Manghuinhos Community Garden - GMF

Love It - A List

• Love living in Lapa.
• Love how it's almost always sunny (for about 10 hours a day) and warm.
• Love how beautiful the mountains are around the city.
• Love the friends I've met here.
• Love being here.
• Love knowing where things are in this city.
• Love showing tourists the sites/events that aren't in the LP.
• Love the flexibility of my job, which in turn lets me volunteer.
• Love skyping! Haha.
• Love to youtube whole albums of Brazilian music at work.

Six Month Mark

On the 27th, I will hit my 6 month mark of having left Canada.

I have done things my way. I chose to pack my things and come to Brazil.

I went to Itajai, SC to live with a friend to make my documents. I tried teaching and living in a small town. Not only was his company miserable, I was bored to death in that town.

I came back to Rio and began to look for apartments again. I got extremely lucky in finding Sheila and her place in LAPA. My room, although is not the biggest, it is aweomse and in a relatively safe place. Our apartment is clean and it always welcomes guests. I love the trust I have with her and the friendship we have of mutual respect. She is by far, the best room mate I have ever lived with.
She's a Firefighter and I have enormous amounts of respect for her in the career path she chose. She lives with integrity and has an amazing vibe.

I love living in this city. Even though I often wished things would be different and easier, I accept that it wont be. I have learned to navigate it and now through my job (as a receptionist at a hostel), I help others enjoy it too.

I have learned ALOT about dealing with people.
My friend from Itajai, my family pushing me in different directions, when trying to find a place to live, when finding a job, at my job (the tourists, national or international), the envinronmental minister, the Light company's CEO, other colleagues, the ladies where we eat at in Manguinhos... etc... many people!

About myself.
I still don't have discipline. I still run and give in, into my anxiety and doubt. I'm still insecure. I'm still angry at alot of things I haven't done. I still can't decide where to go. One day I look into studying Tourism, the next I want to pursue Environment studies, the next I want to do Public Relations... I'm constantly shifting my goals. It's not that I don't want to do anything, I just don't know what to do. I don't want to start something that won't give a concise end.

There are sooooo many things I should've done. There's so many things I want to do.
Majority of the time I doubt my dedication and often realize it's just desire out of impulse or desperation. I don't necessarily doubt my ability.

The heat.
I have to discuss the heat, because it's been a huge factor in my life. I have realized I am not comfortable in the heat. It gets too hot. I feel tired in the middle of the day. My body wants to shut down. I'm in a constant battle with myself in order to function. I sweat 24/7. I'm sticky and stinky. It's impossible to hold down a serious job, because that would require me to wear PANTS. It's impossible, I feel too uncomfortable and anxious.

My flavor palete is turning dull. In Brazil the only condiments are: onion, garlic, salt, pepper and spicy pepper sauce. This becomes incredibly dull. Even if I do try to make my own recipes as I did at home in Montreal, my dishes don't turn out the same. Given the terreau of all the ingredients I get, the flavour comes out entirely different. I miss flavours... I also miss crap like poutine, smoked meat sandwich, thai express, even WENDYs!!! I miss the PC brand sauces for meat too!! I miss peanut butter and multigrain bread... hehehe.. or CEREAL...
These are clearly things I'm living without and I'm doing alright... but I still miss it. I also miss having a microwave & a toaster.

I'm thankful I came alone to Brazil and I have gone through all I did. I am proud of myself. I'm happy about all the bonds I have made and will continuously make. I'm happy to be living here. I love this city!
I am having a fun time in my continuous search for... ways to evolve!

I live in Rio de Janeiro!

Things You Need to Get Used Too (2)

• Moskitos.
  IF you see them (because they are sometimes invisible!), they are fast and hungry. With time you do get better at swatting the motion though...
• Hearing about people getting mugged.
• Majority of the time, regardless of how the day starts, it'll be sunny and really hot at some point.
• The universal smell of garlic and onions. everywhere.
• Homeless people sleeping on the streets during the day. 
• Buses taking routes they want, rather than the bus route they are suppose to do.
• People yelling: at their kids, their significant others, from car to car, from across the street, anywhere really...
• Sometimes there's water shortages.
• 8-10 policemen standing at the same corner, drinking beers.

No Visits

I can't ever seem to find enough words to express how awesome I think this city is... The only thing missing is someone experiencing it with me. When I left, there were people that clearly told me that they couldn't come. They've bought houses, got married or had children. I understand all of those. 

Then there are others who choose things, rather than the experience of coming to see me... and that not only makes me angry, it makes me really sad!! Especially because I have a place where I can freely receive visits...

Thing You Need to Get Used To

When you live in Rio de Janeiro, there are some things you need to get used to:

• Lifting your feet when walking.
  This is to avoid tripping due to the floor being uneven. 
• Looking at where you're going to be stepping.
  It might be a puddle of urine.
• The noise of helicopters.
  They are everywhere.
• Getting mugged.
  When I lived at the hostel I'd hear about this all the time. People get robbed anywhere at anytime. 
• Not having easy access to healthy snacks.
  They have "juelhos" : ham and cheese pastries everywhere.
• Banks go on strike.
• There are line-ups for everything.
• The police are useless.
• Per/Kilo places aren't high in quality, but essential for a budget.

