Last Free Day Before School Starts Back

(Took this while walking back today)

Since school starts back tomorrow, I decided to have a hang loose day. Slept in until around 9 and then had breakfast. I went walking around the beach for about an hour and a half. It was a gorgeous day, around 84 but felt close to 90 and the humidity was close to 80% (it was really thick especially when you don't have a/c).

I received an email back from a pastor here that knows some people from my church. Actually a group from our church came down here last year to help this pastor. I went to meet him and eat dinner and then go to his church.

He told me which bus number to get on and I went. I asked this guy next to me on the bus about Recreio, which is where the church is located. He told me to get off when he got off and get on this other bus. So I did but I didn't know where in the world I was so I told the guy to let me off. I called the pastor and he came and picked up in about 15 minutes. He bought me dinner and we talked for a while before his service.

It was exactly what I needed. I think I can really help out there. The people were so nice and helpful. One lady let me borrow an english/portuguese bible until I got one. She also translated during the service so I could actually understand what he was saying. He also said he knew of an english school that was in desperate need of teachers. He asked if I was interested and I told him I would be. He said they really want someone with a teaching degree and a work visa but since they're in need they might look past it. He said he would check with someone there and let me know.

If that did work out I would be able to get a work visa and three months of vacation plus making a little more money than I was expecting. They also have a thing that if you work somewhere for 12 months, then you get an extra month salary. It will be interesting to see what happens. I'll be praying about if for sure.

On my way home he talked to some guys close to the bus stop and asked them which way was closest to Flamengo, where I live. Oh yeah, saw a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Recreio. They told him a certain bus number but I thought it wasn't right. Turned out to be right but I got off waaaaaayyyyy to early, about a couple of miles. It was right by the beach which at first was well lit. Then it was more shaded and I saw this guy and he yelled something at me. I then crossed traffic and walked in the grass until I got back. While I was walking I saw another guy sitting in the shadows where I would have been walking. Note to self: don't get off too early next time.

Carnaval Sambodromo Pictures

Carnaval Parade & 3 Hr Church Service

I had written previously that I had missed the big Carnaval parade. Well, thankfully I didn't. They had it on Sunday and Monday night. They had 6 samba schools perform each night. I went on the internet Monday to get more info and found out I could buy some tickets for it. I found out later that I paid way too much but it was soooo worth it.

Since I found out Monday and the show was Monday, I had to go to and pick up the tickets. I found a place close to Copacabana that had tickets. I rushed to go find them but left the address in the apartment. I remembered the name and that it was on the road that went by the beach but I didn't remember their street number. I walked around for about 45 minutes trying to find out and never could find it.

I went into another hotel asking where it was. They said they had an extra ticket that someone who was supposed to go but couldn't. It was more expensive but a good ticket. I asked if they took credit card because I had hardly any cash on me. They said they took only cash so I went in search of an ATM and remembered that I didn't have my ATM card, only my Mastercard.

As I'm going to tell the guys at the hotel that I wouldn't be able to buy the ticket, I go into another hotel to ask. They said they take credit cards and found a ticket for me but I ended up paying double of what some girls at the show paid.

It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. My ticket was general admission so I had to get there early. I was there a little past 8 and it started around 9:30ish. Each samba school is supposed to take 80 minutes to go down this long straightway (probably about a half-mile). Each school had so many elaborate floats and colorful costumes. It was so awesome! I left early around 4 am after standing for 6 1/2 hrs and being rained on.

I took a wrong turn to find the metro and ended up walking a long way and past a lot of colorful people. I never made eye contact and acted like I knew where I was going. I ended up getting home at around 5 am. I slept until around 12 today.

There was a block party this afternoon close to where I lived. I was walking at the beach and heard the music so I went to check it out. I also heard someone talking as well which wasn't normal for a regular bloco. I figured out it was a church so I joined in their procession.

One of the ladies started talking to me and I told her that I didn't speak much portuguese. She found someone who spoke a little english and invited me to their church tonight which is close to the apartment. It lasted a little over 3 hours but I really liked it. It was very lively but I just understand hardly anything. It's like trying to listen to another language or something. I'll probably go back again plus there is a church here that is connected to my church at home and people in Bham have told the pastor about me and I have his contact info. It will be good to have a church and make some friends.

Pig Intestines & Carnaval Impressions

It's my third day of Carnaval and its....very interesting to say the least. Each day there are so many of these street parties called blocos. They started Friday night. Let me try to explain what a bloco is. There's a band or some guys playing drums and they march down the street very slowly while everyone throws streamers and dances along with them. Once they get to the desired destination everyone kind of hangs out.

School doesn't start back until Thursday. I'm not much of a party guy and I don't really know anybody or speak the language so I'm not fully utilizing Carnaval. I'm gonna go and check out other blocos in other parts of the city the next few days and see the scenery everywhere. If the weather is good I want to go see Sugar Loaf Mtn and Christ the Redeemer.

There are a lot of interesting looking people as well. I've never been to Mardi Gras but I believe it is similar. Guys and girls dressed up like nuns, police officers, roman soldiers, wearing a baby diapers. I saw a couple today that looked like the Simpsons.

There are a bunch of blocos all over town every day all throughout the day. I counted and there were 95 blocos just today. I missed the only one that I really wanted to see...the one with the big floats that they work on all year. I must have messed up my time and got there late. I did walk beside them afterward but they were mostly covered with plastic because of the light rain.

Oh yeah, the pig intestines. Well, I don't really know that they were pig intestines but I have a feeling. My host cooked it for me and it had pork in it and I loved it. Then there were these other things that looked kinda like a tube and it was a little chewy. I cut them up and covered them with rice and chewed them as little and as fast as possible so I didn't have to taste it.

We had it again that night but I had to tell her "Eu nao gosto este" which means "I don't like this." I couldn't do it again, no telling what it might trigger if I took another chance on it. That's why my blessing (which I started in college) is "Lord, don't let this food harm me in any way."