OUGD502 BRASIL

This Christmas, I took the most amazing trip to Brasil with my Dad, to visit all my family over there (there were so many of them I couldn't believe I was related to them all), and to take a road trip from Caripicuiba, Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro, stopping off at Paraty, which turned out to be the most beautiful place I've ever seen. This was an incredible experience for me, one which I won't forget easily or soon. It was so lovely to see my Grandma (Vovo) again, for the first time in who knows how many years, and see the startlingly different life she lives over there in Brasil compared to how we live back at home in the UK. It was interesting to see my family living with a different culture to me (they always had spare food in the fridge and will offer it to anyone who walks through their front door, and family is such a big thing over there, like, such a big thing). Yet it was also amazing to be a part of it all for a short period of time, and really feel like a true 'Brasilian' for once in my life. 

The real Brasil, view from where I stayed in Vovo's house.

On top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro.

Copacabana beach front eating chips and drinking sugar cane juice (Caldo de Cana).

View of a beach near Paraty during a hike through the rainforest to a secluded natural water pool.

You had to walk in the sea along the beach, as the sun was so hot it burnt your feet walking on the sand.

Mid boat trip, the water is so clear here.

Swimming in the sea is a lot more pleasant when you're in Brasil.

What's happened as a result of this trip:
This trip has made me finally grasp that I am actually half Brasilian, and half my family do live and exist over there, and that my world doesn't just start and end in England, which for some reason I guess I didn't quite 'get' up until I visited the country for the first time in my adult life, where I can actually remember it. This has given me a new interest in Brasil, which I aim to incorporate into future briefs. Last year I did a poster campaign to 'save the forest' which I hope to expand on this year in some way, focusing more on the Amazon Rainforest. I also aim to keep in much better contact with Vovo, by means of sending her stuff in the post, as she doesn't have a land line phone, only a mobile she uses occasionally, and has no internet or computer, and also doesn't speak English, so I thought it would be nice for her to receive things in the post physically. My new years resolution this year was to learn to speak Portuguese, so that I can communicate better with my family, specifically Vovo, over there the next time I visit, rather than having my Dad or one aunty to translate everything for me. I think this will also broaden my career options as well speaking another language, as this will allow me to spend extended periods of time in countries that speak Portuguese, and be able to manage by myself. Something I'd like to try is to live in Portugal, as I travelled there, to Cascais and Lisbon in particular, over summer last year, and completely fell in love with the place. I then spent a day in Lisbon on my way back from this trip to Brasil, and it's magic hadn't faded, even when it was a lot colder. Speaking the language will definitely help this dream become a reality, and make finding work over there a lot easier.

Basically, I just can't wait to come back!!