Samba School Practice - Choosing Music

Yesterday it was the first time in my life that I`ve ever gotten close to a SAMBA EXPERIENCE.


A friend of a friend gave us free tickets to Mangueira Samba School.

Incase you don`t know much about Carnaval Schools...


It was just insanely amazing. I stared around for the first hour. There`s colors of the school: pink, green and white.
The sounds of samba... amazing... seeing people knowing the brand new lyrics... singing and dancing with such intense passion.. wow!!


Mind blowing experience. 

Did it. Another Milestone.

Yesterday I got the call. I got the room at the apartment. This is the first time I actually get a room I truly want.
It has a phenomenal location, it`s clean, it`s relatively safe and I have a window.

I have a room. I have a fan. I have 3 drawers.
There`s a kitchen, a washing machine, a decent bathroom, WIFI and cool living room.
I have ONE roommate. Sheila.

Things I've Done.

A brief list.

• Went to ArtRio Exposition 2013 for FREE.
• Worked in my PJs, watching movies and doing my nails.
• Respected my bitch of a boss... Kept calm, in situations where I would've flipped my switch.
• Went to a VIP Forro party so close to the Christo Redentor statue, I was basically high-fiving him.
• HAVEN'T been robbed yet.
• Made phenomenal friends.
  - Hostel staff.
  - Hostel guests:
      - Richard: British. Early 50s? Who looked brazilian, but wore Brazil tourist shirts, hats and bracelets. He was always with a drink in hand, played the music and loved to dance and videotaped almost every night.
      - Markus: Sweedish. 28. Deeply inlove with his awesome girlfriend. Had a phenomenal sense of humor. Always up to try new things. Vegetarian. Showed us how he was taught to swim by lying on top of two chairs.
       - Zach: American. 33. Loyal. Wants to learn Portuguese.

What's your plan?

I've made plans... I left Canada with a plan. Most of them haven't worked.

The one plan I really had was: I WANT TO LIVE IN RIO.

Every day when I wake up and realize I'm in Rio, I'm happy.

Someone I know came up to me on facebook and asked:
"How long do you plan on staying there?"

"I dunno." I replied.  

"What do you mean you don't know? You can't stay there forever..." The person says.

It's rather funny how people seem to think they have the right to think about what you can or cannot do.

I love being here, right now. I can be here right now. I don't think of it as having an expiring date.

This is what I chose and I'm continuously choosing. 

Back to Square One.

Jobless and Homeless again.

BBQ in Santa Teresa

I got up for breakfast as per usual. I'm still wearing my best sunburn.
I spent hours on the phone with RBC, because even thought I told them I'd be away, they still decided to block my card.
By 5pm, I got an invite to go to Santa Teresa for a BBQ. I left at 6pm... I managed to take a wrong bus and end up in Villa Isabel. Then I took a taxi there.
Saw my awesome Lapa friends. Then made it back home in time to go the Funk Party. I came home, I slept 2 hours and I'm working in my PJs. Only about 4 hours of work to go... Then I'll take a shower, head down to Lapa again... today there's Samba at Pedra do Sal!

Goodbye Alex & Charlie

At the place I am working & staying I met two really cool roomies.

Alex - From Australia. He's into yoga. He teaches English. He is talk and looks Swedish. He's very peaceful and funny. He was awesome to meet.
Charlie - From England. Worked at the bar. Looks like Elijah Wood. Is fun and funny.

Today they both leave. I'll miss them. They were like short term brothers.

Day OFF.

Today was my first day off since I`ve began working at the hostel.

A guest (Zach) and I had breakfast and went to Copacabana beach. We sat there for about 45 minutes, then walked to Ipanema... then we had some fish n' chips at post nine.

I am so happy to be livin' in Brazil. :D

We walked around some more. I got a MEAN sunburn. Then I came home to shower.

Now I'm taking a shower, having some beers and going out. Yessss!!!

Negative Job Aspects

As I eat ANOTHER plate of rice and beans for lunch, I figured I should probably write some of the downsides of working at this hostel.

Yup, so breakfast is the same thing everyday.
Lunch, if there is any, it's rice and beans (without any flavour) and meat that's full of nerves.

Because I live at work, it's hard to leave work. I'm not able to finish my shift and not see any stupid guests. They seem to think that once you're done working, they can continue to ask you for things. They constantly ask you for favors. 

The maid's constant complaining about the boss is annoying.
But the absolute worse... is the maid's religious music that she plays realllly loud out of her smartphone!!!

Another Opportunity

I returned to an address in Ipanema that I had been to 3 years ago. I had written asking for a job as a receptionist. Haha. The coolest part about applying for jobs in Brazil is that I get call backs because the majority of people actually find my CV interesting.. hahaha...

It's a small hostel, but it's clean!
Also this guy's verbal contract is that I should only work 4 days a week!
This new place doesn't have a 'varal' to dry my clothes, nor does he promise me breakfast.
However, it's EXACTLY where I want to live: Ipanema!
To me, it's the world's coolest beach... and I might be going to live there.
I'm just waiting for the guy's approval (he said he would interview other people...)

