Today was a good day for using Portuguese... I still find myself primarily using English, but slowly I am feeling more confident when I use what little Portuguese I know.
I dislike the bus system in Salvador. If I was going to a tourist area, I'd have ten buses to choose from. Since I am not, I get to wait for an hour for the bus. I was SO late for my aula de percussão. Jorge was very lovely and didn't hold me accountable. I was just happy to be out of the heat by the time I arrived at his house. The sun was monstrous today, and I found myself quite irritable.
For lunch this afternoon, I had what was one of the best meals I've ever eaten. Red-fish baked with heaps of vegetables and a side of beans and rice (not your La Napalera beans and rice!). Sorry, I really don't do the dish justice by this description. The meal way joined harmoniously with an ice cold Bohemia, a view of the sea, and an engaging conversation with Lucas (an inspiring Brazilian I've had the pleasure to get to know).
Also, just heard from Alex, (a friend at the hostel I am living) that Kelly Green may be making a trip here sometime. Ask her for details, but I think she's doing recording, shows, and some studying while she's here. Muito legal!
Eu não gosto de turismo, mas é como as pessoas ganham dinheiro.
...mas eu não gosto dinheiro!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Minor allergic reaction; GREAT fruit smoothies!
I finally bought one of these (Obrigada Lucas for taking this lovely photo!). I should have looked it up before! Apparently, the liquid from the shell where the cashew nut hangs out, is an anacardic acid, similar to poison ivy, oak, and sumac. Hopefully, the small amount I put on lips won't make it bubble up like some of the nasty pictures I googled.
(Yes, I feel that "googled" is a legitimate, past-tense verb.)
In awesome news, I helped make some really GREAT fruit smoothies! água, manga, mamão, abacaxi, goiaba, polpa de açai, polpa de caju, leite condensado, e leite de coco. JOY.
Today, I started work on the plans for my youth world ensemble project. I'm super excited! I have a lot of ideas yet to work out, and I need some help writing for some grants, but they'll all be worth it in the end. Feel free to email any ideas if you have them!
(Yes, I feel that "googled" is a legitimate, past-tense verb.)
In awesome news, I helped make some really GREAT fruit smoothies! água, manga, mamão, abacaxi, goiaba, polpa de açai, polpa de caju, leite condensado, e leite de coco. JOY.
Today, I started work on the plans for my youth world ensemble project. I'm super excited! I have a lot of ideas yet to work out, and I need some help writing for some grants, but they'll all be worth it in the end. Feel free to email any ideas if you have them!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Mid-week four... 2 meses mais...
I've decided to go with posting photos on Photobucket in addition to Flickr:
http://s1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb464/jenn2brazil/
Mas, no new photos just yet! Check back!
Quite an eventful day today, yet slightly unfocused! I took the bus to my percussão professor's stop and there was a HUGE error in planning. He told me he couldn't teach today, but could teach Wednesday. I didn't interpret that, and showed up today for a lesson and he wasn't there! Oopaaah... Turns out I'll just have an extra lesson next week, but I can't believe I confused quarta-feira and quinta-feira after three weeks! Lesson learned.
I took the rest of the day to review my Portuguese grammar before dinner. Slightly successful!
For dinner, my friend Victor cooked a traditional Dominican dinner (plátanos, abecate, ovos, pão com tomate, e queijo frito... e uma cuba libre!!)Muito bom!
At dinner, I requested that everyone speak Portuguese despite my language barrier, and it turns out that I can understand a lot more than I expected! There are some nuances I cannot pick up, but I suppose I cannot be so attached to conversation nuances in a language I just started learning. In English, I realize I thrive on understanding the nuances... which I think makes me feel like I don't know enough Portuguese, despite learning at an average rate. I am trying to not feel overwhelmed. :)
I've met some great people here, so it's going to be extremely difficult to go back to the states. I never knew people could be so awesome! I've decided not to think too much, and to worry about things as they come (Obrigada Maria, Jess, e Jess!)
Beijos
http://s1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb464/jenn2brazil/
Mas, no new photos just yet! Check back!
Quite an eventful day today, yet slightly unfocused! I took the bus to my percussão professor's stop and there was a HUGE error in planning. He told me he couldn't teach today, but could teach Wednesday. I didn't interpret that, and showed up today for a lesson and he wasn't there! Oopaaah... Turns out I'll just have an extra lesson next week, but I can't believe I confused quarta-feira and quinta-feira after three weeks! Lesson learned.
