With this being my last post from Brazil, I am sad and joyous at the same time. I am sad for the obvious reason that I am saying goodbye to an incredibe group of educators, both from the U.S. and Brazil, who have inspired me to grow as both a professional and as an individual. Yet, this makes me joyous as well. I am joyous that there are so many wonderful, intelligent, caring, creative, dedicated, and passionate teachers throughout the world, both in the U.S. and in Brazil. It has been an absolutely incredible trip, far exceeding any expectations I may have come here with. Here is a recap of our last few days in Brazil.
Our second to last day in Brazil was a mix of professional development and relaxation. The morning was spent meeting with a representative from the American consulate (Heather) who debriefed us, once again. on safety issues in Brazil, particularly in Salvador. After a few more coffee and snack breaks, we were free to plan our afternoon. A few of us decided to spend the afternoon at the beach; hands down one of the most enjoyable days of the trip. With the ILEP Brazilian teachers all heading back to their homes, our Teresina buddies, Joselia and Alex were fortunate to be on the last flight out of Salvador, and thus, could join us at the beach for a couple of hours. What a wonderful and relaxing way to spend the afternoon.
After the beach, some headed back to the hotel to freshen up, while others decided to stay in the city. As Joselia and Alex were leaving that evening, Jennifer and I went back to the hotel and hung out with them for a while, before it was finally time to send them off. With Joselia's last minute attempt at teaching me Samba, we laughed right up until the end with these two!
Our last day started with a morning debrief and reflection about our whole experience. We met in small groups to discuss how our field experiences and our time in Brazil has helped us to grow. After the debrief, we had our last lunch together in the hotel, which was capped by a game of White Elephant, where everybody brings a souvenir gift, that people take in grab-bag like form. Thank you Kathy for suggesting this brilliant idea back in Brasilia!
Looks good on you!
The mastermind behind it all-Kathy
In the afternoon, we were taken into the lower city of Salvador, for a quick visit to the Bomfim Church. Built by a Portuguese sailor as thanks for surviving a storm, the church is believed to have special healing powers. Driving through Salvador, we also saw many favelas and poor neighborhoods; another reminder of how truly fortunate we all really are.
Favela
Bom Fima Church
Jaimie, Me, Ivette, Fernando,and Jennifer
Love me some beats
Cutie!
Some live music
Thumbs up!
To my fellow TGCers – you have truly been a wonderful group of people to travel with! It has been a genuine pleasure spending these past few weeks with such an amazing and inspiring group of teachers. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of you, and learning, collaborating (unforced), and laughing with all of you! To my co-teaching partner on this trip, Jennifer, I know you've “heard it” before, so for the last time in 24 hours, I am so happy we were paired together for this crazy adventure. Thanks for being such an awesome person, pulling me out of my comfort zone, and for so many laughs. I hope our paths cross again someday:) And to my wonderful Brazilian hosts, all the teachers at CCL, and especially Joselia; Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God, you are nothing short of a rock star! You have made our time in Brazil absolutely unforgettable. When we first “met” on skype back in May, I remember you stating that you wanted Jennifer and mine's field experience to be the best one yet. Speaking on behalf of both of us (I'm fairly certain that's ok:)), you have done exactly that!
It should come as no suprise that Brazil is an incredible country to visit. Already known for its lively and fun culture, its delicous food, and its enchanting music, Brazil is already a must-visit destination for so many. Yet, while all of these things have played a significant role in my experiences here, it has truly been the people of Brazil who have made this place special. I may not have made it to Rio this time around, but the heart of Brazil can be found anywhere. Whether in a small, eclectice cafe in the futuristic city of Brasilia, or in the classrooms of the unsuspectingly, welcoming city of Teresina, or on the festive streets of Salvador, one can always find the heart of Brazil, right there, in its people.
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wanderingweller 
Your trip looked like so much fun! Hopefully one day I can travel to Brazil and explore all of its beauty. Ms.Weller what was your favorite part of the trip and what would you change if you could?
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My favorite part of the trip was, without a doubt, the people. If I could change anything it would to have had the opportunity to go to Rio.
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Brazil is so colorful! The architecture is very different from what a Long Islander is used to. I really like the style of the dresses in the pictures. Their culture just seems so upbeat with festivals, live music and color everywhere! The people seems really friendly as well and one day I would love to visit Rio as well.
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Hi Sarah, Thanks for your comment. It was very festive and colorful.
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I’ve always wanted to travel to Brazil. I think that’s on my mom’s list of places to see in the world. What I’ve enjoyed the most from these pictures is seeing the cultures and lifestyles of the people you’ve encountered. Clothing styles have always interested me, therefore, making my favorite picture of the little girl in the dress. All of the clothes seem so vibrant and colorful. Did you buy any clothes while you were there?
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No, the only article of clothing I bought was Haviendas-the famous flip flop of Brazil. I bought about 8 pairs- for me and friends (Penyy and Ocho). They’re super cheap there, and go for over $40 a pair here.
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Brazil looks gorgeous! I love all the bright colors. The buildings seem a lot different than the ones around here. Is it very busy and crowded there or more relaxed? I’ve always wanted to visit! It seems to be a very festive place to be.
-Jenna Langan
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Very relaxed. We often joked about what we called “Brazilian time” which meant if you were being picked up at 2, it could be anywhere between 2 and 5.
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Hey Ms. Weller! This trip looks like so much fun, looks like the opportunity of a lifetime. I hope to visit Brazil and experience the beauty first hand one day. I appreciate you updating your blog to keep your students in the loop on your adventures! My question for you is, did you have any strange encounters with the people of Brazil? If so please share! Thanks!
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Good question Rebecca,
I guess I would have to ask what you mean by “strange”, but other than many of my past trips, nothing too out of the ordinary happened . I think the strangest thing (but it was so much fun) was when my host teacher arranged for us to sing Karaoke in the faculty lounge in between classes.
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Brazil sounds awesome, I hope that I will get the opportunity to go someday. Its seems like your favorite part of the trip was all the people you met, but if you had to choose between another trip to Brazil (probably going to Rio) or meeting up with all the friends you made in a different part of the world what would you choose?
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Wow, Brazil looks and sounds like an amazing trip. It’s such a coincidence that I was actually looking at places to go on vacation for my sweet 16 and Brazil was on my “possibility” list. I think what caught my attention while researching Brazil on the internet and reading your blog, was mostly the colors and their culture. What was your favorite food there?
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Hmmm…good question. I think my favorite food was Acaje (a street food that is part of the June Festival).
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