My wonderful TEFL class and trainers on the day of our graduation!
Both Cora and I worked for a time at Alberque do Pirata, a hostel in the southern part of Florianopolis
Alberque do Pirata
Lots of time was spent in these hammocks relaxing!!!
One of the beautiful beaches Joaquina in Florianopolis
Soon after we arrived in Salvador da Bahia, Brasil we went to the Festival de Yemanja, the goddess of the sea. You celebrated with lots of music and people, and by going to the water, making a wish and placing a rose in the water as an offering to Yemanja.
Here's just a little taste of what we've been up to lately!!! We left beautiful Floripa after both recovering from our various ailments and arrived in Salvador da Bahia, which both of us took a few days to warm up to, but have come to love. It's very different from Floripa, there is a large African influence left from when the slave trade came to port here, so it is much more culturally rich and diverse. So far, we've explored the city a bit, gone to a few beaches, practiced our Portuguese, and gotten nice and tan!!! It's always sunny here unlike Floripa, so we've been using tons of sunscreen!!!
Cora is taking Portuguese classes at Idioma, another local language school, so far she's learning a lot and really enjoying them! Hopefully we won't forget everything we've learned when we get to Chile!!!!
As for me, I'm enjoying the company of my mom!!! She arrived safely in Salvador on Wednesday after some slight plane troubles (her plane from Sao Paulo got canceled!) and has been melting from the heat and enjoying a little bit of summer during winter! Cora and I will be playing tour guides for the next few days, which means we will see some of the wonders Salvador has also!!!
After that, we're gearing up for Carnaval, which the city is already preparing for with bleachers on the streets called "camarotes" where you can reserve a space to watch the passing parade. More on that after we experience a true Brazilian Carnaval!
This was just a little update, until later, and good luck to those in the Bay Area with the raging storms!
Caitlin
Dear C and C
ReplyDeleteI love you so much!!! I am in Leon and thought I would do a little blogging, but instead read ALL of your blog and was so inspired and excited and in love with you two all over again!I hope things are going awesomely right now- it so fabulous to hear that you are speaking 3 languages, traveling and taking care of your selves. It makes me want to extend my trip now.Cora, While reading about your hostle experience, the reality dawned on me that in fact there is a world not run by lonely planet and it makes me want to find it. I can imagine you kicking it with some other fabulous girls, crochetting and cleaning and laughing all the time. Im so glad you were able to find your groove in the isolated island- its totally wierd being a city person in the country or a country person in the city and I really admire the fact that you put yourself in a potentically uncomfotable/awfull situation and wound up having a great time.
Caitlin- your such a badass with conservation work in the jungle- makes me want to hope down there and get involved. It was so amazing to hear that you were teaching adults. I can imagine you totally kicking butt and being really supportive. Taking spanish class was super rough for me in the beginning and I imagine that you were able to figure out how to work with your students and encourage them and also find away to balance the age difference. I deffinetley understand the awkward, occasionally frustrating and potentially fucked up situations that working with older poeple can produce. i don´t know if any of this resonates with you, but i´m just super impressed and proud of you!
Seeing your smilingn faces in your pictures brings back lots of memories of laughing together and I can´t wait to hear about adventures in person and have some con juntos.
I am so excited for the next time we meet- be it in the states or diferent countries.
love nina