I also went for an interview to greet people that come from cruise-ships... Except that job will only start in December... The interview went great though! :)

The Past Few Days...

I sit here listening to certanejo (Brazilian Country Music). Marcelinho from Santa Catarina would be so proud!! haha..

It's my fourth (rough) morning where I work from 8-4. 

The past few days have been so ridiculously fun, sometimes I almost feel guilty. 

Except this was what I chose. Haha. And I'm lovingggg it!

Friday to Saturday I didn't sleep, just got home, showered and put on some different clothes.

It's hard NOT to have a crazy schedule living in Brazil. There's ALWAYS something to do. Either with guests or with the friends I've made from different hostels.
Yesterday I went to the Favela Funk Party. It's a huge party in a warehouse far from here. It's an "organized tour" where hostels basically put tourists in a van and take them there to party.

This whole event was free for me... but the best part is the networking because I get to know various different tour guides.

Working at this Hostel

Working at the reception of a Hostel is awesome. 

1. It's an easy job.
   I check people in, answer the phone, surf the internet, socialize and push a buzzer so people can open the door.
2. I'm beginning to learn what activities in Rio are on what day.
   I know when and where the markets and good parties are.
3. The job has perks.
   If I sell a certain tour, I can go with them for free. (I can't wait to hang glide!)

At this particular hostel, I am four blocks away from Copacabana Beach. It's located on a quiet corner. The owner used to be in the army and carries himself with alot of pride. He has friends over almost every night. They watch the game and drink. His wife and son are always around. His other kids always call.

Then there's Camilla. She's an interesting character...
This is a lady from across the street, in her late forties who comes visit the hostel with her dog Malin (a boxer that always wears a bow around her neck).
She speaks French. She used to travel by boat with her father. She has many many stories.
She came over to read me about 1000 pages of poetry she wrote.
Most of her poetry revolves around the fact that she feels like she wasn't truly loved by a man, and never had children. She uses metaphors of the ocean and of storms in order to depict what she feels. Awesome, but repetitive.

Day 1 @ "Work"

Today I internet-ed all day. I don't hate it yet.

Anddddd, other places are starting to respond my emails.

Half Way There.

It's funny how it seemed as if finding a place to work without my legal Brazilian documents seemed hard.

I am now working at a hostel in Copacabana in exchange for a room, so I don't need any documents...

I decided not to stay at the apartment I had found because the internet the lady advertised only worked in the hall, there was no reception for my phone and she takes care of her brother whom has dementia.
Therefor when she leaves to run her errands (as she did when I was there, for about 3 hours), she asked me to attend to his needs.
I didn't plan to pay to be a care-taker, so I left that same night.

I have been moving from hostel to hostel because the ones I like fill up with reservations.

I spent days calling and making appointments with people in order to see apartments.

Majority of the time they didn't show up at the scheduled time or didn't answer the phone. This is something extremely hard to get used too. They lack so much responsibility and respect, it's rather disturbing.
If they do show up, they'll walk you into an apartment that smells like urine and has pots with rotting food on the stove. These are just not livable conditions.Call me a princess if you'd like!

Meanwhile I've been staying at the BEST hostel in Rio (Bossa in Rio Hostel) in Lapa... and have been looking for a place to live.
My Italian friend Samuel who lives at Bossa in Rio too went for an interview and was told that they were looking for two people, so he called me and now I have a job at a mediocre hostel in Copacabana.
This is most people's dream come true... but I'm starting to capture the "Zone Sul" vibe. It's different... I can tell.. People from Lapa/Santa Teresa are more pleasant.

I got the job I wanted. I am the hostel receptionist, but this place isn't like Bossa in Rio... where the staff are pleasant and the owner's vision is to provide the best hostel in Rio. This place emphasizes other ideals...
I plan to hang on for the experience and till Rock in Rio passes... because in the end, this'll be the best place to enjoy it.

Working at the hostel comes with perks: I get to see sights for free... and I plan on having a blastttt!!!

Now that I have a stupid desk job, I can reddit all day.

Back in it! Second milestone!

It feels so good to be back in Rio. 

There's no place I enjoy landing more at, than SDU.

With the paranoia of having the possibility of being robbed. With the noise. With the pollution. With the smell of urine in Lapa. This place makes me happy. It's the vibe. It's the carioca culture...

Now that I have my documents, I'm back in it to win it.

I began yesterday by looking on easyquarto.com.br/ for a place.
I can't stress enough how convenient and efficient this website is. Yes, even if one has to pay to use it, it works for finding a location in Rio de Janeiro. This time around I received more decent offers than last time. Rent has gone down and it's rather reasonable now.

I want a stable address. I've come to understand that this is the start for anything.
In Rio it's hard because of the seasons/festivals/soccer games/celebrities, so prices sky-rocket overnight.
I managed to find a place where I have my own space (a very small room), a sink and a toilet. I share a shower, kitchen, living room and a washing machine.
It's located on the southern part of Copacabana. Yes. COPA-freakin'-CABANA.
(It's almost at my dream location: Ipanema... )

Finding this place is my second milestone. I did it.
It's cheaper than my hostel, it's clean and I have privacy. I'm so excited!

