Arrival in Salvador

I have successfully arrived in Salvador! It has been a busy couple of days. First was orientation and then I moved into my host home. My host family consists of a very generous mother and an aprtment building full of supportive neighbors.  My host mother has been hosting students for over 10 years. She has a grown daughter and a grandson.  She knows everyone, everywhere we go and our apartment has continuous visitors.  The neighbor upstairs also accepted an exchange student (at the urging of my mother, I am sure). They have be co-hosting us, dinner at one apartment, and breakfast at another. The upstairs apartment is a young mother, her mother, three little girls (8, 9 & 11) and a Shitzu puppy. The little girls keep everyone entertained. They speak very quickly and I often do not understand anything they say, but they are very good about understanding me. They have been teaching me new words left and right. It is kind of everwhelming, they tend to all speak at the same time, over one another. All the neighbors are very nice and have stopped in to stay hello. I don´t have regular internet access yet, but hopefully I will be able to access the computers at school and update with regularity.

On another note, Brazil beat Chile 3-1 to secure a place in the World Cup quarter finals. In Salvador the games are broadcast on a large screen in front of the historic lighthouse. People sit in bleachers and stand outside to view the game on the screen. After the game there is a concert. I caught the end of the game at the light house - the energy was incredible. The concert afterwards was awesome. Ivete Sangalo, a world famous Brazillian singer performed.  Brazil plays the Netherlands on Friday and it is sure to be a tense game.

When Anthony Bourdain said that São Paulo was like L.A. threw up on New York, he was right. The city´s architechture is definately a matter of quantity, not quality; although there are some impressive views like this one from the bedroom window of where I´m staying. The city is an overgrown metropolis of remarkable diversity. The people are however, very polite under the circumstances. My hosts are young professionals who love to practice their english more than I like to practice my Portuguese. My favorite thing so far is the food. It´s cheap and very good. A plate of steak, eggs, rice and beans can be had for about $10USD. My least favorite thing is the traffic. Not the amount of traffic or the time lost waiting in long lines of vehicles, but the fact that lights, lanes and the like mean little or nothing to Brazilian drivers. The motorbikes are the worst. The not only weave in and out of traffic, but during a traffic jam, they zip between cars with break neck speed. My only piece of advice for anyone planning to travel to this part of the world is to forget about pedestrians having the right of way. This does not exist here. Keep your head on a swivel. I love Jess with all my heart. The Brazilians are a beautiful, sexy people. Men and women alike. They are not; however; selacious. They are just naturally good looking. It´s amazing. Thats all for now.

We Have Arrived!

After all of the visa drama, we have arrived safely in São Paulo. We travelled from Minneapolis, to Chicago, to Miami and then finally to São Paulo.  My friend Tamiris, and her mother have graciously received us in their home. They are wonderful hostesses. Leila provided a feast for breakfast, during which we ate fruits in which are not ever seen in the US.  Tamiris gave us the grand tour of historic São Paulo. After our first full day we are tired, but very satisfied. São Paulo such a huge city.  It is quite overwhelming.  The chaos that constantly surrounds you is tiring in itself.

Below is a view of São Paulo from one of the tallest buildings in the city. All you can see are tall buildings in every direction.

Visa Saga Continued

On Monday we were "guaranteed" to receive Justin's visa from the consulate.  The tracking information from USPS confirmed its existence in Chicago and it was supposed to be at our house by 3pm.  I waited at the house for the mail to come and . . . nothing.  I spent the next three hours on the phone with different people from the USPS.  They were not able to find the package.  As far as they were concerned it was still in Chicago.

We were panicking. If it didn't arrive the next day we wouldn't be able to make our flight.  I couldn't sleep and continuously checked the computer to see if the visa was anywhere to be found.  Come morning the tracking information was updated, "left sorting facility in St. Paul". We were elated.  It seemed we were going to make it after all.

I waited for the postman to arrive.  He arrived around noon - and. . . . no package. I chased him down and asked about it.  He said that because of a change of address request (because we're leaving) - he was unable to pick up the express package from the post office.  He said that if I was lucky I may be able to intercept it at a local post office.

I jumped into my car and rushed to the post office. I was a nervous wreck waiting in line.  When I explained the situation to postal worker, she was very compasionate, she went and searched for the package - and. . . it was there!!!! Finally after days of excess stress, we finally have both passports and visas in hand.

Relief.

Visa Reciprocity

Justin's student visa has been stuck in consular limbo for many weeks.  It has been very frustrating not knowing what was happening.  It is now down to the wire.  We leave in a mere 48 hours and still - no visa.

Brazil has a reciprocity program concerning visas. Whatever the other country requires of Brazilian citizens, they in turn require it. For example, persons with British citizenship are not required to get a visa to travel to Brazil because Brazilians do not need a visa to travel to the UK. I support this program, although it has made life very difficult of late.  It makes me very empathetic for Brazilians trying to apply for a visa to visit the U.S.  Here is a list of just some of the supporting documentation that is deemed necessary to visit Brazil.

• Proof of Criminal Record (or lack their of)
• Proof of Health Insurance valid in Brazil
• Proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination
• Proof of Income and Financial Support

This is just the short list.  They can request whatever supporting documents that they want, which can make the process very sticky.

Justin's visa has been processed now - and should be in the mail. Cross your fingers that it arrives today!

Introduction

If you haven't heard yet, we are going to Brazil. This trip is going to be a mix of school and travel.  Both Justin and I are taking classes via our study abroad programs at our respective schools. For me this is my last undergraduate hurrah! The classes I am taking are fulfilling my final credit to graduate. Upon successful completion of the courses I will be a college graduate.

A little bit more about our respective programs/plans:

Justin: Taking two classes, one is an introduction to Brazilian Portuguese, the other a class about doing business in Brazil.  He'll be studying in São Paulo at the Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado (FAAP).  His program is sponsored by AIFS.

Jess: Program is a focused language intensive. I'll be studying in Salvador da Bahia at the Universidade Federal da Bahia.  I will be taking two classes, Portuguese and a class about contemporary Brazilian society and culture. The program is sponsored by CIEE. 

Each of our programs is five weeks, Justin's starting one week prior to my own. We leave for Brazil on Wednesday, June 16th and arrive in São Paulo the following day. Once we have completed our programs we will enjoy a few weeks of traveling in northern Brazil before going to Bolivia to visit our friend Nate. We'll return back to the United States just in time for Justin to start classes in the fall.