Well. I think I love it here.
Everything is going swell here in Altamira, Para, Brazil. Everyday something different happens and it feels like a new adventure awaiting my encounter. I love that. It doesn't really ever get boring. A couple days ago I was feeling pretty homesick. Firstly, I was actually physically sick so that brought my spirits way down. And secondly, its Christmas time. This is the first time in my life I am separated from family during this family gathering season. And third, its hot. No snow, no cold, no wearing sweaters and heavy socks and driving in the snow and ice covered roads. So homesickness hit me pretty hard.
But all is good now. I am concentrating on everything that is good about being here instead of being home. I am enjoying the little things. Let me explain...
Today I wanted to do something kinda adventurous, risky, and a little ambiguous. I took my hammock and rope outside, and climbed a tree. The tree already has some boards that Bud put up for the kids for an easy climb. So I tied the ropes to some branches about 10 feet off the ground and hung my hammock. Then I went and got my book and read it above the ground. It was kinda scary. I had to trust those knots in the ropes... But the knots obviously ended holding because I am writing this right now. But this isn't the thing I really wanted to focus on. As I was reading I heard something on the ground below me. I looked and saw a huge black and yellow lizard. One I have never seen in the yard before. It was cool. I saw it twice while laying vulnerably in my suspended hammock. I started thinking. If I had not done this laborious and somewhat stupid task of putting my hammock in a tree, I would have never seen this cool lizard. I have had my hammock out there before but I was closer to the ground so that made me think I would have missed this incredible sight if I had not hung my hammock in a freaking tree!
Another little moment. I played soccer today with some guys from the church. (It was awesome, by the way. I really like playing soccer with Brazilians because its so intense and serious. They all pretty much know what they're doing. So that makes it fun. Because I don't. But I love learning and adapting and trying to do what they do.) Before we played, Neyilton, the guy I took along was talking to me. What he said gave me a nice feeling. He said, (in Portuguese, but I will translate) "Your'e going back in May right?" I told him no, that I am already leaving in March. He looked at me in a surprised way and sincerely said, "No, don't go." His eyes told me he was being sincere. I told him I would definitely be back someday. So yeah, I gotta come back. These are friends I will be leaving. Just like home. I left friend behind, but I knew I would soon return. Now I will be leaving more friends and I know someday I will be back to see them someday. Hopefully.
So I have written about these things because they are simple happenings. But they have helped me in a big way. Homesickness sucks, but thats when you just gotta enjoy the little things. That is what I am doing. And these little things happen every single day.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
anger on the street.
The other day a friend and me were riding on his little Honda moped, with me on the back carrying a shovel. We have been working on painting the front of the church but needed to buy a shovel in order to move some sand. The friend's name is Pedro by the way. He has a layed-back personality and is very calm, but very funny with a great sense of humor. He is also going to be my new Portuguese teacher. He does not speak English- maybe like 10 words tops. But I am excited to start learning with him.
Anyway-- on our way back to the church, Pedro hit a guy riding a bike. It was an awkward little accident. Pedro was crossing an intersection very slowly because there was this guy on his bike. Pedro (and I) did not know where this dude was going to turn because he was in the middle of the road. So he had to make a decision on which way he would take to pass the guy. Right when he chose left, the dude turned left and Pedro's moped hit the back of this guy's wheel. The wheel was totally bent and unable to be used anymore. This dude must not have had any other way of transportation because he was so angry. He began swearing, (I think) yelling loudly, waving his hands obnoxiously, and pointing hopelessly at his broken bike. Basically he was making a scene and trying to trigger Pedro's aggressive nerve in order to get into a fight. He would have loved that. He looked like he was an experienced street fighter. He had lean, cut muscles that looked like they have survived many wounds. At one point he picked up his bike and threw it across the street. Then he went and picked it up and threw it at Pedro's poor moped that had a for sale sign on it. All through this mayhem, Pedro tried calming this dude down and telling him he would help him out in any way. I was impressed with his calm demeanor. I was trying not to laugh out loud. Seriously, I thought it was hilarious. I wasn't laughing to be rude though, I just thought it was a funny reaction from the dude. It was one of those times where you know you shouldn't be laughing, but you cant help it. Like when someone inconspicuously farts during a group prayer. Sometimes a little burst of laughter cannot be contained.
We ended up driving down the road to a bike shop. The fuming dude followed us, carrying his handicapped bike. Pedro asked a man how much it would cost to replace the back tire and rim. $37.50. Pedro offered to pay for it and that was that. The dude was still pretty angry, but Pedro's offer calmed him down tremendously.
Bikers on the road are the ones I watch the closest now. I can't imagine that happening to me and having someone blow into a tantrum with me laughing in their face. That would probably end bad.
Anyway-- on our way back to the church, Pedro hit a guy riding a bike. It was an awkward little accident. Pedro was crossing an intersection very slowly because there was this guy on his bike. Pedro (and I) did not know where this dude was going to turn because he was in the middle of the road. So he had to make a decision on which way he would take to pass the guy. Right when he chose left, the dude turned left and Pedro's moped hit the back of this guy's wheel. The wheel was totally bent and unable to be used anymore. This dude must not have had any other way of transportation because he was so angry. He began swearing, (I think) yelling loudly, waving his hands obnoxiously, and pointing hopelessly at his broken bike. Basically he was making a scene and trying to trigger Pedro's aggressive nerve in order to get into a fight. He would have loved that. He looked like he was an experienced street fighter. He had lean, cut muscles that looked like they have survived many wounds. At one point he picked up his bike and threw it across the street. Then he went and picked it up and threw it at Pedro's poor moped that had a for sale sign on it. All through this mayhem, Pedro tried calming this dude down and telling him he would help him out in any way. I was impressed with his calm demeanor. I was trying not to laugh out loud. Seriously, I thought it was hilarious. I wasn't laughing to be rude though, I just thought it was a funny reaction from the dude. It was one of those times where you know you shouldn't be laughing, but you cant help it. Like when someone inconspicuously farts during a group prayer. Sometimes a little burst of laughter cannot be contained.
We ended up driving down the road to a bike shop. The fuming dude followed us, carrying his handicapped bike. Pedro asked a man how much it would cost to replace the back tire and rim. $37.50. Pedro offered to pay for it and that was that. The dude was still pretty angry, but Pedro's offer calmed him down tremendously.
Bikers on the road are the ones I watch the closest now. I can't imagine that happening to me and having someone blow into a tantrum with me laughing in their face. That would probably end bad.
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