Teaching, Santa Catarina

I finally received my carteira de trabalho. It's kind of like a life passport? It's a small card that gets stamped with your personal information about work. 

The next step is the medical exam. Yes, I need to do one in order to be employed. This is still rather awkward. It's pretty personal.

Up to now I've collected about 20 hours of teaching, from substituting other teachers. It's the end of the year and in August I'll get my own groups. 

I've taught different age groups. People ask which I would like to teach and I've realized it's not really about age...

It's about the group's desire to learn. 

I have taught kids who want to learn and doing the exercises is fun because they follow. 

Then there's the teenagers, who are only there because their parents pay for them to be there. They don't put in the effort and expect the language to just be acquired through their physical presence. 

Essentially, the quest becomes finding a way to create a comfortable environment. Not only for the image of the school, but for the student to learn. 

My personal technique has been being myself- haha. 

Majority of students just want to interact with me in order to ameliorate their pronunciation. I love this, because I can see them improve as I correct them. Being able to help them and see the results is the rewarding part about teaching. 

I've very happy teaching here in Santa Catarina. 

I'm giving this place a decent chance. 

The two places I have my eye on are Florianopolis and Balneario Camburiu.

Very briefly.....

Florianopolis is awesome because it's an island and it has 42 beaches, sand dunes and a lake. 

BC has a few beaches, but it's smaller and easier to navigate.

Speaking of navigation: my biggest regret in life is not knowing how to drive manual. 

I hate that I didn't learn. I feel crippled and dependent on the city's transport or worse, on lifts from people. 

Did it.

Sometime last July I began taking online TESL classes.
I wanted to try being an English as a Second Language teacher.
Today, I did it.

It wasn't meant to align so well. My first day was suppose to be Saturday AM.
I went in today to get some coaching from Lea in order to give her classes on Sunday, except she wasn't feeling well, so she asked if I could replace her today.

So 30 minutes before class started, she plugged in the USB keys and that was it. She gave me her last three classes, to teach.

3 classes, back to back? Sure, I'll take it.

Did I enjoy it, yeh... I really did. It was awesome. :)

I've been in a Funk.

I haven't posted in the past few weeks because I've been in a funk.
The weather here has really got me down. I had just recently left a Canadian winter.
It's not that I can't handle 14-16C degrees of Brazil winter... it's the humidity that's taking an emotional tole on me. Everything's always soaked. There's condensation on the walls. Things grow mold on them! I didn't come equipt for this climate and what angers me is knowing that back home I have all the resources: rain jackets, boots (the black and white ones everyone hates!!), warm pjs, more socks... and sweaters!!!

I've been trying to look at the bright side whilst I tough it out. There's only about 1-2 months left of winter. This'll be as worst as it gets. Summer is coming and it'll last 8 months!

Everything's sort of going according to plan.
I got my carteira de identidade, my cpf and now I'm waiting for my carteira de trabalho.
I'm even in the process of getting hired as an English Teacher at one of Brazil's most recognized schools.

I've gotten all that I've wanted in about a month- it's just not in Rio de Janeiro.

What's so bad about Itajai? It's kinda boring.
That's my only complaint.
Why have I decided to stay here?
It's an awesome place to start. There are jobs here!
I have nothing Brazilian on my CV. Toughing it out here in the start, will give me something legitimate to put on my CV. I'm biting the bullet and doing it.

Yup. 6 day work weeks, here we go!
The idea that on the 7th day I'll be able to go to the beach... soon... keeps my spirit alive.

Protests in Brazil

In the city of Sao Paulo is where all this commotion began. They raised the prices for a bus ticket 20Cents and Brazilian began to revolt against the system.

It started because 20 cents is ridiculous, now it gave way to a movement demanding that the government take care of their people by investing in education, health care and infrastructure. They are asking that instead of spending billions on stadiums for the Fifa World Cup and the Olympics, that they spend it on the people and their well being.

This isn't a crazy idea, is it?

I was personally surprised that it's taking place right now, when it could've taken place months or years ago!

It's very nice to see Brazilians standing up for something they want and can have.

As a Brazilian who grew up in Canada, nothing frustrates me more than seeing the potential that Brazil has to be better, yet not gathering motion collectively in order to move forward.

I am proud to see Brazilians demanding a better quality of life. I wish I were there protesting with the crowd. I want to walk with them too and be a part of the voice that isn't choosing to sit around anymore.

Yesterday on TV,  in between the soap operas, images of different places in Brazil were being shown of massive amounts of people demonstrating. The crowd INVADED the roof of the National Congress in Brasilia!!!
People came out in every capital of every state.

My Brazilian friends on facebook were constantly updating/liking/sharing stories in order to motivate and encourage the support of the movement.

So as I sat here, I wondered, what was Canada shown from this? Was Brazil portrayed as a crazy country out of control?
What could be worse, that it's not being shown at all, or that it's being portrayed as a hate crime rather than a protest?

