Finding my Footing

Today was my technically second day in Brazil, but it still felt like the first.  It was a day to figure out what this trip was going to be like.  I must say, the Brazil I saw today was nothing like the Brazil I saw yesterday.  It was alive!  There were people everywhere, shops open for business, and markets packed with shoppers.  People were shopping, walking, playing, exercising, riding bicycles, working, attending school, and even urinating in the park.  Most people were friendly and more than willing to speak to you.  In Portuguese.  I try really hard to communicate with them, but I lack the ability.  I was hoping I could catch on to some words once I got to Brazil, but have failed to do so thus far.  The introductory Portuguese book I bought can only take me as far as a small chat and only when I am lucky enough to receive responses I can understand.

One of my favorite places so far has been the University.  The campus was beautiful and so authentic.  Our guest speaker, Jose Benatti, has an expansive knowledge about the continuous occurrences and regulations surrounding the land in Para.  All of the information he was giving us was being processed through my brain from an accounting viewpoint.  I had quite a bit of trouble turning that feature off and attempting to look at it through from a journalistic approach.  In the end, it was still an accountant's interpretation of how a journalist would view the matter, but I still learned a lot from him.  

The highlight of my day was going out at night.  It was really great seeing the culture carried by the younger demographic in Brazil.  The first step was to travel down to the Station of Docas.  Luckily, we made two Brazilian friends to help us navigate the city.  Their names are Julienne and Joao.  Joao flagged down a bus, we boarded, and were promptly startled by the chaotic driving of the bus driver.  Somehow, we made it all in one piece.  Upon arrival, we witnessed the Batalhao da Estrela (the drums section of a band called Arraial de Pavulagem) performing while many locals danced with various floral displays.  It was beguiling.  The music was so rhythmic, it made us all want to dance!  This city has so much rich culture to share with us and I am excited to see more.