Water Exericise
The administrative assistant at the Fundacao Esperanca, where I live introduced me to a water aerobics class at a private club around the corner. It was just want I was looking for as the reality is it is too darn hot to walk, run or work out a regular health club here. The water was warm and refreshing but my new Brazilian pals were complaining how cold it was. They do not know “cold”! Right next to the pool is a soccer field, so I amuse myself during class watching classic local soccer. The picture is of my new friends and myself dancing in the water to the regional music of the Sao Juao festas (clapping – marching, comparative to square dancing).

I haven’t forgotten all of you, my “old” friends, and I just wish I could bring you here to experience this “real” Brazil, sometimes called “the end of the earth” by the earlier explorers and settlers of the Amazon, since they were not prepared for jungle-life.


Food
Everyone goes out of their way to help me out, in stores, the university, on the street, and always are inviting me to events. “Gente boa!” as they here – really good people!

One of everyone’s favorite thing to do is to out to eat on the weekends with friends and family. I love the delicious fish from the Amazon River. One of my favorites is piracuru stuffed with bananas and covered with a tomato nut sauce. Fish and meat are often eaten with rice and farofa (ground flavored mandioc), which is an acquired taste I have developed.

Fruit here is incredible. “Cupuracu” is my favorite, which is no where to be found in the US. An unusual drink is “sucu de caju” – cashew juice. I just love what is called “Vitamina” and had forgotten about it. I had “Vitamina” during Peace Corps days – tropical fruit and avocado with some milk mixed in a blender at local stands. Surprisingly enough, avocado is a “fruit” and is quite delicious with other fruit. It’s all good!

Last Saturday I had “feijoda” with my rotary sponsors, Ron and Vera. (Vera is the region governor and a colleague from the university. Vera’s vast rotary distruct includes all of the Amazon regions – 5 states, equivalent to about 1/3 of the US mainland. Did I mention that she is also the President of the university I am working at? One busy and focused woman, but takes time to be so congenial. Ron has been my Brazilian rotary sponsor this past year in setting me up with assignments and housing here and I am so thankful.) Feijoda is a typical Brazilian dish to have on the weekends with friends and family. It is made up of pork, black beans, sausage and greens. The restaurant we went to was called Maricota. The live music was somewhat like samba (presented by a fabulous singer and great guitar player) and was so catchy that the waitresses and clients couldn’t help but dance and sing along. Everyone goes out to eat on the weekends to see their friends- it is a social time.

Another Brazilian “thing” that I do not think I will ever master (along with walking about in 5 inch heels in uneven sidewalks and dirt) is managing table napkins. They are so “small” – about 3 inches by 2 inches and so thin. I have watched Brazilians eat and they are careful to not use their fingers hardly ever so they do not need the big napkins we Americans have. What does that say about cultures? This may be a metaphor - some use less than what they need and some use more.