You see, the inevitable about protests is that yes there is violence. In Canada there's violence in protests too.
And what I always get tired of stressing is that violence is necessary. Not violence to the extreme of mass-murders, but the standard of some vandalism is downright inevitable. It's ONLY the violence that is shown to the outsiders. It's also what makes it irritating, because it blurs reality.
The protest (given the magnitudes) were pretty peaceful... it was merely a few people arrested... not a nation! Is it making Brazil dangerous? Hah... how? Because the citizens are demanding for a better Brazil with better education, healthcare and infrastructure? Lol... please! Yeah, that's definitely crazy dangerous... 

I'm in Brazil and not afraid to be here.

A Typical Weekend - Another Option

Friday came fast. Leandro got home and we packed to go to Florianopolis. 12$ and 100-something kilometres later we reach the awesome island. I had gone there in 2010. In the winter the location is merely  mediocre, but it’s not a bad option.

We arrived at Leandro’s mom’s place around  11pm. We had some pasta and just sat around relaxing. The best feature about Tia Laurinha’s place is that it’s small. We have to constantly be with eachother, so we all sit in the same room or kitchen. We went to bed early that night.

Saturday morning at 10am, I hear a voice in the kitchen retelling events from merely a few hours ago. His voice and excitement kept me from sleeping, so I got up and went to brush my teeth.

As I opened the door, I saw Marcelo. He's Thiago's cousin. A handsome 27 y.o. dentist with a very outgoing and friendly personality. 

We hung around till they asked me if I want to go with them shopping, I accepted. I quickly took a shower and got into his truck. We cruised the streets of Florianopolis hearing Marcelo's certanejo. Certanejo is Brazilian country music. It's so romantic it gives me heartburn.

We shop, come home and then go see the Fifa game at his apartment. 

This is where I go nuts. 

He pull up into a building that's beachfront at Praia dos Ingleses.

Despite the day not being marvelous, I could imagine the place on a sunny day, wow, what a location. 

The wheels begin to turn. Is Florianopolis an option? Is it a simple beach life that I'm after? What was I in search of when I decided to come to Brazil? There's so much beach in country.... so many options.

Before going to pick up his girlfriend, Marcelo showed me around Florianopolis. Without intent he was selling me the place, it has an airport, has beaches, is safe, has tourism, has fun, has great weather, has great job opportunities - so why not?

Sunday - We had a family BBQ, we weren't many, and we certainly weren't all blood related, but we ate copious amounts of meat and drank many beers together infront of the ocean at Marcelo's apartment. I hovered near the water and even caught glimpse of 2 penguins. How crazy is that? Real wildlife, not in a box...

This is a possibility. 

Another Milestone.

A few weeks ago, my very wise friend Leandro B invited me to his place and offered help. It took a while to figure out if the right thing was to get help.

When I decided to move here I gave it a lot of thought, but the inevitable is that one will NEVER be able to think of everything. So what didn't I think of?

I hadn't thought that Rio de Janeiro would be busy. I mean, I know alot of things happen there, but I wasn't able to forecast that #1: the Pope is going to there for the "Youth Day" in July 2013 and that #2: Rio is hosting the Confederations Cup in June. Prices everywhere will be on the rise!

When I went out looking for places to live, everything was expensive and people are looking for people during those periods that want to pay. That's no me!

So I took a chance and put my trust in Leandro. I got on a plane and few to Florianopolis. It's bitchin' cold!! How do I (AGAIN) find myself frozen in Brazil? In the humidity? Urghhhhh...

Day one: Where am I? I find a tourist booth and obtain the worst scaled map ever created. I wander and go to the market. I see shrimp as big as my feet for sale! I need to learn to cook shrimp!! I get home and start looking for where everything is to make my documents; turns out all the places are about 2-3 streets away from where I'm located. I go collect information. Here I need to get my CPF before I get my Carteira de Identidade, ok, so I go to the bank, and they don't need an address... It's funny how everything got so simple.

Day two: I try to sleep in but there's construction going on. I toss and turn and I give in, I get up. I eat some pao de queijo for breakfast. I eat a yogurt and a banana. I answer emails and finally decide to shower. I'm ready by 1:30pm. I go take pictures. Everything goes well.

Then I decided to casually go into the bank and see what documents they need for me to make my CPF. Turn out they don't need an address. Phenom. I come home (3 streets away!), gather my documents and rush back. I pay the 5,70$R fee. I go get another number and the woman taps her keyboard a few time and goes to the printer and gives me my CPF. I couldn't stop smiling. I did it. I did it.

It was only 2:30 pm, I figured I can go try to do my carteira de identidade, the place closes at 6pm anyway. I arrive and there's no one there. What? How lucky am I? The woman taps another few keys on her computer and before I know it, there's someone putting ink all over my fingers. I did it. I am a recognized Brazilian and I can do anything! I can buy ANYTHING here. I can function. I did this.

This was a huge hurdle.
When I woke up, I hadn't even imagined I'd be able to get so much done.
Now all I have to do is wait 10 business days till I got pick up my card.
I did it. What a good feeling.

That's what made me happy.

Anyone who has traveled understands the beauty in finding a shirt to wear that's "not too stinky"!

Rainy Monday Night

I'm still alone in my 9 person dorm. I sit here on my bunk bed, in my pink plaid pajamas, drinking bottled water, shamelessly listening to the Backstreet Boys whilst crafting my CV. Life is good. :)

First Milestone.

