Carioca, Ipanema Beach and Christ the Redeemer

We started off Thursday by heading to the Carioca, which is the heart of the city.  (Carioca also refers to a person from Rio, like a Chicagoan from Chicago) We were told we could not go to the bank to withdrawl money alone because once people see tourists, they will follow them. So, we went with our volunteer head, Viviana to the Carioca. We were treated to a mini-tour, where she showed us the Cathedral, the largest oil company in Brazil, a pork belly restaurant and the market.  The streets of the city are packed with people and vendors. It is really exciting to walk down the streets. There is so much to look at, it feels like you want to stop every two seconds and look at the jewelry, clothes, food, sweets, drinks, everything!

After we put some cash in our pockets, we headed back home on the bus to grab a bag for the beach.  Mike and I took a path down the hill/mountain to a subway station called Gloria.  After getting off the beaten path for a second... or longer (it isn't an adventure until something goes wrong, right?), we found Gloria subway station.  It is similar to the El, only here, the subway is very clean and spacey.  Once we hit Ipanema (about 20 minutes), we got off and went on a search for the beach.  Luckily, it did not take too long.  We ended up seeing a barefoot man with dreadlocks and only board shorts on... my senses told me we were in the right place.  A couple minutes later, there it was Ipanema.....

Needless to say the beach was absolutely breathtaking.  You can see in the first picture, that a storm was coming in from the South.  After watching the surfers, climbing some rocks and walking on the beach, we decided to head back into the city before the storm came in.  We made a trip to the market to pick-up some groceries for the house.  Once, we grabbed the bus for Santa Teresa, we were on our way back home. Amazing, already had the transportation figured out... Did you know that the bus and subways here have no timed schedule? Could you imagine? But, that is Rio for you.  Everything takes a half hour longer because there really isn't any concept of time.  Which is nice when you're late, but not really when you're hungry. Sure does remind you to... relax!

And, that is just what we did when we got home.  We had a tea and a nap.  This is what everyday should consist of.. at 4pm everyone should just have a tea and a nap.  Wouldn't we all be so much happier? After that, we grabbed a couple of unbelievable Rio sandwiches from a Cafe on a rooftop in Santa Teresa.  The cappaccino and Brazilian nutcake had us energized to come back to the house and have some drinks and play some games with our fellow volunteers.

Today, (Friday) we went out to the market in the morning for some fres fruits and vegetables.  Everything is fresh and you can bargain with the locals if you do not like the price. We were able to buy 5 bags of veggies for $5 real, which is about $3.50 U.S. dollars. After the market, we gathered with a group of the volunteers and went up to see Christ the Redeemer.

After a long bus ride and a short trolley ride, we arrived.  I'll let the pictures do the talking...

An unbelievable time thus far, to say the least.  Feeling truly blessed. Can't wait to see the children on Monday and play some footy, but until then, the weekend has just begun and there are many adventures to be had.  Below are some pictures of where we are staying.

Our room in Santa Teresa:

 View from outside the house:

 Eating Area on Rooftop:

 Our Kitchen on Rooftop:

 Mike in the livingroom:

Tchau!

Primeiro Dia

After a worldwide United Airlines power outage and waiting in lines for 2 hours, we were on our way to Rio! A close to empty flight, meant Mike and I were able to grab a seat by the window.  With a window seat, we could see the sunrise on our way into Brazil. Fantastic! We arrived at GIG at about 9:30am and were then met by our driver who took us to Santa Teresa. To my surprise it was cloudy... I thought it was sunny everyday in Rio? But, I was not worried, mountains surrounded the whole city and it was so beautiful with clouds, I could not even imagine what it looked like sunny.

When entering Rio from the North side it is full of houses upon houses, lots of graffiti and an abundance of cement blocks, on cement blocks, on cement blocks. The traffic and drivers are similar to Chicago. Wild and fast. In between cars, motorcycles zoom... and when the traffic comes to a complete stop, there are people who come out to sell snacks.  Nothing like a piece of candy, while you wait in traffic.

