must have been hundreds of them. We also saw, right at the top of Sugar Loaf, a number of tiny monkeys, barely larger than a large fist. They didn´t seem to be afraid of us, but they also paid us no notice, so they clearly weren´t tame either. The flowers and trees were gorgeous, and it felt like a pretty magic place on the top of this mountain.

We got back to our hotel in the late afternoon, and everyone has had some free time since then. There are restaurants all around our hotel and along Copacabana Beach. And there is an outdoor market on the beach, so I know students were out trying the local food and perhaps doing some shopping. So far, everyone seems to be having a really great time. Brazil, or at least Rio de Janiero, seems to be very friendly and safe, and quite interesting to explore. Of course, we´ve barely been here for 24 hours, and we are staying in a fairly upscale neighborhood, but so far, it´s already been a great experience, and I think there is a lot of promise for this to be a terrific and memorable class!