It's pouring rain today.

I went to Botafogo Shopping to buy a local "CHIP" for my cellphone and the didn't have any left at Lojas Americans. The lady told me to go to Casa & Videos about two blocks away... and that's where I bought my CHIP with my RIO phone number.
It's kind of funny, you literally walk up to a sign that has the different operators (phone companies): Claro, Vivo, TIM, OI and under them there are slots with different phone numbers displayed. You litteraly pick your number.

Phone numbers in Brasil are 8 numbers. I tried to find one that had some sort of logic, or numbers that I've had in the past, or that my friends have, but there was no pattern. So I tried to pick one with as many of the same number as possible, strategic, huh? hehe...

Then I went back to the Claro Shop and they told me that I have to go to another store if I don't have CPF. I started getting anxiety because I wasn't thinking it would be possible or that I wouldn't have enough money (I left with about 25$R in my pocket).

After walking a few blocks and getting splashed by cars driving, by I arrived. The registration was free and took about 10 minutes. The guy just asked for my passport, and TA-DA ladies and gentlemen.... I HAVE A ZERO-21 phone number!! Yehhhhhhhh!!!
Then I put lots of credit on it. Now I can call all kinds!

On the priority list: appointment for my carteira de identidade. Then apartments... yehhhhh!!!

Getting it done!

Sunday classifieds.

New Flow of Things

Since I've been in this marvelous city I now get to call home, I've been staying at Hostels. They environment and vibe is still the same: people coming to visit and making the best of their days. Waking up early and squeezing in as many touristy activities as they can, taking naps and going to P-A-R-T-Y until 6AM.

My attitude now is different. I spend the majority of my days trying to schedule a possibility to go see an apartment. Any apartment. I'm not being picky, I just want be in action.
I don't go out either. It's weird staying at an empty hostel on a Friday and Saturday night. I'm choosing this.

I have plenty of time to go out once I'm settled and I have a steady income.
I'll have plenty of sunny days ahead to go to the beach too.
I just hope I'll have friends.
The easy thing about staying at a hostels is that the people you meet are open to invite you to go with them to places. Once I'm living alone, I don't know if I'll have this ability to make friends that I can go out with.

A Typical Saturday

I woke up late because the curtains in the room are really thick, so no light went through. I didn't miss breakfast though.
It's the usual: bread, ham, cheese, milk, banana, melon, pear.

I split the taxi with the two boys that were in my dorm last night and I made it to Ipanema spending only 3$R.

I had to walk a block towards the beach and there isn't a better feeling than seeing it appear slowly with every step.
I don't have the right words to express how awesome seeing it all is. Three years ago I dreamt of calling this place home and here I am. Continuously hearing myself think "I moved here, I live here. OMG. I live here. This is where I live. This is what I chose."

There's people, all kinds. BEAUTIFUL, beach cultured people. Yes, beach cultured. They are toned, fit, defined, healthy, kissed by the sun and just being there. They take up the chairs and create a vibe.

I love it. I love being in this city.

Job Search. First Experience.

Davi, the guy from the reception told me a certain guesthouse is looking for a receptionist. I jumped on the opportunity and this morning after breakfast I got dressed to impress and went to go see the manager in order to find out if they're interested in hiring me!
The woman didn't even look at my face.
She just asked me to leave my information with her. I gave her my card.

I have to begin making CVs.
Oh wait, no... I have to find a place to live. 

An Address

By pure luck, I was able to make all my connections and land in SDU a little before 3pm. Flying in, I realized I made the right decision. Yes, I felt the exact same amazing feeling I did three years ago when I landed. Off in the distance I saw the Corcovado, and to the left I saw the Sugar Loaf which I missed visiting last year, but I can’t wait to go see it as soon as I’m settled into a place. There’s something about this city that makes me happy!

I’ve come to realize that settling into a place is key to beginning a life in Brazil. For anything that you’re going to do, you’ll need a stable address.

Yesterday, I spent my entire first day looking for information on how to begin the process of acquiring all my legal documents.

I went to find out how to get an ID card. It’s a free process which is nice, but appointments have to be scheduled through the telephone. I’ll do that soon!

Then I went to find out how to get a CPF. For that and a card to be able to work, I need an address. For a bank account, I need an address. So the focus and main priority has been to find a place to call home.

Today I went to check out my first place. It was cheap economically. Only 360$Reais. It had what I needed: a bed, a bathroom, wi-fi, kitchen and a washing machine. It was in safe location near the police station, on a main street, with a bus stop directly in front of it. The problem was that it was extremely small/tight and a little mold-smelling. There was nowhere to lounge unless you were lying in your own bed. I know I won’t be able to handle staying there.

That was the first place I looked at, so I’m hoping it’ll get better from here! I also noticed that my price margin needs to rise and hopefully it’ll correlate with quality.

I’m still happy. I love being in the city.

Discovery of the Day

I met Caio today. A family friend's nephew who has lived in Rio de Janeiro.
He told me that Rio de Janeiro, like Montreal, has Bixi Bikes!
It's called BikeRio.

