Finalmente Aqui

I arrived at the airport in Porto Alegre over 24 hours of traveling later to be welcomed by my in- country coordinator Anne, and the other two volunteers Suzanna and Steffan. We all got into the car, headed to a house out in the countryside headed towards the house where we would have our arrival camp. At the house I took a much needed shower and fell asleep only to be woken up for dinner which was delicious, not sure exactly what I was eating but I do know it was good, and right back to bed where I remember nothing for the next 11 hours. a cow made a noise that scared Suzanna half to death but I’m just glad that it wasn’t me who woke her up.

Friday morning I woke up to breakfast already being eaten and Eduardo , the ICYE Brazil President joining us for the day to show us around. First we went to see some of the lakes around the countryside where I learned that fences and signs do not have much influence over anything, and that capybaras (the huge guinea pig) can swim! From there we drove to a hike to a small sand formation that reminded me almost exactly of a mini Zion and southern Utah. The rocks were all sand and difficult to climb but we scrambled to the top and the view was beautiful.



Lastly on our tour we went to an ecological reserve where the main purpose of the workers is to preserve the swamp deer whose population is endangered in Rio Grande do Sul. There we climbed to the top of the observation deck and could see all the way to Porto Alegre, and to the edge of the mountains on the other side.

After lunch Eduardo left with Suzanna and Steffan and I went through some ICYE information and guidelines before doing an art project about our expectations of what the year ahead will look like. Mine was supposed to be in the shape of Brazil, but I’m not convinced. Before dinner we took a walk around the neighborhood, followed by many dogs, and passed a bar looking to sell a sheep that was 70 kilos, and I only know this because those words were written all over the side of the outside wall. Dinner was amazing as usual, so far I have not been hungry once, and we finished the night with card games and some jamaica (hibiscus) tea. Tomorrow I will meet my host family and on Wednesday I find out my project placement where I will be working for the next year!

É bom estar finalmente aqui! (It’s good to be finally here)