I took the rest of the day to review my Portuguese grammar before dinner. Slightly successful!
For dinner, my friend Victor cooked a traditional Dominican dinner (plátanos, abecate, ovos, pão com tomate, e queijo frito... e uma cuba libre!!)Muito bom!
At dinner, I requested that everyone speak Portuguese despite my language barrier, and it turns out that I can understand a lot more than I expected! There are some nuances I cannot pick up, but I suppose I cannot be so attached to conversation nuances in a language I just started learning. In English, I realize I thrive on understanding the nuances... which I think makes me feel like I don't know enough Portuguese, despite learning at an average rate. I am trying to not feel overwhelmed. :)
I've met some great people here, so it's going to be extremely difficult to go back to the states. I never knew people could be so awesome! I've decided not to think too much, and to worry about things as they come (Obrigada Maria, Jess, e Jess!)
Beijos
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Todo dia
My percussion instructor is awesome! He really has a great handle on how to get started on the Brazilian rhythms. Today, I learned a samba variation and ijexá. The latter is quite difficult, although it sounds simple. My hands have a hard time staying with their own parts. His name is Jorge (pronounced Georg-ie), and he often wears a t-shirt with São Jorge (Saint George) on it.
It has been difficult to express what I want to know (I'm still not that great at Portuguese), and I am certainly having a hard time understanding him. However, the great part is that I am forced to use what I know how to say and understand! Better language mapping that way.
Today is the last night my friend Maddi will be in Salvador. :*( I am really going to miss hanging out with her, and I hope I get an opportunity to visit her in Sydney in the next year.
Tonight, I plan to head out to a historical area called Pelourinho for one last dance-in-the-streets-with-the-sambistas. I've found myself to have done a fair amount of going out to venues and discovering the local drinks and food, but after three weeks in town, I am eager to completely dig-in and learn the things I want to learn from this city - the things I came here for: language, percussion, and music.
Boa noite!
It has been difficult to express what I want to know (I'm still not that great at Portuguese), and I am certainly having a hard time understanding him. However, the great part is that I am forced to use what I know how to say and understand! Better language mapping that way.
Today is the last night my friend Maddi will be in Salvador. :*( I am really going to miss hanging out with her, and I hope I get an opportunity to visit her in Sydney in the next year.
Tonight, I plan to head out to a historical area called Pelourinho for one last dance-in-the-streets-with-the-sambistas. I've found myself to have done a fair amount of going out to venues and discovering the local drinks and food, but after three weeks in town, I am eager to completely dig-in and learn the things I want to learn from this city - the things I came here for: language, percussion, and music.
Boa noite!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Link to my photo album: FLICKR
Do you know another photo hosting website that´s free with more space? Having troubles with uploading everything to Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52178763@N03/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52178763@N03/
Week two... near the end of it.
My Portuguese is improving. I´ve been practicing with my host family a little, and this morning I was able to have a full conversation (just a little primitive).
Next week I work with a private percussion instructor. The first classes are with a small group, then I will progress to the individual classes only R$35 per. Also, next week I go to the place where I will consider volunteering. It´s a social organization for children called Rhythm of Hope. I am not sure how well I will work out in this volunteer job as my Portuguese isn´t that great yet.
I move to a hostel this weekend, and there is internet included. I´m excited to be able to use the internet at night... which means I´ll be updating more often!!
Right now I am sick. I have a serious sinus infection and it´s getting worse. I went to the pharmacy with a friend from the school who speaks much better Portuguese than I do. He really helped me out and I was able to get a nasal spray and some honey with extract of ginger root for tea. I´m very excited to see if it helps! It´s been very annoying to constantly be blowing my nose.
Tchau!
Next week I work with a private percussion instructor. The first classes are with a small group, then I will progress to the individual classes only R$35 per. Also, next week I go to the place where I will consider volunteering. It´s a social organization for children called Rhythm of Hope. I am not sure how well I will work out in this volunteer job as my Portuguese isn´t that great yet.
I move to a hostel this weekend, and there is internet included. I´m excited to be able to use the internet at night... which means I´ll be updating more often!!
Right now I am sick. I have a serious sinus infection and it´s getting worse. I went to the pharmacy with a friend from the school who speaks much better Portuguese than I do. He really helped me out and I was able to get a nasal spray and some honey with extract of ginger root for tea. I´m very excited to see if it helps! It´s been very annoying to constantly be blowing my nose.
Tchau!
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