I looked it up online, and I was ecstatic to find out that they're cheap 10$Reais/MONTH and that they're widely available throughout the city.
This is AWESOME.

A one way bus ticket is 3.75$Reais,so this'll be a reasonable alternative.

I just need to get used to the fact that Rio doesn't have a flat landscape like Montreal.

New Style?

If you know me... you know I love to wear layers & sweaters.

The comfortable side of living in Canada is that it gives me the opportunity to wear layers and sweaters 3 out of 4 seasons of the year. 

Moving to a tropical country, where in the winter the average temperature is 30 degrees Celsius, the privilege of finding comfort in that style is taken away. 

I guess I'll need to adapt and find a new style. Wish me luck. 

Why Have I Chosen to Move to Brazil?

As the date approaches and I run into people I hadn't yet seen and I tell them that I am off on the 27th, the first question I'll get is: Why?

The answer is simple in nature, yet complex in intent.

The simple answer is: I can, so why not?

I'm young. At 27... yeh, right!

I haven't chosen to get pregnant. 

I'm done with university. 

I don't have a job, place to live or car. 

There is nothing to my name. (No mortgage!) 

I've been to Brazil and I enjoy being there. 

I believe I have skills that'll benefit me in finding work there.... so why not?

The intent of me moving there is deeper than the obvious desire of the pursuit of pleasure. 

How can I explain that it's because at the age of 27, I still don't feel confident leading my life as I want it to?

How can I explain that it's because I don't want to sit here and wonder what it would've been like if I followed my own heart and lived?

It's about my ability to make my own goals and reach them. 

It's about having to deal with my troubles alone, in the manner that it'll someday be.

It's about me "growing up". Yes, as a rights of passage!
This'll be me, becoming a better version of myself and who I'll chose to become without comfort as an influence. 

I think that having the opportunity to move to Brazil is amazing. It's something I've always dreamt of doing. Now is the time, I'm taking a chance because I can. 

Goodbye Comfort Zone

After the play I went to a terrace with Vince.
I stayed till about 11:20pm, then took the metro and the bus home.
The walk home from the bus stop was very pleasant.
It was hot summer night with some drizzle.
The only noise that I herd was that of those creatures of the night, the soft rain and my own sandals hitting the pavement.

I took a moment to breathe in the safety and the comfort I was lucky to have grown up in.

Baie d'Urfe is in the West Island of Montreal.
This place has been my home for over 15 years.
It is a very comfortable place to live in.
Neighbors are respectful.
It's safe, I can sleep with the windows open!
I went to all the schools that are near.
I worked at the local grocery store.
I had various cars.
I've biked or walked through every street.
I had a dog.
I had birds.
I had fish.
I took the train.
I rode my bike.

From my travels, I am aware the world isn't as safe or as comfortable as I've known to perceive it.
The time went by so quickly and I don't want to say that I took it for granted.
I have been very comfortable where I've been living for most of my life.
Things in general have been easy to access and acquire.
As of the 28th, it'll be real test of my own abilities to manage my life.

From an episode of the HBO show "GIRLS":

I wasn't initially inspired by this concept.
Now that I have made my choice to move to Brazil and do it all on my own, I've realized how appropriately this fits into my situation.

I  know I won't be comfortable.
I have accepted this.

I don't know where I'll be staying.
I don't know what I'll be doing.
I might have to work 6 days a week. I might be paid less because of my sex.
I don't know where I'll do laundry or buy food.
I don't know how I'll set up my bank account or CPF.
I don't know how I'll get a job.

It hasn't been easy this far, and I know it wont be... 

I just know that whatever the outcome it'll be worth it for me. 

Volunteering at the Daycare

The best thing that I did the past few months was volunteer twice a week at the daycare with a group of 4-5 year olds.
I did this in order to acquire classroom experience with children. I was lucky enough to be placed with a very inspiring educator named Heather. She does her job extremely well.

Before this I hadn't had much contact with groups of children. I wasn't sure how I'd try to relate to them or how they'd accept me. Through this experience I gained a lot of insight into how children are and how to interact with them.

They want attention. They want to learn. They want to play. They want to be praised. They want to be active. They want to belong. They want to be engaged in activities. They want to relate.

Through observation and mentoring from Heather, during this infield experience I evolved three very important skills.

To Be Calm.
Heather spoke to the children very calmly regardless of the situation. She took the time to explain things to them with tranquility and they listened (99% of the time!). There was some obvious repetitions, but the tone of her voice maintained peaceful and authoritative rather than someone that's annoyed.

This is a skill that I will incorporate into my life. I've always been very anxious about unpredictable outcomes and this is especially difficult when dealing with children, so whilst I was with Heather, I was able to relax and deal with the issues as the came up, rather than attempting to prevent every problem from happening in the first place.  Being calm has also helped me when it comes to finding proper solutions when problem solving. I can stay positive and find the next best outcome. 

To Be Organized.
Heather always had well thought out activities prepared and her day flowed smoothly according to the clock. She had lists of the weekdays with the corresponding activities she'd chosen relating to the theme of the week and she was very flexible.