Slowly but surely we made our way up to Santa Teresa. The house we are staying at is up on a mountain! Very cool. The streets are cobblestone and each house is so unique, with it's design and colors. We were greeted by the caretaker of the house. I must say, I was shocked at how wonderful the house looks and feels. On the first floor there is a very large living room for breakfast and dinner. They serve tea and coffee all day (perfecto!). As you walk upstairs, there is a second kitchen out on the very large roof that looks over Santa Teresa and you can even see the ocean! Oh wow, it gets better. There is a large sitting area outside where you can enjoy your dinner and watch the sunset. Also, Mike and I were lucky enough to get our own room with bunk beds! Top bunk!

As the day went on, we met the other volunteers that are staying in the house. There are people from Australia, England, Switzerland, France, Ecuador and even Buffalo Grove, IL and Colorado. Everyone is incredibly nice and eager to know our story. Each is working on a different project. Some are working on community development, a surf program, teaching English and working with children. You can tell that everyone is excited to be here, each having their own reason. Some as a break for summer, some to “figure things out,” others as an adventure before they start their career. Collectively, everyone has the same mindset, to enjoy themselves while giving back to others.

After meeting everyone, Mike and I set out to explore the restaurants in Santa Teresa. We walked up the cobblestone road where there are several cafes. It is interesting because there will be nothing, just houses or empty buildings while you walk and then all of a sudden, a cafe/restaurant pops out. We passed a park with workout equipment, snuck in some views of the water and mountains, and saw the policia. One restaurant that caught our eye, was a place flowing with people, so much that they poured out of the restaurant. The entire front is wide open, with no doors or windows. We walked in, sat down and tried to mutter a couple of words in Portuguese. It must have worked, because he came back with a forty ounce of beer and two cups. The restaurant menu was in English and they took Visa, what a perfect beginner restaurant. Thanks Brazil! If you are ever in Santa Teresa, it is called Bar do Mineiro and is a great brazilian meal. Mike and I shared a chicken dish, that came with a side of rice and beans. Very large portions! And, delicious. After that large meal, we headed back to the house to watch the sunset from the top of the roof, did some visiting, had a tea and then a nap. It's rough out here.

As I sit in our room, I hear accents and foreign languages being spoke outside the door by all the volunteers. The buses rolling down the cobblestone streets, so loud and fast, it sounds as if a waterfall is right down the street. It is perfect. Tomorrow we will venture out to the beach and hopefully, get in our first run. Should be a great day for pictures and adventure. mais para vir!

Bom dia! É um novo dia!

"I shall pass through this world but once.  Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now.  Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." -Mahatma Gandhi

It was mid-July and I quickly realized, the Summer was half over. How could this be? Another year gone and went. Sure, we did some camping, there were some running races... but something was missing. Not to mention, I had an itch to get out of Chicago. For a couple years now, I have filled out applications to teach abroad, only to use the excuse that it is too expensive, I just started this new job, I have school, my mom's birthday is coming up, there might be a snowstorm... excuses.

So inevitably that idea came back to me this July, when I felt unfulfilled, lazy and an inkling that I knew there was more I could do in the world.

After some research, a couple applications, Mike and I decided to team up with IVHQ. It is a fantastic, thorough, affordable program, that places over 4,000 students/twenty-somethings a year, into a choice of over 20 countries to volunteer in various programs. We decided on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the second largest city in Brazil and is the most visited city in the southern hemisphere. It is known for the remarkable beaches and gorgeous mountains that take shape right in the middle of a lively city. Yet, there is still a large population of underprivileged children who have no where to go and are ultimately directed towards a life of crime, drug use and violence. That is where we come in.

Mike and I were hoping to and luckily were placed to work with the Children's Sports Program for IVHQ in Rio. It is a phenomenal opportunity, that I feel I have been waiting my whole life for. I believe in the service of others, you learn the most about yourself. Whether it is a volunteer abroad program, local soup kitchen, tutoring a child or just helping out a friend, giving back is the greatest gift of all.

Hopefully, this blog will be a great way for us to share our stories with you and keep you posted on all the adventures. Until next time, Tchau!