The beauty of being prepared is also about being able to stay calm! Having a plan is very effective when it comes to achieving educational goals. It's very possible that things don't always go as planned, but incase of deviation from the original plan, it's always easy to get back on track when it is time. A routine will be a part of my daily life because I enjoy moving towards a goal and I can always stay focused with a plan. 

To Be Creative.
Heather (even though she uses pinterest often) is very creative when it comes to coming up with educational activities in order to expand on what the kids already know and what they can already do.

Doing arts and crafts is the main focus of creative expression yet it can have other benefits too. I've come to find a way of finding other advantages for doing an activity. No matter how mundane an activity looks it can be practicing motor skills of their hands, vocabulary, pronunciation, sizes, numbers, textures, colors, names, patterns, etc- an infinite number of things. 

Being able to come up with your own activity (with it's own benefits) helps to be a creative outlet and keep motivated in the work environment. 

These three skills will be in focus when I look, get and maintain a job.
They show professionalism, dedication and enjoyment of one's work.

"You're Going to a Dangerous Place! There's so Much Crime There!"

Telling people you're moving to Brazil gives them anxiety. 

Mostly because they've never been there and must construct the idea of Brazil's reality in their head through what they've seen/herd from the media.

This becomes problematic because people have been conditioned to be fearful of everything and they don't understand "danger" nor "crime".

(Thank you Concordia's Sociology of Fear class for the clarity on the matter!)

Danger is the possibility of something happening. 

This possibility of something happening is possible anywhere. 

It's possible for a person to be assaulted, mugged, raped and even murdered anywhere. In your own country, state/province, city, neighborhood, street and even in your own home!

Danger is something we live with everyday. 

There's different types of danger:

• Basic Survival: Lack of accessibility to water/food/clean air and war.
• Human: People who have the emotional ability to harm another.
• Animal: Getting bitten/eaten by animals. (Dog? Snake? Bear? Shark?)
• Weather: Extreme hot or cold conditions. Earthquakes, Mudslides, Typhoons, Hurricane, etc.

It's through the media that people are most likely to be informed of the existing dangers of living on earth. It's through this means that fear begins to be instilled in people. 

They'll see fellow humans describe the conditions they are in when something has happened. 

• "Ethiopians are starving." (This is sad and true.)
• "School shootings are disastrous!", "Murdered through bullying!", "Assaulted because he's gay!"
• "Bear eats human!", "Bitten by shark!"
• "Hurricane kills 100 people!", "Freezing conditions kills 5 people!"

On a large scale, the world becomes represented a truly scary place to be walking on! 

On a small scale, people always say that the world is dangerous because there's "so much crime!".

The truth is, crime is a small part of life!

Crime is participating in an activity that is punishable by law. 

Everyone's done it.

Ever ran a stop sign or the beginning of a red light? How often do you go back to the store to pay for an item you forgot at the bottom of your shopping basket? Ever smoked illegal substances? Ever drove after a few too many beers? Ever been publicly drunk? Ever jaywalked?

These are all "crimes". They are petty crimes, but crimes none the less.

Just like there's different type of danger, there are different types of crimes. 

I'll name a few.

• Assault.
• Cyber crime.
• Senior Abuse.
• Drug Possession.
• Murder.
• Rape.
• Robbery.
• Stalking. 

These are all real crimes that happened inside and outside of anyone's home country's boarders. 

The problem with crime rates, is that they're tricky in assessing properly. 

1. Not all crime incidents are reported, so in fact there are probably more crimes happening than those that are calculated and shown.
2. From the crimes committed, it's most likely that it's done by people the victim knows and has had altercations with before, from which arrises a motive to carry out a crime in the first place!

(Survival) Life anywhere is about not giving people a motive to harm you and taking necessary precaution.

I know that Brazil is perceived as a dangerous place because of it's high crime rate. 

I'll just do my best to not be part of it, by logically avoiding the possibility of being in a bad situation!

I don't own (or wear) a lot of jewelry, so I doubt they'll rob me of those. 

I wont walk by myself at night,  I'll take a taxi.

I wont be participating in gang activity nor in drug trades. 

I don't dress to be 'pimped out'.

I'll genuinely avoid dangerous situations in the same fashion that I do so here in Montreal.
 This is common sense anywhere one goes!

So before people begin their discourse on a place being dangerous and full of crime, please take a minute to understand and evaluate what the danger and crime really is and if there's even reason to be fearful instead of exercising just basic precaution. 

Telling People You're Leaving.

If you've ever gone away for a while, you've had to tell people you were going to go. 

At first they express how happy they are for you. They outline all the benefits of your adventure.

They express how they'll miss you. They point out past situations that you've lived together and get all nostalgic of the time spent together.

Then... they want to see you again (before you leave). 

It's sweet, except it seems as if they don't realize that time is running out and to re-schedule a meeting with them keeps you from seeing other people or getting things done.
And you don't reject the opportunity, because it's rude and unlike you... because you enjoy their company in the first place.

First Post

I'm about a month away from leaving.

Here is the to do list:

• Buy "professional clothes".
• Put things I don't want/need in boxes.
• Gather all my important documents.
• Tell people I'm leaving.
• Transfer cellphone to Mom.
• Pack (and realize I'm trying to bring too much stuff!)